The RETSY Podcast

The Power of the Forbes Brand: Storytelling, Scarcity, and the $200M Trophy Asset

In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt are joined by Michael Jalbert, CEO of Forbes Global Properties, and Spencer Elliott, Content Manager. Recorded during their visit to Phoenix for the Forbes 30 Under 30 summit, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most exclusive networks in global real estate. Michael and Spencer dive into the origins of Forbes Global Properties, explaining why it was founded by independent brokers who were tired of corporate networks prioritizing owners over agents. They break down the rigorous selection process that keeps the network elite, the undeniable power of the Forbes brand (which currently holds an 80% "share of voice" globally against luxury competitors), and the unique storytelling approach Spencer and the editorial team use to market ultra-luxury homes to high-net-worth buyers. The conversation also explores the future of luxury real estate, including a massive, highly exclusive development project in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and a potential new venture bringing Forbes Travel Guide's 5-star service training to branded residential properties worldwide. The trio also discusses the impact of AI on real estate content creation, the importance of maintaining an independent brokerage culture, and how RETSY's partnership with Forbes has helped them dominate the Arizona luxury market. 01:27 - Welcome to the Podcast: Meet Michael Jalbert & Spencer Elliott of Forbes Global Properties 03:22 - The Origin Story: How RETSY Teamed Up With Forbes in the Early Days 05:56 - 80% Share of Voice: The Explosive Growth of Forbes Global Properties 13:38 - The Exclusive Club: Why Forbes Rejects Dozens of Brokerages a Week 18:55 - Storytelling That Sells: Crafting the Narrative for Ultra Luxury Homes 22:45 - The $200M Trophy Asset: Managing Ultra High Net Worth Buyers Worldwide 26:00 - Winning the Pitch: How the Forbes Brand Helps Agents Dominate 36:47 - The RETSY Standard: Why Quality Always Beats the "Big Box" Brokerage Model 43:12 - What's Next for Forbes: Branded Residences and 5-Star Hospitality Training 52:39 - Digital Labor: How RETSY Implements Custom AI Tools to Empower Agents 1:03:03 - How to Connect Connect with Michael and Spencer Website: forbesglobalproperties.com [http://forbesglobalproperties.com] Email Michael: michael.jalbert@forbesglobalproperties.com [michael.jalbert@forbesglobalproperties.com] Email Spencer: spencer.elliott@forbesglobalproperties.com [spencer.elliott@forbesglobalproperties.com] Learn more about RETSY www.retsy.com [http://www.retsy.com] www.instagram.com/retsy [http://www.instagram.com/retsy] www.youtube.com/@retsy [http://www.youtube.com/@retsy]. Original music by @jacktwarner [https://www.instagram.com/jacktwarner]

The "Hard Dig": Developing Luxury Homes on Solid Rock with Chadwic Gifford

In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt are joined by Chadwic Gifford, RETSY agent and President of Catalyst House. Chadwic shares his unique entry into the world of real estate and development, which began with driving heavy machinery in a Colorado gravel pit at just ten years old. He breaks down his incredible career evolution, from flipping a house during a three-week college Christmas break to managing massive commercial portfolios. He even recounts the chilling "gut feeling" that led him to halt an entire construction crew at 5:30 in the morning right before the 2008 market crash—a decision that ultimately saved his business. The conversation then shifts to the gritty reality of luxury spec building. Chadwic gives an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his latest project, "Vantage," a highly anticipated seven-home enclave at the base of Piestewa Peak. He details the grueling nine-month "hard dig" through solid mountain rock just to lay infrastructure, and the immense fulfillment of bringing a $4 million luxury product to life. The trio also discusses why Chadwic and his business partner, Ryan Martin, chose to move their business to RETSY for its forward-thinking AI technology, and why Arizona’s lack of natural disasters makes it perfectly positioned to become the next major tech hub. 00:00 – Meet Chadwic Gifford: RETSY Agent & President of Catalyst Haus 02:34 – Driving a Backhoe at Age 10: Building an Unstoppable Work Ethic 08:05 – Falling in Love with Development: From Flips to Major Projects 18:47 – The RETSY Difference: Discovering a Family-Like Culture in Real Estate 21:38 – The "Vantage" Project: (Now known as 7 Views!) Building 7 Modern Masterpieces 30:42 – The True Cost of Luxury Development: Breaking Down the "Hard Dig" 34:04 – Beyond the Profit: The Emotional Reward of Building a Home 36:57 – Why Catalyst Haus Joined RETSY: Staying Ahead with Elite Tech & Support 42:55 – Game-Changing AI Tech: How Fast Artificial Intelligence is Evolving 45:42 – The Future of Arizona: Job Growth, No Disasters, and the "Silicon Desert" 48:58 – Phoenix's Culinary Boom: Why the Valley's Restaurant Scene is Exploding 50:30 – How to Connect Connect with Chadwic Email him at chadwic@retsy.com [chadwic@retsy.com] Or visit the Catalyst website at catalystgroup.retsy.com [https://catalystgroup.retsy.com/] Learn more about RETSY www.retsy.com [http://www.retsy.com] www.instagram.com/retsy [http://www.instagram.com/retsy] www.youtube.com/@retsy [http://www.youtube.com/@retsy]. Original music by @jacktwarner [https://www.instagram.com/jacktwarner]

