The Clean Close with Courtney Poulos

25: MLS Power Plays, Zillow vs. Compass, & $1B Mindset with Justin Nimergood

What happens when listing fights turn into lawsuits—and how does it impact your business? In this episode of The Clean Close, host Courtney Poulos sits down with $1B producer and serial entrepreneur Justin Nimergood to break down Zillow’s lawsuit against MRED and Compass, the Bright MLS–Compass feed, and what these power plays mean for agents, teams, and consumers in 2026. We connect the dots between MLS control, portal power, and listing visibility so you can protect your pipeline in a shifting data landscape. Justin also shares how he went from corporate tech sales at Cisco to building Nimergood Real Estate and the High Performance Top Gun Team across Southern California and Dallas–Fort Worth—including his “reset button” story, why “mindset is the ultimate differentiator,” and why he’s betting on multifamily and land in 2026. Articles mentioned: The Real Deal – How a Chicago listing fight ended in a Zillow lawsuit: https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2026/05/13/how-a-chicago-listing-fight-ended-in-zillow-lawsuit/ [https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2026/05/13/how-a-chicago-listing-fight-ended-in-zillow-lawsuit/] Zillow – Zillow sues MRED and Compass: https://www.zillow.com/news/zillow-sues-mred-compass/ [https://www.zillow.com/news/zillow-sues-mred-compass/] HousingWire – Bright MLS, Compass feed coverage: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/bright-mls-compass-feed/ [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/bright-mls-compass-feed/] Additional context on Bright MLS & Compass: https://www.google.com/search?q=bright+mls+compass [https://www.google.com/search?q=bright+mls+compass] Connect with Justin Nimergood: Website:  nimergoodrealestate.com [http://nimergoodrealestate.com] Email: justin@nimergoodrealestate.com Instagram: @nimergoodrealestate Book: Intrapreneurship: Changing Business Culture from the Inside Out  Connect with The Clean Close & ACME | SERHANT.: Watch more episodes: https://youtube.com/@theacmechannel [https://youtube.com/@theacmechannel] Learn more about ACME | SERHANT.: www.acmexserhant.com [http://www.acmexserhant.com] Connect with Courtney: @thecleanclose Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Markets change and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Always consult your own attorney, CPA, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this content. Opinions are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Clean Close or ACME | SERHANT.

24: From Buying Beverly Hills to Launching SERHANT. CA! The Clean Close Welcomes Ben Belack!

Today on The Clean Close, Courtney sits down in studio with Ben Belack, Vice President of SERHANT. CA and star of Buying Beverly Hills. Ben shares his journey from hospitality and sommelier life to luxury real estate, Netflix, content creation, and now helping build SERHANT.’s California operation. We talk about what it really takes to move up-market, win luxury listings, build credibility, create content that converts, and deliver a level of service that high-net-worth clients actually remember. Then we shift into the headlines reshaping the industry, including Real Brokerage’s acquisition of RE/MAX, MRED and Compass taking a private listing network national, and the growing conversation around whether the MLS is really a media company in disguise. In this episode, we cover: • Ben’s path from hospitality to luxury real estate • Lessons from selling at the top of the market • How content, YouTube, social, and podcasts drive real business • What SERHANT. CA is building in California • The mistakes agents make when trying to move up-market • How to win luxury listings and handle credibility objections • What brokerage consolidation means for agents • Private listing networks, MLS exposure, and off-market strategy • Why modern agents need to think like media companies If you’re a real estate agent, broker, team leader, or anyone watching where the industry is headed, this episode is packed with practical insight and big-picture perspective. Subscribe for more conversations on real estate, brokerage, marketing, listings, media, and what it really takes to build a modern real estate business. Follow Courtney:   Instagram:  @thecleanclose @acmexserhant Website: acmexserhant.com [http://acmexserhant.com] Follow Ben Belack:   Instagram:  @benbelack #TheCleanClose #BenBelack #SERHANT #SERHANTCalifornia #BuyingBeverlyHills #RealEstatePodcast #LuxuryRealEstate #RealEstateAgents #LosAngelesRealEstate #RealEstateMarketing #Brokerage #RealEstateNews #MLS #PrivateListings #RealBrokerage #remax    00:00 Ben previews the YouTube strategy that helped him get seen 01:27  Ben's origin story  06:32 Visibility, competence, and prospecting 11:05 Team structure and agent productivity  17:18 SERHANT. CA leadership and brand alignment 24:57 LA valuation and Zestimate limitations 27:17 Pocket listings and Clear Cooperation 36:52 National MLS, MLS as media, and AI risk 45:28 Real/ReMax acquisition and brokerage consolidation 51:41 Conclusion | ACME x SERHANT as expertise plus visibility.

