Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Hey there! If you've been wondering what's been going on behind the scenes at Real Estate Done Right(ish), this is the episode for you. We're taking March off. Yep, real talk, the podcast studio is moving and we're moving with it... into a giant question mark.

So instead of just ghosting you quietly (very professional, would not recommend), we decided to record our actual unfiltered conversation about what this podcast is, what we want it to be, and — most importantly — what YOU want it to be.

This isn't a polished announcement. It's us asking the real question that every creator eventually faces: Why are we doing this, and is it still serving the people we care about?

If you're listening, this is your moment. We want to hear from you.

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 Intro: "Figuring it out" — the extended version 

02:15 The feedback we've been getting (including the 25% non-realtors) 

05:30 — What the podcast was supposed to be vs. what it became 

09:45 — The real reason we're pausing: office move + bigger questions 

13:00 — Format ideas: daily show? Live recording? Rebrand entirely? 

17:30 — What would we even call it? ("Life Done Right(ish)"?) 

21:00 — Jen gets real about wanting this to be sustainable AND profitable 

26:00 — What Annalie actually wants: joy, freshness, community 

30:15 — What comes next: listener call for feedback 3

3:00 — The send-off (possibly forever, possibly not)

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

We start with a conversation about joy as resistance, navigating hard moments in Minneapolis, and why it might be more important than ever to stay grounded — and intentional.

Then we get into:

• The Year of the Fire Horse and what “intense energy” could mean for your business
• Health resets and what happens when you actually track your money
• Why open houses are converting again (after years of not working)
• A Valentine’s Day marketing idea that almost cost $7 per envelope
• Expired strategies that died… and the ones that might be coming back
• Growing an audience authentically (and why permission-seeking is out)

If you’ve been feeling like things are shifting — personally or professionally — this episode is for you.As always, we’re just realtors figuring it out in real time.

If you like these conversations, follow, share, and send this to a friend who needs it.

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 — Welcome & safety pin fashion crisis 

03:45 — Joy is resistance: What we're holding onto right now in Minneapolis 

09:00 — Year of the Fire Horse, the Aquarian Age & the Eclipse Portal 

20:30 — "Savage power and extreme ambition": 1966 and what fire horse years look like 27:00 — Annalie's full health reset: No drinking, DASH diet & actually sleeping 

33:00 — The spending journal: How to audit your finances like a control freak 

40:00 — The Valentine's Day database fiasco (bookmarks, QR codes & rogue stamps) 51:00 — Off-market real estate trends in Minneapolis: Low inventory = opportunity 

58:30 — Open houses are BACK: What's converting for agents in 2025 

1:04:00 — The Minneapolis Edit goes viral: 32.5M views and what it actually means 

1:13:00 — Stop asking for permission to be yourself online 

1:20:00 — The 6-item dating list that apparently makes men impossible to find

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

AI is everywhere in real estate right now,  but are we using it in a way that actually helps our business… or slowly makes us worse at it?

This isn’t a tech bro episode. We’re not nerding out on software. We’re talking real-life, practical ways real estate agents can use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity without losing your voice, your creativity, or your humanity.

If you’ve been curious about AI but skeptical… this one’s for you. Follow, share, and send this to the agent who’s clearly copy-pasting straight from ChatGPT.

Chapters

00:00 – Dogs, Costco, and Boycotts
 04:10 – Why We Were Late to AI
 08:30 – Is AI Making Us Dumber?
 12:45 – The Biggest AI Mistake Agents Make
 18:20 – How We Actually Use AI for Marketing
 25:10 – Creating Listing Data & Market Visuals with AI
 31:40 – Using AI for Client Emails & Sensitive Communication
 38:25 – Brainstorming Events & Business Ideas
 44:15 – Should You Use AI for Property Descriptions?
 49:30 – Virtual Staging, Automation & Lead Nurture
 54:00 – What AI Says We Should Be Using It For

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

"I think if the market is sort of neutral and if last year was tough and if people have had a tough year... we need to get creative with how we grow our businesses and put in more time. It's gonna take more time on task and more creativity and more resilience to maybe get half the business that you would get in a quote unquote good market." - Jen

Description:

Hey there! Jen here with Annalie, and we're back after taking last week off to catch our breath. Times are tough, and this market is a lot, and sometimes you just need a minute to get your feet underneath you again.

