Real Tea

In April, we opened doors in Newburyport by joining forces with Fruh Realty. The move brought the Sotheby's International Realty® brand to Newburyport for the first time. In this episode, I'm joined by Kevin Fruh to discuss his perspective on Newburyport's evolving luxury marketplace, how it was impacted by the pandemic, and what he loves most about living and working on the North Shor...

Did you know that only 1 in 5 Community Preservation Act projects is dedicated to affordable housing, and less than 1 in 20 involve the creation of new homes? To better understand the real-world impact of the CPA, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board partnered with the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University to assess the program. I'm honored to be joined by Patricia Baumer , Dire...

Join me and my good friend, Shant Banosian of Guaranteed Rate, as we explore the dynamic world of lending, discuss interest rates, and President Biden’s mortgage redistribution plan, and share insights into the future of the housing market! Follow Shant on Instagram Follow Shant on Facebook Follow Shant on LinkedIn

Many people might not know that I worked in real estate public policy years ago — one of the reasons I was so excited to welcome Patricia Baumer, Director of Government Affairs at the Greater Boston Real Estate Board , to the pod. Watch as Trish and I talk money in politics, the importance of Realtor® participation in local issues and advocacy activities, and what's happening on the Hill right...

Listen as Christa Cardwell and I break down how proper staging can reveal a home’s maximum value in a way typical marketing strategies aren’t able to fully tap into. Don't make the buyer use their imagination!

With all the economic uncertainty, anyone with a megaphone has realized that bad news sells. When someone is thinking about buying or selling, they naturally scour the internet for information, easily leading to confusion and perhaps even causing them to cancel their plans altogether. I was so excited to sit down with my good friend Matthew Ferrara , and if you take anything away from our conversa...

When the pandemic first brought life to a standstill, the last thing anyone expected was a real estate boom, especially along the coast. People realized they could be heading to the beach after their last Zoom meeting of the day, and it all added up to a scorching market on the South Coast of Massachusetts: one that has yet to let up. With workers no longer expected in person, at least not daily,...

If you need a community to walk with you while growing a real estate business and raising a family, you're in the right place! It's Women's History Month, and I can't think of a better person to have on the podcast than Mayi de la Vega . Mayi is someone whom I've had the honor of knowing for more than ten years. The first Cuban-American woman to own a Sotheby's Internationa...

As real estate advisors, we serve, not sell. But, nobody has ever become a top real estate agent without setting a few boundaries, and figuring out where that line is doesn’t always come so easily. Failing to hold to them can leave you exhausted, frustrated, and on the verge of giving up the industry altogether. So how do you communicate your work obligations to your family? How should you str...

I am really nervous to discuss this topic!  As real estate professionals, we feel moved to touch on the discussion of rent control in Boston. I think open and honest conversation is what we need here to solve the affordable housing crisis. We feel strongly about finding a solution but, as most economists will say, do not believe that rent control is the answer. In fact, if supply is really th...

You want the best future possible, so you need a clear picture of how you can tap into the knowledge and support of the best in the business. Gibson Sotheby's International Realty has the highest agent productivity of the top five firms in Massachusetts, and that is one of our proudest achievements. In March 2022, we brought on Daphna Fields as our Vice President of Brokerage Development. Daphna p...

Are you doing what it takes to achieve the levels of greatness that you deserve? In working with agents for almost two decades now, Daphna Fields , Vice President of Brokerage Development at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty , has found these ten habits to be the difference between an average performer and a top producer in real estate. After all, no matter your industry, your business is buil...

In today's market, a company’s cash flow determines if it is in control of its own destiny. Gibson Sotheby's International Realty is no stranger to growth ( we just announced the upcoming opening of our office in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts) and when the opportunity for mergers or acquisitions (M&A) arises and makes  sense for our associates, we're ready. But it’s not as simple as buyi...

Staying on-trend is essential in real estate, and one of the biggest trends right now is short-form videos popularized by platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. With these platforms often being targeted toward younger audiences, agents in high-end markets might be wondering if it’s worth investing and engaging with them. The answer is an emphatic yes—and to explain, I'm joined by Becca...

Today, it’s not only feasible for real estate agents to have connections from all over the world, but necessary. So what are the best ways to start making connections beyond your market? How can introverted agents nurture the skills they need in order to connect and support both their local and global clientele? Aimee Rideout , my sister and Vice President of Relocation & Referrals at Gibson S...

Now more than ever, no matter your profession, it is critical to focus on a niche. I had the pleasure of speaking with two of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty 's top producing advisors, Emily Flax and Nancy Roth . Both Emily and Nancy have had tremendous success in their very niche markets of Provincetown and Charlestown in Massachusetts, respectively. They have effectively leaned into a...

How do we know the housing market is normalizing? What does current inventory look like? What resources are available to agents to help them succeed? What should buyers and sellers do to adapt?  With a market correction comes very unique challenges and opportunities. Joining me on the show today is my dear friend Colleen Barry , Chief Executive Officer at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty...

Major shifts in the real estate market are inevitable, but not always easy to adapt to. Having seen numerous market shifts over his tenure, Larry Rideout , Chairman & Co-Owner of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, understands how to overcome market volatility and why it's paramount to focus on his values: the satisfaction and productivity of the firm's agents. Listen as Larry shares how hi...

If you haven’t been in real estate for a market that doesn’t have your sellers wading through 20 offers and buyers so desperate for a home that they are waiving contingencies, then you’re in for a surprise as the market moves to a more normal one. It’s time to go back to basics, or start with the basics, so you can thrive today. So what back-to-basic strategies should agents use in their marketing...