In this inspiring and deeply human episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady sits down with Long Doan — Vietnamese refugee turned powerhouse Broker/CEO and Founder of Realty Group — to unpack one of the most remarkable growth journeys in modern real estate. Long shares the story that shaped his entire life: escaping Vietnam alone at age 13, surviving a refugee camp nicknamed “Hell’s Island,” and using that experience to build a 650-agent independent brokerage rooted in service, culture, and leadership.Long breaks down the real foundation behind Realty Group’s meteoric rise: building a people-first company where alignment, relationship-building, omnipresent branding, and agent empowerment beat every traditional brokerage model. He details the systems behind their 12-office footprint, 4,000+ annual transactions, and how they’ve engineered profitability in a shrinking-margin industry. From referrals to education, from culture to community, Long reveals exactly how their model evolved — and why helping others is not just their motto, but their operating system.The conversation then shifts into the big news: Realty Group’s strategic expansion into LPT, unlocking nationwide scalability, stock opportunities, and residual revenue for agents. Long explains why the next era of brokerage success belongs to companies that combine culture with modern infrastructure — and how exponential growth becomes possible when you stop competing in old frameworks and start building ecosystems.If you’re a brokerage leader, team owner, or agent who wants to understand what the future of the real estate brokerage looks like — and how one man’s story fuels a mission bigger than business — this episode will stay with you long after it ends.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics[00:00:00] – Introduction & why this episode is a rerun favorite[00:01:30] – Long’s refugee journey and the night that shaped his lifelong “why”[00:04:56] – Building a new life at 13: survival, mindset, and responsibility[00:07:55] – How hardship became the foundation of leadership & service[00:12:16] – Growing Realty Group to 650+ agents across 12 offices[00:17:06] – Recruiting through relationships, alignment, and omnipresence[00:20:59] – The REAL reason agents choose (and stay with) a brokerage[00:24:53] – Profitability, fee models & building revenue verticals[00:29:36] – The future of Realty Group and the announcement: joining LPT🔗 Related Resources🌐 For more info on Harcourts Auctions, our non-distressed auction platform:https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Long Doan & Realty Grouphttps://www.realtygroupmn.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/longdoan/https://www.facebook.com/realtygroupmn/🔗 Connect with Ben Brady & Harcourts AuctionsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenbradyharcourtsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions

This is one of our most impactful episodes ever, Ben Brady sits down with global sales authority and bestselling author @PhilMJonesUK whose book Exactly What to Say has reshaped how professionals communicate, influence, and guide critical decisions. This conversation became our most downloaded episode for a reason — it’s timeless, tactical, and brutally relevant to every agent navigating today’s complex real estate landscape.Phil breaks down the foundational idea behind his work: that the difference between good and great agents often comes down to knowing exactly what to say, when to say it, and how to make it count. He reveals why real estate professionals consistently struggle with unlearning outdated habits, how language choices impact trust, and what separates the agents who thrive from those who get left behind in shifting markets.Ben and Phil go deep into the psychology of buyers and sellers — fear, regret, indecision, ego — and how the best agents create clarity in moments where clients feel most overwhelmed. From mastering conversational “prefaces” to turning black-and-white questions into productive gray areas, Phil shares the precise word patterns that help agents de-escalate tension, unlock truth, and confidently guide clients through high-stakes decisions.If you’ve ever wanted a practical blueprint for influencing without manipulating, communicating without conflict, and winning clients through trust rather than pressure… this is the episode.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics[00:00:00] – Holiday rerun intro & why this episode still matters[00:00:51] – Why Phil Jones’ frameworks resonate years later[00:02:34] – The difference between good and great communicators[00:04:49] – Why agents struggle with unlearning old habits[00:06:50] – Scripting vs. real conversations in real estate[00:09:07] – The three questions every client is trying to answer[00:12:10] – The mindset shift agents must make in today’s market[00:17:01] – Why hard conversations get avoided — and what it costs[00:23:35] – Influence vs manipulation: the real difference[00:27:10] – How to enter conversations through the “side door”[00:32:48] – The power of softening statements (“Could it be possible…”)[00:37:08] – The famous Phil Jones pen story: articulating real value🔗 Related ResourcesFor more information on Harcourts Auctions and how we help Agents feel free to visit: 🌐 https://www.harcourtsauctions.comLearn More About Phil M. JonesWebsite: https://www.philmjones.comExactly What to Say (book): https://www.exactlywhattosay.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philmjonesukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PhilMJonesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philmjonesConnect with Harcourts Auctions & Ben BradyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenbradyharcourtsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions

In this year-end marketing deep dive, Chris Cochran, Director of Marketing for Harcourts Auctions, takes over the show to break down the real numbers behind what actually worked in 2025. From YouTube performance shifts to Facebook’s new advertising algorithm, Chris unpacks the platforms, trends, and behaviors shaping how real estate professionals should be thinking about attention in 2026.He reveals how long-form content quietly overtook reels, why podcast audio streams dipped while YouTube surged, and the surprising reason Facebook delivered nearly 8x more impressions than Instagram despite having fewer followers. Whether you're growing a personal brand, building a listing funnel, or trying to understand where consumers actually spend time, this report exposes the truth behind modern real estate marketing.Chris also breaks down Harcourts Auctions’ best-performing ad structures of the year — including Meta’s overhaul of the ads manager — and how their cost per lead dropped from $85 to $16 using a simplified campaign structure. Finally, he walks through the rising dominance of texting and cold calling as email deliverability collapses, and why agents should rethink their 2026 outreach plans before Q1 hits.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00] Why Chris is hosting today & what this episode covers[00:35] YouTube growth: watch time up, views down, what it means[01:54] Subscriber gains & YouTube becoming the #1 podcast platform[03:35] Facebook performance: views explode, interactions drop[04:59] Instagram analytics: high engagement, low reach[06:56] Podcast audio vs. YouTube: the platform shift[10:38] Meta Ads overhaul: the new 2026 structure explained[13:03] Dropping cost per lead from $85 → $16[17:01] Why text messaging is outperforming email outreach[19:45] Cold calling, 2026 marketing predictions & next steps🔗 Related Resources:For more info on Harcourts Auctions, our non-distressed auction platform, visit: https://www.harcourtsauctions.comConnect with Ben Brady and the Harcourts Auctions team:Facebook: www.facebook.com/BenbradyharcourtsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517Instagram: www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionsFacebook: www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions#RealEstateMarketing #HarcourtsAuctions #RealEstateLeads #MetaAds #FacebookAds #InstagramMarketing #YouTubeForRealEstate #RealEstatePodcast #RealEstateAgents #ListingStrategies #DigitalMarketing2026 #RealEstateContent #AgentGrowth #RealEstateTips #RethinkRealEstate