Real Estate 2026: How Buyers, Sellers & Agents Win in a Shifting Market
Release Date: 01/09/2026
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 In this conversation, she explains why outdated prospecting methods are failing, why most agents misunderstand branding, and...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_outlineAre 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 challenges of coastal real estate, Dori dives into the lessons she brought from the gym floor to the negotiation table. Her story proves that when you lead with heart, structure, and the desire to serve, you’re already ahead of the game.
If you’re looking for more than just another real estate agent and want someone who truly gets your lifestyle dreams, connect with Dori Nugent or follow the podcast for more insider insights like this. Don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with someone thinking about making a fearless career change or move to Florida!
Highlights:
00:00 - 10:55 From Gym Rat to Fitness Leader
- Dori’s entry into fitness as a young mom
- Climbing from instructor to operations director
- Managing over 70 instructors
- Employee engagement lessons
- Her first taste of public speaking
10:56 - 20:40 Pivoting into Real Estate During a Pandemic
- Leaving a 20-year fitness career
- COVID’s impact on the fitness world
- Competing for and winning the podcast host role
- Discovering a passion for connection and communication
- Why authenticity helped her stand out
20:41 - 31:25 Falling in Love with St. Augustine
- Visiting multiple beach towns
- Why Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach didn’t work
- The lifestyle pull of Vilano and Anastasia Island
- Key factors in choosing a new home location
- The buyer’s mindset when relocating
31:26 - 40:50 Beach Buyers, Rentals, and Smart Agent Choices
- Why hyper-local agent knowledge is essential
- Flood zones, short-term rental rules, HOAs
- Helping buyers visualize lifestyle, not just homes
- The real value of social media for agents
- Selling trust before sales volume
40:51 - 53:00 Navigating New Construction and Military Moves
- Unique strategies for working with military buyers
- The resale trap of early-phase new builds
- Realistic pricing for listings near builders
- How she sets expectations with sellers
- Understanding your real buyer
53:01 - 1:07:15 Service, Connection, and Standing Out
- Customer service mindset from fitness to real estate
- Personal touches that matter (coffee, snacks, notes)
- Reading people and rewarding them accordingly
- Social media vs real impact
- Using AI and staying future-focused
1:07:16 - 1:19:21 Books, Tools, and Staying Grounded
- Dori’s top books for real estate mindset
- Unreasonable Hospitality, Endless Referrals, more
- Balancing authenticity with technology
- Staying top of mind without overspending
- Final thoughts and advice to new agents
Quotes:
“You sell when you make people feel a certain way.” – Dori Nugent
“Authenticity builds trust. And trust is everything in real estate.” – Dori Nugent
“Every client wants to be rewarded differently; you have to pay attention.” – Dori Nugent
“I'm trying to connect with that woman in Ohio sitting on her couch at 8 PM, dreaming of living by the beach.” – Dori Nugent
To contact Dori Nugent, 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 Dori Nugent!
Website: https://dori-nugent.cbpphomes.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorinuge/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dori.carenugent
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DoriNugent
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dori-nugent-90b38747/
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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