by Christy Murdock | Apr 28, 2025 | Industry, News Feed
Learn how luxury agent Miltiadis Kastanis connects high-net-worth individuals with premier Miami Beach properties.
Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the power of the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!
Luxury real estate specialist Miltiadis Kastanis thrives on selling new developments. “I love traveling to explore different cities, studying their buildings and homes to see how design and innovation evolve across the world,” he said.
Hailing from upstate New York, Kastanis made an impact immediately after entering the Miami Beach real estate scene in 2014, closing high-profile deals that captured media attention and built his reputation for delivering exceptional results with the sales of some of Miami Beach’s most iconic developments.
Learn how this luxury agent connects high-net-worth individuals with premier properties.
Name: Miltiadis Kastanis
Title: Director of New Development Sales
Experience: 11 years
Location: Miami Beach
Brokerage name: Compass
Rankings: Top 1 percent nationwide
Sales volume: $500 million
Awards: Top agent by volume, No. 4 agent by GCI in Florida
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from a mentor or colleague?
Real estate is a contact sport — relationships matter more than anything. Success in this business comes from building and maintaining strong connections.
What would you tell a new agent before they start out in the business?
The art of the deal remains the same, no matter the size of the transaction. Master the fundamentals, and you can navigate any deal with confidence.
What do too few agents know that would make their lives easier?
Delegate the tasks you don’t enjoy and focus on what you love. Playing to your strengths will make your business more efficient and fulfilling.
What’s one thing everyone should be doing to improve their life or business?
Stay organized, and commit to a structured calendar. Time management is everything in real estate.
If you could do anything other than real estate, what would it be and why?
If I weren’t in real estate, I would be an architect, without question. I’ve always been fascinated by the way spaces are designed and how architecture shapes the way people live and interact.
The creativity, precision and vision that go into bringing a structure to life are incredibly inspiring to me. Whether it’s a historic landmark or a cutting-edge modern masterpiece, I love studying the details, materials and functionality of great design.
This passion naturally translates into my real estate career, where I get to work closely with developers and designers, appreciating the artistry behind every home and building I sell.
Tell us about your most memorable transaction
Closing the penthouse at the W South Beach was unforgettable — especially when the buyer spontaneously jumped into the private pool during the showing!
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by Christy Murdock | Apr 26, 2025 | Industry, News Feed
With platforms and portals pushing back against its policies, is the National Association of Realtors losing its grip on the industry?
Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the power of the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!
Each week on The Download, Inman’s Christy Murdock takes a deeper look at the top-read stories of the week to give you what you’ll need to meet Monday head-on. This week: With platforms and portals pushing back against its policies, is the National Association of Realtors losing its grip on the industry?
After holding sway for decades as the country’s most powerful trade organization, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) may finally be losing control of some of the platforms and entities that drive real estate sales in the U.S.
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Recently, both MLSs and that nation’s largest portal, Zillow, have pushed back on NAR policies with changes that seemingly ignore the group’s rules. This comes alongside months of debate regarding NAR’s internal organizational practices, handling of the commission lawsuit settlement and a Clear Cooperation debate that raged among industry leaders prior to the implementation of a new Multiple Listing Options for Sellers policy.
EXTRA: Biggest MLS in the nation rejects NAR ‘Delayed Marketing’ policy
In addition, a post on Zillow’s LinkedIn page culminated in a battle royale with CEOs from all sides joining in the comments.
Beginning in December, Zillow began to change the way listings are made visible on its portal platform in defiance of NAR’s no-commingling policy.
Four years after it complied with NAR’s no-commingling rule, Zillow is quietly reversing course to allow the display of non-MLS listings alongside other properties on the platform, having previously obscured them with a filter many users never knew existed.
In markets where local MLSs never enacted the rule — or recently rescinded it — users of the search portal will now see more properties in their search prompts by default, including for-sale by-owner (FSBO) listings, non-MLS auctions and buildable floor plans.
EXTRA: Auction.com says its listing views are up with Zillow commingling
NAR has long defended the policy and repeatedly rebuffed efforts to eliminate it.
As power shifts and practices recalibrate, you need to come at your own business informed and prepared, with knowledge about what’s next and systems that pay off both now and in the future. This week, Inman contributors offered perspective on where the industry is headed, along with how-tos you can use to be ready for anything.
