Driven To Succeed Real Estate Podcast

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Latest episode

Jul 2026

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About the show

🎙️ The Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast Hosted by Brandon Olson Welcome to The Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast — the go-to show for real estate professionals, mortgage experts, and high-performance entrepreneurs who are hungry for growth. Whether you're a seasoned agent, a rising loan officer, or just getting started in the industry, this podcast delivers actionable strategies, real-world insights, and powerful conversations that will take your business to the next level. Hosted by Brandon Olson , a mortgage industry veteran, fintech CEO, and passionate advocate for leadership and innovation, each episode features interviews with top producers, referral partners, and thought leaders. Together, we dig deep into topics like lead generation, client retention, automation, tech tools, mindset, marketing, and everything in between. 🔥 Real talk. Zero fluff. Just the knowledge and inspiration you need to succeed in real estate and beyond. New episodes drop weekly — hit subscribe and join the community of real estate pros who are driven to succeed.

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60 recent

July 25, 2026Episode 9622 min

Episode 96 From Teacher to Realtor: Emily Blake on Building a Business Through Trust

Buzzsprout Summary Making the leap into real estate is never easy. In Episode 95 Brandon Olson welcomes returning guest Emily Blake back to the Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast. Emily shares her journey from special education teacher to successful Realtor, discussing the fears of leaving a steady career, working on a real estate team, developing confidence, growing through referrals and social media, and why caring for clients is the foundation of everything she does. The conversation also explores today's housing market, affordability, first-time buyers, inspections, AI, ChatGPT, and why relationships will always outperform transactions. Whether you're a Realtor, loan officer, entrepreneur, or considering a career in sales, this episode offers practical insights into building trust and serving clients at a high level. Guest Bio Emily Blake is a Realtor with Pemberton Real Estate serving Minnesota and Wisconsin. Born and raised in Minnesota, Emily earned her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Minnesota before spending three years as a special education teacher. Her passion for serving others naturally transitioned into real estate, where she has built a referral-driven business focused on trust, authenticity, and long-term relationships. Outside of real estate she enjoys exploring the Twin Cities food scene, running marathons, traveling, sporting events, and the occasional karaoke night.

April 19, 2026Episode 9420 min

VA Loans Explained: Eligibility, Benefits, Funding Fees, Multifamily, and Minnesota Veteran Opportunity

In Episode 94 of the Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast , Brandon Olson welcomes back Landon Olson for a deep dive into VA loans and how veterans can use one of the best financing tools available. They break down who qualifies, how eligibility works, the biggest advantages of VA loans, how funding fees work, why there is no monthly mortgage insurance, and what veterans should know about appraisals, credit, debt-to-income, disability exemptions, modular homes, multifamily properties, and more. The conversation also highlights a major opportunity in Minnesota: many veterans still do not fully understand their benefits, and Landon is working to become a local VA lending resource through direct outreach and education. This is a practical episode for veterans, active-duty service members, real estate agents, and anyone who wants to better understand the real-world use of VA financing. Brandon Olson 🏢 SWBC Mortgage 🆔 NMLS 1334790 📧 Brandon.olson@swbc.com 📱 612.437.9567 Apply now 🏡 🌐 www.brandonolsonhomeloans.com Schedule a call 📅 🔗 calendly.com/brandon-olson-1 Check out my podcast 🎙️ ▶️ youtube.com/@driventosucceedrealestatep7090 Landon Olson 👔 Loan Officer | 🆔 NMLS #2610935 🏢 SWBC Mortgage Corporation 📍 600 Highway 169 S., Ste. 700 | St. Louis Park, MN 55426 📞 Direct: 612.599.8763 | Office: 612.353.1738 📠 Fax: 866.308.4519 📧 Email: landon.olson@swbc.com 🌐 Web: swbcmortgage.com/landon-olson

March 29, 202626 min

Episode 93 | Karie Henry & Wade Owen on Butterfly Effect Realty, Giving Back & Real Estate with Purpose 🦋

In Episode 93 of the Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast, Brandon Olson sits down with Karie Henry and Wade Owen of Butterfly Effect Realty. They share their unique journeys into real estate, the vision behind their brand, and how their Homes with Heart Initiative is giving back in a major way through every closing. This episode dives into new construction, market insight, mental health advocacy, and what it means to build a business that truly serves people and community. 🏡🦋💚 Karie Henry 📧 kariehenryrealtor@gmail.com 📞 320-291-4976 🔗 LinkedIn: Karie Henry 📘 Facebook: karie.henry.9 📸 Instagram: @kariehenryowen Wade Owen 📧 wadeowenhomes@gmail.com 📞 612-597-6961 🔗 LinkedIn: Wade Owen 📘 Facebook: Butterfly Effect Realty 📸 Instagram: @butterflyeffectrealty

January 20, 2026Episode 9132 min

2026 Real Estate Outlook & Building a Scalable Team | Right Thing Team Owners Dan Kallas & Erik Holm

In this episode of the Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast , host Brandon Olson sits down with Dan Kallas and Erik Holm , co-owners of the Right Thing Team , to break down what they’re seeing on the front lines of the 2026 real estate market. Dan and Erik share why they are extremely optimistic about 2026 , how buyer demand is already accelerating, and why psychologically important interest rate levels are flipping the market switch faster than many expected. The conversation then dives deep into how the Right Thing Team has grown rapidly during one of the toughest real estate markets in decades , why they focus on handing agents real appointments—not cold leads , and how they’ve built a culture that prioritizes agent income, sustainability, and long-term growth. If you’re a real estate agent thinking about joining a team, a team leader scaling operations, or a lender watching agent productivity trends, this episode delivers real insight into what actually works right now. Topics Covered 2026 real estate market outlook & buyer behavior Why rates in the 5% range change everything Scaling a real estate team during a down market Appointment-based lead delivery vs traditional lead gen Commission splits, agent economics & retention Team culture, leadership, and abundance mindset Why top agents are choosing teams in 2026 How technology & AI support agent productivity Guest Contact Information Dan Kallas 📞 612-964-2151 📧 dankallasrealtor@gmail.com Erik Holm 📞 763-442-8700 📧 erikholmrealtor@gmail.com 🎯 Interested in joining a fast-growing, appointment-driven real estate team? Reach out directly.

