In early 2026, the real estate market has split into two. Some agents are up 20-70%, while other agents feel like nothing has changed from last year's slower market.

The agents who are winning right now aren't reacting to conditions. They're compounding conversations, and treating every rate drop, headline, and industry shift as valuable opportunities.

Shifts like private equity circling real estate and new portals fighting for consumer attention are also creating new leverage points for prepared agents.

And at the same time, AI isn't just helping with the work; it's starting to do the work. The agents pulling ahead aren't dabbling. They're locking in on a few high-leverage uses.

So the real question isn't if the market is good or if you should be using AI. It's: where are you compounding effort, and where are you leaving leverage on the table?

In this episode, we unpack why some agents are accelerating while others stall, how the industry power structure is quietly shifting, and how to actually think about AI in a way that creates a real advantage.

About Your Hosts

Lance Billingsley is a seasoned real estate professional with over a decade of experience in agent development and business coaching. Since January 2021, he has served as the Vice President of Agent Development at Navi Title Agency, where he leverages his extensive industry knowledge to mentor and support real estate agents. Before his tenure at Navi Title, Lance co-owned a top-performing real estate team at Realty ONE Group, achieving recognition as one of the company's top five teams. He also served as a business coach for Tom Ferry.

Dave Richards is a well-respected business coach working with CEOs, entrepreneurs, mortgage and real estate professionals, and others. With over 25+ years of executive leadership experience, he coaches and consults with the top professionals and organizations in their respective industries. Capitalizing on his certifications in Human Behavior, he specializes in building and optimizing high-performance teams and tackling difficult decisions that hold his clients back. He easily connects with entrepreneurs to help identify and communicate their vision, define their culture, and increase their profits and growth in today's dynamic marketplace.

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