Rethink Real Estate

In this powerful episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, sits down with Erica Jevons Sizemore, founder of Sizemore Residential in Raleigh, North Carolina — a top-producing agent who’s redefining what real estate leverage really means. Consistently ranking among the top 20 Keller Williams agents in the Carolinas, Erica’s business model proves that doing more doesn’t have to mean doing less for clie...

In this gripping episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, sits down with Christopher Drzyzga, Partner and Senior Vice President at Voit Real Estate Services, to unpack the contrarian outlook shaking up the real estate world. From commercial debt cycles to the rise of Bitcoin as a competing asset class, Chris brings a level of insight and candor few in the industry are willing to share.They start by...

In this forward-looking episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, sits down once again with Tony Self, Broker Associate at Harcourts Hunter Mason Realty, to unpack one of the most disruptive moments in modern real estate. From the proposed Compass–Anywhere merger to Zillow’s partnership with OpenAI, Ben and Tony dive into how consolidation, regulation, and artificial intelligence are rewriting the i...

In this tactical and timely episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, reconnects with Chad Widtfeldt, seasoned Realtor and business owner at Harcourts Prime Properties, to uncover a smarter, faster way to win expired listings. Chad reveals how his team has been averaging 2–3 new listings per week by rethinking the traditional expired strategy — and how one small shift completely changed their conver...

In this forward-thinking episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, is joined by Chris Cochran, Director of Marketing at Harcourts Auctions, to unpack Google Gemini’s latest AI release — the bizarrely named yet incredibly powerful “Nano Banana” update — and why it’s a game-changer for real estate marketing and content creation.From creating hyper-realistic agent headshots to instantly restaging homes...

In this unfiltered solo episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, breaks down one of the biggest industry shakeups in recent history: Compass’s acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate. With two giants now attempting to merge — both operating under massive debt and increasing scrutiny — Ben takes a deep dive into what this means for agents, franchise owners, and the future of brokerage models.Ben unpacks...

In this eye-opening episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Andrew “Dru” Wischhover, President of Inspired Title Group, Inc., to unpack one of the most overlooked yet mission-critical aspects of every real estate transaction: title insurance. While agents often dismiss title as an afterthought, Dru reveals why ignoring it until there’s a problem can cost deals, clients, and millions in claims.From breaking dow...

In this solo episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, unpacks one of the most important shifts facing our industry today: the largest generational wealth transfer in history. Over the next 10–20 years, an estimated $84–90 trillion will pass from baby boomers to Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z—with more than half of it tied directly to real estate assets.Ben explores what this shift means for agents, ...

In this episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down once again with powerhouse agent Rachael Ashley of Harcourts Prime Properties to tackle a critical (and often overlooked) step in growing a real estate business: hiring your first assistant.Rachael shares her unfiltered experience—from the false start with her first hire to finally finding the right fit—and why the real motivation for bringing on help wasn’t just abou...

In this financial reality-check episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Alan Franks, founder of The Mill Financial Partners and author of Empowered Money, to talk money, mistakes, and how real estate professionals can get serious about their future. Alan doesn’t hold back—calling out the traps many independent contractors fall into and laying out how to actually build wealth in an inconsistent commission-based...

In this brutally honest episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady is joined by Harcourts Auctions’ Director of Marketing, Chris Cochran, to dismantle the tired marketing routines used by most real estate agents—and what to do instead. They dive deep into the infamous “3 P’s” of real estate: Put it on the MLS, Put up a sign, and Pray—and why this outdated approach is no longer enough in a competitive, digital-first market.Ben a...

In this tactical episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady opens the first part of a new series on expired listings and how to leverage the non-distressed auction process as a point of difference in today’s slowing market. With inventory climbing and more properties failing to sell, expireds are once again one of the best lead sources for agents looking to generate new business.Ben shares the scripts, mindset, and strategies h...

In this episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Brenna Van Hoogenstyn, Co-Owner and Realtor at Harcourts Blue Water, to dive deep into the real story behind building a social media strategy in real estate that actually converts.Alongside her business partner and mom, Cathy Clark, Brenna has turned Harcourts Blue Water into one of the most engaging, consistent, and authentic voices in Newport Beach real estate....

In this episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady welcomes real estate entrepreneur and AI strategist Lauren Lucas of the LKW Home Team at Keller Williams Classic Properties. Lauren pulls back the curtain on how she replaced three team members with AI—and still grew her GCI by over $400,000 in a single year. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to juggle operations, marketing, and lead gen, Lauren’s systematized approach will...

In this episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with top-producing agent Rachael Ashley of Harcourts Prime Properties to unpack how she’s evolved her business over nine years—and why she’s doubling down on expired listings and non-distressed auctions in today’s market.Rachael shares how she built early momentum calling expired listings, then shifted focus to circle prospecting and database building to create a stro...

In this no-fluff episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady is joined by Brett Jennings, CEO and Founder of Real Estate Experts, one of the most respected real estate teams in the Bay Area. From selling candy in grade school to working for Tony Robbins, Brett's entrepreneurial journey led him to build a top-producing team inside Side Real Estate—and a company that’s redefining what it means to deliver true value in the real est...

In this powerful episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Eddie Speed, Founder and President of NoteSchool, to unpack how real estate investors and agents alike can shift from being the landlord to being the bank. With over 45 years in the industry and more than 50,000 seller-financed notes purchased, Eddie reveals why this cycle is primed for note investing and how seller financing strategies can transform bot...

In this insightful episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Laura Phillips, Reverse Mortgage Specialist with MAC5 Mortgage Inc., to tackle one of the most misunderstood financial tools for seniors—reverse mortgages. With licenses across Colorado, Arizona, California, and Florida, Laura brings clarity to an industry that has long carried a reputation for confusion and skepticism.Together, Ben and Laura dive into...

In this episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady unpacks a real conversation he had with sellers in Southern California—a situation that highlights one of the toughest questions agents must help clients answer: is their money better kept in a property or taken out and redirected elsewhere?Ben breaks down how inventory levels, buyer feedback, and the realities of property-specific challenges often mean that simply waiting for ...