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

1-Year Anniversary Special: Fraud, Flamethrowers, and the Future of RETSY

It is official: The RETSY Podcast has hit the one-year mark with 52 episodes in the books! To celebrate, RETSY Partner Shawna Warner takes over the moderator seat to flip the script and interview Chris and Matt. The trio takes a trip down memory lane, swapping stories about their pre-real estate careers—from Matt busting ticket-scalping college professors as a fraud investigator for Discover Card, to Chris getting rejected by the President of Del Webb while fitting him for golf clubs. They also dive into the psychology of success, sharing the "extreme accountability" tactics Chris used to force top-producing agents to hit their goals. In the second half of the episode, Chris and Matt answer rapid-fire video questions submitted by RETSY agents. They break down the tactical math of geographic farming (and why you need a 6% turnover rate to win), role-play the ultimate luxury listing pitch, and reveal their biggest broker pet peeves. Finally, they open the vault to share the absolute worst real estate transactions they have ever experienced—including a Queen Creek septic nightmare and a wildly disastrous showing involving an ocelot, a flamethrower, and a barbecue grill you have to hear to believe. 00:00 - Welcome to the 1-Year Anniversary Episode 01:21 - Behind the Scenes: The Real Purpose of the RETSY Podcast 02:28 - Calling Out Agents: Who We Want in the "Hot Seat" Next 04:50 - Before Real Estate: Passion Jobs, Fraud Investigations, and Butcher Shops 14:32 - Q&A with Adam Hizme: How to Farm a Neighborhood Loaded with Established Agents 27:10 - Q&A with Jon Mark Estes: A Broker's Biggest Pet Peeve and Sloppy Paperwork 36:23 - Q&A with Jordan Wobig: The Absolute Worst Real Estate Transactions We've Ever Handled 44:07 - Q&A with Brad Fanelli: Turning a Hobby Into a Full-Time Career 45:57 - "Matthew-isms": The Origin of the Brokerage's Favorite Catchphrases 49:43 - Q&A with Jay Jordan: What We Would Do Differently if We Started RETSY Today 54:37 - Q&A with Sandra Gaare: Growing Up Morrison and Predicting Each Other's Futures 58:37 - The 10-Year Vision: Where Chris, Matt, and the RETSY Brand Are Headed 01:03:15 - Community Growth and Realization: How All the Pieces Fell Into Place 01:09:54 - How to Connect Connect with Shawna 602.743.7006 | shawna@retsy.com [shawna@retsy.com] Connect with Chris 602.456.0065 | chris@retsy.com [chris@retsy.com] Connect with Matthew matthew@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 Coming Economic Boom: Decoding the New Fed, Tariffs, and Real Estate with Bradley Opitz

In this highly anticipated episode, Chris and Matt welcome back RETSY’s go-to voice for market economics, Bradley Opitz, for a massive deep dive into the macro-trends shaping the real estate market. Known for leading the economic updates on the weekly RETSY Rendezvous, Bradley breaks down the recent regime change at the Federal Reserve, explaining the critical differences between Jay Powell and new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. By unpacking the philosophies of Milton Friedman and the mechanics of the Fed’s balance sheet, Bradley translates complex financial headlines, from inflation and the national debt to the surprising reality of recent tariffs, into actionable insights for agents and buyers alike. Beyond monetary policy, the conversation spans the globe to explore the geopolitical and technological shifts impacting our daily lives. The trio discusses the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence as "digital labor," the future of autonomous vehicles like Waymo and Tesla, and Chris’s eye-opening experiences witnessing the economic struggles and failing power grids in Cuba. Despite the heavy topics and common media fear-mongering, Bradley leaves listeners with a powerful and optimistic prediction: a coming credit expansion and a massive economic boom. If you want to truly understand the forces driving the market and why our best days are ahead, this episode is a must-listen. 00:00 - Welcome back RETSY Agent and Market Economic voice for RETSY, Bradley Opitz 02:00 - The RETSY Rendezvous: Breaking Down Weekly Market Data for Agents 05:51 - Meet the New Fed Chair: Kevin Warsh and the Upcoming Economy 13:47 - Milton Friedman's Philosophy on Inflation and the Federal Reserve 18:22 - The Game Plan: How the Fed Plans to Tame High Inflation 29:05 - The Gold and Silver Standard: A Brief History of the Dollar 36:06 - The National Debt Clock and Why We Can't Just Print More Money (usdebtclock.org [https://www.usdebtclock.org/]) 39:33 - The Truth About Tariffs: How They Actually Affect the Consumer 51:17 - Global Markets and Communism: How Other Countries Impact Our Economy 01:01:00 - Digital Labor and Self-Driving Cars: Why AI Won't Take Over the World 01:11:58 - Bradley's Optimistic Outlook: Why Our Best Days Are Ahead 01:14:24 - Final Recommendation: Why Everyone Needs to Watch "Free To Choose" Connect with Bradley Instagram: @opitzrealestate Email: bradley@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 Art of Real Estate: How Designer Joel Contreras Transforms Homes and Neighborhoods

In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt sit down with RETSY agent and renowned architectural designer Joel Contreras. Joel shares his unique journey from starting as a "starving artist" to becoming a loan officer and eventually merging his creative talents with real estate sales. He discusses his instrumental role in the Phoenix mid-century modern craze and how his ability to mentally re-engineer floor plans on the fly helps his clients see the hidden, highly profitable potential in overlooked properties. The conversation takes a deep dive into Joel’s design philosophy, including his battles with historic preservation boards and why he purposefully aims to design for all socioeconomic brackets, not just mega-mansions in Paradise Valley. Joel also opens up about a devastating construction lawsuit that forced him to level up his business, join RETSY, and completely reinvent his marketing through Instagram reels. From discussing legendary architects like Al Beadle and John Lautner to the future of AI in home design, this episode is a masterclass in treating real estate as a true art form. 00:00 – Meet RETSY Agent and Designer Joel Contreras 01:32 – From "starving artist" to the mortgage and real estate industry 05:06 – Using design to help buyers see a property's true potential 09:47 – The daily hustle of juggling design, development, and sales 11:51 – What drew Joel to RETSY's collaborative culture 15:27 – Designing for every budget and remembering your roots 17:34 – Why real estate is the ultimate customer service masterclass 25:41 – Always bet on black! Adapting to polarizing design trends 29:12 – The current "ins and outs" of bringing color back into homes 40:05 – Navigating pushback from preservationists in historic districts 44:38 – How a brutal lawsuit became fuel for massive business growth 52:43 – Discussing architectural legends like Ralph Haver and Al Beadle 56:16 – Where to find Joel's portfolio and connect Connect with Joel Follow him on IG @joelcontrerasdesign [https://www.instagram.com/joelcontrerasdesign/] Or @joelcontreras_1 [https://www.instagram.com/joelcontreras_1/] Check out his website at joelcontrerasdesign.com [http://joelcontrerasdesign.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 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]