Next Level Agents: The Kevin & Fred Show - Interviews with the best and brightest minds in the real estate industry

Kevin Kauffman and Fred Weaver
  • 4.9 (180)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Interviews from the best and brightest minds in the real estate industry. We cover topics like Investing, listings, buyers, brokerage, technology, entrepreneurship and so much more. Brought to you by KevinandFred.com

  1. 2D AGO

    The Agent Who Does Nothing Fancy and Closes More Than Everyone: Nick Kibby's Unsexy Formula for Unstoppable Consistency

    Nick Kibby didn't build a billion-dollar team in Phoenix by doing something flashy. He built it by doing the right things — the same things — every single day for years. In this episode, Erik Kelly sits down with Nick to unpack the mindset, daily rhythms, and leadership philosophy that took him from corporate CFO to one of the most consistently productive agents and team owners in Arizona. If you're tired of chasing shiny objects that never close deals, this one is going to hit differently. Nick breaks down why sustainability beats intensity every time, how to use the word "fair" to disarm even the most difficult negotiation, and what's actually wrong with the way most team leaders approach splits, recruiting, and retention. What we get into: Why Nick ignored what everyone else was doing in his first year — and how that focus led him to outperform without realizing it The self-audit every agent needs to do before doing anything else in their business His daily structure: gym at 5am, prospect with intention, and deep work at midnight (yes, really) The "trading positions" framework that helps buyers and sellers get out of their own way in a tough market Why "fair" is the most powerful word in a negotiation — and how to use it without triggering anyone The difference between a great agent and a great leader (and why assuming they're the same thing is wrecking teams) Why obsessing over splits is a sign you've never actually made money in real estate What "thrive" means for 2026 — and the data Nick is tracking to back it up Nick and his partner at Relevate have closed over a billion dollars in sales across multiple states. They run expansion teams producing 2M+ GCI consistently. He is not guessing. He is sharing the actual playbook. If this episode lit a fire under you and you're ready to level up inside a brokerage that matches your ambition, check out what eXp has to offer at nextlevelagents.com/exp. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    40 min

  2. 5D AGO

    How to Double Your Real Estate Production

    Most real estate agents think joining a team means sacrificing who they are. They imagine becoming a lead-conversion machine, hitting someone else's quotas, and losing their personality in the process. But what if the best teams actually help you become more of yourself—not less? Jason Nelson, Jenna Barnes, and Kristin Mazzei from the Rutledge Property Group in Medford, Oregon just proved that theory. These three agents closed a combined 52 transactions in one of the worst markets we've seen in 30 years. And they did it by staying true to who they are while leveraging a proven system. In this episode, host Katie DeWitt pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to thrive on a mega team. You'll discover why showing up at 9 AM is the only non-negotiable, how these agents are doubling their production by amplifying what already works, and the one decision that changed everything for Jason after five years of being "Adam's guy." Key themes and takeaways: Why the best teams create space for individuality instead of demanding conformity The one-hour daily meeting that drives 200+ transactions with just 12 agents How to build a 50/50 business model that protects you from market shifts The avatar exercise nobody's doing (and why it matters more than your ideal client) Why taking care of yourself first is operational strategy, not self-help fluff The simple math of doubling your production (hint: it's just turning up the volume) How three completely different social media strategies are all working If you're on a team and feeling like you're losing yourself, this episode will show you what's possible when structure meets authenticity. If you're thinking about joining a team but worried about giving up your identity, you'll hear exactly what to look for in a healthy team culture. And if you're a team leader wondering why your agents aren't producing, this conversation will challenge everything you think you know about accountability, culture, and what actually drives results. Ready to explore what your next level looks like? Learn more about building a sustainable, high-producing real estate business at nextlevelagents.com/exp. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    38 min

