Corporate estate agents keep 10% of every commission they earn. eXp agents keep 70% and 100% after they hit their annual cap.Mario Carrozzo, CEO of Caridon Group, sits down with James Hughes, Director of James Hughes eXp and agent of the year 2025, to break down why the traditional high street agency model is under financial pressure and what the self-employed brokerage model offers instead.They cover the full commission structure, why independent agents sell 90% of their listings against the industry average of 25%, what eXp's network across 30 countries means for referrals and international deals, and why Caridon with nearly 2,000 properties and close to half a billion pounds in guaranteed rents over 15 years is adding eXp to its operations.Got a question for a future episode? Drop a comment or DM on the platform where you're listening.Guest: James Hughes, Director of James Hughes eXpInstagram: jameshughespropertyFacebook: facebook.com/jameshughespropertyLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jameshughes543Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:30 Why the traditional agency model is broken02:42 Understanding eXp model and its global reach07:47 How sellers and landlords benefit from independent agents14:08 Why Caridon is joining eXp20:34 Advice for agents considering the switch22:08 Do boards still matter?25:09 Will high street agencies survive?30:44 Who should join eXp and who shouldn't33:49 AI and the future of estate agents

Inside Caridon Episode 5: The UK Property Reality CheckMario and Abbas break down what the 2025 Autumn Budget REALLY means for landlords, why Dubai property is booming, and how AI is transforming real estate management.We manage over £300 million in property assets across the UK and internationally. In this episode, we cut through the noise and give you the real insights you won't hear anywhere else.CHAPTERS:(00:00) Intro(02:15) UK Autumn Budget Breakdown(05:54) No-Win-No-Fee Lawyers & Landlord Pressure(07:20) Why Guaranteed Rent Is The Solution(07:53) UK vs Dubai: The Brutal Comparison(12:47) Where Caridon Is Investing Globally(14:40) AI Revolution in Property Management(19:02) Cultural Change: Getting Teams On Board(20:46) Christmas at Caridon & Social Impact(22:26) 2026 Predictions & What's Next(24:26) Q&A Announcement: Send Us Your QuestionsKEY TAKEAWAYS:✅ The 2% CGT increase = £200 on £10k profit (not the disaster media claimed)✅ Court eviction wait times now up to 1 YEAR in the UK✅ Dubai property market fundamentals remain strong despite correction fears✅ AI can 5X business scale with same team size✅ Caridon manages £300M+ across UK, Dubai, New York, and Italy✅ Guaranteed rent models de-risk landlord investmentsABOUT CARIDON:Caridon Property is a UK-based real estate investment and management company specialising in social housing, BTR (Build to Rent), and international property investments. We've housed over 25,000 homeless individuals and manage a portfolio exceeding £300 million across multiple countries.Our mission: Every penny invested changes someone's life.HOSTS:Mario Carrozo- CEO, Caridon PropertyAbbas Alidina - CFO, Caridon Property🔗 CONNECT WITH US:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/caridon-property-services/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caridonproperty/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caridon.property/Website: https://www.caridongroup.co.uk/💬 SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS:Want us to cover your specific landlord scenario? Drop a comment or DM us. We're introducing Q&A segments and want to hear what YOU want us to discuss.TOPICS:#PropertyInvestment #UKProperty #DubaiRealEstate #LandlordAdvice #RealEstateInvesting #PropertyManagement #BTR #SocialHousing #AIinBusiness #PropertyPodcast #UKBudget2025 #GuaranteedRent #PropertyPortfolio #RealEstateTips

This special episode of The Caridon Weekly was created to honour Black History Month and to shine a light on the voices, experiences and leadership within our own team. Five colleagues from across the Caridon Group sit down for an open and heartfelt conversation about identity, pride, resilience and the realities of navigating professional life as Black men and women in the UK.They share stories from childhood to senior leadership, moments of prejudice that shaped them, moments of pride that lifted them and the leaders who inspired their journey. The discussion moves from representation and community leadership to workplace inclusion, cultural identity and the changes they hope to see in society and in our sector.At Caridon, diversity and social responsibility are not tick box exercises. They are values that guide how we hire, support, listen and create space for every individual to grow. This episode reflects the culture we strive for across the business. A place where people can bring their full selves to work and feel seen, valued and heard.Whatever your role or reason for tuning in, you will gain something from hearing these lived experiences.https://www.caridongroup.co.uk/podcast/(00:00) Introductions & What Pride Means
(02:08) When did you stand firm in your power?
(04:20) What does true leadership look like?
(07:37) Have you felt pressure to hide your identity at work?
(12:29) When have you felt proud as a black professional?
(16:39) How can workplaces genuinely celebrate cultural pride?
(21:35) Who inspires you and why?
(26:53) What would seeing someone like you in leadership have meant?
(34:32) What changes do you hope to see?
(40:10) What advice would you give the next generation?
(41:48) Final thoughts, quotes & book recommendations