Michele Tremblay: Signature Open Houses | Top Ponte Vedra Beach Agent
Release Date: 08/11/2025
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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
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She Flipped the NYC Brokerage Model --And Agents Are Thriving
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How to 2.5x Your Sales in a Down Market: $8M to $20M in 2025
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What if the secret to your real estate breakthrough isn't a better market... but a better mindset? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Kaitlin Chernyshov. Kaitin shares how she went from uncertainty and switching seven brokerages to becoming one of Northeast Florida’s top-producing agents. Despite working in what headlines call the worst real estate market in recent years, she has already closed over 40 homes and is tracking more than 20 million in sales for 2025. Kaitlin unpacks the mindset shift that sparked her explosive growth, her transition...
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Jamie McLaughlin: From Classroom to Closing - Top St Johns Cty Realtor
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Are you just buying a house, or are you investing in a lifestyle that matches your future? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes former middle school math teacher turned real estate agent, Jamie McLaughlin. Jamie shares her inspiring journey from the classroom to becoming a trusted realtor in St. Johns County, Florida. With deep roots in the community and a teacher’s heart, Jamie brings patience, structure, and honesty to every transaction—serving not just clients, but building long-lasting relationships. Tracy dives into the challenges and...
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Tiffany High: How Wholesalers / Flippers Build Predictable Scalable Businesses
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What would change if you stopped chasing one off flips and rebuilt a real business that runs without you? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Tiffany High. Tiffany lays out how she left a demanding corporate path to be present for family, stumbled into flipping, then scaled from 40 flips in year one to a virtual operation closing 20 plus deals a month. The turning point was tearing everything down in 90 days and rebuilding with systems, training, and leadership so the company could run without constant firefighting. She explains why newbies...
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Maria Raymer: Top 1% Realtor JAX/St Augustine/Ponte Vedra
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What do buyers and sellers really need an agent for, beyond opening doors and filling forms In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down Maria Raymer. Maria’s journey from a young agent who questioned her value to a market leader known for straight talk and service. She explains how treating people with honesty and investing real time in them creates momentum that money follows. She shares how early office mentorship and daily reps built skill and confidence, plus how to communicate value even when you are new and your clients are older than you are....
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Corey Hasting: Christie's International Real Estate First Coast
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What bold move would you make if you knew your entire team’s future was on the line? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Corey Hasting for his third appearance — this time unveiling the biggest pivot of his career. At just 27, Corey launched a boutique Engel & Völkers franchise in Jacksonville Beach and scaled it into five thriving offices with 138 agents. But instead of resting on awards and billion-dollar sales, he shocked the market by transitioning his entire brokerage to Christie’s International Real Estate First Coast. Corey...
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Gail DeMarco: Top St Johns County FL Agent
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What would change in your business if you treated time as your most valuable commodity and priced every hour accordingly? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with luxury agent and team leader Gail DeMarco. Gail drops the polite filter and lays out how she built a near billion in lifetime sales by staying lean, obsessing over data, and designing a brand that shows up everywhere. From four open houses every weekend to hyper-focused farming and YouTube consistency, she explains exactly how she creates momentum in new markets and turns listings into...
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Jamie Hallman: "Consider It Closed" Professional TC's
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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...
info_outlineWhat 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 Hayes dives deep into Michele's career pivot, her luxury branding, and her unwavering consistency. Michele opens up about the realities of starting from scratch as a single mom, leveraging her skills from the entertainment world to thrive in a competitive market. Her story isn't just about selling homes—it's about building a business that reflects her heart, values, and drive.
Love this story of transformation and grit? Share this episode with someone dreaming of making a bold career move. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us for more behind-the-scenes stories of real estate success!
Highlights:
00:00 – 14:00 From Stage to Strategy
- Michele’s early dream of Broadway
- Cruise ship performances & voiceover work
- Transition from acting to motherhood
- Why real estate became the next act
- Interviewing agents before getting licensed
14:01 – 28:00 Getting Real About Real Estate
- Early challenges and financial realities
- First 8 months without a deal
- Importance of mentorship and support
- Choosing Keller Williams
- Building confidence through community
28:01 – 42:00 Grit, Growth, and Getting Noticed
- Juggling motherhood and a new career
- Showing up consistently and staying available
- Why she loves the job
- How past skills shaped her approach
- Learning to perform under pressure
42:01 – 56:00 Creating Signature Experiences
- Open houses with style and substance
- Champagne, cookies, and coloring books
- Turning every showing into a show
- Helping buyers visualize potential
- Marketing with a creative flair
56:01 – 1:12:00 Building Trust and Staying Top-of-Mind
- Providing real value before the sale
- How long-term follow-up pays off
- Collaborating with top-producing agents
- Personal touches that win clients
- Empowering new agents with advice
1:12:01 – 1:27:56 Scaling with Heart and Hustle
- Serving luxury markets authentically
- Staging, renovations, and listing prep
- Balancing business with family life
- Staying consistent with outreach
- Turning one deal into many
Quotes:
"In real estate, I have this very real impact on the families that I help... it's humbling and it's a gift." – Michele Tremblay
"You have to be ready to go on a dime—you are your business." – Michele Tremblay
"The house feels different when you walk in with a glass of bubbly in your hand." – Michele Tremblay
"You’re not just buying a home; you’re stepping into the next chapter of your life. That’s sacred." – Michele Tremblay
To contact Michele Tremblay, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn.
Connect with Michele Tremblay!
Website: https://www.micheletremblayrealestate.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelelukovich/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michele.l.tremblay.7/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@micheletremblayrealestate3200
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-tremblay11/
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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