loader from loading.io

How to Use Gift Funds and Grants to Prove Your Value to Buyers

Social Selling Made Simple

Release Date: 06/03/2025

The Modern Agent’s Advantage: Systems That Sell Homes While You Sleep w/ Dave Charest and Stephanie Alonso show art The Modern Agent’s Advantage: Systems That Sell Homes While You Sleep w/ Dave Charest and Stephanie Alonso

Social Selling Made Simple

Most agents think marketing has gotten harder, that technology, AI, and algorithms have made everything too complicated. But the truth is, it’s never been easier to be a marketer and to actually get results. You can create video content without showing your face. You can automate your emails, SMS, and social posts in minutes. You can turn one idea into ten pieces of content that generate leads while you sleep. Yet most agents still struggle to grow; not because the tools are hard, but because they’re doing what everyone else is doing… or worse, doing the bare minimum. In today’s...

info_outline
Chicago REALTORS® Hall of Fame: What It Means to Me show art Chicago REALTORS® Hall of Fame: What It Means to Me

Social Selling Made Simple

Real estate ain't just about buying and selling houses, it's about people. The families we help, the communities we build, the dreams we make possible through ownership. Anybody can chase closings. But being a REALTOR® means something deeper; it means showing up with integrity, protecting consumers, and building trust one deal, one class, one conversation at a time. And let's get one thing straight, mentorship isn't a Facebook post. It's not about being seen. Mentorship is a promise. It's about opening doors, not hoarding keys. It's not proximity, it's access. Don't just sit beside someone...

info_outline
How to Build a Retirement-Ready Real Estate Business with AI w/ Glennda Baker show art How to Build a Retirement-Ready Real Estate Business with AI w/ Glennda Baker

Social Selling Made Simple

Most agents are a little freaked out by AI, but here’s the truth: it’s not here to replace the real estate professional. It’s here to replace inefficiency. For years, real estate has rewarded the agents who grind harder, not smarter. The ones who show up earlier, stay up later, and never stop hustling. But the next wave of top producers will be the ones who out-automate everyone else. When most agents hear “AI,” they think job loss. But what if it’s actually the key to something real estate’s never offered: predictable income and real financial freedom? What if it’s the missing...

info_outline
From Invisible to Irreplaceable: How to Stand Out in Today’s Real Estate Market w/ Knolly Williams show art From Invisible to Irreplaceable: How to Stand Out in Today’s Real Estate Market w/ Knolly Williams

Social Selling Made Simple

“Secret agents don’t get found, and closed mouths don’t get fed.” It’s more than a catchphrase; it’s a survival strategy for today’s market.  In an environment where inventory is scarce, clients are cautious, and other agents are everywhere, invisibility will keep you from earning more.  If you aren’t proactively creating opportunities, asking for business, and showing up where consumers are, you’ll get overlooked every time. That’s why differentiation isn’t a luxury; it’s the core of winning in real estate right now.  And the sharpest ways to position...

info_outline
The AI Playbook for Winning Buyer Loyalty in a Post-NAR Settlement World show art The AI Playbook for Winning Buyer Loyalty in a Post-NAR Settlement World

Social Selling Made Simple

For a long time, buyer representation was an afterthought. Agents leaned on MLS commission notes, dodged tough conversations about compensation, and hoped clients would just go along.  But after the NAR settlement, that safety net vanished. Now, if we can’t clearly show our value and lock in a signed buyer rep agreement, we’re at risk of losing clients, income, and even putting ourselves in a legal bind. Here’s the twist: AI isn’t just a cool extra. When we use it right, it can be our sharpest edge in this new reality.  With ChatGPT, predictive analytics, and the right...

info_outline
The Rise of the Rookie: Why New Agents Are Outpacing Experienced Agents show art The Rise of the Rookie: Why New Agents Are Outpacing Experienced Agents

Social Selling Made Simple

The real estate world has shifted, and whether we like it or not, there’s no going back.  Too many agents are still treating the changes as an extinction event, but here’s the truth: if you adapt, we still have the opportunity we’ve had to grow market share in years. Since the settlement, more agents have entered the industry. That means more competition, but also more proof that complacency kills careers.  The new agents are hungry, willing to try what others won’t, and most importantly, they’re not afraid to embrace tools like AI to move faster and smarter. I’ve been in...

