Jamie Hallman: "Consider It Closed" Professional TC's
Real Estate Excellence
What if the key to scaling your real estate business isn’t selling more homes, but learning how to delegate smarter? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Jamie Hallman, founder of Consider It Closed and a powerhouse in the world of transaction coordination. Jamie shares her fascinating journey from working as a registered dietitian to traveling the world on a mission trip, and ultimately discovering her passion and skillset were perfectly aligned with real estate coordination. She opens up about how her solutions-driven mindset, love for...
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Lauren Duke: CoreOps Collective
Real Estate Excellence
Are you running a business or just duct taping one together? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Lauren Duke. Lauren is the founder and CEO of Core Ops Collective, to unpack how she went from military spouse and hairdresser to running operations for one of the nation’s top real estate teams—closing over 3000 transactions and opening 21 expansion locations. Lauren explains why so many agents get stuck wearing every hat, how culture can’t just be “family,” and the difference between surviving and scaling. She dives into her signature SCALE...
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Shannon Messina: It's How Much You Care | Top St Johns Cty Realtor
Real Estate Excellence
Are you truly listening to clients or just waiting to ask your next question? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Shannon Messina. Shannon brings a kinetic blend of New York grit and Florida community savvy. In this conversation she unpacks how fitness and training shaped her sales engine, why relationships beat cold prospecting, and how themed open houses with real vibes convert neighbors into buyers. She shares the move that reset her life, rebuilt her career, and led to record sales in St Johns Golf. Shannon fought through nine months of impaired...
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Jim Cronin: ReadTomato.com Real Estate Website Expert
Real Estate Excellence
Are you building a website that answers your ideal client’s real questions or a brochure that only talks about you? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Real Estate Tomato founder Jim Cronin. Jim breaks down how agents win online today by pairing deeply targeted websites with consistently updated, authority rich content. Long tail questions drive discovery, and AI overviews now pull heavily from blog articles and market snapshots written by true local experts. If your site speaks directly to a defined persona and proves expertise with specifics,...
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Ethan Gregory: REO Specialist | Top Jacksonville Agent
Real Estate Excellence
What does it really take to thrive as a real estate professional when the market collapses and short sales dominate? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Jacksonville native and seasoned agent Ethan Gregory, who has averaged 50+ transactions annually for over two decades. Ethan shares how he entered the industry after graduating from the University of Florida, beginning with flipping homes before the 2007–2008 crash shifted him into the world of short sales and REO properties. His adaptability, discipline, and problem-solving approach helped him...
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Kati Spaniak: "Sell Your Home with Kati Spaniak" YouTube Star
Real Estate Excellence
If rejection is the price of success, how many “no’s” are you willing to endure before you get your breakthrough “yes”? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with powerhouse agent, author, and YouTube influencer Kati Spaniak. From her beginnings in photography and graphic design to building a half-billion-dollar sales career, Kati shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey—navigating 9/11’s economic crash, re-entering real estate post-divorce, and scaling to become one of the top agents in her market. Her story reveals the...
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Eden Jordan: Top Clay County Florida Agent
Real Estate Excellence
What does it really take to thrive in real estate for nearly three decades through every market shift imaginable? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Clay County real estate icon Eden Jordan. With 27 years of experience, over 800 families served, and countless agents mentored, Eden shares a candid look at the grit, adaptability, and strategic thinking needed to not only survive but thrive in the industry’s constant cycles. From the early days of handwritten contracts to the rise of social media marketing, Eden’s story blends hard-earned...
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Michele Tremblay: Signature Open Houses | Top Ponte Vedra Beach Agent
Real Estate Excellence
What happens when a Broadway-bound performer turns her stage presence into real estate success? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits Michele Tremblay. Michelle shares her inspiring journey from center stage to top-producing real estate agent in Northeast Florida. With a rich background in performance, voiceover, and hospitality, Michele brings a rare blend of empathy, creativity, and grit to her clients—earning accolades such as a 2024 Five Star Rising Star award and ranking #55 out of nearly 12,000 agents by the Jacksonville Business Journal. Tracy...
