Keeping It Real Podcast • Secrets Of Top 1% REALTORS ® • Interviews With Real Estate Brokers & Agents

Hosted by D.J. Paris

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Episodes

300

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Secrets of top 1% realtors and real estate agents!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 30, 202633 min

Zillow’s Chief Economist on Where the Housing Market Is Headed • Mischa Fisher

Mischa Fisher, Chief Economist at Zillow, discusses what today’s housing market means for real estate agents and their clients. Mischa explains why some markets are outperforming others, how rising mortgage rates are affecting buyer demand, and why tracking home values and rental trends can help agents better understand local market conditions. He also shares insights on the rent-versus-buy decision, pricing listings correctly, and preparing for a potential surge in competition if mortgage rates fall ahead of spring 2027. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

October 28, 202610 min

AI Won’t Replace You – But It Will Expose You • Video Boot Camp for Real Estate Professionals • Kim Rittberg

In this episode Real Estate Video Coach Kim Rittberg discusses how industry leaders are openly saying AI will replace some agents. The truth is, it won’t replace the good ones, but it will expose anyone who’s been hiding behind templates and generic content. Kim shows agents why being visible and human on camera is the one thing AI can’t copy, and how to use video to become the agent clients trust and remember. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Enroll here to Kim’s Video Boot Camp for a live small group coaching for agents starting November, 3rd. ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!! Follow Kim on Instagram and LinkedIn. Subscribe to Kim on YouTube. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

October 21, 202613 min

You Don’t Need to Be Good on Camera to Get Leads From YouTube • The YouTube Lab • Sarah Maslowski

Welcome to another episode of YouTube Lab with Sarah Maslowski . In this episode, Sarah shares how to overcome camera anxiety, stop worrying about being perfect, find content ideas in the questions clients already ask, and stand out even in competitive markets. Sarah explains why YouTube can deliver stronger lead-generation results than other social platforms and why waiting to get started means missing valuable opportunities to build trust and a pipeline of future clients. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sarah Maslowski can be reached at hello@keypointhomesgroup.com and +1(470) 577-6472 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

October 20, 202654 min

Stop Letting Mortgage Rates Scare Your Buyers • Anna Kara

Anna Kara discusses how agents can help buyers navigate mortgage rates above 7%. Anna explains why waiting for rates to drop could mean facing more competition and higher home prices, and how looking beyond the interest rate to the actual monthly payment can change the conversation. She also shares strategies for helping self-employed borrowers who have been turned down by traditional lenders, negotiating deals in today’s market, and building a personal brand through authentic, value-driven content. Her message to agents is simple: educate your clients, focus on what’s best for them, and build relationships that last beyond a single transaction. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Anna Kara can be reached at (818) 747-8777 and anna@annakaraloans.com . This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

October 15, 202624 min

Your Competition Is Slowing Down. Keep Going. • Better Your Business With Ben • Ben Lalez

Welcome to our series Better Your Business With Ben. In this episode Ben Lalez explains why he calls Q4 “separation season” and why the agents willing to keep making calls, following up, working their database, and doing the uncomfortable things are the ones who will separate themselves from the competition. He breaks down how to analyze where your past business actually came from, identify the activities you can replicate, and use the next 90 days to plant the seeds for a stronger 2027. Please follow Ben on Instagram and TikTok . If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Ben Lalez can be reached at 312.789.4054 and ben.lalez@compass.com . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

October 12, 202638 min

The Market Is Shifting. Are You Ready? • Monday Market Minute ‭• Carrie McCormick

In our October episode, Carrie McCormick breaks down what agents need to know heading into Q4. Carrie discusses rising mortgage rates, low inventory, increasingly selective buyers, and why pricing, presentation, and positioning are more important than ever in the current market. She also shares how luxury buyers are changing, how AI is influencing client decisions, and why agents need to bring real market knowledge and human expertise to the table. Finally, Carrie explains why Q4 is the perfect time to start preparing your systems and strategy for 2027 while still finishing 2026 strong. Please follow Carrie on Instagram . If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Carrie can be reached at carrie@atproperties.com or by phone at 312.961.4612 . This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .

October 9, 20261 hr 14 min

He Knew Nobody Then He Did $10M • Brenton Miebach

Brenton Miebach talks about how he built a $10M+ business in his first year in two different markets where he knew virtually no one. Brenton breaks down how he used paid leads, relentless responsiveness, and deep market research to build a network from scratch and why the real value of an internet lead is the referral business that can come from it. He also shares how he built AI-powered systems that automate everything from marketing and website content to detailed showing packets, and how he used AI-generated videos about Cape Coral’s history to grow his Facebook following from 150 to more than 3,000. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Brenton Miebach can be reached at (239) 990-7738 and brenton@brentonmiebach.com . This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

October 5, 20261 hr 4 min

The Ralph Lauren Playbook For Selling Houses • Bill Melnick

Bill Melnick talks about his career transition from luxury merchandising at Ralph Lauren to real estate in Litchfield County. Bill shares how the Ralph Lauren approach of selling a lifestyle, not just a product, shapes the way he markets homes, from staging and photography to telling a property’s complete story. He also breaks down how he sold the $12 million Ivan Lendl estate, why luxury buyers care about much more than square footage, and how local knowledge, relationships, and authentic marketing can give agents an edge in an increasingly AI-driven industry. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Bill Melnick can be reached at 917-330-5241 and bill@harneyre.com . This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

September 30, 20261 hr 4 min

Your Buyer Has the Down Payment but NOT the Closing Costs • Alex Maldonado

Alex Maldonado reveals a strategy many first-time buyers (and even agents) overlook: using seller and lender credits to help cover closing costs. Alex explains how he helps buyers who have saved for a down payment but are still short on the cash needed to close, and how he structures offers so those credits don’t automatically make them less competitive. He also breaks down how he generates leads through targeted marketing, SEO, bilingual content, and AI, and why becoming a better salesperson may be more valuable than simply making more calls. Alex is offering a free marketing audit to a limited number of agents here. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Alex Maldonado can be reached at (323) 688-4710 . This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io .

September 28, 202652 min

Are You the Type of Realtor AI Will Replace? • Unpopular Real Estate Opinions • Chris Linsell

Welcome to our monthly feature Unpopular Real Estate Opinions with Chris Linsell . In this episode Chris and DJ tackle some of the biggest questions facing agents today. They discuss how AI could reshape the real estate profession, why relationship-building and expertise may become more valuable than ever, and what agents need to do to stay relevant as technology takes over more of the traditional work. They also dive into the future of Zillow, Compass, and independent brokerages, exploring how changing business models and control of listings could reshape the industry. Please check Chris’ profile on LinkedIn. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io .