Forward One Podcast

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Josh Spitzen and Joey Sacavitch of Forward One Real Estate. Today, we sit down with Jose Prats, the entrepreneur behind Character Homes, whose journey from running a bike shop to building a $50M real estate business is nothing short of inspiring. In this conversation, we dig into how Jose turned his passion for architecture into a thriving niche, the lessons he learned flipping homes, and how social media now drives 80% of his business. If you’ve ever wondered how authenticity, hard work, and vision can transform a career, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Connect with the Forward One Team!
Josh:
https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/

Joey:
https://www.instagram.com/joeysnacks/
Jose:

https://www.instagram.com/thejoseprats/

Timestamps

00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:01:25 Character Homes and Architectural Passion

00:04:10 First Flip Experience and Lessons Learned

00:11:09 Building a Real Estate Career

00:20:12 Social Media Strategy and Impact

00:25:29 Content Creation and Authentic Branding

00:32:56 The Power of Social Media in Real Estate

00:33:48 Content Strategy: Video vs. Carousel

00:34:17 Insights from Meta and Trial Reels

00:36:04 Engagement and Tracking Success

00:39:05 The Future of Character Homes

00:40:55 Marketing Unique and High-Value Properties

00:42:48 Leveraging YouTube for Real Estate

00:56:21 Rapid Fire Round: Personal Insights

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Stirdivant — a powerhouse in the business who went from rock bottom to leading one of the most dynamic brokerages in the country. Kevin opens up about the discipline that fueled his rise, the door-knocking grind that built his foundation, and the mindset shift that pushed him to pursue a billion dollars in listings. We dig into his story of resilience, authenticity, and focus, uncovering lessons that any realtor, entrepreneur, or investor can apply to their own journey.

Connect with the Forward One Team!
Paul:
https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/

Josh:
https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/

Kevin:
https://www.instagram.com/kevion/

Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:01:29 Current Market and Achievements
00:03:44 Setting and Achieving Big Goals
00:07:22 Personal Struggles and Turning Points
00:09:13 Building a Successful Real Estate Firm
00:20:18 Daily Routines and Work Ethic
00:22:53 Balancing Authenticity and Success
00:45:54 Setting Ambitious Goals
00:46:26 Adapting to Challenges
00:47:19 Achieving the Impossible
00:48:21 The Power of Mindset
00:51:14 Balancing Work and Family
00:55:04 Commitment and Consistency
01:05:26 Marketing and Branding Strategies
01:12:12 Overcoming Objections and Closing Deals

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with David Kramer, one of the most accomplished luxury real estate brokers in the country, to uncover the strategies and mindset that have powered his rise from early struggles to closing record-breaking deals. We dive into how he built a niche in trust and high-liability sales, why mastering the fundamentals matters more than chasing shortcuts, and what it really takes to earn clients’ trust at the highest level. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at how elite agents create lasting success in an ever-changing market, this conversation delivers.

Connect with the Forward One Team on Instagram!
Paul:
https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/
Josh:
https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/
David:
https://www.instagram.com/davidkramerre/

Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:05:09 Early Career and First Big Deal

00:10:25 Learning from Challenges and Setbacks

00:15:33 Understanding Different Aspects of Real Estate

00:20:47 Building Trust and Relationships

00:25:30 Working with Trust Sales

00:30:27 Negotiation Strategies

00:35:59 Dealing with Sophisticated Clients

00:41:27 Managing Emotions in Real Estate

00:46:03 Professional Growth and Development

00:51:00 Creating Value for Clients

00:56:43 Building a Successful Business

01:02:15 Daily Business Practices

01:07:23 Industry Role Models

01:12:43 Final Thoughts and Rapid Fire Questions

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Merse Kollo to unpack what it really takes to break into one of the toughest markets in the world and build a business around persistence, discipline, and strategy. We explore how off-market opportunities can transform your deal flow, why developer clients can be both the easiest and most challenging to work with, and the overlooked mindset shifts that separate consistent closers from agents who burn out. We’re also joined by realtor Andrew Whaley, a rising star on Merse’s team who has built a reputation as a high performer through relentless cold calling and quality conversations. Together, we break down how Merse’s team built \$50 million in sales volume by staying focused on their lane, creating value in ways other agents overlook, and mastering the art of resilience. If you’ve ever wondered how to build lasting relationships with developers, turn cold calls into meaningful business, or elevate your own consistency in the face of rejection, this episode delivers the blueprint.

