Realtor Conversations

Jennifer Giovinazzo and Jamie Rooney

In this episode we’ve got Jennifer Giovinazzo and Jamie Rooney from EXP and the Pinnacle Team. We discuss their transformative growth, building a team across three states, and their vision for the future. They’ll get into the importance of preserving real estate legacies, along with the potential of real estate investments for agents.

In this episode:

• How the two grew their team to 55 agents.
• Why EXP's business model offers agents freedom and autonomy, which contributes to the team's growth.
• How team support is vital in taking over a real estate legacy and maintaining brand continuity.
• Why the book The Golden Handoff is essential for agents transitioning their legacy.
• How Jennifer and Jamie are extending real estate investment opportunities to their clients.
• Why the current market downturn is not a deterrent for their investment plans.
• How staying connected and accessible to your team and clients is vital for success.
• Why a culture of support within their team contributes to their success.
• How the Elite Advantage Investment Group allows agents to invest with the Pinnacle Team.
• Why the current market and the wealth potential it presents is so exciting.
• How the Pinnacle Team is planning for large investments in the future.
• Viewing real estate as a service industry rather than a sales industry.
• Why they believe there are more millionaires created in a down market than in an up market.
• How they are learning a new side of the business by investing in real estate themselves.

 

Contact Jennifer:

Cell: 651-249-4789

www.pinnacleteamus.com

 

Contact Jamie:

Cell: 651-270-4002

www.pinnacleteamus.com

Jessica Lowe

Jessica Lowe from Coldwell Banker Realty is our guest in today’s episode. With her background in graphic design, Jessica provides a unique perspective on how communication, creativity, and marketing intersect in the real estate industry. She shares her positive outlook on the current market trends and her innovative business philosophy that encourages optimism despite market fluctuations. We also hear her thoughts on why it’s a good time to sell, but why doing so needs a different approach compared to last year.

In this episode:

• How Jessica Lowe started in real estate a week after receiving her license.
• Why Jessica believes the real estate market is good right now despite fluctuations.
• The philosophy behind the business tagline “Sell High, Buy Lowe.”
• How Jessica's background in graphic design plays a role in her real estate business.
• Why communication, creativity, and marketing are all essential.
• Maintaining honesty when dealing with clients.
• Some of Jessica's experiences from her time at Coldwell Banker Realty.
• The role of social media in Jessica's real estate strategy.
• Navigating the current market trends, plus some tips for property transactions.
• Why Jessica believes well-cared-for properties are receiving multiple offers in the current market.
• The importance of being upfront about market expectations with clients.
• Encouraging buyers to look for a "diamond in the rough" in the current market.
• How Jessica utilizes her graphic design skills in her real estate marketing.
• The reasons behind why Jessica chose to work at Coldwell Banker Realty.
• Jessica’s approach to real estate that sets her apart.

 

Contact Jessica:

Cell: 612-296-4576

Email: jmlowe@cbburnet.com

Marc DePonty

Today we’re speaking with Marc DePonty, who is the Team Lead CEO at Keller Williams Premier North Suburban. From his beginnings in the printing industry to his strategy for adapting to market shifts, Marc shares his unique perspective and success story. We’ll also explore his inspiring philanthropic efforts, plus his vision of fostering 20 millionaires in the next decade.

In this episode:

• How Marc transitioned from the printing industry to real estate.
• Why Marc's goal is to create 20 millionaires in the next decade through real estate.
• How Marc's “win-win commitment” approach is effective in navigating market shifts.
• Why mentors and coaches are crucial for agents who are feeling stuck in their careers.
• The tragic loss of Marc's brother, but also the positives that were created in tribute to him.
• What Marc's vision of an ideal real estate agent is.
• How Marc's journey in real estate was influenced by his Mexican heritage and experience in the printing industry.
• How Marc adjusted his real estate strategies to cope with the changing market.
• Marc’s thoughts on wearing branded clothes.
• More on how Marc's story of family tragedy led to significant community impact.
• Why Marc believes in fostering a culture of service and community involvement in real estate.
• How Marc encourages agents to break their financial thermostats and reach for higher goals.
• The reasons why Marc has been seeing his best year ever despite market downturns.

 

Contact Marc:

Cell: 651-428-8246

Email: marc@mnathome.com

Matt Brown

In this episode we speak with Matt Brown, a veteran real estate agent from Keller Williams Integrity out of Hudson, Wisconsin. Matt brings 22 years of experience to the table, sharing insights and strategies on the real estate industry. He reveals the intricacies of the low real estate inventory and reasons behind the current national average interest rate. We also hear about the KW model and its role in agent business growth.

