The RETSY Podcast

RETSY
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Where real estate meets real stories. Whether you’re a seasoned agent, a savvy investor, or just curious about how the industry really works, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the wins, losses, and lessons from inside the world of real estate. Hosted by Chris Morrison and Matthew Morrison of RETSY. RETSY is a tech-forward brokerage redefining the modern agent experience we bring you unfiltered conversations, wild transaction tales, and insights that go beyond the typical market talk.

  1. 5d ago

    The Mortgage Playbook Wealthy Buyers Use, with Brent Nardecchia

    In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris sits down with Brent Nardecchia of High Place Mortgage, a longtime RETSY partner and one of the go-to lenders for the brokerage's high-end agents, recorded for the first time out of High Place's new studio. Brent breaks down what he is actually seeing in the market right now, from a record breaking summer to buyers who have become largely numb to headlines about the economy, oil prices, and interest rates. He also gets into why clients trying to shop rates using ChatGPT or Claude almost always end up disappointed, and why a knowledgeable lender still beats a chatbot when real money is on the line. The conversation goes deep into the financing tools most agents and buyers have never heard of, including bridge loans, cross collateralization, and the rise of down payment gifts, now expanded to include mentors as well as family. Brent explains why he built out a full team and support system rather than staying a one man operation, what separates a lender who can actually close a complex luxury deal from one who cannot, and why honesty from day one, even when it is not what a client wants to hear, is what keeps deals from falling apart. Brent also touches on the surprising demographic shift in average home buyer age and why he is bullish on Arizona's luxury market heading into year end. 00:00 - Welcome Brent Nardecchia back to the RETSY Pod! 00:57 - A New Look at the High Place Studios 03:24 - What Brent Is Seeing in the Market Right Now 09:01 - Interest Rates and Why the Outlook Is Positive 13:42 - What a "Gift" Really Means in the Mortgage World 17:09 - Diving Deeper Into Bridge Financing 22:36 - Being a Sponge and the Art of Delegating 27:53 - How Long It Takes to Really Grasp This Business 30:23 - The Biggest Misconception in the Mortgage Business 38:18 - Bedside Manner vs. the Truth: How Brent Gets Deals Done 48:04 - Working Less, Delegating More: Making Time for Family 54:00 - Why RETSY and High Place Work So Well Together 57:00 - The Rising Age of First-Time Home Buyers 1:00:31 - Get a Good CPA 1:01:54 - How to Connect with Brent and High Place Mortgage Connect with BrentSend him an email: brent@highplacemortgage.com Learn more about RETSY https://retsy.com | https://www.instagram.com/retsy | www.youtube.com/@retsy. Original music by @jacktwarner SPOTIFY  /  YOUTUBE  /  APPLE  /  VIDEO

  2. Sep 23

    Top RETSY Agents Break Down the East and West Valley

    This week wraps up the two part market series with a look at the East and West Valley, starting with Mike and Heather Steck, RETSY's Southeast Valley specialists based in Morrison Ranch. They walk through why Gilbert is increasingly being called Arcadia 2.0, complete with the restaurant and retail wave bringing names like Perry's Steakhouse, Whole Foods, and Fogo de Chão to the area, along with how price sensitivity, buyer patience, and shifting expectations around pools and backyards are shaping today's deals. Russell Harris then takes over for the West Valley, covering everything from the slowdown in 55 and over communities to the cash buyers now flooding in from California and the Silicon Valley style tech and data center boom transforming Surprise, Buckeye, and the areas around the 303. Across both conversations, a familiar theme continues from part one: buyers are pickier, sellers are adjusting expectations, and entire pockets of the Valley are transforming faster than most people realize. Mike and Heather also bring their son Easton in for a special lightning round question, and Russell shares the story behind his own record setting sale in Verrado, giving listeners a full valleywide picture of where the opportunity is right now. 00:00 - Welcome to the RETSY Podcast: Top Agents Series, Part 2 01:03 - Meet Mike and Heather Steck: Gilbert's Growth and Development 03:18 - The Biggest Market Shift and Why It's a Buyer's Market Now 09:00 - Where Buyers Are Coming From in the Southeast Valley 14:29 - What Buyers Prioritize Now vs. Two Years Ago 16:00 - Lightning Round and How to Connect with the Stecks 19:58 - Meet Russell Harris: Growth Across the West Valley 21:43 - The Biggest Market Shift Russell Has Seen This Year 23:20 - What's Sitting and What's Selling Quickly 24:35 - West Valley Inventory and Why It's Still a Buyer's Market 26:46 - Where Buyers Are Coming From and the New Infrastructure Reshaping the Area 31:29 - What Buyers Are Prioritizing When Moving to Town 34:00 - Lightning Round and How to Connect with Russell Connect with Mike and Heather Steck 480.298.2339 | mike@soldbysteck.com 480.822.0484 | heather@soldbysteck.com https://soldbysteck.com/ Connect with Russell Harris 602.904.1172 | russell@retsy.com | https://russell-harris.com/ Learn more about RETSY https://retsy.com | https://www.instagram.com/retsy | www.youtube.com/@retsy. Original music by @jacktwarner SPOTIFY  /  YOUTUBE  /  APPLE  /  VIDEO

