Realtor Conversations

Charlie and Tera Lawson

In this episode, we trace how GCS Title evolved from a closing service into a title company shaped by change, service, and relationships. Husband-and-wife owners Charlie and Tera Lawson, plus Marketing Director Nicole Michel, are here for the conversation. The story begins in 2007, when closings disappeared overnight and the company had to pivot. From there, we hear about how COVID changed client expectations at the closing table and how the team keeps deals moving when problems hit.

In this episode:

• How GCS Title began after mobile closings expanded during refinance demand.
• Why the 2007 market collapse forced an overnight business pivot into titles.
• What Tera brought to GCS Title from her lighting sales experience
• The reason Nicole returned after pursuing animal rehabilitation during COVID.
• How mobile closings happen in hospitals, nursing homes, and jails.
• How COVID changed closing logistics and client expectations.
• The shift away from shared closing tables and in-person gatherings.
• Why relationship building remains vital to repeat real estate business.
• How GCS Title agent support includes social posts, open houses, and coaching.
• Why transaction problems require solution-driven communication under pressure.
• What title teams value most from lenders during closing delays.
• Why the GCS Title team loves working with Bell Bank.
• Promotions for potential clients that GCS Title is offering in Spring 2026.
• How referral incentives are supporting recruitment at GCS Title.

 

Contact GCS Title:

Email: orders@gcstitle.com 

Tera’s cell: 651-245-1247

Rick Morris

We’re alongside Rick Morris with Lakes Area Realty in this episode. In addition to being a Realtor, he also works as a Salesforce Developer. This technological background shapes the way he approaches clients, contractors, marketing, pricing, and follow-up. Rick turns each transaction into information that he can use to make the next one even better.

In this episode:

• Why child adoption costs provided the extra push for Rick to become a Realtor.
• How his tech consulting work has revealed business patterns across industries.
• Why unorganized data prevents making informed business decisions.
• How Rick uses Salesforce to organize contractors, referrals, surveys, and sales.
• What reviews have revealed to Rick about service quality and missed opportunities.
• The clear link between marketing effort and client acquisition.
• Why listings require stronger strategy than just buyer representation.
• How Rick uses census data to guide his marketing plan for each home.
• What economic uncertainty is showing in buyer and seller confidence levels.
• Why AI-generated CMAs can greatly reduce pricing research and comparison time.
• Why Rick says that “putting himself out there” has been the toughest part of real estate.
• The food-inspired names of all six of Rick’s cats.
• How community involvement heavily influences Rick’s real estate goals.
• Rick’s digital billboard advertisements, along with where you can catch a glimpse of him.
• Why buyers need to carefully weigh maintenance, distance, and asset value.

 

Contact Rick:

Call or text: 763-442-5443

Email: rick@lakesarearealty.com 

Dylan Seurer

In this episode, we’re joined by Dylan Seurer with Lakes Sotheby's International. As a new member of the Sotheby’s team, Dylan shares his thoughts on how brokerage differences impact agents. We also hear about his detailed buyer consultation process where he covers inspections, earnest money, and strategies that many agents skip.

In this episode:

• How an early start during college shaped Dylan’s real estate career.
• What different brokerages actually offer agents at different career stages.
• The challenge of starting young without a built-in network or reputation.
• How open houses and door knocking helped Dylan build early momentum.
• How separate business styles still work under one team model.
• Why buyer work remains a major part of Dylan’s daily workload.
• What buyers often misunderstand about earnest money and inspections.
• Why inspection decisions depend on property details, timing, and strategy.
• The limits of inspectors and the expectations buyers need early on.
• How poor guidance can lead buyers through avoidable stress and confusion.
• How open houses reveal problems with how some other agents submit offers.
• How Dylan operates across both the Minnesota and Wisconsin housing markets.
• The contract differences that change inspection negotiations in each state.
• Why one canceled deal stands out to Dylan after years of steady transactions.
• How extra work for clients can extend beyond selling houses.
• Why referrals matter most as proof of strong client experience.

 

Contact Dylan:

Cell # 612-803-1956

Email: dylan@wadehanson.com 

John Ahnemann

In this episode, John Ahnemann with KW Integrity Lakes joins us and explains how he launched his real estate career in 2019 with no savings. John makes regular TV news appearances in the Twin Cities area, showcasing his expertise on topics such as cash buyers and housing challenges for elderly homeowners. He shares his thoughts with us on wholesaling practices that target vulnerable sellers and how flippers impact first-time home buyers in today’s market.