Connect with the Forward One Team!
Paul:
https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/
Josh:
https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/
Merse:
https://www.instagram.com/merse_kollo/
Andrew:
https://www.instagram.com/ajwhaleyy/

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:31 Moving from Hungary to U.S.
00:03:27 Learning English & high school struggles
00:06:06 First real estate job in LA
00:08:39 First deals & 50/50 split
00:12:30 Proving yourself before asking
00:15:19 Mistakes & persistence
00:16:45 Willingness to try new things
00:20:00 Building a small focused team
00:21:50 Working with developers
00:25:18 $50M sales volume & deal flow
00:27:39 Getting developer clients
00:32:18 Loyalty, value, and resale listings
00:36:53 Finding deals & buy box
00:47:45 Example deal breakdown
00:56:19 Team culture & junior agents
01:00:15 Andrew’s background & joining the team
01:06:29 Cold calling mindset & quality conversations
01:08:39 Positive work environment & fit
01:11:32 Andrew’s recent deals
01:16:34 How Andrew cold calls sellers
01:24:13 Roleplay call example
01:24:33 F1RE Round

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Flachner, co-founder of RealScout, to explore what it really takes to build a product that realtors actually want—and keep using. We dig into why most tech companies get it wrong when trying to serve agents, and how Andrew’s obsession with solving real pain points led to one of the highest retention rates in the industry. You’ll hear why building a database isn’t just a tech play—it’s a long-term wealth strategy for agents. We also talk candidly about the moment RealScout stopped trying to be everything and chose a single lane, and how that decision changed everything.

If you’re trying to scale your real estate business, make smarter hiring decisions, or stay ahead of AI-driven shifts in the industry, this conversation is packed with the kind of practical insight and strategic clarity you won’t hear anywhere else.

Follow Andrew on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/aflachner/

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:15 Starting as an Agent
00:03:00 100K Users
00:04:55 Fixing Churn
00:07:05 Database Gold
00:10:00 One Thing Focus
00:12:45 Revenue Goals
00:15:40 Hire When It Hurts
00:18:30 High Retention
00:24:30 Network Effect
00:29:15 Seller Tools
00:32:10 Not a CRM
00:40:00 Beating Zillow
00:44:45 AI Roadmap
00:57:30 F1RE Round

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with luxury powerhouse Paul Daftarian to unpack what it really takes to dominate in one of the most competitive markets in the country. We talk about the mental discipline required to win listings before walking through the door, how to build a six-star service experience that clients can’t stop talking about, and why your calendar—not your market—determines your income. Paul shares insights that challenge the status quo, from redefining how agents should treat their databases to the strategic reason behind “burning the boats.” If you’re serious about playing at a higher level, this conversation will sharpen your focus and reframe how you approach success in this business.

Connect with the Forward One team on Instagram!
@paulmarkmorris
@spitzenjosh
@pauldaftarian

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:00 Early Mortgage
00:04:00 Missed Exit
00:07:00 Signal vs Noise
00:10:00 Burn the Boats
00:14:00 Confidence Wins
00:18:00 Calendar Wins
00:23:00 Team Building
00:28:00 Six-Star Service
00:33:00 Listing Tactics
00:41:00 Luxury Strategy
00:48:00 Set Boundaries
00:54:00 F1RE Round

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with architect John Umbanhowar to uncover what most realtors and developers get wrong about design—and why that’s costing them real money. We talk about how great architecture isn't just aesthetic; it’s strategic, and it can significantly increase property value when done right. John shares how to vet design professionals, what to look for during due diligence, and how to navigate tricky permitting challenges that can derail a deal. We also dig into the misunderstood dynamics between realtors, clients, and architects—plus how to position yourself as the connector who adds real value. Whether you're flipping, representing, or developing, this conversation will give you sharper tools to make smarter, more profitable decisions.

