How to Buy Equestrian Property in Florida’s Top Horse Regions
Release Date: 12/22/2025
Why Listings Sit, Buyers Hesitate, and Top Agents Still Win | Alexis Gamel
Real Estate Excellence
If buyers finally have more leverage again, are they prepared to use it wisely or are they still waiting for a crash that may never come? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Alexis Gamel. Alexis is a Northeast Florida real estate agent with deep roots in development, construction, residential strategy, and beach market expertise. In this conversation, she shares how her background in land sales, custom homes, and family life shaped the way she now helps buyers and sellers make smarter decisions. The episode explores pricing strategy, the...
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How The Listings Lab Can 10X Your Business With Jess Lenouvel
Real Estate Excellence
What would change in your business if you stopped chasing ready now leads and started building trust with people much earlier in their decision-making journey? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Jess Lenouvel. Jess is the founder of The Listings Lab, author of More Money Less Hustle, and a real estate marketing strategist known for helping agents build scalable businesses through digital marketing, systems, and psychology. In this conversation, she explains why outdated prospecting methods are failing, why most agents misunderstand branding, and...
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Jacksonville Relocation, New Construction, Beach Luxury and Pricing Right with Taylor Diaz
Real Estate Excellence
What does it really take to make it in real estate when the flexibility everyone talks about turns out to be one of the biggest myths in the business? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Taylor Diaz. Taylor is a Northeast Florida real estate agent who shares how she went from working in the medical field to building a career in real estate through discipline, mentorship, and long term relationship building. In this conversation, she opens up about getting licensed during COVID, joining Sarah Rocco’s highly structured team, and learning how...
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How to Sell Luxury Real Estate in 2026: Leigh Howe Amelia Island
Real Estate Excellence
What do luxury buyers need to understand about owning on Amelia Island that most agents never explain? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Leigh Howe. Leigh shares a career path that started far from traditional real estate. She moved from teaching, nursing, retail, and sales into land development and homebuilding after she and her husband took on a 100 acre project in Gainesville. That experience gave her deep knowledge in zoning, infrastructure, construction, customer selections, and the human side of real estate. She explains how surviving...
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How To Successfully Build A Top Producing Real Estate Team: Megan Jernigan
Real Estate Excellence
What happens when you stop chasing commissions and start obsessing over service, systems, and solving problems before they explode? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Megan Jernigan shares how she built a high performing real estate business in Nashville by committing to service, discipline, and relentless follow through. She explains that strong vendor relationships are not about perks or kickbacks, but about responsiveness, trust, and doing what is best for the client every single time. She also opens up about leaving the security of a...
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Mindset In Motion with Debbi DiMaggio
Real Estate Excellence
What if the only thing standing between you and your next breakthrough is the decision to move before you feel ready? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Debbi DiMaggio. Debbi shares how clarity, belief, and relentless action shaped her 35 year career in real estate and her life beyond it. From writing down ten things she wanted at age 25 to building a thriving business during the Great Recession, Debbi reveals how mindset in motion became her secret weapon. She explains why most agents do not need more motivation. They need movement. Debbi...
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NEFAR President Kim Knapp: 2026 Playbook for Florida Realtors | AI, Contracts & Leadership
Real Estate Excellence
If you had to prove your value to every buyer before showing a single home, what would you change first in your process? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Kim Knapp. Kim shares her vision for leading the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors in 2025 with a focus on doing it right and keeping it real. She talks about building stronger volunteer leadership systems, reconnecting members through local councils and training, and pulling top producers closer with a Top Five Forum featuring an NAR economist and business coaching. The...
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Tina Priest: Military Spouse to Real Estate Agent Star
Real Estate Excellence
If you had to lose the paperwork and keep only one habit to grow your business this year would it be answering the phone or following up? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Tina Priest. Tina shares how her service first mindset shaped her path into real estate through military life social work and operational leadership. She explains why Hover Girl Properties focuses on boundaries transparency and real relationships so clients feel seen not processed, especially when timelines are tight and emotions are high. You will hear practical habits...
