In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt are joined by veteran agent Tracey Zemer for a fascinating trip through the evolution of the Phoenix real estate market. Tracey shares her unique career path, which began right out of college selling $35,000 raw dirt lots in North Scottsdale before pivoting into the fast-paced world of radio advertising sales. She explains how mastering face-to-face negotiations and cold-calling in the ad world perfectly prepared her for a successful return to real estate. Tracey’s comeback was sparked by her passion for historic renovations, specifically a 1930s Arcadia home tied to the Wrigley Mansion architect, which ultimately led to a 22-year tenure with a legacy architectural brokerage before finding her perfect fit at RETSY.

The conversation takes a wild turn as Tracey recounts her craziest transaction to date: managing an escrow for a Ukrainian buyer whose accounts froze at the onset of the war, only to have the neighboring house literally explode from a gas leak right before closing. Beyond the unbelievable stories, Tracey and the hosts dive deep into the importance of timeless architecture, the rapid evolution of the Arcadia neighborhood from original ranch homes to mega-mansions, and the future of the Phoenix market amidst a boom in data centers and solar technology. Tracey also highlights why she relies on RETSY’s advanced marketing systems and the Forewarn app to safely vet clients and stay ahead in the competitive luxury landscape.

00:00 – Meet RETSY Agent Tracey Zemer

01:20 – Starting Out: From Land Sales to Radio Advertising

07:13 – The Perks of Ad Sales and Front Row Tickets to the Eagles

10:23 – How Renovating Historic Houses Got Her Back into Real Estate

18:00 – Why Tech Brought Tracey to RETSY

21:45 – The Impact of Architecture: Why Homes Are Getting Bigger and Bigger

28:57 – Insurance Nightmare Story: The Deal That Literally Blew Up

35:35 – The Time Machine Question: Going Forward to See the Future of AI

41:13 – The Next 5 Years in Arizona: Data Centers, TSMC, and Booming Growth

43:30 – Behind the Scenes: The RETSY Mailer System for Every Listing

46:43 – How to Connect

Connect with Tracey

Email her [email protected]

Or give her a call at 602.478.0607

Learn more about RETSY

www.retsy.com

www.instagram.com/retsy

www.youtube.com/@retsy.

Original music by @jacktwarner