  3. Sep 16

    Top RETSY Agents Break Down North Scottsdale, Arcadia, and Paradise Valley

    This week kicks off a special two-part series where Chris sits down with three of RETSY's top-performing agents to break down exactly what is happening in the neighborhoods they specialize in. Part one covers the higher-end price points, starting with Lisa Wescott in North Scottsdale, who talks about the wave of out-of-state buyers flying in and skipping straight to a purchase, including several high-profile names relocating for tax reasons. From there, Shauna Warner walks through the numbers behind Arcadia's shift toward pickier, more serious buyers and the return of styles like Santa Barbara and Tuscan after years of one dominant aesthetic. Libby Cohen closes out the episode with a look at Paradise Valley, where newer construction and high-end finishes are commanding prices that once seemed unthinkable. Across all three conversations, the same themes keep surfacing: inventory is tight, buyers are more decisive than ever, and the days of a predictable summer slowdown are gone. Each agent also runs through their own lightning round of stats, favorite neighborhoods, and what makes their client relationships so rewarding, giving listeners a real inside look at how RETSY's top agents are reading the market heading into fall. 00:00 - Welcome to the RETSY Podcast: Top Agents Series, Part 1 01:56 - Meet Lisa Westcott: North Scottsdale, Silverleaf, and DC Ranch 03:34 - Reading a Balanced Market in North Scottsdale 10:48 - When Is the Right Time to Buy? 15:58 - Rapid Fire and How to Connect with Lisa 19:47 - Meet Shawna Warner: Arcadia and Paradise Valley 22:33 - A Style Shift and a Balanced Market in Arcadia 28:30 - Days on Market and Price Cuts 29:39 - What's Hot and What's Not Right Now 31:22 - Shawna's Favorite Part of Working With Clients 34:17 - Rapid Fire and How to Connect with Shawna 36:30 - Meet Libby Cohen: The Luxury Market in Paradise Valley 39:12 - Why the Summer Selling Season Stayed Strong 40:39 - Libby's Predictions for the Rest of the Year 42:10 - Bringing Homes to Market and Why Staging Matters 46:03 - RETSY's Growing Role in Forest Highlands 48:37 - Rapid Fire and How to Connect with Libby Connect with Lisa Westcott 480.229.3455 | lisa@thewgroupaz.com | https://thewgroupaz.com/ Connect with Shawna Warner 602.743.7006 | shawna@retsy.com | https://theteam4results.com/ Connect with Libby Cohen 602.291.1446 | libby@libbycohen.com | https://rocoluxuryhomes.com/ Learn more about RETSY https://retsy.com | https://www.instagram.com/retsy | www.youtube.com/@retsy. Original music by @jacktwarner SPOTIFY  /  YOUTUBE  /  APPLE  /  VIDEO

  4. Sep 9

    Inside RETSY's New Forest Highlands Partnership with Karen Tejada

    In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris sits down with Karen Tejada, a longtime friend and RETSY agent who also happens to be his neighbor up in Forest Highlands. Karen shares her path into real estate, from managing Liz Claiborne outlet stores and traveling across three states as a district manager, to selling her own home in California and realizing she could do the job better herself. She talks about earning Rookie of the Year at her first brokerage, closing a nearly four million dollar sale in Judson early in her career, and what ultimately drew her to RETSY after years at a previous company. The conversation shifts into RETSY's new role as the official brokerage for Forest Highlands, a shift the neighborhood's board made recently. Chris and Karen walk through what set RETSY apart in that process, from having agents who actually live in the community year round to a showing standard that skips lockboxes entirely in favor of having an agent present at every walkthrough. They also get into how the recent wildfire affected the market, why economists are pointing to towns like Flagstaff as the next big opportunity compared to ski markets like Vail, and what both agents are seeing right now in Forest Highlands and Arcadia heading into the fall. 00:00 - Meet Karen Tejada of RETSY 01:32 - From Retail Management to a Career in Real Estate 03:10 - Karen's First Big Break and Why She Moved to RETSY 06:08 - How RETSY Became the Official Brokerage in Forest Highlands 14:30 - What Set RETSY Apart From Every Other Brokerage 24:19 - The Forest Highlands Market and Its Standout Amenities 32:26 - Karen's Take on the Arcadia Market This Summer Connect with Karen Email her at karen@retsy.com Or text or call her at 602-369-0665 Learn more about RETSY https://retsy.com | https://www.instagram.com/retsy | www.youtube.com/@retsy. Original music by @jacktwarner SPOTIFY  /  YOUTUBE  /  APPLE  /  VIDEO