The 80/20 Split: How to Turn Your Instagram into a Lead Generation Machine

In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt sit down with brand and content strategist Jaclyn Romo. Jaclyn shares her fascinating journey from launching a viral cosmetics brand and generating $100,000 in her first month using purely organic social media, to eventually partnering with Grant Cardone’s CMO and working alongside industry giants like Gary Vee and Ryan Serhant. Now, with 80% of her clientele in real estate and mortgage, Jaclyn specializes in helping top-producing agents translate their hard-earned offline authority into a premium, lead-generating online presence. Jaclyn delivers an absolute masterclass on digital strategy, breaking down exactly why agents need to stop hiding behind house tours and start stepping in front of the camera. She reveals her strict "3-second rule" for Instagram profiles, why you must merge your personal and business accounts, and the exact 4-part recipe (Hook, Credibility, Value, Call-to-Action) for creating videos that actually convert followers into clients. From discussing the dangers of generic AI content to her "80/20 rule" for balancing personal and professional posts, Jaclyn provides a highly actionable blueprint for agents who are ready to stop being their market's best-kept secret. 00:00 – Welcome Brand and Content Strategist, Jaclyn Romo 01:37 – From Cosmetics to Consulting: Finding the Free Power of Social Media 04:16 – Why Real Estate Agents Need a Premium Personal Brand 09:42 – Standing Out in Luxury Real Estate Content 13:11 – Video Anxiety & AI — Structuring and Scripting Your First Video 24:05 – The Big Debate: Why You Must Merge Your Personal and Business Pages 26:10 – Blue Checkmarks and Boosting (Why You Should Pay to Play) 30:39 – The 80/20 Split: Balancing Personal Life with Professional Authority 32:51 – Content Schedules — Why Carousels Are Winning the Grid 37:04 – The Perfect Video Structure: Hooks, Value, and Calls to Action 44:05 – Link in Bio Strategy: Make it Easy for the Consumer 49:43 – Instagram Stories vs. The Grid — Selling to Your Community 52:57 – Why You Shouldn't Repurpose Content Across Every Platform 59:42 – Working With Jaclyn: Take Control of Your Own Content 01:02:18 – How to Connect with Jaclyn Romo Connect with Jaclyn Find her on Instagram @jaclyntromo [https://www.instagram.com/jaclyntromo/] Learn more about RETSY www.retsy.com [http://www.retsy.com] www.instagram.com/retsy [http://www.instagram.com/retsy] www.youtube.com/@retsy [http://www.youtube.com/@retsy]. Original music by @jacktwarner [https://www.instagram.com/jacktwarner]