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How Christina Swyers Built a Cross-Market Real Estate Business Through Relocation, Leadership, and Grit
Real Estate Excellence
What would your real estate career look like if you stopped learning and finally acted? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Christina Swyers breaks down the mindset, systems, and discipline that transformed her from a brand-new agent into a multi-state real estate leader. She shares how she rebuilt her entire business after relocating 1,000 miles to Florida, proving that success follows those who take action, stay uncomfortable, and relentlessly meet new people. Her story reveals how the right network, the right brokerage, and the right habits...
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Winning in New Construction Sales: Discipline, Builder Strategy & Buyer Wins with Jerry Strums
Real Estate Excellence
Are you using every resource in front of you or waiting for success to knock on your door? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Jerry Strums of Richmond Homes to explore the world of new construction from the builder’s side. From military buyers to first-time homeowners, Jerry shares what it takes to succeed in Northeast Florida’s competitive housing market—and how agents can better partner with site reps for smooth transactions and happier clients. Listeners will discover the unspoken rules of registering buyers, the power of relationship...
info_outlineCan 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 the conversation.
Emma reveals how her equestrian background, personalized marketing, and strategic use of old-school outreach (yes, real mail!) helped her break into the luxury real estate market. She gives valuable insights on building a solid foundation with the right brokerage, leveraging AI and blogging for future-proof content marketing, and why anticipating client needs in the luxury space is non-negotiable. Her proactive mindset, attention to detail, and genuine care for her clients set her apart as a future industry leader.
Love what Emma shared? Don’t wait—subscribe to Real Estate Excellence and follow Emma's journey! If you’re a new agent wondering how to carve your niche, or a buyer looking for horse property expertise, this is the episode for you. Share it, review it, and start building your empire today.
Highlights:
00:00 - 02:35 Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Buy
- · Emma’s top advice for 2026 buyers
- · Timing the market vs. taking the leap
- · Why perfection isn’t the goal
- · Interest rates and market myths
- · Action beats hesitation
02:36 - 13:30 From College to Closing Deals
- · Getting licensed during college
- · Family legacy in real estate
- · Studying business & entrepreneurship at UNF
- · Formal education vs. natural business instinct
- · Transitioning into full-time real estate
13:31 - 22:20 Nailing the Niche
- · Breaking into luxury through horse properties
- · What most agents get wrong in farm listings
- · Building trust with sellers through expertise
- · Targeting farms using handwritten outreach
- · Turning expired listings into closed deals
22:21 - 31:38 Marketing That Actually Works in 2025
- · Why social media alone isn’t enough
- · AI, blogs & the rise of Googleable agents
- · The value of a solid personal website
- · How reviews fuel AI visibility
- · Personalization vs. paid content
31:39 - 45:02 Serving Luxury Clients the Right Way
- · White-glove service from start to finish
- · Anticipating client needs proactively
- · Out-of-state buyers and concierge-level care
- · Why responsiveness is your superpower
- · Communicating value beyond just the home
45:03 - 01:17:23 Trends, Renovations & Real ROI
- · Pricing mistakes sellers make
- · High-end homes: what's still moving
- · Buyers' mindset in luxury vs. average price point
- · Are pre-listing renovations worth it?
- · Timing, market strategy, and honest advising
Quotes:
"There’s never going to be one perfect time to get in the market. When the time is right for you, make the jump." – Emma Horvatincic
"You’re always interviewing for your next opportunity. Nothing is guaranteed." – Emma Horvatincic
"Substance will never go out of style, especially in a digital world." – Emma Horvatincic
"If you’re not looking for your next opportunity today, you’ll feel it a few months from now." – Emma Horvatincic
To contact Emma Horvatincic, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
Connect with Emma Horvatincic!
Website: https://ehorvatincic.floridanetworkrealty.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma.horvatincic.realtor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emma.horvat.37051/
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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