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Summary:
This week Tucker and I get into something that's been on my mind after a string of conversations with agents at our last event and a franchisee I talked to recently: most people in this business genuinely don't take it seriously, and it has nothing to do with saturation or competition. We break down what actually separates the agents and investors who build real businesses from the ones who bounce from one "too good to be true" opportunity to the next, including a story from my early days at Keller Williams that changed how I looked at consistency forever.

We also get into the biz op culture flooding real estate right now, why headline deals almost never tell the full story, and a stat on entrepreneurs that honestly stopped us both mid-conversation. Plus a parking ticket story that ended up being one of the better lessons on stress and business I've picked up in a while. If you've ever wondered why some agents make it and most don't, this one's for you.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/leads?utm_source=YouTube%20%28Funnel%29&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Social&utm_content=Direct&utm_term=Perpetual

Summary:
Been off the mic for a few weeks and I've got a lot to unpack. Tucker and I get into what's actually happening in the wholesaling and off-market space right now, why states are starting to crack down on how deals get disclosed, and whether that's actually a bad thing for people doing it right. We also break down a real story from someone I know whose partnership went from doing half a million a month to facing multiple lawsuits and a possible bankruptcy, and why it happened.

If you've been feeling like this market is a little "off" and you can't quite put your finger on why, this episode should help. We talk about what it actually takes to keep doing good deals in a flat, grinding market, why so many operators are getting over their skis right now, and what I'm personally doing differently with my own projects because of it. As always, you're only one deal away.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/leads?utm_source=YouTube%20%28Funnel%29&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Social&utm_content=Direct&utm_term=Perpetual

Summary:
Just got back from a weekend in San Diego with a good chunk of our leadership team and about 15 investors and flippers from all over the country, and I've got to be honest, it left me thinking. We ran hot seats, did some presentations, and heard from guys on the East Coast, the Midwest, and the West Coast, so this wasn't just one market's problem. There was one theme that kept showing up over and over again, and it's not sexy, but it might be the single biggest reason some people are struggling right now while others aren't.

In this episode, Tucker and I break down what we saw at the event, why houses are basically illiquid right now compared to a hot market, and the real difference between the investors who are stressed out chasing deals versus the ones sitting comfortably with options. We also get into where we think rates and the broader market are headed, why the AI hype might be a bigger bubble than people realize, and how that could actually end up being good news for real estate. If you're feeling the pressure to keep the machine running right now, this one's for you.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/

Summary:
Tucker and I have been watching this market carefully for a while now, and this episode we finally just said what we really think. We get into where rates are headed, what the Iran peace talks might mean for bond yields and real estate, and why this current stagnant stretch has honestly been harder than the 2008 crash for a lot of operators out there. There's real pent-up demand sitting on the sidelines — the question is when it breaks loose, and whether you'll be positioned to catch it.

We also get honest about some of the decisions we've made over the past couple of years, including why Tucker intentionally slowed his operation down and why that was actually the smarter play. We talk about what it really takes to build lasting wealth in real estate versus just staying busy, why personal liquidity changes everything about how you make decisions, and what we've seen happen to people who chase the wrong goals at the wrong time. Good one this week — hope it hits.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/

Summary:
This week I sat down with Greg, a seasoned real estate operator out of the Seattle area who's been in the trenches of this business for years and this conversation did not disappoint. We kick things off with a raw story about a deal I fumbled. Signed too fast, left $30K on the table, and the buyer ended up regretting the whole thing too. It's one of those lessons that stings but the kind you actually learn from. From there, Greg and I go deep on what really separates the operators who last in this business from the ones who burn out or burn bridges. And spoiler: it's not AI, it's not the hottest software, and it's definitely not how loud you are online.