In this episode:

• How Matt uses his 22 years of experience to mentor new agents.
• Why the Keller Williams model is instrumental in business growth for agents.
• How Matt's role evolved during his 11-year stint at Keller Williams in Roseville.
• Insights into the current real estate market from Matt's experience.
• How the economic model Matt learned after joining Keller Williams impacts his work.
• Why office culture and a good lender are game changers in real estate.
• What the drastic alterations in the market mean for agents.
• Understanding effects that low real estate inventory is causing.
• Why the national average interest rate is currently high compared to the last few years.
• How setting career goals, creating plans, and taking consistent action lead to success.
• Why the communication and responsiveness of a lender is critical in transactions.
• How the current real estate market shift is impacting agents and buyers.
• Further understanding the significance of the current national average interest rate.
• Why waiting for prices or rates to drop might not be the best strategy for buyers.
• How Matt's role as a consultant involves telling clients things they might not want to hear.

 

Contact Matt:

Cell: 651-343-3304

Email: mattbrown@kw.com

Mark and Lisa Duffy

Today we sit down with real estate power couple Mark and Lisa Duffy of Keller Williams Select. With decades of industry experience, they share their journey from daycare to real estate, emphasizing the importance of working with the right professionals no matter what the industry is. We hear about their unique strategies for staying ahead in the ever-fluctuating market, the importance of understanding customer personalities, and their family's active engagement in the real estate sphere.

In this episode:

• How Mark and Lisa transitioned into the real estate industry.
• Why partnering with the right professionals, like lenders and title companies, is crucial.
• How cultivating personal relationships with industry professionals can be a game-changer.
• The couple's strategies for staying ahead in the fluctuating real estate market.
• Why purchasing homes in the quieter fall and winter months can be beneficial.
• How using buydowns can be a powerful negotiating tool in real estate.
• The importance of understanding different customer personalities to provide tailor-made service.
• Why hiring a seasoned real estate agent can help navigate market uncertainties.
• How the Duffy family actively engages in the real estate sphere.
• Their participation in Keller Williams RED Day.
• Why understanding different personality types matters so much in real estate transactions.
• How the Duffy family's involvement in real estate extends to their children.
• Why Lisa believes dealing with adults in real estate is harder than dealing with kids in daycare.
• How Mark and Lisa use their coaching and daycare backgrounds to excel in real estate.

 

Contact Mark:

Cell: 612-986-2246

Email: mduffy@kw.com

 

Contact Lisa:

Cell: 651-300-9569

Email: l.duffy@kw.com

Becky Padelford and Joni Szybatka

For today’s episode, we are joined by Becky Padelford and Joni Szybatka of Keller Williams Premier. Becky has been in real estate for 22 years and bought her first house from Jason, whose team she is currently on. She first started as an admin assistant, and eventually transitioned into being an agent. Joni graduated in 2005 with a degree in interior design and worked for a builder/realtor. Like Becky, Joni became an admin assistant who also transitioned to agent.

 

In this episode:

• How Joni and Becky first met in the office.
• The song that was playing that brought them together.
• How Joni’s admin experience has contributed to her being a great agent.
• How technology has changed the real estate landscape.
• Why their team works with both buyers and sellers.
• What makes Becky and Joni stand out from the crowd.
• Where Becky and Joni think the market is headed.
• How interest rates are affecting the market.
• Why renters are currently looking to buy.
• Why you shouldn’t wait on the sidelines to buy.
• Why you shouldn’t let interest rates scare you away from buying.
• The busy stage of life Joni’s in right now.
• Why Becky’s household is equally as busy.
• How important it is to have a primary bedroom.
• What Becky and Joni value most in a lender.
• Why it’s better for the process when the lender works in a team.
• The best advice for current buyers.
• Why sellers should have an initial consultation and make a plan.

 

Contact Becky:

Cell: 651-331-0251

Email: becky@jasongorman.com

 

Contact Joni

Cell: 651-331-1883

Email: joni@jasongorman.com

Rick Chen

On this episode of Realtor Conversations, we are joined by Rick Chen of Sotheby’s International. Rick’s parents first came to the US from China with dreams of one day buying a home, and he was exposed to that process at a young age. Rick has a degree in retail merchandising and has worked in finance, sold cars, and also spent time working in technology sales. Ultimately, Rick was searching for the career of a lifetime when he finally got into real estate after meeting a very successful local realtor.

 

In this episode:

• Why Rick prefers the “athleisure” aesthetic.
• Why he chose a real estate career even though he was warned against it.
• What Rick loves about working at Sotheby’s.
• The kind of work culture an agent should seek out.
• The unique way Sotheby’s evolved into real estate.
• Why first-time home buyers are eager right now.
• What demographics are moving the most in the current market.
• Why Rick says that if you can afford to, you should buy.
• Why you should focus on your current needs to motivate your decisions.
• The most expensive local listing that Rick has seen to date.
• Tips that Rick would give to other agents.
• Why being humble is an important quality in this industry.
• The value in surrounding yourself with hardworking people.
• Advice for people who are thinking of buying or selling.
• How to put yourself in the best position to sell.
• The ethical way to handle a buyer inquiring about multiple offers.
• Why it’s a vital skill as an agent to ask good questions.

