Want to Sell Luxury? Fake it Till You Make It (The Right Way) w/ Julia Spillman | Episode 110
Release Date: 05/08/2025
Want to Sell Luxury? Fake it Till You Make It (The Right Way) w/ Julia Spillman | Episode 110
Real Producers
Most people dream of breaking into luxury real estate, imagining a glamorous life of lavish parties, jaw-dropping listings, and red-carpet moments. They see the glossy Instagram photos, the million-dollar deals, and the VIP lifestyle. But what they don’t see is the grit, sacrifice, and relentless hustle behind the scenes. The truth is, success in luxury real estate isn’t just about "looking the part", it’s about building the skills, relationships, and experiences that get you in the right rooms. And yes, sometimes that means “faking it till you make it”, but in the right...
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Risk Is the Ultimate Shortcut to Real Estate Growth w/ Sam Stone | Episode 109
Real Producers
In real estate, success often feels like it's just out of reach. We see others climbing to new heights, owning multiple properties, building vast networks, and achieving financial freedom, but rarely do we hear about the risks they took to get there. The truth is, we all want success without understanding the sacrifices and risks successful people face. It's easy to envy their achievements without recognizing the challenges that come with the journey. But here's the reality: without risks, you won't learn. Growth in real estate (and life, for that matter) is all about stepping outside of...
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Great Real Estate Leaders Get Vulnerable to Grow...Here's Why w/ Keith James | Episode 108
Real Producers
On this podcast, we’ve seen many traits and habits that lead to real estate success. Of course, drive, discipline, and sales mastery are necessary if you want to build an awesome business and legacy. But the exceptional agents we feature on this show have another thing in common. Their ability to withstand temporary pain in the pursuit of long-term growth. That pain takes on many forms: being vulnerable about where your business is bleeding. Receiving and applying feedback. Not focusing on flashy accolades like GCI and rather prioritizing net profit. Using...
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From Realtor to Publisher: The Power of Being in the Right Rooms w/ Brittney Shull | Episode 107
Real Producers
Success in real estate—or any sales-driven business—isn’t just about chasing leads. It’s about cultivating real relationships and intentionally putting yourself in the right rooms. Because let’s face it: leads can get you in the door, but relationships are what keep you in the game. The environments we choose to step into can radically accelerate our growth. Being in the right rooms—whether that’s a mastermind, a networking event, or a simple lunch with other top producers—can unlock opportunities we may never have uncovered on our own. You get to learn from people who are a...
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How to Go From $5 Million to $16.8 Million By Being Yourself w/ Ryan Cecil | Episode 106
Real Producers
In some jobs, being authentic and outspoken on social media can get you fired. But in real estate, that authenticity could be the thing that separates you from cookie cutter agents and gets you hired by buyers and sellers. That was Ryan Cecil’s experience. After getting fired for her social media content, she found that real estate agents who show their personality attract more clients. Her online marketing and community-building efforts have created a highly successful real estate trajectory, going from $5 million in sales to $16.8 million in just a few years. Ryan’s...
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How a Real Estate Team of 8 Achieves the Production of 20 w/ Erin Krueger | Episode 105
Real Producers
In real estate, many agents who decide to build teams are focused on what the team will do for them. It’s often about using leverage for the team leader to achieve what they personally want. Maybe that’s why the industry has so many problems around perception and professionalism. What would happen if a leader built around the concept of how they impact others and focused on the “why” of their people? You get a solid culture, a ton of production, and an environment they’ll never want to leave. That’s what Erin Krueger built in Nashville. Her team is built so well...
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Why Teaming Up with Real Estate Agents Could Make You Millions w/ AJ Kallas | Episode 104
Real Producers
Most businesses and entrepreneurs are laser focused on building brands that appeal to the consumer. They spend a ton of money on getting Instagram followers and going viral, but to no avail. What they don’t realize is that there’s a better (and less expensive) way to get in front of the consumer - and that’s through real estate agents. One relationship with a top producing agent in your city could be worth millions. Instead of trying to win consumers one-for-one, the right agent could lead you to their database of thousands of clients and customers. Industries like...
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How to Become a Community-Building Real Estate Agent w/ Richard Spears | Episode 103
Real Producers
In real estate, agents wear many hats. We’re marketers, advisors, entrepreneurs, and salespeople, but one important role we tend to overlook is community builders. We’re in a unique position to influence and inspire people, using homeownership to close the wealth gap. It’s easy to focus on what real estate can do for us, but we can’t lose sight of what it does for our communities. Through real estate ownership, many people have been able to change the trajectory of their lives and step into financial freedom. That’s why a real estate transaction has so much emotion attached to it....