We also get into some real talk about AI in real estate. What's actually useful, what's smoke and mirrors, and why the fantasy of automating your way to deals is setting a lot of people up for failure. Greg breaks down how he's using tools like his Atlas system to get in front of motivated sellers faster, but we're both clear that the money is still made in the room. In negotiations, relationships, and reputation built over years. If you're a real estate agent or investor trying to figure out how to actually build something that lasts, this one's for you.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/

Join Easy Button Real Estate LIVE in San Diego: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/live

Summary:
We're back after a little hiatus, and we're not holding back. In this episode, Tucker and I catch up on what's been going on in our worlds: Tucker's pushing through his $5-6M spec build in Naples, I recently welcomed my first kid (and survived the first two weeks), and we both weigh in on where this market is actually headed right now: interest rates, the 10-year bond, geopolitical tension, and all the weird signals that make it nearly impossible to read the tea leaves right now.

But the real conversation? We get into the Brandon Turner situation, one of the biggest real estate syndication stories circulating online right now. Whether you've been following it or this is your first time hearing about it, we break down the real lessons behind it: what happens when you skip too many rungs on the investment ladder, how social media celebrity can fast-track your way into deals you're not ready for, and why the people who truly build lasting wealth in this game rarely, if ever, make the news. If you're wholesaling, flipping, or thinking about raising capital, this one's for you.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/

Summary:
Most people see what's happening in the news — gas prices climbing, insurance costs through the roof, tariffs hitting construction — and they freeze up. Tucker and I think that's exactly backwards. In this episode we break down how small operators like us actually have an edge right now, and why playing the same game as the big publicly traded builders is a trap you want to avoid.

We get into the real stuff — why investors are bailing on vacation rentals in California and Florida, how new state wealth taxes are quietly shifting where people want to live, and how to spot development opportunities in your zip code before the rest of the market catches on. You don't need to be an economist to use any of this. You just need to know what to look for and stay ahead of it rather than become a victim of it.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/

Summary:
In this episode, we unpack what’s happening in the broader market—from geopolitical tensions around Iran to volatility in crypto—and what it actually means for real estate operators making capital decisions right now. We also talk candidly about how experienced investors think about liquidity, risk exposure, and where they choose to park cash outside of active deals.

Then we break down the practical path to doing your first spec development deal: why partnering with a builder (not just a GC) matters, how to evaluate lots the right way, what timelines can quietly kill returns, and how to avoid getting stuck in multi-year permitting traps. If you’re looking to move from sourcing deals into building them, this episode gives you a clear operator-level starting point.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Turn Your Real Estate Business Into a $100,000/Month PROFIT Machine in 2026: https://creative-crafter-3107.kit.com/c0b266c717?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=march_workshop

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/

Summary:
In this episode, we talk about how something happening halfway across the world is starting to hit much closer to home. From delayed materials to rising costs, we’re seeing firsthand how global events are beginning to slow down real estate development in ways that aren’t always obvious at first.

We also get into how we’re thinking about operating through it, what this means for timelines, and why staying aware of these shifts matters more than ever right now. If you’re building or developing, this is something you can’t afford to ignore.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson

Join the #1 real estate community for agents and investors: https://www.skool.com/offmarketmethod/about?ref=791b3644f63045c9a6d3d8634e57c1f1

Want to SCALE your real estate business to $100k/month? Go here: https://easybuttonrealestate.com/

Summary:
In this episode, we talk about the growing hype around AI and what it actually means for real estate entrepreneurs. There’s no question the technology is powerful, but we don’t think AI is going to replace operators anytime soon.

We break down how we’re thinking about AI in our own businesses not as a magic solution, but as a tool that can make good operators more efficient. From underwriting deals to running systems and making better decisions, AI can help, but it won’t replace experience, judgment, or execution.

We also talk about where the real estate market sits right now, why stable markets can create great opportunities, and why trying to skip steps in this business is usually a mistake.

At the end of the day, the best deals still go to the best operator AI or not.

Connect with Cole Ruud-Johnson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coleruudjohnson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleruudjohnson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coleruudjohnson