  3. FEB 12

    Brutal Honesty About Your Exit Strategy

    What do you do when success itself becomes the ceiling? Alan Kushmakov didn't leave his independent brokerage because it was failing. He left because after six years of building Best Homes Real Estate to over 100 agents and ranking in the top 30 out of 2,400 brokerages in Phoenix, he realized something most entrepreneurs never want to admit: there had to be a better way. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Alan sits down with Kevin Kauffman and Fred Weaver to break down the decision that changed everything—transitioning from independent brokerage owner to strategic partner at eXp Realty. This isn't a story about desperation or burnout. It's about what happens when you ask yourself the hard question: what's my exit ramp? **Key themes and insights from this episode:** - The hidden trap of brokerage ownership: why 80% of the 100,000 brokerages in the US have 10 or fewer agents, and what that means for scalability and exit strategy - The difference between building income and building wealth: how most agents stay stuck in the hamster wheel of trading time for money with no residual income or equity - Why Alan turned down three offers to sell his brokerage and chose partnership over independence - The brutal honesty of transitioning 100+ agents: the emotional conversations, the pushback, the rumors, and what it takes to lead through change - How to build a 10,000-person vision without sacrificing the next decade of your life or reinventing the wheel in every new market - The real cost of independence: payroll, overhead, compliance, liability, and the weight of responsibility that comes with being a brokerage owner - Why proximity is power and how surrounding yourself with the right people accelerates growth faster than grinding alone ever will Alan's journey from solo agent to team leader to brokerage owner to strategic partner is a masterclass in knowing when to pivot, how to lead through uncertainty, and what it actually takes to build wealth in real estate—not just income. If you've ever wondered what's next after you've "made it," this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about success, independence, and what it means to build something that lasts. **Ready to explore what strategic partnership could look like for your real estate business?** Learn more about the Next Level Agents community and how we're helping agents, team owners, and brokerage owners build wealth at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ --- **Connect with Alan Kushmakov:** DM Alan on Facebook or Instagram: @alankushmakov ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    48 min

  4. FEB 9

    The Boring Work That Will Actually Move the Needle

    What if everything you thought you needed to succeed in real estate was wrong? No massive sphere. No warm leads. No perfect market conditions. In this episode, Katie DeWitt sits down with Houston-based powerhouse Shelley Cooley, who sold 72 homes her first year as a licensed agent—and not a single one came from her personal network. Shelley's story will dismantle every excuse you've been holding onto about why you can't level up right now. From her unconventional start as a home stager during the 2009 crash to cold calling builder salespeople with zero sales experience, Shelley built her business on guts, relationships, and radical consistency. She stayed on a team for seven years, then left the same week the NAR settlement dropped to launch her own team with her husband. Two years later? Over $40 million in sales in one of the worst markets in decades. This conversation is packed with tactical advice on building quality relationships over chasing quantity, putting your ego aside to ask for help, and doing the boring work that actually moves the needle. If you're ready to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start building an empire, this episode is your blueprint. Key Themes: How staging 1,000 homes became Shelley's sales boot camp The builder relationship strategy that led to 72 first-year deals Why competing with yourself beats comparing to the market The "puppy dog problem" and how to avoid shiny object syndrome Transitioning from team member to team leader in a down market Small, intentional events vs. massive community activations Leading with humility and service in a high-ego industry Ready to stop making excuses and start building real relationships that convert? This episode will challenge you to rethink everything about how you approach your real estate business. Want to learn more about joining a brokerage that supports massive growth like Shelley's? Visit nextlevelagents.com/exp and discover how eXp Realty can help you reach your next level. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

    39 min

  5. FEB 5

    The Identity Shift from “Realtor” to “Wealth Builder”

