In this powerful rerun episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady is joined by Matthew Miale, CEO and Realtor of The Miale Team at Keller Williams, to break down exactly how he built one of the most dominant, listing‑focused real estate teams in the country — closing over 400 transactions a year without relying on cold calls, internet leads, or gimmicks.Matthew shares the philosophy that has shaped his entire business: simplify what the industry overcomplicates and double down on relationships. From redefining what “systems and processes” really mean, to scrapping the traditional buyer‑agent vs. listing‑agent team model, this episode is a masterclass in building a scalable business rooted in trust, service, and database growth. If you’re a solo agent, team leader, or somewhere in between, there are practical takeaways you can apply immediately.The conversation dives deep into how Matthew’s team generates 80%+ of its transactions from sphere, why every agent must start with a minimum database of 400 people, and how client events, open houses, and consistent relationship nurturing outperform transactional lead chasing — especially in tougher markets. Ben and Matthew also tackle bigger industry topics, including commission decoupling, private exclusives, MLS changes, and why “hard markets” reward agents who focus on fundamentals.This is a must‑listen episode if you want to build a resilient, listing‑driven business that thrives in any market cycle and carries momentum into 2026 and beyond.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] – Why this episode matters heading into 2026[00:02:06] – Simplifying systems instead of overcomplicating real estate[00:03:28] – “Sideline to sideline” activity vs. real production[00:05:11] – Building a business on relationships, not cold calls[00:06:39] – Becoming the #1 listing team in Connecticut[00:08:36] – Why the specialist team model fails[00:10:24] – The power of database over strangers[00:11:50] – Why 80%+ of deals come from sphere[00:12:56] – The 400‑contact rule every agent must follow[00:15:02] – Client events as conversation starters, not marketing stunts[00:18:40] – Service vs. sales mindset in real estate[00:24:19] – Why open houses are still king[00:26:11] – “One new friend a day” strategy[00:28:22] – Navigating hard markets and industry cycles[00:32:32] – Buyer commissions, decoupling, and professionalism[00:36:11] – Private exclusives, MLS, and consumer impact[00:39:55] – Why transparency ultimately benefits consumers🔗 Related Resources Below:🌐 For more information on Harcourts Auctions our non-distressed auction platform feel free to visit https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Matthew Miale and The Miale Team at Keller Williams:https://themialeteam.com/https://www.facebook.com/MialeTeamhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmiale/https://www.instagram.com/themialeteamkw🔗 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/HarcourtsAuctionsIf this episode helped you rethink how you grow your real estate business, like, comment, and subscribe on your preferred platform. Roughly 75% of our audience isn’t subscribed yet — and your support helps us keep bringing these conversations to more agents around the world.

In this high‑impact episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady revisits one of the most practical, no‑nonsense scripts every real estate agent should have dialed in: the buyer follow‑up conversation. Recorded earlier this year and now resurfaced as part of our holiday rerun series, this episode breaks down exactly how top listing agents should be following up after showings and open houses to extract real price feedback — not the fluffy, meaningless responses that kill momentum and mislead sellers.Ben walks through live, word‑for‑word scripts agents can use when following up with both buyers and buyer’s agents, showing how to push past vague answers like “it’s priced well” and uncover what buyers would actually pay. This episode challenges agents to stop accepting surface‑level feedback and instead ask better questions that protect their sellers, sharpen pricing conversations, and prevent inflated expectations from sabotaging the sale.If you’re struggling to get honest feedback, tired of chasing unqualified opinions, or want to improve your weekly reporting and seller communication, this episode is a must‑listen. These scripts are designed to be implemented immediately and work just as well for listing agents as they do for agents representing buyers.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] – Rerun special & why this episode matters right now[00:01:43] – Why “it’s priced well” is meaningless feedback[00:02:24] – The correct follow‑up script after a showing[00:04:51] – Why open houses are critical for real feedback[00:05:29] – How to capture buyer information at the front door[00:06:18] – Direct buyer follow‑up script (word for word)[00:07:34] – Translating buyer feedback into real seller guidance[00:08:35] – Educating sellers as an “insurance policy”[00:10:03] – Follow‑up script when dealing with buyer’s agents[00:11:41] – The biggest mistake agents make with showing feedback[00:12:08] – Final challenge: better questions = better outcomes🔗 Related Resources:For more info on Harcourts Auctions, our non-distressed auction platform, visit: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 tactical sales and listing strategies. Drop your questions in the comments — we read every single one.

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