  5. Sep 2

    Behind RETSY's Marketing Machine with Darienne Brown

    Top 3 Takeaways: The "Water Bottle" Strategy: Marketing isn't just digital; it is the physical client experience. Chris and Darienne explain why RETSY gives away premium, custom-etched water bottles to their agents for free. Meeting a buyer at the door of an air-conditioned listing with a cold, branded water bottle creates an immediate psychological shift that keeps them in the house longer and builds instant rapport. Stop Diluting Your Brand: A luxury brand loses its power when agents use cheap, mismatched marketing. Darienne breaks down why the brokerage strictly guards its black-and-white color palette and logo, preventing agents from throwing their pets or cowboy hats onto DIY marketing materials that confuse the consumer. Speed to Market Over Perfection: Being an agile, boutique brokerage allows RETSY to build and deploy custom tech (like their proprietary QR code system and the RETSY Connect app) in a fraction of the time it takes massive corporate brokerages. Done is better than perfect, and getting the tools into the agents' hands quickly is the key to dominating the market. About This Episode: In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt finally pull back the curtain to introduce the mastermind behind the brand: Darienne Brown, Director of Marketing at RETSY. Darienne has been with the company since its inception, transitioning from a background in title marketing and design to helping build RETSY into the top-producing luxury brokerage in Arizona. She shares the behind-the-scenes evolution of the brand, from dropping their original icon to seamlessly integrating the prestigious Forbes Global Properties lockup onto every yard sign. Chris and Matt dive deep into exactly why RETSY invests so heavily in an in-house marketing team, removing the burden of flyer creation, digital ad boosting, and postcard mailers from their agents' plates. The trio discusses the power of retargeting past clients, the danger of relying on automated "template" websites that Google's AI ignores, and why providing unmatched support allows top-producing agents to focus strictly on what they do best: selling homes and building relationships. 00:00 - Meet RETSY's Director of Marketing, Darienne Brown! 01:36 - Exposing the Wizard of Oz: The Background Behind the Podcast 03:21 - What Did You Do Before RETSY? From Title Insurance to Graphic Design 06:46 - Stop Using Canva: Why DIY Marketing Tactics Harm Your Brand 09:39 - The Early Days of RETSY: How Darienne Protects the Brand Standard 17:10 - The Psychology of Luxury: The Backstory Behind the RETSY Blue and Brand Colors 21:26 - Human Touch Meets High Tech: Blending AI with Elite Creative Design 25:33 - Protecting the Culture: Why RETSY is So Selective With Agent Recruiting 27:54 - The Evolution of the QR Code Sign and What's Next in RETSY Tech 32:44 - Global Reach: The Forbes Influence and Exclusive Networking Events Across the Globe 38:45 - The Unfair Advantage: Why Top Producers Rely on In-House Marketing Departments 44:16 - The 10-Year Vision: Where Chris and Darienne See the RETSY Brand Going 48:17 - The "Water Bottle" Strategy: How Free Swag Elevates the Showing Experience Learn more about RETSY https://retsy.com | https://www.instagram.com/retsy | www.youtube.com/@retsy. Original music by @jacktwarner SPOTIFY  /  YOUTUBE  /  APPLE  /  VIDEO

  6. Aug 26

    Preserving History: How Rafterhouse is Changing the Face of Arcadia and Downtown Phoenix

