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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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 wisdom with relatable humor.
Listeners will hear Eden’s journey from Disney College Program graduate to top-producing Realtor, her creative grassroots networking in playgrounds and ballfields, and her no-nonsense take on market trends, government influence, and the “greed factor” in housing. She opens up about setbacks, including lawsuits and the 2008 crash, and reveals the key systems, relationships, and mindset shifts that keep her business strong year after year.
If you’re an agent looking for longevity and growth in your business, take a page from Eden’s playbook—listen in, take notes, and start applying these timeless strategies today. Subscribe to Real Estate Excellence for more top-tier insights from the best in the business.
Highlights:
00:00 – 09:15 Eden’s Market Perspective and the “Greed Factor”
- No housing shortage in Florida? Eden’s take on supply and demand
- The role of Airbnb in shifting inventory
- How government intervention impacts housing cycles
- Why affordable housing is a moving target
- Builders, pricing jumps, and the COVID-era market
09:16 – 18:42 From Disney to Real Estate – Eden’s Early Career Path
- Disney College Program lessons in customer experience
- Trade show sales success and discovering her sales talent
- Transitioning from national events to local real estate
- Learning the ropes from seasoned agents at RE/MAX
- Starting in real estate before social media
18:43 – 28:10 Pre-Social Media Networking Tactics
- Viral email marketing before Facebook
- Leveraging MySpace for community engagement
- Playground and sports field networking strategies
- Building reputation through knowledge, not sales pitches
- Early career advantages as a young agent in an older industry
28:11 – 38:05 Thriving in Changing Markets
- Why some agents excel in tough conditions
- The danger of hibernating instead of staying visible
- Power of collaboration and peer support
- Mentoring new agents to overcome stagnation
- Lessons from working with top-performing peers
38:06 – 49:20 Setbacks, Lawsuits, and Lessons Learned
- The voluntary HOA lawsuit over $100
- Emotional toll of feeling exposed in business
- Learning resilience from legal challenges
- Separating personal identity from the Realtor role
- Building a strong support team to handle business operations
49:21 – 1:21:55 Longevity, Leverage, and Consistency
- Hiring assistants early to focus on strengths
- Knowing when to scale with help or partners
- Social media’s growing workload for agents
- Advice for agents approaching growth limits
- Balancing business drive with family priorities
Quotes:
“There is no shortage of housing in this state—that’s what I believe.” – Eden Jordan
“I was an overnight success, but the best thing that happened to me was 2008 because my ego got back in check.” – Eden Jordan
“The problem now is nobody’s sitting there talking—they’re just in their phones.” – Eden Jordan
“If you’re doing more than 10 or 12 deals a year, I don’t know how people are doing it without help.” – Eden Jordan
To contact Eden Jordan, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Connect with Eden Jordan!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edenjordan_/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@micheletremblayrealestate3200
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edenjordan/
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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