23: @RaminRealTalk on The Clean Close to talk California Grift, The Billionaire Tax, Unrealized Gains!

In this episode of The Clean Close, Courtney sits down with the ever-insightful Ramin (@raminrealtalk) to unpack California’s complicated taxes, grift culture, and what it all means for real estate professionals and everyday Californians. 💸🏡 From property tax pitfalls to state-level strategies, we dive deep into how these policies shape the market and affect your bottom line. It’s a real, unfiltered conversation you don’t want to miss. 🔗 Follow Ramin on Instagram: @ramin_realtalk 🎥 Check out his YouTube channel: youtube.com/@UCYxsM_ClHQirbRZwin_jBtw [http://youtube.com/@UCYxsM_ClHQirbRZwin_jBtw]  🎧 Subscribe to The Clean Close for more sharp takes on real estate, money, and real estate headlines. Hit the bell so you never miss an episode! #TheCleanClose #RealEstatePodcast #CaliforniaRealEstate #Taxes #RaminRealTalk

22: Loans, W*rs, + Industry Madness! A Week of Wild w/ Anthony Vulin, Broker, + Matthew Fine, Bluprint!

More inman op-eds, more geopolitical and stock market ups and downs, and more National Association of Realtors announcements. Will it be enough to save our real estate market?  A panel discussion with Anthony Vulin, Broker/Founder of The Collective and Matthew Fine, lender at Bluprint Home Loans.  Find Anthony at instagram.com/italiancroatian [http://instagram.com/italiancroatian] Find Matthew at instagram.com/mortgagemattt [http://instagram.com/mortgagemattt] Like, subscribe and follow if you like what we serving!

21: The Portal Wars Are Back - But Now With Brokerage Branding? The MLS May Be Doomed!

The listing landscape is shifting fast. In this episode of The Clean Close, we break down three major stories reshaping how homes are bought and sold in 2026. 📌 WHAT WE COVER → Why hiding days on market & price history hurts buyers AND sellers → What the WAV Group "Listing Wars Are Back" report reveals → How the open market is fracturing — and what agents do next --- ❓ KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED What is "days on market" and why does it matter? DOM is the number of days a home has been listed. It's one of the most important negotiating signals a buyer has. When coming-soon platforms reset or obscure this clock, buyers lose critical leverage. What is Zillow Preview? A pre-marketing platform launched in 2026 letting agents list on Zillow/Trulia before MLS submission. KW, HomeServices, RE/MAX, Side, and United Real Estate were first partners. Listing agents can also earn a share of Zillow's revenue on these deals. What is a private listing network (PLN)? A system where a brokerage shares listings internally or with partner platforms before the MLS. Critics say PLNs reduce seller exposure and limit buyer access. Why is hiding price history a problem? Price history shows whether a home has had reductions — a key signal of seller motivation. When obscured, buyers may overpay and sellers get a false read on demand. Who wins in the listing wars? Large portals (Zillow), large franchise brokerages with portal deals, and end-to-end transaction companies like Rocket. Independent brokerages, smaller agents, and unconnected buyers are most exposed. --- 📂 SOURCES HomeServices CEO on DOM transparency (Inman, 3/26/26): https://www.inman.com/2026/03/26/homeservices-ceo-hiding-days-on-market-price-history-is-a-disservice-to-buyers-and-sellers/ [https://www.inman.com/2026/03/26/homeservices-ceo-hiding-days-on-market-price-history-is-a-disservice-to-buyers-and-sellers/] WAV Group "Listing Wars Are Back" Report (2026): https://www.wavgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2026/03/Liasting-Wars-are-Back-Report-2026-dowdb4.pdf [https://www.wavgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2026/03/Liasting-Wars-are-Back-Report-2026-dowdb4.pdf] The Open Market Broke. Here's What Comes Next (Inman, 3/26/26): https://www.inman.com/2026/03/26/the-open-market-broke-heres-what-comes-next/ [https://www.inman.com/2026/03/26/the-open-market-broke-heres-what-comes-next/] --- 🎙️ Subscribe to The Clean Close for weekly breakdowns of the real estate news that actually matters to your business. #RealEstate #TheCleanClose #ListingWars #ZillowPreview #MLS #DaysOnMarket #RealEstatePodcast #RealEstateAgents #PrivateListings #ComingSoon #Compass #RealEstateTips2026 Disclaimer: I am not an attorney or tax professional. I'm a licensed real estate broker. Please consult the appropriate professional for any tax or legal questions. These are my opinions only!