Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered

What happens when data, technology, and power start consolidating in real estate? In this episode, James and Keith sit down with Pierre Calzadilla, co-founder and CEO of Upfront, to break down one of the biggest shifts happening in the industry right now. From his early days at Trulia to building multiple proptech companies, Pierre shares a unique perspective on how mergers, data control, and AI are reshaping the real estate landscape. The conversation explores what happens when platforms start controlling inventory, how that impacts transparency, and why the future of the MLS could be at risk if fragmentation continues. If you want to understand where the industry is heading and what's actually driving these changes this episode will challenge how you think about real estate. Connect with Pierre on LinkedIn. Learn more about Upfront on LinkedIn and online at myupfront.com. Subscribe to Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered?sub_confirmation=1 To learn more about becoming a sponsor of the show, send us an email: jessica@inman.com You asked for it. We delivered. Check out our new merch! https://merch.realestateinsidersunfiltered.com/ Follow Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered Podcast on Instagram - YouTube, Facebook - TikTok. Visit us online at realestateinsidersunfiltered.com. Link to Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered Link to Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/realestateinsiderspod/ Link to YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered Link to TikTok Page: https://www.tiktok.com/@realestateinsiderspod Link to website: https://realestateinsidersunfiltered.com This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative. https://twobrotherscreative.com/contact/

Are "coming soon" listings putting the real estate industry at risk? In this episode, James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson sit down with Art Carter, CEO of CRMLS, and Ed Zorn, VP and General Counsel, to unpack one of the most heated and misunderstood topics in real estate right now. From "coming soon" listings to private listings, MLS rules, and seller choice, this conversation breaks down what's actually happening behind the scenes and why it matters more than most agents realize. They also explore the growing concern that current industry trends could trigger Department of Justice scrutiny and what that could mean for agents, brokerages, and the future of cooperation. If you think this is just another industry debate, think again. Links mentioned during the episode: https://youtu.be/lYOUsPGOTd0 Learn more about CRMLS on LinkedIn - YouTube - Instagram - Facebook and online at go.crmls.org. Stay ahead of the market with insights from Zillow's Consumer Trends Report. This annual research breaks down what buyers and sellers are actually doing and what they expect from their agents. With 55% of buyers being repeat buyers, yet only 13% using their previous agent again, the message is clear: past performance doesn't guarantee future loyalty. Even more telling, nearly half of buyers and over half of sellers hire the first agent they contact. Today's clients prioritize pricing strategy, negotiation expertise, and a seamless, organized offer process. If you want to position yourself as the agent they choose in 2026, start with the data. Explore the full report and put these insights to work in your business. https://bit.ly/4rDZg3M Subscribe to Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered?sub_confirmation=1 To learn more about becoming a sponsor of the show, send us an email: jessica@inman.com You asked for it. We delivered. Check out our new merch! https://merch.realestateinsidersunfiltered.com/ Follow Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered Podcast on Instagram - YouTube, Facebook - TikTok. Visit us online at realestateinsidersunfiltered.com. Link to Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered Link to Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/realestateinsiderspod/ Link to YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered Link to TikTok Page: https://www.tiktok.com/@realestateinsiderspod Link to website: https://realestateinsidersunfiltered.com This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative. https://twobrotherscreative.com/contact/

What if everything agents are worried about right now… doesn't actually matter? In this episode, James and Keith sit down with Danny Brown, a top-producing Los Angeles agent with over 25 years in the business, to break down what actually drives success in real estate. From MLS debates and private listings to luxury real estate and industry shifts, Danny brings a grounded perspective: the agents who win aren't chasing headlines; they're focused on the fundamentals. This is a conversation about mindset, work ethic, and why doing the simple things consistently still beats everything else in this business. Connect with Danny on Instagram - YouTube - Facebook and online at dannybrownla.com. Stay ahead of the market with insights from Zillow's Consumer Trends Report. This annual research breaks down what buyers and sellers are actually doing — and what they expect from their agents. With 55% of buyers being repeat buyers, yet only 13% using their previous agent again, the message is clear: past performance doesn't guarantee future loyalty. Even more telling, nearly half of buyers and over half of sellers hire the first agent they contact. Today's clients prioritize pricing strategy, negotiation expertise, and a seamless, organized offer process. If you want to position yourself as the agent they choose in 2026, start with the data. Explore the full report and put these insights to work in your business. https://bit.ly/4rDZg3M Subscribe to Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered?sub_confirmation=1 To learn more about becoming a sponsor of the show, send us an email: jessica@inman.com You asked for it. We delivered. Check out our new merch! https://merch.realestateinsidersunfiltered.com/ Follow Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered Podcast on Instagram - YouTube, Facebook - TikTok. Visit us online at realestateinsidersunfiltered.com. Link to Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered Link to Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/realestateinsiderspod/ Link to YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered Link to TikTok Page: https://www.tiktok.com/@realestateinsiderspod Link to website: https://realestateinsidersunfiltered.com This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative. https://twobrotherscreative.com/contact/