Follow John on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/huumarchitects/

More of John's work:
https://huum.com/fire-resilient-architecture-for-california-homeowners/
https://huum.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/250401_huumfireresilience.pdf

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:44 Path to Design
00:04:22 Clients & Realtors
00:07:07 Scope of Work
00:08:31 Permit Hurdles
00:12:53 Realtor Value
00:16:16 Due Diligence
00:20:24 Picking Architects
00:26:17 Design Ethos
00:29:27 Space & Feel
00:33:42 Vetting Pros
00:36:46 Fees & Value
00:44:05 ROI on Design
00:51:34 Climate Ready
00:57:34 F1RE Round

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with top realtor, Chase Campen, to unpack what it truly takes to move from a comfortable corporate career into a thriving real estate business while building a reputation that leads to consistent deals. We explore why understanding your personal process can be more powerful than chasing wins, how to generate leads in any market, and the surprising ways door knocking and local newsletters still outperform expensive ad spends when done with strategy. If you're looking to sharpen your edge in real estate while growing a business that actually serves your life, this episode will give you clear, actionable insights you can start applying today.

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:44 Getting started in real estate
00:03:15 Boca & Weather
00:04:32 Why Real Estate
00:05:59 People Skillset
00:13:46 Deal Hurdles
00:17:35 Process Beats Win
00:25:33 Lead Gen 101
00:30:13 Social vs Prospect
00:33:46 Door Knocking
00:37:32 Service Networking
00:45:02 Newsletter Play
00:52:15 Event Marketing
01:02:13 Tools & CRM
01:07:31 F1RE Round

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Gregory Eubanks to unpack the pivotal choices that transformed his path—from buying his first duplex to becoming a standout listing agent with a sharp edge on pricing strategy and follow-up. We talk about what actually moves the needle when it comes to converting leads, building client trust, and creating long-term momentum in your real estate career. Gregory shares hard-earned lessons from navigating a foreclosure, changing markets, and betting on himself with no safety net. If you're serious about mastering the art of follow-up, handling price objections, or knowing when to make the leap to full-time, this conversation is loaded with perspective you won’t hear anywhere else.

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:15 First Duplex
00:04:58 Landlord Lessons
00:10:36 Foreclosure Story
00:14:57 Target Trial
00:24:57 Move to LA
00:29:30 Hershey Sales
00:31:50 Getting Licensed
00:34:15 Full-Time Leap
00:36:04 Open House Guide
00:50:27 Follow-Up Mastery
01:05:30 Listing Strategy
01:22:15 Price Objections
01:31:55 Ambition
01:39:38 F1RE Round

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Mina Wan—one of the most strategic, forward-thinking agents we’ve met—who shares how she built a thriving real estate business by mastering YouTube, targeting investors, and turning a pandemic pivot into a high-volume operation. We unpack how she developed “Mina the Block” as a brand that sells, why her SEO tactics actually move the needle, and what most agents get wrong about content marketing. If you’re serious about scaling smart and standing out, this one’s packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro & Mina’s Pivot
00:02:40 Starting Her Brand
00:04:15 Leaving Her 9-to-5
00:07:05 First YouTube Leads
00:10:05 New Strategy
00:12:45 Investor Focus
00:17:25 $48M Cash Offer
00:20:05 Deal Falls Apart
00:27:55 Early Sales Boom
00:30:05 Views vs Clients
00:33:20 SEO & Growth
00:42:40 Team Structure
00:51:40 Agent Advice
00:55:00 Vision & Content
00:56:50 F1RE Round