#679: From Tariffs to Team Culture: The Real Estate Power Moves Nobody’s Talking About with Tina Caul

Episode Overview:

In this dynamic episode of One Big Fire, John Kitchens brings together two of the most influential voices in real estate—Tina Caul and Al Stasek—for a powerful conversation that cuts through the noise and delivers actionable insights for agents, team leaders, and brokerage owners.

The trio explores the impact of recent tariff pauses on new construction, Zillow’s surprising path to profitability (and what it really means for agents on the ground), and why culture is the often-overlooked X-factor that separates struggling teams from thriving empires.

They also celebrate the return of the iconic Honey Badger of the Month Award, diving into its origin, legacy, and why resilience, grit, and relentless action still define success in today’s shifting market.

If you want to future-proof your business, lead a high-performing team, and dominate in this evolving landscape, this episode is essential listening.

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Key Takeaways:

1. The Tariff Pause: Why It’s More Than Just a Builder Boost

The 90-day pause on tariffs is providing more than temporary relief to builders—it’s fueling broader market confidence. Al Stasek breaks down the ripple effect from builder operations to the job market, consumer sentiment, and the overall health of the housing economy. For agents, understanding these macroeconomic moves helps sharpen their conversations with buyers and sellers. Builders need agents more than ever to help maintain velocity in their projects, creating new partnership opportunities for savvy teams.

2. Zillow’s Profitability & What It Means for the Industry

Zillow has turned a profit for the first time in years, but the reason may surprise many. Tina Caul outlines how Zillow’s aggressive push into mortgage services has become a key revenue driver, while also highlighting their strategic shift to a remote-first model (Cloud HQ), driving operational efficiencies. The real takeaway? Teams leveraging Zillow Flex understand that the cost of leads isn’t an expense—it’s an investment in lifetime client value. Leaders must understand the math, manage the accountability, and double down on the opportunities Zillow provides while using those profits to diversify into other lead sources like Realtor.com.

3. Culture as the Non-Negotiable Profit Multiplier

While many leaders obsess over splits, leads, and transactions, Tina and John emphasize that culture is the true profit lever in any team or brokerage. They share how clearly defined, lived, and enforced core values create alignment, drive retention, and boost per-agent productivity. The discussion highlights the danger of tolerating toxic producers and why organizations with strong cultural foundations outperform their peers—especially in volatile markets. Al reinforces that accountability must be built into the system and that Zillow’s backend reporting helps take some of that burden off team leaders while raising standards.

4. The Honey Badger Award Returns: A Legacy of Resilience and Grit

The episode celebrates the return of the Honey Badger of the Month Award, honoring those in the Honey Badger Nation who embody the spirit of resilience, grit, and relentless pursuit of excellence. The award isn’t given lightly—it recognizes those who push through challenges, innovate under pressure, and lead from the front. Tina, a past winner herself, reminds listeners that the award is about more than production—it’s about how you show up when things get hard.

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Resources Mentioned:

• HoneyBadgerAward.com — Nominate your Honey Badger of the Month

• HoneyBadgerMerch.com — Get the latest Honey Badger Nation gear

• Hug Your Customer by Jack Mitchell

• The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

 

“If you don’t have concrete core values that drive decisions every day, that’s the first crack in your business you must fix.” — John Kitchens

 

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• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

 

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