Balancing Family, Investing & Real Estate the Right Way - Rachel Hanes
Real Estate Excellence
What if the people who doubted your dreams actually helped fuel your success? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with powerhouse realtor Rachel Hanes, a former educator turned top-producing real estate agent in Northeast Florida. Rachel shares her inspiring journey from a young mom with no laptop to a referral-based business owner dominating the Jacksonville market. She dives into her early struggles, how a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith kickstarted her career, and how surrounding herself with the right mentors helped her build a thriving,...
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How AI, Reviews & Referrals Are Shaping Real Estate
Real Estate Excellence
What if the secret to scaling your real estate business isn’t leads—but relationships? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes back powerhouse Realtor Sarah Schwartz, who shares how she dominated her market with over $36 million in sales from 57 transactions—all while managing life as a mom, wife, and business owner. Sarah reveals the secrets behind her explosive growth, including how she leverages her husband as her business partner, invests in her neighborhood relationships, and maintains an unrivaled level of client service that converts every...
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Real Estate Branding, Viral Marketing & No Fluff Content Strategy
Real Estate Excellence
Are you missing out on 90% of your potential business because you’re afraid to show your face on social media? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Amy B. Cotney, a real estate powerhouse who’s turned her authentic personality into a thriving brand online. With over 300,000 followers on Instagram and more than 1.3 million on TikTok, Amy breaks down the real ROI of social media for agents and why being yourself is your biggest marketing weapon. From humble beginnings and mistakes to landing $4 million listings off a Jet Ski video, Amy’s journey...
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Real Estate 2026: How Buyers, Sellers & Agents Win in a Shifting Market
Real Estate Excellence
Are you building a business that feels like you—or one you think people expect to see? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes powerhouse agent Dori Nugent, whose bold pivot from a 20-year fitness career to real estate during the pandemic has quickly made her a standout in Northeast Florida. Dori shares how her deep roots in client service, leadership, and authentic human connection have been the key drivers of her rapid success, closing over 90 transactions in just a few years. From mastering social media with purpose to navigating the unique...
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What Makes a Broker Great? Jonathan Lickstein on Building Real Brokerage Culture
Real Estate Excellence
What if the key to scaling your real estate career wasn’t selling more—but letting go? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Jonathan Lickstein, the award-winning COO of one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent brokerages. From launching his career unexpectedly in Honduras to leading a 5,000-agent operation across six states, Jonathan reveals how he uses cutting-edge AI, strong culture, and deep mentorship to scale operations, without losing the human touch. Jonathan dives deep into how brokers can truly support agents in today’s...
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How to Buy Equestrian Property in Florida’s Top Horse Regions
Real Estate Excellence
Can mastering a niche early in your real estate career be the secret to selling million-dollar homes in your 20s? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes second-generation real estate agent Emma Horvatincic, a driven and self-made rising star specializing in equestrian properties in Northeast Florida. Emma shares her journey from growing up immersed in a business-minded household to building a flourishing career in real estate—all before turning 25. Her unique blend of professionalism, niche marketing, and dedication to elite service shines throughout...
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How To Make Real Estate Agents CEO's
Real Estate Excellence
Are you holding back your real estate growth because you’re afraid to let go of control? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with the sharp and candid Sasha Tripp, founder of Story House Real Estate in Central Virginia. Sasha opens up about her journey from independent boutique brokerage owner to partnering with Real and Place to scale her operations without sacrificing her brand. With a strong emphasis on leadership, systems, and strategic partnerships, she shares how she broke through growth plateaus and found new ways to elevate both her...
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He Bet Everything on Real Estate — And It Worked
Real Estate Excellence
Would you be willing to remove an organ just to escape your 9-to-5 and chase your dream? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Drew Kazemba. Drew shares one of the most unconventional entries into real estate ever told—he voluntarily had his appendix removed to get time off work and take his real estate exam. Drew walks us through how he transitioned from a miserable medical sales job into building a thriving real estate career in Jacksonville, Florida. From cold-calling hedge funds and wholesaling to learning the ropes at DJ & Lindsey,...
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From Recruiting to Real Estate: Karen Saez’s Rise in Northeast Florida
Real Estate Excellence
What would you risk—your career, your comfort, or your security—to build the life you really want? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Karen Saez. Karen shares her incredible journey from corporate recruiting at Deutsche Bank to owning a bar and eventually finding her true passion in real estate. As a bilingual advisor and former military spouse, Karen brings heart, hustle, and unique experience to the Jacksonville market. She dives deep into what it takes to break into the industry, create a client-first business, and overcome the personal and...