 

Contact Rick:

Phone: 651-246-8940

Email:  rick.chen@lakesmn.com

Michelle Markuson and Savana Waag

We are joined on today’s episode by a duo from KW Premier: real estate agents Michelle Markuson and Savana Waag. They started as family friends who became neighbors, and now they currently work together as a team. Michelle also works as a coach who helps other agents achieve their goals. They discuss how they got started, how it’s currently going, and where things are headed.

 

In this episode:

• Why learning skills outside the classroom is invaluable.
• What surprised Savana about working in real estate.
• The surprising place that they celebrated Savana’s 21st birthday.
• Michelle’s previous career in the airline industry and why she left.
• Why Savana is grateful to get into the industry at a young age.
• What drew Michelle to a career in real estate.
• What it’s like getting into the business during a difficult market.
• Why mentorship of young agents is so important to the industry.
• The quality that makes some agents more likely to succeed.
• How Michelle coaches clients to put themselves out there.
• What it was like for Savana when she made cold calls.
• Why being prepared and professional trumps having years of experience.
• How Michelle splits her time between agent work and coaching.
• What Michelle and Savana are seeing in the current market.
• The promising results of the latest CPI report and why it matters.
• Why it’s an exciting time to be in real estate.
• The three types of coaching offered by Michelle.
• How a coach helps create accountability.
• The value in having a bird’s eye view of what you do.

 

Contact Michelle:

Phone: 612-483-1494

Email: michellemarkuson@kw.com

 

Contact Savana:

Phone: 612-940-8741

Email: savanawaag@kw.com

Peyman Najafi and Kari Olson

Peyman Najafi and Kari Olson are business partners and top agents at KW Premier. At the same time Kari noticed Peyman as her neighbor in the townhome development where she lived, he just so happened to also be a new agent with KW. Kari approached him and the rest has led to a fruitful and beneficial business relationship, as we hear about in this episode.

 

In this episode:

• Peyman’s career as a photographer, and the types of photography he does.
• The number of years they have each worked in real estate.
• Peyman’s move to the US and the challenges he faced.
• Developing tenacity and dedication.
• Having a passion for talking with people.
• Kari’s life growing up in Minnesota.
• The value in waking up every day excited for work.
• Playing off each other’s strengths and making an effective team.
• The format of their business relationship.
• The parts of their jobs they combine together.
• Valuing each other’s unique expertise.
• Kari’s opinion on the current market.
• How the seasons inform changes in the market.
• Meeting future clients in the most unique places.
• Working until late into the evening.
• What Peyman loves most about being in the United States.
• The comparison of his life in the US with his life in Iran.
• The culture of hard work and how it pays off.
• The interesting situations Kari has found herself in during her career.
• Why you’ll never get bored working with Peyman and Kari.
• Kari’s new designations and how it supports her client relationships.

 

Contact Peyman:

Phone: 651-472-1418

Email: Peymannnajafi@kw.com

 

Contact Kari:

Phone: 651-235-1181

Email: kariolsonsellshouses@gmail.com

Lisa Sorvig

Lisa Sorvig of KW Select joins us in this episode of Realtor Conversations. Lisa recently worked a deal with Brad that went really well. Today, she shares what brought her from being a bartender to a real estate agent, and why your seemingly unrelated work experience can make you an excellent realtor and guide for your clients.

 

In this episode:

• Jumping headfirst into real estate in 2010 when she met an inspiring agent.
• What it was like to start out as the youngest person in the office by a long shot.
• Her experience with lead generation in the morning and bartending at night.
• Working with buyers at a high level.
• Transitioning from working independently to working on a team.
• Winning “Rookie of the Year” and “#1 Buyers Agent.”
• The value in waking up every day excited for work.
• Building excellent relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Believing in real estate as a tool to build wealth.
• Bringing passion to what you do and building a life worth living.
• Why it’s crucial for agents to act as a guide for clients.
• The importance of talking clients out of certain home purchases.
• Showing homes with negative energy and ghostly presences.
• Supporting clients on their journey to find a home and build wealth.
• Why the most successful agents have prior experience serving others.
• What factors can determine an agent's success.
• Why agents in today’s industry have to work 2-3x harder than before.
• Why a career in real estate is no longer a time-for-money game.
• Lisa’s family and the anniversary she just celebrated.

 

Contact Lisa:

Phone: 507-351-0560

Email: lisasorvig@kw.com