This week we're diving into what's actually happening in the 2026 housing market both the national headlines, and what the data is really showing at the micro-market level. We break down nationwide trends like stalling prices (not falling, stalling), the tale of two markets between different regions, and why the Northeast and Midwest are seeing completely different dynamics than the Sun Belt.

We're not just talking market data. We're talking about what it means for YOU as an agent trying to build a business in this weird, ambiguous, neutral-but-not-really market. Jen shares actual showing data from Minneapolis that surprised even us, and we get real about business planning when your conversion rates from last year might not mean anything anymore.

Whether you're sitting on listings that aren't moving or watching buyers lose out in multiples on the rare homes hitting the market, this episode gives you the context to understand what's happening and how to adapt. Plus, we talk about cocooning (yes, padding your bedroom walls), color drenching, and why our favorite times of day might mean we need better hobbies.

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 - Welcome back: Winter thickness and ethical thickness explained 

08:35 - National pricing trends: Stalling vs. falling markets 

15:22 - Regional differences: Northeast/Midwest vs. Sun Belt dynamics 

22:43 - Twin Cities data: What's really happening with buyer activity 

32:15 - Inventory shortage reality: One house in a 2-mile radius 

38:50 - The tale of two markets: Haves vs. have-nots 

45:30 - Interest rates and affordability: No relief coming in 2026 

52:10 - Job market, foreclosures, and neutral market navigation 

58:45 - Business planning for agents: Tripling your time on task 

01:05:20 - Budget tightening strategies for uncertain times 

01:12:40 - Fun trends: Color drenching, cocooning, and pickleball courts 

01:22:15 - Smart home paranoia and February's perfect calendar

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

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share on the podcast, early access to resources and events? Join our newsletter community. Click the link and sign up! 

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

"I'm going to use the words struggling a little reluctantly, but it's so real. Like I just don't know how to do normal business stuff right now. My nervous system is overwhelmed and I feel sad for people. I'm proud of what we're doing, but I'm also like, this sucks." - Jen 

Jen here, and I'm going to be really honest, we almost didn't hit record this week. My nervous system is overwhelmed, I'm struggling to know what "business as usual" even means, and I've looked at my prospecting list about seventeen times without being able to hit send.

If that's you too? You're not alone. And you're not broken.

In this episode, Annalie and I get brutally real about how to run a real estate business when your community is going through crisis - whether that's what's happening in Minneapolis right now, or the uncertainty, economic stress, and overwhelm that's hitting agents nationwide. We're not going to give you the "just push through it" advice. Instead, we're talking about:

* How to check in with your people authentically (without it feeling gross or opportunistic) 

* The difference between prospecting and being a resource during crisis 

* Which business activities to pause and which to double down on 

* How to step into your fiduciary role when clients are making fear-based decisions 

* Why connecting with ancillary professionals (CPAs, attorneys, financial planners) matters more right now 

* The mental health reality for agents in 2025 (and why it's okay to say this is f*cking hard)

Whether you're navigating local uncertainty or just trying to figure out how to run your business when the world feels chaotic, this episode is about showing up as humans first, agents second - while still taking care of yourself and your business.

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 - Welcome: "Are we recording?" (When normal feels impossible) 

03:45 - Why Jen's reel went semi-viral (and what resonated) 

08:20 - How to be human AND run a business right now 

15:30 - The database email Jen's actually sending (spoiler: it's not about real estate) 

22:10 - When prospecting feels tone-deaf vs. when it doesn't 

28:45 - Connecting with CPAs, attorneys & financial planners during uncertainty 

35:20 - The seasonality factor: Winter + crisis = extra challenge 

42:15 - Fiduciary responsibility when clients are making fear-based decisions

50:30 - Getting unstuck: What to do when you're paralyzed 

58:10 - Self-care isn't optional: The sauna story & nervous system management

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

Join Our Nonsense - Want more real estate insights, stories we can't
share on the podcast, early access to resources and events? Join our newsletter community. Click the link and sign up! 

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

"If you're a human trying to human right now, you are probably feeling a different level of emotion, weight—whatever you want to call it—than you were on December 1st." - Annalie

Hey there, this is not our typical episode. And honestly, we debated whether to record at all. But on January 14th, 2026, in Minneapolis, we showed up to the office and hit record anyway. Because sometimes the most real estate thing you can do is keep showing up, even when everything feels heavy, uncertain, and overwhelming.

