When the pandemic first brought life to a standstill, the last thing anyone expected was a real estate boom, especially along the coast. People realized they could be heading to the beach after their last Zoom meeting of the day, and it all added up to a scorching market on the South Coast of Massachusetts: one that has yet to let up. With workers no longer expected in person, at least not daily, the South Coast—just 60 miles south of Boston and a stone's throw from the Cape, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and even Providence—continues to see serious gains. I was thrilled to shoot this episode from our NEW South Dartmouth office with our own ⁠Team MCM⁠. ⁠Maggie Tomkiewicz⁠, ⁠Chris Hiller⁠ and ⁠Margo Choquette ⁠have been pillars in the Dartmouth community for more than 35 combined years and it was a blast discussing what they think is next for this very special market! Learn more about the South Coast at ⁠www.gibsonsothebysrealty.com/explore/south-coast⁠. 

If you need a community to walk with you while growing a real estate business and raising a family, you're in the right place! It's Women's History Month, and I can't think of a better person to have on the podcast than Mayi de la Vega. Mayi is someone whom I've had the honor of knowing for more than ten years. The first Cuban-American woman to own a Sotheby's International Realty® franchise, Mayi is real estate powerhouse, having founded ONE Sotheby's International Realty back in 2008 during the country’s worst economic recession. Today, Mayi leads South Florida's leading luxury brokerage, but that didn't happen without some serious balancing between her career and raising two children. Listen as Mayi reveals some lessons she's learned about making time for her family and herself while building a successful company.

As real estate advisors, we serve, not sell. But, nobody has ever become a top real estate agent without setting a few boundaries, and figuring out where that line is doesn’t always come so easily. Failing to hold to them can leave you exhausted, frustrated, and on the verge of giving up the industry altogether. So how do you communicate your work obligations to your family? How should you structure your week so you can honor your personal commitments? Is real estate actually a strong career option for parents? Watch as Tom Matthews of The Tom & Joanne Team and I discuss what's made it possible for him to balance parenting and real estate and actually accomplish more each week, and don't forget to check out a few of his favorite resources:

💡 Simon Sinek's Start With Why

💡 Chet Holmes' The Ultimate Sales Machine

💡 Seth Godin's The Dip

I am really nervous to discuss this topic! 

As real estate professionals, we feel moved to touch on the discussion of rent control in Boston. I think open and honest conversation is what we need here to solve the affordable housing crisis. We feel strongly about finding a solution but, as most economists will say, do not believe that rent control is the answer. In fact, if supply is really the underlying issue, rent control could make it even worse. So what actions can we potentially take to actually make housing more affordable? I hope you will watch as I'm joined by Colleen Barry, CEO of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, to discuss a few other potential solutions to this affordability crisis. 

Listen to the Freakonomics Radio Episode: Why Rent Control Doesn't Work. 

You want the best future possible, so you need a clear picture of how you can tap into the knowledge and support of the best in the business.

Gibson Sotheby's International Realty has the highest agent productivity of the top five firms in Massachusetts, and that is one of our proudest achievements. In March 2022, we brought on Daphna Fields as our Vice President of Brokerage Development. Daphna previously served as Regional Vice President at Coldwell Banker, responsible for the oversight and productivity of the company’s sales offices in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, but she began her career as an agent. Today, Daphna helps us to identify ways that we can elevate our agents' careers, from increased confidence to negotiation to salesmanship, improving both their productivity and their enjoyment of their businesses. She is a culture-first leader and a champion of our brand with an obvious passion for the real estate business, and we are thrilled to have her on board. 

Are you doing what it takes to achieve the levels of greatness that you deserve? In working with agents for almost two decades now, Daphna Fields, Vice President of Brokerage Development at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, has found these ten habits to be the difference between an average performer and a top producer in real estate. After all, no matter your industry, your business is built on the characteristics and activities you cultivate daily. Take on the day with this curated collection of game-changing, value-added habits. 

In today's market, a company’s cash flow determines if it is in control of its own destiny. Gibson Sotheby's International Realty is no stranger to growth (we just announced the upcoming opening of our office in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts) and when the opportunity for mergers or acquisitions (M&A) arises and makes  sense for our associates, we're ready. But it’s not as simple as buying up brokerages that are for sale. It’s critical to find the right partner and have a bulletproof transition and integration strategy. How do you recognize the strengths of a potential new acquisition? How can you determine if your cultures and business models pair well? Once the deal is done, how can you ensure that all the pieces fit together for long-term success? In PART TWO of my conversation with Larry Rideout, Chairman and Co-Owner of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, we unpack what leads to a successful M&A in order to help agents succeed and brokerage owners bolster their business in this age of strategic consolidation.

Staying on-trend is essential in real estate, and one of the biggest trends right now is short-form videos popularized by platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. With these platforms often being targeted toward younger audiences, agents in high-end markets might be wondering if it’s worth investing and engaging with them. The answer is an emphatic yes—and to explain, I'm joined by Becca Logue, Director of Communications & Digital Strategy at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, to discuss how to leverage short-form video with ease to expand your audience and build your business.

Today, it’s not only feasible for real estate agents to have connections from all over the world, but necessary. So what are the best ways to start making connections beyond your market? How can introverted agents nurture the skills they need in order to connect and support both their local and global clientele? Aimee Rideout, my sister and Vice President of Relocation & Referrals at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, knows that staying connected with other real estate advisors is vital to delivering the service that clients in today's market need. Tune in as she describes a few of the key benefits of being part of a referral network, explains how to get the most out of in-person networking events, and breaks down a few simple tips for agents hoping to build genuine professional connections.

Now more than ever, no matter your profession, it is critical to focus on a niche. I had the pleasure of speaking with two of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty's top producing advisors, Emily Flax and Nancy Roth. Both Emily and Nancy have had tremendous success in their very niche markets of Provincetown and Charlestown in Massachusetts, respectively. They have effectively leaned into and become true experts in their communities, a powerful advantage in today's ever-changing market. Tune in to hear their advice on identifying a niche in your business, an important way to differentiate yourself in the day and age of digital disruption. When the world gets noisy, people flock to the true professionals, and it is rare to find two individuals with so many connections to an individual community.