Feeling confused about what’s going on with the market, interest rates, and the economy? You’re not alone—and this episode is here to help.

In this jam-packed episode, we’re putting on our glasses and going back to school for a real estate-friendly crash course in ECON 101. But don’t worry, we’re breaking it all down in plain English. If you've been struggling to answer your clients' questions about the market, inflation, interest rates, or why nothing feels “normal” anymore—this one's for you.

Alissa channels her inner professor (Cliff bar and lemonade iced tea in hand) and walks us through three big economic concepts that are impacting real estate right now: recession, interest rates, and tariffs. We talk about how to prepare your clients—and yourself—for a shifting market, what data actually matters, and why understanding these financial factors makes you a more confident and professional Realtor.

We cover:

• What a recession actually is—and why it’s hard to define
  
  How real estate behaves differently than other investments during downturns

• Why interest rates aren’t dropping like everyone expected
  
  How the 10-year Treasury bond is impacting mortgage rates

• The ripple effect of tariffs on building costs and buyer behavior

• What seasoned agents need to do differently during market slowdowns

Whether you’re brand new, still finding your footing, or feeling the sting of a slower season, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on—and how to stay strong, professional, and prepared for what’s next.

“When the market’s working with you, it’s hard to fail. But when it’s working against you, only the resilient and wise will thrive.” —Alissa

“The real estate crystal ball has never been fuzzier.” —Alissa

“Real estate is the single best hedge against inflation and recession, more than any other asset on the planet.” —Alissa (via J. Scott)

“Now is not the time to pick your lender based on who takes you to lunch—it’s about who’s watching the data.” —Katy

“Clients don’t care what you think—they care what you can explain.” —Katy

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• BiggerPockets podcast (Jay Scott)

• The Preamble (Sharon McMahon)

• 10-Year Treasury Bond (economic indicator)

• The Blueprint (industry publication)

• University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index
  

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Do I need social media to be a successful Realtor?

If you’ve ever felt social media burnout, this episode is for you. In episode 301, we’re stripping away the pressure and getting real about how we actually use social media as working Realtors—and spoiler alert: it’s not very “strategic.” We don’t have a content calendar. We don’t pre-schedule. We’re not showing up every day, and yet… we still sell houses.

This episode is for anyone who’s felt like social media is a have to, not a want to. Katy shares how her pause button is a daily necessity. Alissa opens up about her viral kitten post on Threads (yes, 10,000+ likes accidentally), what it taught her about the algorithm, and why she sees Instagram more like a memory journal than a lead gen tool.

We chat about:

• Using social media to maintain relationships vs. find cold leads
  
  

• How Alissa's cat post blew up her Threads feed unexpectedly
  
  

• Why posting less might be exactly what you need
  
  

• How social media gives a false sense of productivity
  
  

• Using your phone photos later to avoid pressure in the moment
  
  

• Why your online presence should reflect both who you are and what you do
  
  

If you’ve been feeling the “shoulds” around your feed, give yourself permission to pull back, reset your boundaries, and use social media in a way that actually feels good to you.

“You’re doing a better job of being a user of social media and not being used by social media.” —Katy

“We’re not out there trying to get cold leads from Instagram. We’re just showing who we are.” —Alissa

“People give social media too much power. They think if they post, the phone will ring. That’s not how it works.” —Katy

“Social media should help you maintain relationships, not replace real ones.” —Alissa

“Use it as a memory log, not a marketing machine.” —Alissa

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Threads (social media app)
  
  

• Gary Vee’s advice on content and platforms
  
  

• Facebook birthday strategy for database outreach
  
  

• Katy’s Android pause button feature
  
  

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Okay, y’all… Episode 300 is HERE. Cue the confetti cannons and the alpacas! (Yes, there’s an alpaca and a camel story in this episode and no, we’re not kidding.)

For this milestone episode, we knew we wanted to bring you something special—and what better way than to finally get the one and only Laura Buck Smith behind the mic! Laura has been on our dream guest list for a very long time because she’s the one person we trust to honestly and openly talk about something we’ve never been able to teach on from experience: building and running a real estate team.

As solo agents, we have always stayed in our individual lanes, but we know so many of you are either curious about joining a team or wondering if you should start one. And the truth is… there are so many misconceptions out there. This episode is packed with real talk, systems, and yes—Laura’s incredible mix of structure and heart.

Here’s what we chat about in this episode:

• How Laura got into real estate and never worked solo
  
  

• What it was like building her team from the ground up
  
  

• The three-tier structure she uses for agents
  
  

• What really goes into leading 25 team members (without losing your mind)
  
  

• How they handle leads, admin, training, open houses, and more
  
  

• The five interviews (yes, FIVE) and 90-day probation period for new team members
  
  

• How they expanded into Alabama (spoiler: Stephen made it happen in a week!)
  
  

• Why team culture and consistency are non-negotiable
  
  

• The honest truth about when you’re ready—or not ready—to lead a team
  
  

Whether you’ve thought about building a team or you just want to learn how a well-oiled machine operates, this episode is packed with value, encouragement, and behind-the-scenes gems.

We’re so thankful to Laura for showing up and sharing it all—systems, stories, boundaries, and all the heart behind what they’ve built at Team Smith.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• The Market Real Estate Company: https://www.themarketrealestateco.com
  
  

• Laura’s open house strategy and new construction tips
  
  

• BoomTown and Zillow Premier Agent tools
  
  

• Bob Brooks Real Estate School: https://bobbrooks.com

“You need to have a servant’s heart to be a team leader. It’s not about you. It’s about your team.” – Laura

“If you're not ready to be responsible for someone else's income, you're not ready to start a team.” – Katy

“We don’t compete with our team members—we support them, and we don’t take leads from them.” – Laura

“Everyone on the team gets five interviews and 90 days of daily check-ins. If they can't email once a day, how can I trust them with a $900 lead?” – Laura

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast. The reason people stay on Team Smith is because of the culture.” – Alissa

Leave us a review at ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

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