Rethink Real Estate

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 They dive deep into the infamous “3 P’s” of real estate: Put it on the MLS, Put up a sign, and Pray—and why this outdated approach is no longer enough in a comp...

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 th...

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...

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,...

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 an...

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...

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 fin...

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 skepticis...

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...

In this timely episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady is joined by Mr. Tech himself—Tony Self, Broker Associate at Harcourts Hunter Mason Realty—to unpack the seismic shifts happening across real estate portals. With Rocket Mortgage acquiring Redfin, Zillow clashing with Compass, and Homes.com pouring billions into growth, the battle for consumer attention (and agent relevance) has never b...

In this candid episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady welcomes back Chris Cochran, Director of Marketing at Harcourts Auctions, to tackle one of the most overused—and misunderstood—words in the real estate industry: marketing. With a formal marketing degree and years of experience, Chris breaks down the Four P’s of Marketing (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) and why most agents only focus...

In this eye-opening episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Kevin Guttman, reverse mortgage specialist and author of The Swiss Army Knife of Retirement Cash Flow, to uncover how reverse mortgages can solve complex seller challenges in today’s market. Kevin shares why these often-misunderstood financial tools aren’t just for seniors looking to stay put—they can be strategic ga...

Ben Brady tackles one of the most frustrating challenges agents face: when a listing doesn’t move—even after significant price drops. Ben shares personal case studies across different markets, from luxury condos in Nashville to multimillion-dollar homes in Silicon Valley, revealing how price often isn’t the root of the issue. Instead, Ben walks you through how to dissect the true problem—whether i...

In this eye-opening episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Chris Prefontaine, Chairman and Founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, to unpack the strategies behind creative deal structures that work in any market. Chris shares how his team and community across 80+ markets are using owner financing, lease purchase, and subject-to transactions to close deals—often without needing m...

In this special solo episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady unpacks the seismic shifts he’s seen across North America’s real estate landscape in July. After reviewing over 120,000 listings last quarter, Ben reflects on a key turning point: a major sentiment shift among agents and sellers, signaling a broader acceptance of the market for what it is—not what people wish it was. From Florida to Bo...

Ben Brady sits down with Tyler Davis, founder of Met Group Real Estate in Phoenix, Arizona. At just 24 years old, Tyler shares his unconventional journey—from moving away from everything familiar at age 18 to diving headfirst into the Phoenix market and building a $10 million business in one of the most challenging real estate landscapes in the U.S.Tyler gives a candid look at navigating a market...

In this solo episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady flips the script on what it really means to be a modern real estate agent in 2025. Forget the old-school mindset of chasing transactions. Ben argues that your real job now? Data analyst. The most valuable currency in today’s market isn’t listings — it’s information. And most agents are missing the mark entirely. Ben dives into why names,...

In this powerhouse episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady is joined by Adam Hergenrother — founder of Adam Hergenrother Companies and one of the boldest voices in real estate leadership today. Adam pulls no punches on what it really takes to scale a real estate empire without losing yourself in the process. From managing nearly 1,000 agents to building multiple businesses under one roof, he sha...

Mr. Tony Self is back on "Rethink Real Estate," diving into the transition from costly traditional marketing services to an automated AI-driven marketing process. Tony shares how he and Courtney cut expensive monthly fees by building their own customized system using AI tools and smart plug-ins — helping agents create efficient, scalable social media and marketing workflows. From replicating the b...

Most agents are casting wide nets and coming up empty. In this episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady sits down with Chris Cochran to break down how niche marketing is the difference between noise and results. They cover why being hyper-specific in your content and strategy doesn't limit you — it positions you as the local expert your future clients are already searching for. From real-life exa...

In this solo episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, delivers his bold, no-nonsense forecast for the rest of 2025. With questions flooding in from agents, sellers, and investors alike—Ben breaks down exactly where he believes the market is heading… and what agents should brace themselves for. Spoiler: it’s not a soft landing. Ben doesn’t hold back as he explains why h...

In this episode of "Rethink Real Estate," host Ben Brady sits down solo with Ricky Carruth—a dynamic force in the real estate world and host of The Ricky Carruth Show. Ricky shares his unconventional path as a solo agent crushing it with 100+ sales a year and a staggering 90% profit margin, all without building a team. He dives into why “compressing time” is his secret weapon and challen...

Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, breaks down exactly what's happening across the U.S. real estate market—and why agents need to wake up to the data. From high-stakes standoffs between buyers and sellers to massive price reductions in luxury markets, Ben pulls no punches in this brutally honest June 2025 wrap-up. Get an inside look at which markets are resilient (hello, Pacific Northwest), whi...

On this power-packed episode of "Rethink Real Estate," host Ben Brady sits down with Eric Forney, Director of Expansion for Keller Williams Realty International. Eric shares his impressive journey from closing 126 homes in his first year to building one of the largest real estate platforms in the country. Dive deep into what really drives team success—from analyzing P&Ls before processes to ta...

On this powerful episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady sits down with Athena Brownson, Principal and Broker Associate at Compass in Denver. Athena shares her inspiring journey battling Lyme disease while thriving in one of North America’s toughest real estate markets. Discover how she navigates Denver’s challenging landscape with creative strategies, relentless discipline, and a deep commitmen...