    What if the role you're playing is the only thing standing between you and your next level? DeAnna Lee didn't start with money. She started as a single mom bartender who bought a duplex and house-hacked before it was even trending. She entered real estate in 2009—right after the crash—and worked transactions like most agents do. But she refused to let "realtor" define the limits of what was possible. Today, she owns a global portfolio of luxury experiential hotels and short-term rentals spanning multiple countries and climates. From the Caribbean to Southern Utah to the Dominican Republic, she's built an empire using creative financing, strategic repositioning, and the courage to think bigger than her circumstances. In this episode, DeAnna breaks down the strategies that took her from broken to boutique hotel mogul—and why most agents stay stuck in the transactional grind while helping everyone else build wealth. KEY THEMES: - Why your first property should never be your dream home (and what to buy instead) - The BRRRR model explained: how to scale without $100K in the bank - From self-employed to business owner: creating systems that work without you - Strategic portfolio diversification across seasonal markets to balance volatility - The power of speaking your intentions in the right rooms with the right people - How to negotiate creative financing deals (including zero-percent seller financing) - Repositioning instead of panicking when market cycles shift - Why you can't scale chaos—and how to build operations that actually support growth - The difference between heads-and-beds hospitality and experiential luxury retreats If you've been treating real estate investing as a side hustle or a "someday" dream, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what's possible. DeAnna proves that you don't need a pile of cash to make bold moves. You need creativity, courage, and a willingness to stop letting your current role define your future possibilities. Ready to unlock your own path to real estate wealth? DeAnna is hosting a free masterclass called "Unlocking Your Magical Ability to Create Wealth in Real Estate" where she breaks down the entire buffet of investment strategies—from long-term rentals to boutique hotels to passive income opportunities. Four hours. Multiple experts. Actionable steps that give you clarity on what resonates with your vision. Join the waitlist at the link below and discover which strategy is your next move. CONNECT WITH DEANNA LEE: Book Your Consultation with DeAnna Lee: https://go.collectivedestinations.com/booknow Join the Waitlist for "Unlocking Your Magical Ability to Create Wealth in Real Estate": https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/Qu56GYj0XTYJljDIGcEM Want to connect with a community of agents building real wealth and leveling up their businesses? Learn more about Next Level Agents and explore the eXp opportunity at nextlevelagents.com/exp. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠

    31 min

  6. JAN 29

    How to Close $40M in Real Estate in 2 Years Knowing Absolutely No One in Your Market

    What happens when you move to a brand new city, know absolutely no one, and decide to build a massive real estate business from scratch? Mark and Kelli Brewer found out when they relocated from Houston to Tennessee two years ago with zero connections, zero sphere of influence, and zero local credibility. Last year, they closed over $40 million in production. This episode challenges everything you think you know about building a real estate business. You don't need a massive sphere. You don't need years of local presence. You don't even need to know everyone in your neighborhood. What you do need: clarity on who you actually serve, the guts to show up consistently even when year one is brutal, and the willingness to pivot when your original plan isn't working. Katie DeWitt sits down with Mark and Kelli to break down exactly how they did it—from their first painful YouTube video edited in CapCut to building a content engine that generates pre-qualified, high-converting leads who already trust them before the first conversation. In this episode, you'll discover: Why "community" has nothing to do with geography and everything to do with shared experience How Mark and Kelli pivoted from their original hyper-local strategy to building a national audience on YouTube The uncomfortable truth about year one (and why most agents quit right before the breakthrough) How an eXp connection sparked the insight that transformed their entire business model The exact content strategy they used to turn YouTube viewers into $40M in closed production Why their YouTube leads are "a lot hotter" than traditional paid leads The CRM and automation systems they use to manage massive lead volume without dropping the ball How they went from editing their own rough videos to investing in professional editors as they scaled Why they've turned down clients who weren't ready—and how those relationships became their biggest wins The discipline required to work 65-70 hour weeks (including two days on their anniversary trip) to build momentum If you're stuck thinking you need a massive sphere of influence or years of grinding to hit big production numbers, this conversation will completely shift your perspective on what's actually required to dominate in real estate. Mark and Kelli proved that you can build a $40M business in two years in a market where you know no one. The question is: are you willing to do what it takes? Ready to join a brokerage that connects you with agents building at this level? Learn more about the eXp opportunity at nextlevelagents.com/exp Subscribe to Next Level Agents: Don't miss future episodes with top-tier agents, game-changing strategies, and the mindset shifts you need to dominate in real estate. Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠

