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. 1D AGO

    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

  2. 4D AGO

    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

  3. 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

  4. JAN 15

    Reading Market Trends Like a Pro: How to Turn Data Into Closed Deals in Q1 2026

    When someone asks "How's the market?" do you give them the same generic answer as every other agent, or do you demonstrate expertise that converts casual conversations into signed agreements? Katie DeWitt and Carly Pederson break down exactly how to read your local market data, where to find the intelligence that actually matters, and how to use market trends to create genuine urgency with buyers and sellers. This episode is packed with tactical strategies for agents who want to dominate Q1 2026 while everyone else is still figuring out what happened in 2025. Key Topics Covered: The market contradiction happening right now—why we're technically in a seller's market that feels like a buyer's market and how to use this to your advantage The seven data points you need to know without looking them up (and exactly where to find them) The elevator pitch script that's converting bartenders, receptionists, and party conversations into active buyer clients within 24 hours Why your 5-10 buyer clients don't represent the market and how to get genuinely representative intelligence The expired listing gold rush coming in March 2026 and why you need to prepare your scripts now Where to find market data in formats that actually keep you consistent (spoiler: it's probably different than you think) How to position offers $40,000-$50,000 below asking price and get them accepted This is the episode for agents who are tired of waiting for "clarity" while opportunities dissolve. The market is shifting quarterly. The window is closing. And the agents who recognize patterns before they become obvious are the ones building empires while everyone else is still talking about what they should have done. Ready to stop sounding like every other agent and start closing more deals? This episode shows you exactly how to read the room, use the data, and convert conversations into contracts. ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠

    35 min

  5. JAN 5

    Recruiting Systems That Actually Convert (Without Chasing Agents)

    Starting a brokerage in a market where desk fees run $25K-30K and the average home sells for $300K? That's exactly what Josh Ries is doing in South Dakota—and he's using lead generation systems that cut costs by 78% to do it. Josh didn't set out to become a managing broker. He was consulting on lead generation for teams and brokerages when opportunity knocked. Now he's building a cloud-based brokerage from the ground up in a small market dominated by legacy franchises, and he's doing it with zero agents on day one. This episode breaks down the unglamorous reality of starting from scratch: building systems before recruiting a single agent, defining your value proposition in a sea of sameness, and using targeted digital marketing to attract mid-level producers ready to scale. Katie and Josh dig into the consultative approach that builds relationships instead of burning through leads, why providing value when people don't need you is the only strategy that matters, and how to leverage custom audiences and retargeting to stay omnipresent without being obnoxious. Key Topics: Why you need rock-solid systems before you recruit your first agent (or hire your first assistant) How to identify your ideal avatar and speak directly to their pain points instead of bragging about your stats The shift from authority-based marketing to value-based lead generation—and why people don't care about your awards anymore Using custom audiences, retargeting, and social funnels to stay top of mind without spending a fortune Transitioning from digital nurture to in-person relationships (and why leads die between steps) The difference between transactional selling and consultative relationship building—and which one compounds over time Why cutting your cost per acquisition by 78% starts with knowing your business numbers Whether you're building a team, recruiting for a brokerage, or just trying to grow your solo business, this episode will challenge you to think about growth differently. Stop chasing. Start providing value. Let people come to you when they're ready. Your move: Apply this same framework to your database. Are you providing so much value when people don't need you that when they do, there's no question who they're calling? If not, it's time to rebuild your foundation. Learn more about joining the Next Level Agents community at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠

    43 min

  6. JAN 1

    Be Willing to Suck First: Why You Can’t Be Great Without Being Crappy w/Angela Gordon

