The Human–AI Combo That Gives Real Estate Agents an Edge w/ Blair Knowles
Release Date: 12/16/2025
Social Selling Made Simple
One of the biggest misconceptions in real estate right now is the belief that AI should take agents completely out of the process. We constantly hear agents asking, “How do I automate this so I never have to touch it again?” But that’s the wrong mentality, and it’s actually where you start losing money instead of making more of it. Because AI isn’t at a point where it can replace us, and more importantly, we don’t want it to get there. The real power of AI isn’t replacement; it’s acceleration. It collapses the time it takes to write, plan, organize, produce content,...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
For years, we’ve been taught that SEO was the key to being found online, write the blogs, keep the website fresh, get your backlinks, and trust the process. But there’s a new shift happening in real estate that most agents haven’t caught onto yet. AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, is quietly becoming more powerful than traditional SEO. And it makes perfect sense. Buyers and sellers aren’t searching the way they used to. They’re asking full questions out loud into their phones, their cars, and their AI tools. They don’t want links…they want answers. AEO is built for...
info_outlineSocial 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_outlineSocial 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_outlineSocial 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_outlineSocial 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_outlineSocial 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_outlineSocial 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_outlineSocial 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_outlineSocial 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_outlineOne of the biggest misconceptions in real estate right now is the belief that AI should take agents completely out of the process.
We constantly hear agents asking, “How do I automate this so I never have to touch it again?” But that’s the wrong mentality, and it’s actually where you start losing money instead of making more of it.
Because AI isn’t at a point where it can replace us, and more importantly, we don’t want it to get there. The real power of AI isn’t replacement; it’s acceleration.
It collapses the time it takes to write, plan, organize, produce content, recap meetings, or think through strategy, so you can redirect your energy into the parts of the business only a human can do: judgment, connection, negotiation, and leadership.
That’s why the smartest approach, especially in real estate, is this workflow: human → AI → human.
You give the context, vision, and direction, AI does the heavy lifting, and then you refine the output so it aligns with your voice, your ethics, and your standards.
How do we use AI to buy back our time, not remove ourselves from our businesses? Should going viral be our goal with AI video content?
In this episode, I’m joined by real estate leader and founder of the Real Estate AI Network, Blair Knowles. We talk about why partnering with AI creates more income than trying to outsource your entire business to it.
We dive into why agents who stop chasing full automation and start embracing collaboration are the ones who gain the biggest advantage in the market.
Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
What AI can’t do (and why it’s a good thing) AI can save agents two hours a day, but you still need to review the output for accuracy, ethics, and compliance. Are we missing out by looking for full automation instead of using AI to amplify what we do?
Voice-to-text is a secret weapon
Tools like Whisper Flow let you “talk your business into existence,” eliminating typing and turning car rides and chores into productive work sessions. How much content could you produce if writing became as easy as talking?
Long-tail blogging is beating Zillow and paid SEO
AI makes it possible to publish hyper-specific content daily, exactly the type Google and GPT overviews prioritize. How does this let smaller agents outrank the giants in less than 24 hours?
About the Guest
Blair Knowles is the Founder and CEO of RAIN—the Real Estate AI Network—a modern coaching and training community for agents who want tactical, not theoretical, AI—built for traction over hype. RAIN offers field-tested strategies and tools that show agents exactly how to implement AI in their businesses today. It's designed for busy agents who want to get started with AI but don’t have time to sift through endless tools, trends, and misinformation. Blair built RAIN to be a shortcut—delivering only what works, with short, actionable trainings that save agents time and drive results. Blair began her real estate career in 2013, built a top-performing team, and launched her independent brokerage, Ridgeline Real Estate, in 2020. Today, Ridgeline includes more than 25 agents and staff. Under her leadership, the firm will surpass $100M in annual sales and cross half a billion in total volume in 2025. She cont hiinues to lead with a focus on clarity, implementation, and forward momentum—both inside RAIN and in the real estate industry at large. Join RAIN: Real Estate's AI Network on Facebook.
Sign up for training:
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Revamp Your Sitting Listing with AI - November 6 Webinar
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Harness the Marketing Power of Sora for Real Estate - November 13 Webinar
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AEO/GEO - How to Show Up on ChatGPT | Free Guide- https://therainagent.myflodesk.com/aeogeo
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, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.
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