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_outlineWould 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, Drew reveals the gritty hustle behind his rapid success.
He also dives into how technology like ChatGPT has supercharged his operations, the power of learning from top agents, and why real estate isn't just about selling homes but building wealth and strategic opportunities for clients. This episode is packed with golden insights for both new agents and seasoned pros looking to level up.
Are you stuck in a job you hate and dreaming of diving into real estate? Don’t wait for the perfect moment—take action now. Subscribe to the Real Estate Excellence Podcast for more inspiring stories and tactical advice. Follow and message Drew Kazemba to learn how you can build wealth through real estate—no appendix removal required.
Highlights:
00:00 - The Appendix Exit Plan & Real Estate Awakening
- Drew's bold plan: appendix removal for PTO
- Leaving medical sales for real estate
- Self-teaching wholesaling after hours
- Scoring a big deal that never paid, but lit the fire
- The moment he knew real estate was it
11:59 - 22:59 Building Skills Through Volume
- Interviewing brokerages and choosing DJ & Lindsey
- Call time, leads, and sales floor discipline
- Learning fast through repetition and structure
- At-bats vs. years: why high-volume matters
- Outgrowing a lead-based model
23:00 - 32:59 Time-Blocking, Tech, and ChatGPT Mastery
- ChatGPT as virtual assistant and knowledge base
- Automating follow-ups with Zapier
- Using AI to build reports and analyze tax strategies
- Structuring days with time blocks
- Why tech-savvy agents have the edge
33:00 - 46:28 From Agent to Developer
- Meeting Matt Roberts again and joining Someday
- Learning construction, development, and investment modeling
- Using project experience to serve investor clients
- Helping buyers buy smart with long-term mindset
- Real estate as a launchpad to bigger things
46:29 - 1:00:00 Equity, Cash Flow, and Pitfalls
- The myth of guaranteed cash flow
- Evaluating properties like a pro
- Why break-even deals still build wealth
- Common investor mistakes and bad flips
- How Drew calculates cost of money, rehab, and ROI
1:00:01 - 1:16:11 Airbnb Realities & Final Real Estate Lessons
- Is Airbnb still worth it in NE Florida?
- Short-term rental logistics and costs
- How Drew advises on STR vs long-term play
- Risk management and truth-telling for investors
- Empowering buyers with education and honesty
Quotes:
“I got my appendix removed just to take time off and chase real estate—I'm not kidding.”
“You win in real estate when you buy the house, not when you sell it.”
“You’re not going to cry about the deal you didn’t get; you’re going to cry about the one you lost money on.”
“ChatGPT is my best friend. I vent to it, I time-block with it, and I learn from it.” – Drew Kazemba
To contact Drew Kazemba, learn more about his business, and make him a part of your network, make sure to follow him on his Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
Connect with Drew Kazemba!
Website: https://www.somedayhomesteam.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewkaz_jaxrealtor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drew.kazemba/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrewKRealty
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dkazemba
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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