In this episode of Real Life in Real Estate, Mark Peebles tackles one of the biggest (and most controversial) shifts happening in the industry right now — private listings, pre-marketing, and the growing battle between brokerages and portals.

With major companies striking exclusive deals and "coming soon" listings being pushed into private networks, the question becomes: Is this actually helping clients… or hurting them?

Mark breaks down what's happening across the industry, from changes in clear cooperation policies to new agreements between major brokerages and platforms like Zillow, Redfin, and others. More importantly, he shares a straightforward perspective on what this means for both buyers and sellers.

This episode challenges agents to think deeper about their role and responsibility — especially when it comes to serving clients at the highest level.

Because at the end of the day, it's not about the portals. It's not about the brokerage.

It's about doing what's right for the client.

Mark also reminds agents that no matter how noisy the industry gets, the fundamentals don't change: focus on your relationships, manage your time, and continue growing your skillset.

If you want clarity in the middle of industry noise — this is an episode you don't want to miss!