    45 min

  7. JAN 26

    Top 10 Tax Strategies for Real Estate agents

    You know how to close deals and generate leads. But do you know how to keep the money you're making? Brandon Green walked across stages collecting top producer awards while secretly drowning in half a million dollars of IRS debt. He's not alone in this story. After founding Alchemy, an accounting firm exclusively for real estate professionals, Brandon and his team reviewed hundreds of tax returns and identified a disturbing pattern: the agents who know how to make money often have no idea how to manage it, save it, or invest it strategically. In this episode, co-host Erik Kelly sits down with Brandon to expose the ten most common tax mistakes that are costing real estate agents tens of thousands—sometimes hundreds of thousands—of dollars every single year. This isn't theory. This is what happens when you wait until March to talk to your CPA, when you panic-buy an SUV for a write-off you don't understand, when you set up an S corp too early and bleed money on compliance fees, or when you execute a social media tax strategy that costs you thousands and yields nothing. Key topics covered: Why meeting with your tax professional in the summer (not tax season) is the single most important financial decision you can make The three entirely different money skills you need to calibrate to build real wealth—and why being great at one won't save you The $300,000 GCI threshold that determines whether you should have an S corporation (and why setting one up too early is a costly mistake) How to avoid the $400,000 S corp compliance disaster that voided one agent's entire tax structure The difference between cash in your bank account, profitability, and taxable income—and why confusing them creates year-end chaos Why good bookkeeping is the non-negotiable foundation for every tax strategy (even though nobody gets excited about it) How to validate tax strategies from social media before you execute them and lose thousands on strategies that don't apply to your situation The liquidity problem that prevents agents from executing the tax strategies they actually want If you've ever gotten that sinking feeling when your CPA tells you what you owe, this episode is your wake-up call. The next level isn't just about making more money. It's about keeping it, growing it, and building something that actually lasts. Ready to stop leaving money on the table? Schedule your summer tax strategy meeting now. And learn more about building real wealth in real estate at nextlevelagents.com/exp. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠

    34 min

  8. JAN 22

    Overthinking is Costing You 6-Figures

    What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't lack of knowledge—it's knowing too much? In this episode, guest host Carly Pederson interviews Katie DeWitt, who went from managing 65 agents before ever selling a house to opening a full-service salon from scratch in nine months—all while doubling her real estate production during the slowest market in 30 years. Katie breaks down her "big balls" approach to business: doing just enough research to feel dangerous, then committing before overthinking can kill momentum. She reveals how your "financial thermostat" keeps you stuck at the same income year after year, and exactly what it takes to permanently raise that ceiling. This isn't about hustle culture or grinding yourself into exhaustion. Katie actually spent MORE time at the pool with her kids while building her salon. She didn't cut expenses—she strategically invested in things that protected her energy and focus. You'll learn: Why knowledge can be your biggest obstacle to growth (and what to do instead) The financial thermostat concept that explains why you plateau at the same income How to generate $200K in extra commissions without changing your lead generation strategy Katie's framework for starting a business with zero industry experience in under a year Why "start with the vision, money will show up" is the only approach that works How to find private investors through one social media post The real conversation about ambition, partnership, and boundaries that enables big moves Why being physically present in your community directly generates real estate business How to use AI and resourcefulness to replace formal expertise Katie's story proves that your next level isn't about perfect conditions, more training, or waiting until you're ready. It's about raising your comfort zone, executing with intensity, and figuring things out as you go. If you've been stuck in analysis paralysis or recycling the same results year after year, this episode is your permission slip to start before you're ready. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠

    58 min
See All (618)

4.9
out of 5
180 Ratings

About

Interviews from the best and brightest minds in the real estate industry. We cover topics like Investing, listings, buyers, brokerage, technology, entrepreneurship and so much more. Brought to you by KevinandFred.com

Information

You Might Also Like