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Emotional Intelligence in Real Estate: Why Clients Are a Lot Like Horses w/ Brittney Pino | Episode 102
Real Producers
Horses and human beings during a real estate transaction are a lot alike - they need to be handled with emotional intelligence. Purchasing or selling a home is a high stakes scenario with a lot of money and emotion on the line. Just like horses are sensitive to the emotions of their riders, consumers are sensitive to the emotions of their agent. Unfortunately, a lot of deals go south and people get hurt because agents lack the EQ required for things to go smoothly. In order to be great agents, we have to apply level-headedness to our transactions, and avoid showing strong emotions...
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You’ve Been Lied To: Why Real Wealth Isn’t Just About Buying Properties w/ Nick Najjar | Episode 101
Real Producers
“Invest in real estate, it’s the true path to wealth” they say. That’s not the whole story. True wealth doesn’t come from simply racking up assets, but by building business enterprises that produce passive income. So while buying up single-family, multi-family, short-term rentals and other investments is a big piece of the puzzle, that’s only step one. To fully experience the power of real estate, we have to take it a step further, and run those investments like a business. The challenge is: most people (even real estate agents) get so caught up in earning...
info_outlineMost people dream of breaking into luxury real estate, imagining a glamorous life of lavish parties, jaw-dropping listings, and red-carpet moments.
They see the glossy Instagram photos, the million-dollar deals, and the VIP lifestyle. But what they don’t see is the grit, sacrifice, and relentless hustle behind the scenes.
The truth is, success in luxury real estate isn’t just about "looking the part", it’s about building the skills, relationships, and experiences that get you in the right rooms.
And yes, sometimes that means “faking it till you make it”, but in the right way.
One of the fastest ways to do that? Joining the right team.
When you’re starting out, you might not have a portfolio full of luxury listings yet, but your team's reputation and experience can open doors you couldn't access alone.
By aligning with a strong team, you instantly gain credibility, mentorship, and access to higher-end deals that help you level up faster than you ever could solo.
Today’s guest, Julia Spillman, is the CEO of the Eklund|Gomes Team at Douglas Elliman, a powerhouse team that's shattered the billion-dollar sales mark and expanded across New York, LA, Miami, and beyond.
In this episode, we dive into the real blueprint for making it in luxury real estate, the power of starting from the bottom, and the strategic use of teams to leap into higher price points.
Find the balance between being authentic and still selling to high end clients, looking luxury but also being very approachable. -Julia Spillman
Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- The right way to “fake it till you make it”
How do ambitious agents break into the luxury market without being scammy, and why is teaming the ultimate shortcut to real success?
- Why teams are a launchpad, not a crutch
What makes teams so powerful for growing your price point, client base, and credibility faster than you could solo?
- The myth of overnight success
Why do people think luxury agents just appear out of nowhere? What does the real path look like behind the scenes?
- How your background becomes your superpower
How did growing up in a tiny town, and working through the 2008 crash, prepare Julia for leading a billion-dollar brand today?
Guest Bio
Julia Spillman is CEO of Douglas Elliman’s celebrated Eklund|Gomes team. The Kentucky native is the architect of Eklund|Gomes’ unprecedented nationwide expansion and in addition oversees all operations, sales and agent hires. Energetic, people-oriented and a brilliant communicator, Spillman has been with Douglas Elliman for a decade and has honed her abilities to tap networks, streamline data and watch markets at the micro and macro level. Her dedication and spirit have paid off – in 2018, she led the team to break a billion in annual sales. Spillman’s past experience as a residential lender for firms such as HSBC and Merrill Lynch give her an understanding of the importance of providing service at every level of highly complex transactions. Her advisory of a customized Customer Relationship Management platform allows her and the Eklund|Gomes team to pick up precisely where they left off in any relationship or project. Her ability to cultivate and retain high-net-worth clientele is matched by her power to harness and interpret information and to balance a keenly held intuition with a trove of knowledge. Spillman’s ambition is matched by her commitment to community. She has provided years of fundraising and service to Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Easter Seals, and the New York City Junior League. She is active with the American Ballet Theater and served as the Former 2015 and 2016 Junior Council Chair and Junior Chair of the 2014 ABT Spring Gala. Follow @juliayagerspillman on Instagram.
About Your Host
Remington Ramsey is a speaker, author, entrepreneur, and visionary in the world of real estate. As the creator of "Real Producers", a widely acclaimed magazine connecting top agents and industry leaders, Remington has built an impressive platform dedicated to celebrating and elevating the real estate community. Remington is also the author of Agent Allies: Building Your Business With Strategic Real Estate Partnerships. With a passion for motivating and mentoring, he’s shared stages with some of the biggest names in business, helping professionals break through barriers and reach new heights. When he’s not busy being a real estate guru, Remington is known for his contagious energy, practical wisdom, and a good dose of humor—because let’s face it, navigating life and business requires both grit and a sense of humor. With multiple successful ventures under his belt and a reputation for engaging storytelling, he has the rare ability to make even the driest industry stats sound exciting.
To learn more about the podcast or give feedback and suggest a guest, go to https://podcast.realproducersmag.com/.
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