In this episode:

• How John’s move to Keller Williams has been full of positive chaos.
• The process John goes through when he’s requested for a TV appearance.
• The mechanics of wholesaling and the damage caused to vulnerable homeowners.
• How flippers brought more entry-level inventory than new construction last year.
• What a brokerage said to John when he was 18 that shifted his plans.
• What side hustles funded the first stretch of his full-time real estate career.
• How a garage sale cleared four garages packed with vintage furniture.
• How John dealt with a foreclosure case involving a late husband, unpaid rent, and cleanup costs.
• How John put up his own cash to prevent a client from getting foreclosed.
• What current market segments show about buyer pools and uneven competition.
• Why John thinks condos in Minneapolis are a great deal right now.
• How spreadsheets should be used by every agent with a competitive property.
• Why Zillow leads and open houses often serve agents more than buyers.

 

Contact John:

Cell # 651-528-9654

John@sellsmyhome.com

Aslim Zrinsky

Today we’re joined by Aslim Zrinsky with Coldwell Banker Burnett, whose path into real estate has taken her from Turkey to Wisconsin to Minnesota. She explains that despite being a relatively new agent, a family fireworks business taught her valuable lessons about risk and growth. Additionally, building her own real estate portfolio across state lines has prepared her for the challenges of the industry.

In this episode:

• How growing up in Turkey shaped Aslim’s early path in language studies.
• Why studying American culture and literature pushed her to experience the US firsthand.
• How Aslim ended up launching a family fireworks business in Wisconsin.
• What first sparked an interest in real estate for Aslim.
• How a move to Minnesota opened the door to becoming an agent.
• Why brokerage support and team culture mattered so much when getting started.
• How rental ownership in Wisconsin gave her hands-on experience in real estate.
• How landlord and tenant expectations differ between Turkey and the United States.
• Why Aslim views buying a home as moving from one life event to another, rather than just a transaction.
• The reasons why she enjoys working with both sellers and buyers.
• What Aslim is seeing in the market right now, especially when it comes to inventory.
• The advantages of getting involved in Minnesota real estate compared to other markets.

 

Contact Aslim Zrinsky:

Cell # 608-844-0495

aslim.zrinsky@cbrealty.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aslim.zrinsky 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aslim.zrinsky 

 

Jen and Rick Scherek

Today we’re joined by Jen and Rick Scherek of LaBelle Real Estate Group. Based in Stillwater, they bring over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry. In this episode, they share what it takes to succeed as a modern real estate agent—from having the right support system to marketing homes in ways that resonate with today’s buyers. They also highlight current interior design trends and recommend some favorite local spots to explore.

In this episode:

• Jen and Rick share what inspired their move to LaBelle Real Estate Group.
• How they stay motivated and avoid complacency in a competitive industry.
• What a true full-service real estate experience looks like—and why it matters.
• Their favorite local happy hour spots to check out.
• A behind-the-scenes look at their day-to-day, both on and off the clock.
• Insights into inventory trends over the past few years—and what’s ahead.
• What today’s 28–38-year-old buyers want (and what they won’t compromise on).
• Why working with an experienced agent is especially critical in a low-inventory market.
• The behind-the-scenes work great agents do that often goes unnoticed.
• How personalized letters can help clients win competitive deals.
• Why video marketing is a powerful tool for selling homes—especially on social media.
• Current home design trends that are resonating with buyers right now.
• Their favorite local shops and small businesses worth supporting.

 

Contact Jen and Rick Scherek:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jen_and_rick_homes 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenandrickscherek/ 

Text Jen: 651-283-4463

Text Rick: 651- 558-6139

Chantell Hendrix

Today we’re joined by Chantell Hendrix of the Pinnacle Team and eXp Realty, whose background as a paralegal has given her valuable skills that translate seamlessly into real estate. Passionate about helping clients navigate major life transitions—especially during challenging times—Chantell shares how her legal experience shapes the way she supports and advocates for those she serves, along with her journey from solo agent to team member and the tools that help streamline her business.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Chantell pursued in post-secondary education—and what surprised her along the way.
• Her experience working as a paralegal before transitioning into real estate.
• How her legal background benefits her clients during transactions.
• An unexpected career shift that turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
• How long she worked as a solo agent and what led her to join a team.
• The benefits and drawbacks of being part of a real estate team.
• Why joining a team can be especially helpful for new agents.
• The tools and resources available to her through the Pinnacle Team.
• Common misconceptions about a career in real estate.
• The best and toughest parts of the industry today.
• What to expect from the market this year—and who it may favor.
• Key differences between the Minnesota and Wisconsin markets.
• What Chantell asked ChatGPT before coming on the podcast.