    Top 3 Takeaways: The #1 Question Buyers Forget to Ask Builders: Clients always ask about timelines and design, but they rarely ask about financial stability. Austin warns that you must ask how your deposit is being handled, if project funds are commingled, and who does their accounting, to avoid the nightmare of a builder robbing Peter to pay Paul. The Power of the Geographic "Bubble": Rafterhouse didn't scale by taking jobs all over the state. They hyper-focused on one specific neighborhood (Arcadia). This geographic density allowed for unmatched on-site supervision, highly efficient trade shuffling, and the creation of an instantly recognizable signature brand. The Design-Build Advantage: In traditional construction, the architect, interior designer, and general contractor operate separately—which inevitably leads to finger-pointing when things go wrong. Keeping all three phases under one roof creates a seamless flow of communication where problems are solved in-house before they ever reach the client. About This Episode: In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt welcome Austin King, the founder of Rafterhouse, Arcadia Trim Co., and the new owner of the iconic Antiquities Warehouse. Austin shares his fascinating journey from racing bicycles professionally to jumping into the real estate market just as the 2008 crash hit. He details the evolution of Rafterhouse from flipping distressed track homes to defining the quintessential "Arcadia style" and eventually pioneering ultra-luxury, custom-built estates in Paradise Valley. Austin pulls back the curtain on the grueling reality of custom home building, explaining why a design-build firm is infinitely more efficient than managing separate architects, designers, and contractors. He breaks down the true cost of "scope creep" and change orders, why a good trim carpenter is the actual MacGyver of any job site, and how to spot a builder who is robbing Peter to pay Paul. The conversation also explores the psychology of modern architectural trends, the delicate balance of designing within historic preservation districts, and why a home's "fenestration" (natural light) is the ultimate secret to timeless design. Finally, Austin shares the story of acquiring the beloved Antiquities Warehouse and relocating it to the vibrant warehouse district of downtown Phoenix. 00:00 - Meet Austin King of Rafterhouse 01:44 - From Pro Cycling to House Flipping: The Unlikely Origin Story 05:05 - The Birth of Rafterhouse and Why Hyper-Focusing on Arcadia Was Intentional 10:21 - The Power of Staying Local: Building a Clean Business and a Legacy Reputation 14:10 - Behind the Scenes of Construction: Why Elite On-Site Supervision is Non-Negotiable 23:03 - The Design-Build Advantage: Keeping Architects, Designers, and GCs Under One Roof 28:56 - Scope Creep and Change Orders: The Truth About Luxury Budgets 31:27 - Avoiding Construction Nightmares: Why You Need a Reputable Builder 35:23 - The Emotional Rollercoaster of Custom Home Building 40:50 - Interviewing a Builder: The Financial Questions You Absolutely Need to Ask 47:06 - Construction Myths: Why Modern Design Isn't Always Cheaper to Build 54:20 - Underground Speakeasies: The Most Over-the-Top Custom Home Features 55:22 - Current Design Trends and Why the Classic Arcadia Style is Thriving 57:20 - Arcadia Trim Co: Why Trim Carpenters Are the MacGyvers of the Job Site 01:03:26 - Saving Antiquities Warehouse: Taking Over the Iconic Vintage Store 01:12:29 - How to Connect with Austin King and His Brands Follow on Instagram: @_rafterhouse_ | @antiquitieswarehouse | @arcadiatrimco Email him at austin@rafterhouse.com Visit online rafterhouse.com | antiquitieswarehouse.com | arcadiatrimco.com Learn more about RETSY www.retsy.com / www.instagram.com/retsy / www.youtube.com/@retsy. Original music by @jacktwarner SPOTIFY  /  YOUTUBE  /  APPLE  /  VIDEO

  7. Aug 19

    Protecting Your Commission: How to Bulletproof Your Real Estate Business

    Top 3 Takeaways: The "I Have E&O" Myth: Most agents think Errors & Omissions insurance covers everything. It doesn't. E&O routinely excludes cyber breaches, copyright infringement, fraud, and commission disputes. If your brokerage doesn't carry additional Cyber and D&O (Directors & Officers) policies, you are highly exposed. The "Rule of 3" for Vendors: Never directly hire a handyman or contractor for your client. Lisa shares a terrifying story where an agent hired a handyman who used a blowtorch to fix an ice maker, resulting in a $1.2 million fire claim. Always provide a list of three licensed vendors and let the client make the choice. Cyber Fraud is the Ultimate Threat: Cyber claims—specifically funds transfer fraud where buyers are spoofed into wiring closing funds to hackers—are the fastest-growing exposure in real estate. Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and having strict, in-person or verified phone conversations about wire instructions is absolutely non-negotiable. About This Episode: In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt sit down with Lisa Robinson of Pinnacle Insurance Consultants to discuss the hidden, high-stakes liabilities of the real estate industry. With over 30 years of experience in real estate insurance, Lisa explains why plaintiff attorneys are more aggressive than ever, driving six-figure claims through the roof. She pulls back the curtain on the harsh reality that agents don't have to do anything wrong to find themselves in a costly, frivolous lawsuit, and shares wild claims from the field—including a property manager throwing away life-saving medication and an unlicensed handyman burning down a luxury condo building. Chris and Lisa also dive deep into the proactive steps brokerages and agents must take to protect their livelihoods. They discuss the critical importance of over-disclosing on the SPDS (Seller Property Disclosure Statement), why keeping a detailed paper trail prevents 80% of lawsuits, and how RETSY navigated the recent industry-wide antitrust commission lawsuits by being one of the few private brokerages armed with robust D&O coverage. Whether you are a new agent or a seasoned broker, this episode is a masterclass in risk management and protecting your business. 00:00 - Welcome to the Podcast: Meet Lisa Robinson of Pinnacle Insurance Consultants 02:04 - What is E&O Insurance? Why Having a Great Broker is Your Best Defense 05:32 - The Craziest E&O Claims in 30 Years of Real Estate Insurance 08:15 - Million-Dollar Payouts: The Biggest Insurance Claims Lisa Has Ever Seen 13:38 - Debunking E&O Myths: Why Your Policy Doesn't Cover Everything 24:06 - Protecting Your Business: Getting Back to Basics and the Power of Disclosure 34:36 - The "Rule of 3": Why Recommending Just One Vendor Can Get You Sued 39:26 - The Danger of Non-Disclosure: Why You Must Report Everything (Even Old Issues) 48:14 - The Cyber Threat: Wire Fraud and the Fastest Growing Claim in Real Estate 01:00:28 - Insurance Needs: How to Connect with Lisa Robinson Connect with Lisa Email her at lisa@pinnacleinsuranceco.com Learn more about RETSY www.retsy.com / www.instagram.com/retsy / www.youtube.com/@retsy. Original music by @jacktwarner

