Cody Hofhine: Why Most Real Estate Investors Never Buy Back Their Time

The SEO Strategy That Made Derek Carlson a Top 1% Realtor

Before paid ads took over real estate marketing, Derek Carlson built one of the most effective SEO-driven lead generation systems in Southwest Florida. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with the founder of MVP Realty and Realty ONE Group MVP to discuss how niche neighborhood content created predictable lead flow, how Derek scaled a top brokerage through training and recruiting, and why adversity forced him to completely reinvent his business and life. In this episode: • How Derek leveraged long-tail SEO before most agents understood it • Why inbound internet leads changed the trajectory of his career • How recruiting and agent training fueled brokerage growth • The mindset shift that followed health scares and industry lawsuits About Our Guest: Derek Carlson is the CEO and Broker of Realty ONE Group MVP and a nationally recognized leader in the real estate industry. Over the past decade, he has helped build and scale multiple real estate companies supporting more than 1,300 Realtors and facilitating over 50,000 closed properties totaling more than $16 billion in sales volume. Under his leadership, Realty ONE Group MVP earned a national ranking of #86 out of more than 106,000 real estate offices, further establishing Derek as a respected voice in real estate leadership, business growth, and agent development. Beyond production and performance, Derek is deeply focused on mindset, vision, and purpose — helping entrepreneurs and real estate professionals unlock their full potential both personally and professionally. His experiences navigating business adversity, health challenges, and personal reinvention now fuel the message behind his upcoming book, “Unlock Your MVP.” A Lifetime Achievement Recipient and RISMedia ICON Award winner, Derek continues to inspire others to build businesses that create lasting income, impact, and fulfillment.

Jerome Hairston: How This Veteran Built an AI Relationship Engine for Real Estate

Jerome Hairston didn’t get into real estate to chase transactions. He built systems to create better relationships, faster analysis, and smarter decisions. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with the CEO of Harrison Investment Properties to break down how AI is changing real estate operations, why most investors are using it wrong, and how Jerome built a relationship-driven AI engine to support deal analysis, lead management, and long-term growth. In this episode: • How Jerome built an AI-powered relationship engine for real estate • Why AI should support operators instead of replacing people • How automated deal analysis is saving hours every week • Why authenticity still matters in an AI-driven business world About Our Guest: Jerome Hairston is a veteran project manager, military engineer, and real estate strategist with more than 20 years of experience leading construction, infrastructure, and investment-focused projects. As the founder of Hairston Premier Ventures, LLC, doing business as Hairston Investment Properties, Jerome specializes in investor advisory, project oversight, and structured real estate solutions designed to help clients make smarter long-term decisions. His background in military leadership and engineering has shaped a disciplined, systems-based approach focused on execution, quality control, and operational efficiency. Throughout his career, Jerome has built a reputation for combining strategic thinking with a relationship-driven mindset. He brings practical insight into real estate investing, business operations, and wealth-building strategies while helping clients and partners navigate complex opportunities with clarity and confidence. His perspective on leadership, structure, and sustainable growth offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, investors, and operators looking to build businesses with purpose and long-term impact.

Joan Brothers: Why High-End Real Estate Is Really a Global Relationship Business

High-end real estate is rarely just about one property or one market. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with Joan Brothers, CEO, licensed broker, and owner of Manhattan Boutique Real Estate, to discuss how Manhattan real estate connects with global advisory, trusted local partnerships, and long-term client relationships. In this episode: • Why New York City attracts global real estate clients • How Joan advises clients across Manhattan and international markets • Why trusted local partners matter in global transactions • What high-end clients expect from a boutique real estate advisor About Our Guest: Joan Brothers is the Founder and CEO of Manhattan Boutique Real Estate (MBRE), a women-owned global real estate advisory firm headquartered in New York with a growing presence across the U.S., London, and the MENA region. With more than 25 years of experience, Joan is known for helping clients navigate complex real estate decisions across international markets, economic cycles, and cultural landscapes. Her work spans individuals, family offices, corporations, and government-linked clients seeking strategic guidance with a discreet, high-touch boutique approach. Under Joan’s leadership, Manhattan Boutique Real Estate has earned recognition including the Best of Manhattan Award and participation in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. She is also a co-author of the #1 Amazon Best Seller Women in Business – Leading the Way, highlighting leadership, entrepreneurship, and women in business. Beyond real estate, Joan actively supports international collaboration and development initiatives, including work connected to the United Nations hospitality and advisory community.

Justin Erickson: How One Investor Built AI Tools to Replace Busywork in Real Estate

Most real estate operators are experimenting with AI. Justin Erickson is building systems that actually remove bottlenecks inside a real estate business. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with the founder of Local Homebuyers USA and PropTechUSA.ai to break down how AI automations, multi-model systems, and real-time seller communication tools are helping investors save time, improve transparency, and scale operations more efficiently. In this episode: • How Justin built AI tools to handle seller communication 24/7 • Why multi-model AI systems create better business decisions • How investors can use AI for SEO, branding, and authority building • Why transparency is becoming a competitive advantage in real estate About Our Guest: Justin Erickson is the Founder and CEO of Local Home Buyers USA, a nationwide real estate investment company, and the creator of PropTechUSA.ai. A self-taught full-stack developer, Justin built his company’s technology infrastructure from the ground up, including custom CRMs, automated lead management systems, an SEO content engine, and an open-source property valuation engine designed to bring more transparency to real estate investing. His approach challenges the traditional wholesaling model by focusing on radical transparency, novation partnerships, and win-win outcomes for sellers. After publicly challenging Opendoor to explain its pricing algorithm, Justin reverse-engineered and open-sourced a competing valuation engine. Since launching in July 2025, his company has generated 300+ SEO articles and achieved 6x ROAS in its first six months, showing how AI tools, proptech, and real estate investing can work together to build smarter, more transparent businesses.

Jen Way: Why Real Estate Scripts Are Killing Your Deals

Most real estate investors are taught to follow scripts. Jen Way believes that’s exactly why so many deals fall apart. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with Jen Way of Sales the Jen Way to break down why rigid sales tactics destroy trust, how real conversations create stronger seller relationships, and why top closers focus on understanding people instead of controlling calls. Jen shares the mindset shifts, objection handling frameworks, and communication strategies that help investors convert more leads without sounding salesy. In this episode: • Why scripts often hurt real estate sales conversations • How asking better questions creates instant rapport • The four objections every investor must handle upfront • Why sellers care more about solutions than price About Our Guest: Jen built her career closing real estate deals for over 20 years before realizing the biggest breakthroughs in sales had nothing to do with scripts or pressure tactics. Today, she is the creator of Sales the Jen Way, a sales coaching program focused on real conversations, leadership, trust-building, and helping people become genuinely better communicators. Her approach challenges traditional sales training by teaching structure and connection instead of memorized scripts that feel forced and inauthentic. Based on her homestead in Colorado, Jen draws powerful parallels between building a sustainable life and building sustainable sales success. Raising animals, growing food, and working the land reinforced her belief that shortcuts never create lasting results — whether in farming or in business. That philosophy now drives her coaching, where she helps sales professionals, entrepreneurs, and real estate teams create trust-based conversations that compound into long-term success, stronger relationships, and higher-performing businesses.