    When we look at someone making and posting great content, we tend to overlook one thing. They all had that first crappy post or clumsy video. It doesn’t become polished overnight - it goes through a ton of iterations until it looks amazing. You don’t see the 100 steps the content creator had to go through - the period of being bad at it first, figuring it out, learning new things and applying them.  Most people will never get to great because they aren’t willing to go through this part of the process. They are afraid of looking silly and afraid of the discomfort of looking like they don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t want to screw up in order to do it better next time.  The journey of getting better as a business owner, and a person for that matter, involves a lot of humbling moments, learning curves, curiosity and a ton of improvements. As soon as we become okay with that, we unlock our next level of growth. We’re ultimately in the self-improvement business disguised as a real estate business. How do we commit to constant growth and improvement? Today, fellow Phoenix agent, Angela Gordon talks about how she’s growing her business by improving herself.  Key Points   Give fear a seat at the table, not a vote One of the things that holds us back from taking action is the fear of not getting results or looking silly. Fear is a natural response to trying something new. We can still have the thoughts, but we don’t have to give them power by not taking action. Give fear and doubt a seat at the table, but you don’t have to give them a vote.  How to handle the results lag of real estate As agents whose business results often lag behind the action we take, we don’t have the benefit of instant gratification. If we let our emotions control the day-to-day of our business and what we do, we can easily get off track. We have to believe that as long as we’re doing the right things, business will be okay, even if we don’t see the results right away.  You’re not in the business of selling houses If you’re a business owner, you’re really in the self-development business especially if you’re working with the public and dealing with customers/clients. Working on yourself is your number 1 job because if you don’t overcome your BS, you’ll never get to where you want to go.  How to tap into your creativity  One of the most powerful things we can do is be more creative. It benefits us in so many aspects of our business. But how do we lean into creativity and get ourselves into a creative space? By getting out of our usual routines, taking a break from work and getting out of our element. Whatever our hamster wheel is, we have to step off it to get those creative juices flowing.  The power of curiosity  Curiosity and the ability to be uncomfortable are some of the most powerful qualities a person can possess. Most people aren’t willing to try something different, but even if you discover that the new hobby wasn’t for you, you still get to learn something about yourself, and that’s great if you want to keep growing.  Guest Info Angela is an investor and top 4% real estate agent in Arizona who focuses on the east valley cities. With an emphasis on cultivating community, connecting people and supporting local businesses. Angela is also committed to personal development, constant improvement and building a life on being your authentic self. Follow ⁠@angelagordon_⁠ on Instagram.  CTA ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠

    1h 11m

  7. 12/29/2025 · BONUS

    The Brutally Simple Reason Why You’re Not Profitable

    Profit - it’s the whole entire point that we run businesses. For such a critical, and even fundamental topic, agents will talk about everything else but whether or not they are making a profit, and there’s a reason.  Staying on top of your numbers requires a scary level of maturity. Whatever financial decision we make has an impact on the bottom line, and that level of responsibility is so uncomfortable, we’d rather avoid it altogether. It’s the equivalent of stepping on the scale and knowing we have to make lifestyle changes to take care of our health.  If we ran a publicly traded company, every decision would need to be justified to a board, a CFO, and a whole horde of people. In real estate, we can get away with not doing that, but it’s something we must force on ourselves if we really do want to be profitable.  How do we overcome the Fear of Finding Out? What’s so powerful about getting in rooms with smart people?  Chris Bowers and I continue our deep dive conversation on real estate, curating relationships and the power of masterminds.  Guest Info Chris Bowers is a Realtor, Investor and owner of the Bowers Team, and the host of The agentXcel podcast. Chris has been in real estate for over 16 years, but he has been an entrepreneur since his teens. Today, Chris and his wife run a successful team selling over 140 units with half of those being Chris’ personal production. He has also built a solid rental portfolio that continues to grow to this day.  Follow ⁠@chrisbowers_realestate⁠ on Instagram and listen to agentXcel on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠.   CTA ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠

    49 min

  8. 12/25/2025 · BONUS

    Brokerages Are Biggest Lie in Real Estate, Build This Instead w/ Mitch Ribak

    In real estate, being a broker is the ultimate dream we’re taught to aspire to, but for most people, it’s a nightmare. If you put the ego and bragging rights aside, you’ll find that most brokers aren’t happy.  They work 80+ hours a week, get very little time with their families, and at the end of the day, have very little to show for it financially. People often say a restaurant is one of the worst businesses to own, but a real estate brokerage isn’t all that different if you really dig into the numbers.  What if we could aspire to a business model that gave us freedom, leverage and more money? What if you could do away with the things that make owning a brokerage so difficult? Mitch Riback did just that and created a model that allows owners to keep more income, have less overhead and responsibility over agents and way more freedom.  You could go from working 80+ hours a week to 30 hours, and sell more homes with less headaches. Ultimately, what most “successful” brokers don’t tell you is how much they hate what they run. By taking a different approach, you can sign up for a business, and not a trap. Today, I’m joined by the Realtor, coach, speaker and author of The Big Lie: Are You On the Real Estate Hamster Wheel? Mitch talks about what drove him to build a different business and how it’s allowed him to pour into what truly matters.  People think working 80+ hours a week is a badge of honor, it’s a badge of stupidity. -Mitch Ribak  Guest Info Mitch Ribak is a Realtor, Broker, Coach, Speaker and author of The Big Lie: Are you on the Real Estate Hamster Wheel? Most Successful Realtors, Team Leaders and Brokers never truly build a business, they build a crappy job. Mitch teaches agents and brokers how to create a business that not only increases their profits, but also creates a life of freedom. To get the book, get ⁠https://a.co/d/1T0qWAt⁠ or send an email to ⁠Mitch@mitchrealty.com⁠.  CTA ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

    28 min
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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

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