  8. Aug 12

    Inside the Lives of the Ultra Wealthy: What a Luxury Estate Manager Actually Does

    🔥 Top 3 Takeaways: What is a Fractional Estate Manager? It is the highly personal, concierge side of property management. Beth Henkleman handles everything from stocking private jets with perfectly wrapped Christmas gifts to managing staff, overseeing exotic car fleets, and handling high level asset inventories, giving her ultra wealthy clients their most valuable asset back: time. Dodging the "Luxury Tax" Contractors often inflate their bids the second they pull into a high end zip code like Paradise Valley. Beth acts as the ultimate shield for her clients, utilizing her vast construction background to audit bids, manage aggressive contractors, and negotiate warranties so her clients never get gouged. Navigating Red Tape and Bureaucracy. From battling the California Coastal Commission for over a year to secure a Capitola seawall permit, to untangling warranty nightmares with major national builders, having a seasoned professional handle project management is non-negotiable for high net worth individuals. About This Episode: In this episode of the RETSY Podcast, Chris and Matt sit down with Beth Henkleman, founder of A-List Luxury Estate Management. Beth shares her fascinating career evolution, starting from the ground up in 1980s waterfront development and eventually transitioning to managing the personal lives and properties of some of the world's wealthiest and most famous individuals. Beth pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to manage the lifestyles of the ultra high net worth (UHNW) demographic. She shares wild stories of stepping in to manage disastrous construction projects, dealing with extortionist neighbors, and why "fractional" estate management is becoming the ultimate life hack for busy executives who don't want 40 hour a week staff in their homes. Chris and Matt also dive into the differences between the heavily regulated Phoenix building codes versus the "Wild West" of Montana, and why so many elite buyers are fleeing states like California and Washington for the tax benefits and privacy of Arizona. 00:00 - Welcome to the Podcast: Meet Estate Manager Beth Henkelman 01:31 - From 1980s Construction to Managing Estates for the Ultra Wealthy 03:20 - What is Estate Management? Handling Private Jets, Assets, and Buying Back Time 11:06 - Solving Massive Problems: Navigating the California Coastal Commission for a Seawall 16:35 - Wealth Migration: Where Ultra High Net Worth Clients Go When Arizona Gets Hot 31:40 - Crazy Requests and Hostile Neighbors: Navigating the Politics of Luxury Construction 36:46 - The Patience Required to Manage Estates and Why "Quality Over Quantity" is Crucial 41:02 - Fractional Estate Management: Building a Highly Vetted, Trustworthy Team 49:24 - How to Connect  Connect with Beth Visit her website at alistluxuryestatemanagement.com Learn more about RETSY www.retsy.com / www.instagram.com/retsy / www.youtube.com/@retsy. Original music by @jacktwarner

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Where real estate meets real stories. Whether you’re a seasoned agent, a savvy investor, or just curious about how the industry really works, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the wins, losses, and lessons from inside the world of real estate. Hosted by Chris Morrison and Matthew Morrison of RETSY. RETSY is a tech-forward brokerage redefining the modern agent experience we bring you unfiltered conversations, wild transaction tales, and insights that go beyond the typical market talk.

Information

  • Creator
    RETSY
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © RETSY
  • Show Website
    The RETSY Podcast