January 4, 2026Episode 9039 min

Episode 90: 20 Years in Real Estate — Market Cycles, First-Time Buyers & Doing the Right Thing with Brad Martin

In Episode 90 of the Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast , Brandon Olson welcomes Brad Martin of the Right Thing Team at Bridge Realty. With 20 years of experience, Brad has seen every type of market — from the 2008 crash to today’s affordability-driven environment. In this episode, Brad and Brandon break down what first-time buyers need to know, why today’s market is different from past downturns, and how long-term wealth is still built through smart homeownership. If you’re buying, selling, or simply trying to understand where the real estate market is headed, this is a must-listen episode grounded in experience, logic, and integrity.

September 19, 2025Episode 8948 min

Episode 89: First-Time Homebuyer Myths & Assistance Programs with Mallory Johnson

Episode 89 of the Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast features Realtor Mallory Johnson with Engel & Völkers , who shares practical insights for first-time homebuyers: How Minnesota Housing down payment assistance works Other options like NeighborWorks and local programs Myths that hold buyers back (20% down, perfect credit) Negotiating seller-paid closing costs Creative programs and strategies to save money Whether you’re 6 months or 6 days away from buying, this episode will help you prepare, save, and succeed.

July 14, 2025Episode 8826 min

Episode 88: Why 10% Down Can Be Smarter Than 20% | Mortgage Insurance Myths & Strategies w/ Kama Johnson

Why wait until you save 20% down? In this episode of Driven to Succeed , Brandon Olson sits down with Kama Johnson — a 27-year industry expert from Arch MI — to explain how mortgage insurance actually empowers buyers to keep more cash on hand, move faster, and invest smarter. Topics include: ✅ The truth behind the 20% myth ✅ How to decide between upfront & monthly MI ✅ Arch MI’s innovative RateStar Buydown & Smart Split ✅ How MI protects lenders AND helps buyers 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6KVdUUaKjE4 #MortgageInsurance #HomeBuyingTips #RealEstatePodcast #ArchMI #SmartMoney

June 23, 2025Episode 8746 min

EP 87 — “Buy Now or Wait? How Seller Credits Can Unlock Lower Mortgage Payments”

In this episode of The Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast , host Brandon Olson sits down with Tracy Shalander , Realtor with Realty Group and LPT Realty, to break down one of the most powerful but underused strategies in today's real estate market: using seller-paid discount points to buy down the interest rate . 👉 What’s better for the buyer — a price reduction or a lower rate with a seller credit? We do the math using a real rate sheet and real-world numbers to compare savings over time. Tracy brings her 25+ years of business experience and 10 years in real estate to the conversation, sharing tips on how agents can lead smarter conversations with buyers, build trust in uncertain markets, and use creative financing to help more deals come together. 🔑 Topics Covered: Should buyers wait for lower rates — or act now with smarter financing? How seller credits can buy down rates and reduce monthly payments Real numbers: $10,000 price cut vs. $10,000 toward points How to build relationships and stay referral-ready Tracy’s story from Florida to Minnesota, plus her life as a mom, dog lover, and card maker 🐾✂️ 📍 Guest: Tracy Shalander 🏡 Realtor, Realty Group / LPT Realty 🌐 LinkedIn 📱 Facebook 🔗 Subscribe, like, and leave a review if you enjoy the show. 🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Buzzsprout

June 12, 2025Episode 8628 min

Episode 86: Turning First-Time Buyers into Forever Clients w/ Trib Balbhadr

In this episode, Brandon Olson interviews Minnesota-based realtor Trib Balbhadr. Known for his passion, initiative, and relentless focus on relationship-building, Trib reveals how he guides first-time buyers through the real estate journey and earns lifelong trust. A must-listen for agents who want to deepen client loyalty and level up their game.

June 1, 2025Episode 8426 min

Episode 84 🎙️MN Insurance Crisis: Rising Premiums, Hail Damage & Condo Policy Pitfalls | Laura Sauer

In this episode of the Driven to Succeed Real Estate Podcast, Brandon sits down with Laura Sauer, a seasoned insurance agent from The Insurance Shop, to break down the insurance challenges hitting Minnesota homeowners in 2025. 🎯 Key topics include: Why Minnesota premiums are skyrocketing due to hail storms and severe weather The hidden risks of condo policies with high deductibles Insurance red flags buyers and homeowners need to watch for What to do (and what NOT to do) when filing a claim How independent agents like Laura shop the market to save clients money Whether you're a homeowner, homebuyer, real estate agent, or loan officer, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you navigate the changing insurance landscape. 📩 Contact Laura Sauer 📧 lauras@insuranceshopmn.com 📞 612-289-3990 🌐 https://insuranceshopmn.com 👉 Subscribe for more real estate, mortgage, and financial insights from top industry pros.