 

Contact Chantell Hendrix:

Instagram: @SellWithChantell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SellWithChantell 

Cell # 715-441-2769

chantell.hendrix@thepinnacleteamus.com 

Brandon Doyle

On this episode of Realtor Conversations, we’re joined by Brandon Doyle of RE/MAX and the Doyle Real Estate Team. Although Brandon grew up with firsthand exposure to the real estate world, it was his passion for sales and marketing that truly drew him into the industry. He shares how he’s built a business that stays aligned with his clients while still prioritizing a healthy work–life balance. Throughout the conversation, Brandon breaks down the shifts he’s made in his business, the marketing tools that have fueled his growth, and where he’s intentionally invested his time to increase his visibility in the industry.

 

In this episode, we cover:

• Brandon’s involvement in the real estate community during his college years.
• His unique experience as a college mascot.
• When he started in real estate and how his team has grown over time.
• The builders he represents and how he supports new construction sales.
• Recent trends in the new construction market.
• His favorite part of being a real estate agent.
• How he supports continuing education in real estate and where he teaches.
• Where brand-new agents should focus their marketing efforts.
• His top lead sources and what helped improve them significantly.
• The most important tools he uses to support his business.
• The challenge of implementation and why many agents don’t take action.
• How many conversations it really takes to make a sale.
• The books Brandon has written and what they’re about.
• How he’s made himself easy to find online.
• The column he now writes and the type of content he covers.

 

Contact Brandon:

Cell # 612-702-7687
brandon@doylerealestateteam.com 

Shannon Stelton

Today we’re joined by Realtor Shannon Stelton with LPT, who is licensed in Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Initially, she was drawn to a career in real estate decades ago, but it wasn’t until she went through some life changes that she was finally ready to take the leap. During the episode, she shares what she’s learned over the last several years in the industry and how she successfully moved her work to Florida.

 

In this episode:

• When her interest in real estate sparked (and when she actually pursued it).
• How she ended up getting licensed in multiple places.
• How she came up with a plan to move to Florida, and made it happen within 2 years.
• Contrasts between Wisconsin and Florida that Shannon has noticed.
• How long it took Shannon to build career momentum in Florida.
• The kinds of buyers she’s been helping lately and what that’s been like.
• Where Shannon grew up and why she chooses to live in Florida now.
• The shift that made Shannon realize it was time for her to make a move.
• What Shannon’s daughters are doing and who she’d love to have join her in real estate.
• How often Shannon actually makes it back to Minnesota (for work and business).
• What lending is like right now down in Florida for home buyers.
• Why she loves working with first-time home buyers specifically.
• How old the average first-time home buyer is today versus in years past.
• The change Shannon has noticed about the Florida market lately.

 

Contact Shannon:

Minnesota # 651-260-7669

Florida # 727-390-7080

shannonstelton@gmail.com 

Ana Vogler

Today our guest is Ana Vogler, with Coldwell Banker. She has faced her fair share of challenges in breaking into the Minnesota real estate industry. From moving from another country, learning English, changing careers, and making new connections where she didn’t know anybody, she persevered (even when it felt intimidating) and has built a successful real estate career. In our conversation, she opens up about her unique approach with clients and what she has learned from buying her own properties.

In this episode:

• How landing a new position can be tough when changing industries.
• The lessons Ana learned in hospitality that translate in real estate.
• The challenges Ana faced in changing careers and getting where she is today.
• The person she calls every Thanksgiving to express gratitude and why.
• Why work ethic, combined with the right opportunities, matters if you want to succeed.
• What Ana learned about pushing yourself even when it feels scary.
• Why the best way to sell is about listening, not talking.
• What she has seen change over the last decade in real estate.
• Ana’s favorite parts of living in downtown Minneapolis and why she sees it making a comeback.
• What people don’t know about listing agents (but should).
• Ana’s love for working with people and transforming spaces.
• How the environment you work in motivates you to work harder.
• The ups and downs of working in real estate and why Ana likes to stay busy.
• The importance of being open minded and having new experiences.

 

Contact Ana:

Cell: 651-235-4230

Email: ana@cbrealty.com