What if the biggest misunderstanding in real estate is when the agent's job actually begins? In this episode, James and Keith sit down with Sheila Reddy, Founder and CEO of Mosaik, to challenge one of the most common assumptions in the industry that agents step in after the home search. Drawing from her experience as a buyer, seller, investor, and operator, Sheila breaks down why the real value of an agent should start long before a client clicks on a listing. From confusing search experiences to unclear decision-making, she explains why most of the process is built around transactions not people. The conversation explores what great agents actually do differently, how to guide clients through better decisions, and why the future of real estate belongs to those who can create clarity, not just access. Connect with Sheila on LinkedIn. Learn more about Mosaik on Instagram and online at mosaik.io. Subscribe to Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered?sub_confirmation=1 To learn more about becoming a sponsor of the show, send us an email: jessica@inman.com You asked for it. We delivered. Check out our new merch! https://merch.realestateinsidersunfiltered.com/ Follow Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered Podcast on Instagram - YouTube, Facebook - TikTok. Visit us online at realestateinsidersunfiltered.com. Link to Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered Link to Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/realestateinsiderspod/ Link to YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@RealEstateInsidersUnfiltered Link to TikTok Page: https://www.tiktok.com/@realestateinsiderspod Link to website: https://realestateinsidersunfiltered.com This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative. https://twobrotherscreative.com/contact/

Jack Miller, President and CEO of T3 Sixty, a research firm on residential brokerages and industry trends. He discusses which brokerages endure market slowdowns and what separates durable businesses from fragile ones. Topics include brokerage and MLS consolidation, AI and data governance, mortgage companies buying brokerages, and where to invest and recruit during a downturn.

Lisa Chinatti, broker-owner who scaled from solo agent to leading a 100+ agent brokerage, shares her rise and systems. She talks about the dialing and appointment-first habits that fueled growth. Lisa explains building an in-house ISA team, applying EOS/Traction to diagnose and fix business problems, and creating a people-first office culture. Practical stories about hiring, training, and using AI round out the conversation.

Todd Cutter, broker-owner of 2CostaRica Real Estate and nearly 30-year resident, explains running a brokerage without an MLS. He discusses how agents share listings manually and build long-term referral networks. Topics include international and second-home buyers, lifestyle-driven migration to Costa Rica, challenges from missing addresses and centralized data, and strategies for ethical transparency and market exposure.

Amit Kulkarni, former Realtor.com and Bright MLS executive and current Alloy Advisors advisor, brings MLS strategy and data expertise. He breaks down the Compass–Rocket–Redfin moves and why private listings matter. He explains data as the real battleground, MLS fragmentation risks, and how AI could amplify industry pressure points.

Leigh Brown, a 26-year veteran broker-owner and educator, dives into MLS history and why cooperation matters for a fair marketplace. She warns about fragmentation and lost protections. She also shares tactical advice on prospecting, an eight-word phone script, social media that actually works, and a “be useful” approach to staying relevant.

Jon Minerick, Marine veteran-turned-technologist and CEO of HomeCoin, outlines his flat-fee a la carte MLS model and why many proptech firms failed. He talks about who uses flat-fee listings, HomeCoin’s hourly agent approach, and the AI features they are building. The conversation widens to AI’s role from pricing to contract-to-close and the societal questions around automation and UBI.