WELCOME

There’s luxury, and then there’s $40 million luxury.

Case in point: 3080 N Bay Rd—10,000+ square feet of modern waterfront perfection in Miami Beach, spread across three sleek structures of glass, stone, and style. The views? Unending. The buyer and seller? Both represented by one of the newest additions to the Estate Media family, powerhouse agent Chad Carroll. Talk about a splashing entrance. 

See the property here, then come straight back for the biggest stories and breakdowns in real estate right now.

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS: Today’s Top Podcast Rec 🔊

One of the most valuable strategies $19B agent Aaron Kirman leveraged from the beginning of his real estate business was creating a specialized niche. He knew that by focusing all his attention on one segment of the market, he could build a reputation as the go-to agent in it. Watch Aaron’s full interview on Rise Above the Ranks with James Harris and David Parnes for a behind-the-scenes look at how Aaron chose his niche—and how that specialization helped him build a multi-billion-dollar business.

TRACK THE MARKET: One Portal’s Loss is Homes.com’s Gain

While Zillow and Redfin face growing scrutiny over their polarizing listing policies, Homes.com is steadily gaining ground—emerging as a serious contender in the race for portal dominance. Backed by parent company CoStar, Homes.com reported 104 million average monthly visitors in Q1 2025, up significantly year-over-year and enough to secure its position as the second-largest residential real estate platform in the U.S.

What’s behind the surge in growth?

• Before the Super Bowl, just 4% of consumers were familiar with the portal. After Homes.com’s massive commercial campaign—which launched at the Super Bowl and continued throughout 2024—awareness jumped to 36%.

• Member agents reported winning 61% more listings than comparable non-members, according to CoStar, driving adoption among industry professionals.

• The platform’s demo-to-close rate reached 50% in April—its highest ever—and the residential sales team is on track to grow to 500 by June.

As debates over lead diversion, data commingling, and listing transparency intensify, Homes.com is staking its position by putting agent branding and listing control at the center of its model. CEO Andy Florance says the platform represents a total product shift, in response to how today’s buyers, sellers, and agents want to engage online.

DIVE IN

The Friday Five

📖 Bad [head] space. How poor design messes with your mind. 

👀 Blanco’s bust. See inside the bachelor pad Benny Blanco just sold at a $500K loss.

👀 Staggering starters. 5 cities where the average starter home is $1M+.

💡 Interest rates. How to have the ‘money talk’ with your clients—and help them reduce their rate.

💡 Warm relationships. Why one good relationship can generate multiple great deals.

LIVE EVENT: Future-Proof Your Real Estate Career with James Harris

📅 May 6th – 12pm CDT

The market is evolving — fast. AI, smart homes, shifting buyer expectations… agents who adapt will win. Join celebrity realtor James Harris for a powerful live session on how to stay ahead of the curve and thrive in a tech-driven real estate world. What to expect:

• The biggest trends reshaping the industry

• How to use AI and automation to your advantage

• What today’s buyers really want

• How to build a future-ready brand that stands out Whether you're new or experienced, this session is your edge.

Tap here to claim your pass and start watching now.

WHAT’S NEW FROM ESTATE MEDIA

All this talk of tariffs has agents wondering—how will the White House’s trade policy decisions affect the brick house you’re selling, or the 4-bed, 3-bath with a big backyard your new clients are not-so-patiently looking for? The answer, as is often the case in economics, is it depends. 

In the latest episode of The Breakdown, host and Beverly Hills’ Super Realtor Ben Belack explains exactly what’s subject to tariffs right now, how that’s impacting demand, and why now is still a good time to buy—even when construction supply costs are facing double-digit increases.

FEATURED LUXURY LISTING

TIPS & TAKEAWAYS

Building Back Stronger

A huge congrats to Tracy Tutor and her team on the one-day sale of 15432 Albright Street, a Pacific Palisades lot caught in the destructive California fires just months ago. With this sale, where Tracy & team represented both the buyer and seller, a new chapter begins, for both families, the lot, and for the special neighborhood around it.

HANGS & HAPPENINGS

Apartmentalize | Las Vegas, NV | June 11 – 13. Discover the latest trends, technologies, and management strategies shaping the future of multifamily housing. Hosted by the National Apartment Association, this is the place for anyone in the rental housing industry.

Inman Connect | San Diego, CA | July 30 – August 1. Sharpen your real estate game with immersive discussions, interactive workshops, top-tier networking, and more, alongside some of the biggest players in real estate, proptech, and lending. 

RE/MAX Broker Owner Conference | Washington, DC | August 3 – 5. Connect with RE/MAX leaders and fellow broker-owners for three days of strategy sessions, networking, and fresh ideas to drive brokerage growth and your team’s success.

Tom Ferry Success Summit | Dallas, TX | August 26 – 28. Join thousands of top-producing agents for Tom Ferry’s signature event, packed with actionable strategies, mindset shifts, and high-energy coaching.

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