This episode is about how you work when your nervous system is fried. When scrolling social media spikes your anxiety but you feel responsible to bear witness. When you're supposed to be prospecting but you're questioning whether anyone's even thinking about real estate right now. When the world feels like it's on fire and you're just trying to figure out how to be a human AND a business owner at the same time.

We talk about:

• The mental gymnastics of working during crisis (and why they're exhausting)
• How to regulate yourself first before you can help anyone else
• The importance of moving your body, eating actual food, and being in community
• Market volatility and what it means for your business strategy
• When to push forward vs. when to give yourself permission to pause
• Using data to navigate uncertainty with clients (because when you can't predict seasonality, you better have facts)

If you're struggling right now—for any reason—this episode is for you. Whether you're in Minneapolis, facing your own local crisis, dealing with market uncertainty, or just feeling the weight of running a business in volatile times, we see you and we're figuring it out with you.

And by "figuring it out," we mean we're doing our best to keep showing up while also taking breaks to sit in hot tubs with wine because sometimes that's the only thing that makes sense.

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 - Welcome and the decision to record during crisis 

03:00 - How do we work when the world feels like chaos? 

12:30 - Mental health check-in: The weight of being here 

18:45 - Community response: The beauty showing up in Minneapolis 

25:20 - Permission to pause vs. resistance through living life 

32:15 - Business strategy during extreme uncertainty 

38:50 - Market volatility explained with actual data 

45:30 - Self-regulation basics: Body, food, community 

52:10 - What we're watching in the market right now

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

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share on the podcast, early access to resources and events? Join our newsletter community. Click the link and sign up! 

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

Hey there! It's Jen and Annalie, and we're coming at you from that weird liminal space between "Happy New Year!" and "Wait, my motivation already died on January 5th." If you've ever felt that post-holiday whiplash where you go from rested to restless to "okay fine, let's put on real pants and do this thing," this episode is for you.

We're diving deep into what actually drives business growth in January 2026—and spoiler alert, it's not motivation. We're talking about the difference between motivation and discipline, how to build pipeline when the market is quiet, and why the Twin Cities market is showing some WEIRD patterns right now with holiday-priced homes getting snapped up by savvy buyers.

Plus, Annalie breaks down what she's seeing with early spring buyers hitting the market, why your lender relationships matter more than you think, and how to use this softer season to set yourself up for a killer spring. Whether you're starting from a place of calm confidence or forcing yourself off the couch, this episode has the real talk (and real strategies) you need.

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 - Happy New Year! (And by that we mean January motivation is already dead) 

02:15 - Holiday recap: Abundance, rituals, and emotional vulnerability

08:35 - Starting the year from baseline zero: What even-keeled feels like 

12:20 - Motivation vs discipline: What actually builds business 

16:45 - Minneapolis Edit and authenticity: Wrestling with lead gen strategies 

22:30 - January market analysis: Holiday pricing meets spring buyers 

28:15 - Twin Cities market weirdness: Properties sitting vs getting snapped up 35:40 - Multiple offers on holiday-priced homes: What this means for agents 

40:55 - New inventory strategies: When to list for maximum impact 

45:20 - Pipeline management: Old expireds, FISBO follow-ups, and coffee walks 52:30 - Social media reset: Posting daily and reconnecting with past clients 

58:10 - The importance of great lender relationships and education

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

Join Our Nonsense - Want more real estate insights, stories we can't
share on the podcast, early access to resources and events? Join our newsletter community. Click the link and sign up! 

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

If your real estate business feels like you’re doing everything but still not seeing consistent results, this episode is for you.

Jen and Annalie walk through a practical, repeatable way to audit where your business actually came from, identify the gap between last year’s production and your next goal, and build a plan to bridge that gap — without burnout or random lead gen.

This isn’t about chasing shiny objects. It’s about building a business that feeds your energy and your pipeline.

In this episode:

• How to break down last year’s closings by source
• Why your database is the foundation (but not always enough)
• The difference between increasing activity vs increasing skill
• What “pull-the-lever” lead gen actually means
• How to maximize every listing and client for momentum
• Relationship-based strategies that don’t feel salesy
• Simple systems you’ll actually stick to

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 - Welcome & hair jobs (yes, we're calling them that now) 

08:35 - The business planning framework: Finding your gap 

15:22 - Breaking down where your business actually comes from 

22:43 - Maximizing the business you already have 

31:15 - Creative lead generation: Beyond the boring stuff 

39:50 - The relational flywheel vs. the dreaded "36-touch system" 

48:30 - Client events that people actually want to attend 

56:20 - Coffee walks, pen pals & making business fun again 

01:02:45 - Open houses as lever-pullers (when database isn't enough) 

01:10:15 - Do real estate like you mean it

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

Join Our Nonsense - Want more real estate insights, stories we can't
share on the podcast, early access to resources and events? Join our newsletter community. Click the link and sign up!