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Selling $5M Homes in Ponte Vedra Beach
Real Estate Excellence
What if the key to succeeding in the luxury real estate market isn't flash or fame—but quiet consistency and old-school relationship-building? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with luxury real estate veteran Michael Curet, a former pro tennis writer turned top-tier coastal agent. With nearly three decades in the game, Michael shares how he transitioned from ATP rankings to real estate royalty in northeast Florida. He opens up about the early hustle, key relationships, and how his sports background uniquely positioned him to serve elite clientele,...
info_outlineWhat if your smartest, most efficient business partner was already on your laptop — and free?
In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes dives deep with with 24-year-old trailblazer Bella Taazieh — a rising force in Northeast Florida real estate who’s harnessing AI to build a modern, personal, and wildly productive business. Bella unpacks how she’s blending ChatGPT, Gamma, Notebook LM, and more to save hours, close deals faster, and create lead-gen systems that work for her — even while she’s at the beach.
From building her own GPT assistant to turning transcripts into podcasts and sending weekly AI-generated “Deals of the Week,” Bella’s strategies are not just innovative — they’re replicable. She breaks down how even the busiest solo agent can reclaim time and scale their impact by letting AI carry the heavy lift. Whether you're tech-curious or AI-obsessed, this is the blueprint episode you've been waiting for.
If you're a realtor stuck in the hustle and grind, it's time to future-proof your business! Subscribe now, share this episode with your team, and follow Bella for game-changing content. Want Bella’s GPT tools? DM her now on Instagram @bellataazieh and unlock your AI-powered future!
Highlights:
00:00 – 07:58 Bella’s AI Philosophy & Client-Centered Automation
- Why AI isn't impersonal—it's powerful
- Helping more clients without losing personal touch
- Fear vs. opportunity: why agents must adapt
- Hiring AI without payroll
- Examples of AI replacing team roles
10:11–21:16 ChatGPT as Your Smartest Assistant
- Bella’s “Who Am I” project: feeding ChatGPT her story
- Letting AI learn your tone, habits, and goals
- Using ChatGPT for negotiations and emotional intelligence
- AI-generated bios for branding
- Using AI like a personal coach or mentor
21:17–33:15 Building Lead Funnels: 250 Leads with Zero Ads
- Creating the “Deals of the Week” email funnel
- Turning weekly listings into relationship-building touchpoints
- Mass emails that feel personal
- Workshop results: leads within 11 minutes
- Why simple formatting and real-time data beat Canva graphics
33:16–45:00 Custom GPTs & Gamma AI for Seller Presentations
- What a custom GPT is and why you need one
- Bella’s Control+Me GPT and its four powerful commands
- How she created presentations in 5 minutes with Gamma AI
- Real-world example of winning a listing on short notice
- Beat experienced agents using speed + AI insights
45:01–57:45 Notebook LM & The AI Podcast Hack
- What is Notebook LM and how to use it
- Turning training sessions into listenable podcasts
- AI-generated conversation between two fake hosts
- Training your team with AI audio content
- Brainstorming business models from knowledge conversion
57:46–01:09:35 Automating as a Solo Agent: Scaling with Systems
- Using Trello + Zapier + ChatGPT for email workflows
- Email funnels that feel personal but are fully automated
- Creating daily motivation prompts from AI
- Monday GPT: the brutal but honest motivator
- Why AI saves time, energy, and sanity
1:09:36–01:18:51Branding, Follow-Up & Where Agents Waste Time
- Branding is not your logo—it’s your legacy
- Using AI to stay top-of-mind with leads weekly
- Automating touchpoints without sounding generic
- Following up with 200+ leads in 5 minutes
- Top two AI strategies every agent should implement now
Quotes:
“Every single one of my clients feels loved—because I use AI to give them more of me, not less.” – Bella Taazieh
“I created a GPT called Control+Me. It’s my assistant, strategist, and motivator all in one.” – Bella Taazieh
“I built a Deals of the Week system that gave me 250 leads, 5 consultations, and didn’t cost me a dime.” – Bella Taazieh
“AI isn’t here to replace agents—it’s here to empower the ones who are willing to lead.” – Bella Taazieh
To contact Bella Taazieh, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Instagram.
Connect with Bella Taazieh!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bellataaziehrealtor
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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