Stop Losing Deals to Bad Appraisals: The 3 Questions Every Agent Must Ask

In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt sit down with Jay Josephs, one of the most respected and well-known appraisers in the Valley. With 35 years of experience, Jay pulls back the curtain on the often-misunderstood appraisal process. He shares his journey from struggling in the 10% interest rate mortgage era to finding his perfect niche as an appraiser, and breaks down why an appraiser’s "geographical competence"—truly understanding the invisible boundary lines of luxury neighborhoods like Arcadia—is the single most critical factor in securing an accurate home valuation. Jay provides a literal masterclass for real estate agents on how to proactively protect their clients' deals. He explains exactly what belongs in the perfect "appraisal package," how to gracefully vet an out-of-town appraiser, and why waiting to file an appeal is almost always a losing battle. The conversation also dives into the complex math of valuing guest houses and unpermitted additions, how to leverage pending sales during your appointment, and why AI-driven AVM models (like Zestimates) still have a long way to go before replacing boots-on-the-ground expertise. 00:00 – Welcome Appraiser Jay Josephs 05:24 – From Rock Bottom to Finding a Passion in Appraisals 10:08 – The Knowledge Gap: Why Agents Must Learn How to Read an Appraisal 15:31 – Building the Perfect Appraisal Package 22:28 – "The Appraiser Won't Take My Package" — Communication and Interviewing 26:24 – 3 Questions Every Agent Must Ask to Vet an Appraiser 33:46 – Appraisal Appeals & Reconsiderations: The Reality and the Risks 38:45 – The Math Explained: Adjusting Square Footage for Guest Houses and Basements 43:23 – Geographical Competency: The #1 Factor in a Fair Appraisal 48:35 – The Truth About Unpermitted Additions 52:43 – Pre-Appraisals and Why Jay Loves Working with Realtors 58:45 – Will AI Take Over the Appraisal Industry? 01:02:12 – The Ultimate Advice: Be Proactive and Be Nice 01:03:05 – How to Connect with Jay Josephs Connect with Jay Office: 602-955-4050 Cell Number: 602-290-8121 (Text, don't leave a voicemail!) Learn more about RETSY www.retsy.com [http://www.retsy.com] www.instagram.com/retsy [http://www.instagram.com/retsy] www.youtube.com/@retsy [http://www.youtube.com/@retsy]. Original music by @jacktwarner [https://www.instagram.com/jacktwarner]

Stop Doing What Everyone Else is Doing: How Kim Lowe Dominates Desert Ridge

In this episode, Chris and Matt are joined by RETSY agent Kim Lowe, who shares how her formidable background in pharmaceutical sales and corporate contract negotiations laid the foundation for her thriving real estate business. Kim explains why treating real estate like a true corporation—complete with running SWOT analyses on her listings to perfectly understand buyer demographics—gives her a massive edge when representing C-level executives and medical professionals. She also reveals her intensive, non-negotiable staging process, bringing in a dedicated team to completely depersonalize and transform every home into a model showcase to maximize her sellers' ROI. The conversation takes a deep dive into Kim’s highly successful geographic farming strategy in the Desert Ridge area. Rather than following the standard, generic real estate playbook, Kim embedded herself in the community by sponsoring local public schools, collaborating with lifestyle directors to write for neighborhood magazines, and building a fiercely guarded "black book" of trusted vendors. She also shares a jaw-dropping story about a listing that severely flooded just three days before closing, and how radical transparency and quick problem-solving actually turned a disaster into a win-win for everyone involved. Whether you want to dominate your local farm or elevate your client experience, Kim’s meticulous approach is an absolute masterclass. 00:00 – Welcome RETSY Agent Kim Lowe 01:19 – Prior to Real Estate: Negotiating Contracts, Cold Calling, and Learning to Build a Business 06:30 – What Got Kim Into Real Estate? How a Bad Experience Inspired Her to Change the Industry 09:57 – Making Sure RETSY Was the Perfect Fit for Her Clients 15:10 – Geographic Farming: Approaching Your Farm Differently From the Rest 19:42 – Going the Extra Mile to Become the True "Neighborhood Expert" 22:44 – Building a Guarded Vendor List to Provide the Best Service 25:20 – Kim’s Listing System: Mandatory Staging and Treating Real Estate Like a Corporation 30:48 – The Time Machine Question: Trust the Process 32:42 – Solving a Flooded Basement Just 3 Days Before Closing 35:25 – The Power of the SPDS and How Over-Disclosing Saves the Seller 42:18 – Where the AZ Market is Going, Why You Should Buy Now, and Why Phoenix Wins 49:26 – The Massive Growth and Expansion of Desert Ridge 52:03 – How to Connect Connect with Kim Follow her on IG @thekimberlylowegroup Email her at klg@azluxre.com Or give her a call at 480.363.1622 Learn more about RETSY www.retsy.com [http://www.retsy.com] www.instagram.com/retsy [http://www.instagram.com/retsy] www.youtube.com/@retsy [http://www.youtube.com/@retsy]. Original music by @jacktwarner [https://www.instagram.com/jacktwarner]