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

This week on Real Estate Done Right-ish, Jen and Annalie finally return after a short hiatus… and we kick things off with a very on-brand update involving standing water, dry shampoo, and Annalie nearly becoming a frontier-era pioneer woman just trying to take a shower.

Once we recover, we dive into:

💰 The Millionaire Real Estate Agent Economic Model (MREA)

We break down the exact numbers you need to set real, trackable, doable goals for 2025 — including:
 • How much you should expect to net vs. gross
 • How to calculate how many units you actually need
 • Why most agents think they need more leads (but actually need better math)
• Conversion ratios, tracking systems, and the simple metrics that matter

✨ The Mindset & Energetic Side of Hitting Your Goals

Because let’s be honest — it’s not just the spreadsheets:
 • How your subconscious programming impacts your income
 • Why “commission breath” repels clients
 • Aligning your identity with the business you want
 • Using affirmation-based tools, visualization, and frequency work
 • Blending hard strategy with the woo (in a way that actually works)

😂 And of course… Would You Rather: Real Estate Edition

Including:
 • Buyers fighting vs. buyers making out
 • Frozen car door vs. frozen lockbox
 • Kermit-the-Frog clients
 • Boogers, wet-dog car smells, and listing appointments gone feral
 • A truly shocking story about what actually happens in staged beds 👀

If you’re a realtor planning your best year yet — and you want the perfect mix of tactical planning, mindset upgrades, and full on chaos — this episode is your new best friend.

00:00 Welcome back + Annalie’s historic shower incident
03:15 Dry shampoo, winter skin tones & YouTube lighting chaos
07:28 Why sharing the podcast helps us grow
09:42 Spray tan tents, Real Housewives & other distractions
12:00 What we’re covering today (economic model + mindset + WYR)
13:44 Understanding the Millionaire Real Estate Agent economic model
20:18 Gross vs. net income (and why agents get this wrong)
27:02 Average sales prices, commissions & tracking the right numbers
34:15 Conversion ratios: appointments → clients → closings
42:30 Lead gen activity vs. reality
47:10 Tracking tools: 411s, whiteboards & accountability groups
55:48 The energetic side of goal setting
01:04:30 How mindset shifts change your closings
01:12:10 Personal development inputs that fuel your year
01:20:05 Becoming the person who achieves the goal
01:25:00 Would You Rather: Real Estate Edition (chaos begins)
01:32:50 Final thoughts + closing

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

Join Our Nonsense - Want more real estate insights, stories we can't
share on the podcast, early access to resources and events? Join our newsletter community. Click the link and sign up!

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Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow

"My goal is to bring you the data and teach you how to interpret it so that you can make the best pricing decision for you. Once we review this, it becomes pretty intuitive." - Annalie

Hey there! Jen here. We took the week off for the holidays, so we're resharing YOUR most-listened-to episode by popular demand. If you missed this one (or if you need a refresher on how to absolutely nail your listing presentations), this is the one.

Annalie walks us through her exact listing appointment process - from macro market analysis to that crucial net sheet conversation that makes sellers go "wow, she really knows her stuff." You'll hear her real-time approach to handling a million-dollar listing, including how she navigates commission conversations and pricing objections with data-backed confidence.

This isn't theory - it's Annalie literally demonstrating her appointment process, complete with real market data and actual objection handling techniques that have generated millions in listings.

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 - Welcome and coffee confessions (we have a problem) 

08:35 - Validating the home: Starting with old MLS data 

15:22 - The home walkthrough strategy that saves time 

22:43 - Macro market analysis: Twin Cities to neighborhood 

35:15 - Live CMA analysis: Finding the appraisal ceiling 

48:30 - Net sheet presentation: The commission conversation 

58:45 - Handling pricing objections like a boss

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.realestatedonerightishpod.com

Join Our Nonsense - Want more real estate insights, stories we can't
share on the podcast, early access to resources and events? Join our newsletter community. Click the link and sign up!

Follow Us On Instagram:

Real Estate Done Right(ish)

Jennifer Briggs

Annalie Nienow