info_outline
The Easiest Way to Sell New Homes Without Builder Headaches w/ Christian Calusa show art The Easiest Way to Sell New Homes Without Builder Headaches w/ Christian Calusa

Social Selling Made Simple

If you’ve ever tried selling new construction, you know it can be a total headache. Dropbox links everywhere, builder calls that never get answered, and brochures that are already outdated by the time they reach buyers.  It’s frustrating for agents, builders, and buyers alike. So many agents just skip new construction altogether, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. But what if new build listings were as easy to access as homes on the MLS?  That’s where NEO comes in. NEO cuts through all the chaos, helping you capture more buyer leads, keep them engaged, and...

info_outline
Midwest Home M@tch: The Real Estate Referral Network For Closings w/ Anita Clinton show art Midwest Home M@tch: The Real Estate Referral Network For Closings w/ Anita Clinton

Social Selling Made Simple

These days, it’s harder than ever for marginalized buyers to break into the market. Prices are high, lending rules are tighter, and misinformation is everywhere. The path to homeownership can feel impossible. Agents aren’t off the hook either. With all the changes to buyer representation and compensation, agents are being asked to prove their value in every single deal, while trying to serve clients who need more help than ever. That’s where Midwest Home M@tch comes in. We built an AI-powered referral network that connects agents with pre-approved, ready-to-go buyers. Especially those...

info_outline
Stop Winging It: How to Win More Clients With Personality Data w/ Jay Groah show art Stop Winging It: How to Win More Clients With Personality Data w/ Jay Groah

Social Selling Made Simple

In real estate, we’re expected to connect with every personality type under the sun. That usually means working really hard to match how someone else communicates. Most of us are doing it on the fly. Winging it. Pivoting mid-conversation and crossing our fingers that our style clicks with theirs. That might have cut it back in the day, but now it’s a liability. What if you could walk into every client meeting already knowing how to win them over? That’s exactly what myYenta gives you: the blueprint to connect, build trust, and close the deal, by aligning with your client’s psychology...

info_outline
Crabs in a Barrel: The Mindset Keeping You From Earning More show art Crabs in a Barrel: The Mindset Keeping You From Earning More

Social Selling Made Simple

If you think success is about hoarding your secrets, side-eyeing your peers, and treating everyone like the enemy, you're already losing.  I see it all the time in real estate: agents wrapped up in rivalries, clinging to titles, licenses, and tasks that no longer serve them, all because they’re afraid to let go or let someone else shine.  That “crabs in a barrel” mindset will keep you small, stuck, and exhausted.  Here’s the truth: in today’s market, collaboration is the competitive edge. Instead of competing with other agents, we need to be around people who lift us...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

In today’s real estate landscape, agents aren’t just competing for clients. We’re being forced to justify why we deserve to be paid. 

With buyer broker agreements now front and center, it’s no longer enough to open doors and write offers. We have to demonstrate value.

And what’s more valuable than walking into a buyer consultation armed with solutions that literally fund the deal? 

I’m talking about gift funds, employer-assisted housing, and stacked grant programs. Money that helps your clients buy and ensures you get paid. That’s how top agents are winning right now. 

How do you implement this strategy? What questions do we have to ask in every buyer consultation? 

In this episode, I’m unpacking the playbook real estate professionals are using to find hidden funds that support both the buyer’s bottom line and their own commission. 

I share how top producers are creating win-win transactions and how you can do the same. no matter your market.

 

Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

  • Value that pays
    How do you justify your commission in a market where buyers are hesitant and sellers aren’t covering agent fees? 

  • The gift fund advantage 
    What kinds of gifted funds are out there, and how can you help buyers tap into them to cover costs you used to count on sellers for? 

  • Unlocking employer money 
    Are your buyers sitting on untapped cash from their workplace? How do we uncover employer-assisted housing benefits that make deals easier to close?

  • Stack cash and secure the deal 
    What happens when you combine gift funds, employer programs, and down payment assistance? 

 

About Your Host

Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR® and avid volunteer. 

She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki’s expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, http://Homes.com , and REALTOR® Magazine.

 

Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!