In this forward-looking episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, sits down once again with Tony Self, Broker Associate at Harcourts Hunter Mason Realty, to unpack one of the most disruptive moments in modern real estate. From the proposed Compass–Anywhere merger to Zillow’s partnership with OpenAI, Ben and Tony dive into how consolidation, regulation, and artificial intelligence are rewriting the industry’s playbook.They examine the potential consequences if Compass gains control of nearly two-thirds of U.S. real estate transactions, the growing backlash from agents and franchise brands, and what this could mean for competition and consumer choice. Tony brings his insider’s perspective from years in corporate real estate and tech, offering rare insight into how brokers, teams, and independent offices should prepare for what’s next.The conversation then pivots to AI’s rapid evolution — from OpenAI’s partnership with Zillow to Sora’s video generation and the new wave of real estate-focused agents and automations. Tony shares how he’s integrating AI into his business today, where he draws the ethical line on visual manipulation, and whether we’re heading toward a full-blown AI bubble reminiscent of the early 2000s tech crash.If you’re a real estate professional trying to make sense of the Compass–Zillow rivalry, OpenAI’s expanding footprint, or the future of automation in real estate, this episode connects every dot.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] – The Compass–Anywhere Merger: Monopoly or Market Shift?[00:02:10] – What the DOJ and Regulators Might Do Next[00:04:30] – Century 21’s $2.6 Billion Problem and the Debt Factor[00:07:00] – Compass vs. Zillow: The Data War Nobody Wins[00:10:00] – Zillow’s OpenAI Partnership Explained[00:13:00] – How AI Could Redefine Home Search and Consumer Behavior[00:16:00] – What Agents Should Know About Licensing and AI Tools[00:18:30] – The Risk of Misrepresentation in AI Marketing[00:20:30] – Are We in an AI Bubble? Tony’s Tech Market Perspective[00:24:30] – When AI Becomes Native: The Next Real Estate Revolution🔗 Related Resources Below:🌐 For more information on Harcourts Auctions our non-distressed auction platform feel free to visit https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Tony Self and Harcourts Hunter Mason Realty:https://selfregroup.com/https://www.facebook.com/selfregrouphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyself/https://huntermason.harcourtsna.com/https://tonyself.harcourtsna.com/🔗 Connect with Ben Brady and Harcourts Auctions: ⁣https://www.facebook.com/Benbradyharcourts⁣ ⁣https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517⁣ ⁣https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctions⁣ ⁣https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions🎯 Subscribe for more industry insights — and drop a comment with your thoughts:Will AI make real estate smarter… or monopolized?

In this tactical and timely episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, reconnects with Chad Widtfeldt, seasoned Realtor and business owner at Harcourts Prime Properties, to uncover a smarter, faster way to win expired listings. Chad reveals how his team has been averaging 2–3 new listings per week by rethinking the traditional expired strategy — and how one small shift completely changed their conversion rates.The secret? Replacing in-person meetings with quick Zoom presentations that lower the barrier to entry, increase immediacy, and save hours of wasted drive time. Chad walks through the scripts, follow-up process, and real-world rhythm that has transformed his pipeline — from the initial cold call to signed listing agreements within 24 hours. Together, Ben and Chad break down why speed is the new advantage, how to qualify without overcommitting, and why auction-based differentiation gives agents a decisive edge.If you’ve ever felt the burnout of chasing dead-end appointments or wondered how to stand out in a crowded expired market, this episode offers the practical blueprint to build momentum and efficiency into every prospecting day.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] – Introduction: Why Chad’s Approach to Expired Listings Works[00:01:10] – The Return of Expired Listings and a Shift in Market Dynamics[00:03:00] – Why Most Agents Quit (and How Chad’s Team Thrives Instead)[00:05:10] – Differentiation Through Auctions and the Power of a Unique Pitch[00:06:40] – The Mental Strain of Appointments That Go Nowhere[00:08:20] – How Zoom Changed Prospecting Forever[00:10:00] – The Formula: Call, Zoom, In-Person — All Within 24 Hours[00:12:10] – How to Keep Appointments from Falling Apart[00:15:00] – Qualifying Sellers Without Killing Momentum[00:18:00] – Chad’s Exact Script for Booking Zoom Meetings[00:20:00] – Final Takeaways: Efficiency, Immediacy, and Differentiation🎥 For more incredible episodes, check out the Rethink Real Estate playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLynsSXgbRaMs-snZG6CHzX1Mxiyy9toMx🔗 Connect with Chad Widtfeldt and His Real Estate Team:⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegreengroupre/⁠https://www.greengroupre.com/homehttps://www.facebook.com/chadandjustin🔗 Connect with Ben Brady and Harcourts Auctions:⁠https://www.facebook.com/Benbradyharcourts⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctions⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions💬 Subscribe for more actionable real estate insights — and drop a comment below with how you’re using Zoom or AI to convert more listings.

In this forward-thinking episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, is joined by Chris Cochran, Director of Marketing at Harcourts Auctions, to unpack Google Gemini’s latest AI release — the bizarrely named yet incredibly powerful “Nano Banana” update — and why it’s a game-changer for real estate marketing and content creation.From creating hyper-realistic agent headshots to instantly restaging homes, Nano Banana brings Photoshop-level image control to anyone who can type a simple prompt. Chris breaks down how agents can leverage Gemini’s new likeness recognition and inpainting tools to produce professional-grade flyers, team photos, and listing visuals without a designer. Meanwhile, Ben explores how these tools might reshape listing presentations, branding, and the creative arms race in real estate.Together, they dig into the competition heating up between Google, OpenAI, and Adobe — and how these tools are redefining what it means to market property. Whether you’re tech-curious or AI-skeptical, this episode will leave you rethinking how fast the real estate industry is evolving and how to stay one step ahead.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] – Welcome to Rethink Real Estate[00:00:36] – What on earth is Google’s “Nano Banana” update?[00:01:18] – The AI image revolution: realistic headshots and likeness accuracy[00:03:22] – Gemini vs. Photoshop: how Google is closing the gap[00:05:18] – Real estate flyers, prompts, and social media automation[00:06:11] – Can AI clean up old headshots and generate team photos?[00:07:01] – The power (and limits) of restaging interiors and exteriors[00:08:01] – Turning blank rooms into design-ready showpieces[00:10:02] – Elon Musk, Grok, and the broader AI ecosystem[00:11:30] – How agents can blend creativity with accountability[00:12:00] – Real-world real estate use cases for Gemini AI[00:15:39] – How AI helps agents visualize and communicate value[00:16:18] – Final thoughts: exploring Gemini’s full potential🔗 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📣 Subscribe for more episodes exploring how technology is reshaping real estate.Drop your thoughts below — could AI-generated marketing replace traditional design agencies?