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Delaney Henderson: It Takes Grit / Top Jacksonville Agent
Real Estate Excellence
What if the hardest transaction you face becomes the one that teaches you the most? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with top-producing agent Delaney Henderson to uncover the mindset, grit, and strategies that catapulted her from a burned-out paralegal in DC to one of Northeast Florida’s most respected and relatable real estate mentors. Delaney doesn’t sugarcoat the truth—she opens up about industry misconceptions, failed transactions, emotional burnouts, and the quiet resilience required to succeed in a chaotic market. Delaney shares the...
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Julianne Grant-Johnson: Team Builder and Top Agent JAX/Pensacola
Real Estate Excellence
What if your biggest limitation became the launchpad for your real estate empire? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Julianne Grant-Johnson, a top-producing real estate agent in Northeast Florida, for her second appearance on the show. This time, they dive deep into the business side of her success, exploring how she built the Grant Johnson Group while on pregnancy bedrest, leveraged her military ties to dominate the VA market, and now leads a thriving, multi-location real estate team. Julianne gets real about the challenges of growing a...
info_outlineWhat does it take to build a thriving real estate business from scratch—while raising three kids as a single mom?
In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Beverly Hecht, a top Jacksonville Beach realtor, who shares her compelling journey from IT sales to becoming a real estate powerhouse. A Jacksonville native with deep community roots, Beverly dives into how her corporate discipline, single-mom tenacity, and relentless drive helped her transition into real estate and build a loyal client base along Florida’s First Coast.
From navigating tough markets like 2008’s crash to today’s complex insurance landscape and evolving buyer expectations, Beverly offers rich insights and strategies that new and seasoned agents alike can benefit from. Her love for the beaches, community involvement, and commitment to lifelong learning truly set her apart in a competitive industry.
Loved Beverly’s story? Subscribe now and leave us a review! Share this episode with someone who dreams of turning obstacles into opportunity in the real estate world.
Highlights:
- 00:00 - 04:30 Beverly’s Early Career & Transition
- · Shifts in buyer behavior
- · Parenting perspectives on adulthood
- · Helping all age groups purchase homes
- · Insight into young vs. seasoned buyers
- · Real estate as a path to wealth
04:31 - 11:00 Navigating Generational Differences
- · Pursuing teaching for family time
- · Corporate-sponsored bachelor's degree
- · Missed opportunity at UF master's program
- · Management and HR experience
- · Reflection on shifting corporate values
11:01 - 20:00 Jacksonville’s Unique Real Estate Market
- · Geographic and lifestyle diversity
- · Schools’ influence on buying decisions
- · Customized client tours
- · Community needs: golf, beach, fitness
- · Real-life relocation scenarios
20:01 - 27:00 Insurance Woes & Structural Challenges
- · Florida's condo insurance chaos
- · Effects of new regulations
- · Firsthand experience with rising premiums
- · Advice for home buyers
- · Navigating inspections and requirements
27:01 - 00:38:00 Insurance, Market Challenges, and Pricing
- · Shifts in market dynamics
- · Personal sacrifices during 2008 crisis
- · Foreclosures and investor impact
- · Strategy for buyers in today’s market
- · Education on value vs. price
38:01 – 01:11:03 Agent Growth & New Market Realities
- · Helping buyers in a high-rate environment
- · Tips for new agents post-NAR changes
- · The power of open houses
- · Buyer rep agreements and their perception
- · Risk management in today’s market
- · Conclusion
Quotes:
“I feel very fortunate that I come from a corporate background where there were methods and procedures.” – Beverly Hecht
“You’re not going to get the perfect storm—low rates and low home prices with the home you want.” – Beverly Hecht
“My heart’s not in working with investors looking to take advantage of people.” – Beverly Hecht
“Real estate does more for me than sometimes I think it does for them.” – Beverly Hecht
To contact Beverly Hecht, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Connect with Beverly Hecht!
Website: https://www.beverlyhechtrealtor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beverlyhecht/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beverlyhechtpa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlyhechtpa/
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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