State regulators are scrutinizing Realtor practices and mandating consumer-friendly, fiduciary-level professional behavior, Summer Goralik writes.
Shift your business out of survival mode when you adopt a CEO mindset, implement smart processes and procedures, and scale with the future in mind, broker Jessica Souza writes.
In the face of economic headwinds and shifting market dynamics, brokerages must embrace change with clarity, strategy and agility, The Agency’s Rainy Hake Austin writes.
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by Christy Murdock | Apr 24, 2025 | Industry, News Feed
Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the power of the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!
With a team of only 20 agents, Amy Stockberger Real Estate commands around 10 percent of her Sioux Falls, South Dakota, local market share and is nationally recognized among the nation’s leading teams.
Her secret, in part, lies in a trademarked support model designed to “redefine real estate as a lifelong service relationship, providing comprehensive support before, during, and long after each transaction, with a system tailored to every stage of the homeownership journey.”
According to broker-owner Amy Stockberger, 90 percent of her company’s business is fueled by repeat and referral clients, and agents stay onboard longer, with an average agent tenure of more than seven years.
“We’ve created a service-driven environment that fosters stability, growth and exceptional loyalty,” she said. “Our VIP Club provides clients lifetime access to exclusive amenities — moving trucks, party supplies, tool rentals and valuable discounts — making us a constant, trusted partner in [clients’] lives.”
Find out how this broker and innovator helps agents build “legacy businesses” through efficient scaling, increased profitability and resilient, service-centered practices.
Name: Amy Stockberger
Title: Broker-owner
Experience: Over 25 years in real estate (started in 2000)
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Brokerage Name: Amy Stockberger Real Estate
Rankings:
- No. 1 team in South Dakota since 2017
- Ranked No. 52 in the U.S. by Real Trends
Team size: Around 20 agents
Transaction sides: 364 units
Sales volume: $132,180, 219
Awards:
- Voted “The Local Best” since 2009
- Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
- Featured Real Estate Expert on HGTV’s My House is Worth What?
What’s something you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
In 2014, I found the hole in my business. At that point, we had built a solid, systematized process for taking care of clients before and during their transactions, but something wasn’t clicking. We had happy clients, yet the repeat and referral business wasn’t flowing in at the level I expected.
That was the wake-up call — I realized that I had built a great business for the transaction, but I hadn’t built a business plan that authentically took care of my clients’ needs, wants, and desires before, during, and forever.
That was the missing piece. I wish I had recognized from the beginning that real estate isn’t just about buying and selling homes — it’s about being a trusted resource for life. That’s when I created a system that ensures we’re not just here for our clients on closing day, but for every stage of homeownership.
From moving trucks and home maintenance to vendor partnerships and lifestyle resources, our goal is to serve first and stay in their lives forever.
If I could go back, I’d build my business around lifetime relationships from day one, rather than just focusing on the transaction. That mindset shift changed everything — it skyrocketed our repeat and referral business, increased client loyalty and turned our brokerage into a true community.
What do you wish more people knew about working in real estate?
I wish more people understood that real estate is a long game, and the only way to win is by building real relationships.
Too many agents get caught up in chasing the next lead, constantly looking for new business instead of nurturing the goldmine that’s already in front of them — their past and current clients. The real key to longevity and success in this industry isn’t just about closing deals; it’s about creating a repeat and referral business by authentically taking care of people first.
When you focus on serving instead of just selling, you build trust, credibility and an unshakable foundation for your business. My clients know I’m here for them, not just during the transaction, but for every stage of homeownership and life. Whether they need moving trucks, vendor recommendations, home maintenance support or just someone to guide them through their next big life transition, we’re here.
Playing the long game means putting people first, and when you do that, sales take care of themselves. If you want a business that lasts, relationships are the only way to get there.
What’s your top tip for freshly licensed brokers?
Grow your business with your sphere, set up your systems from day one, and treat your database like your DataBANK.
I don’t call it a database — I call it your DataBANK because what you put in is exactly what you get out. If you nurture it, add value and consistently engage with the people in it, it will pay you back in repeat business and referrals for life.
Too many new agents focus all their energy on chasing new leads instead of maximizing the relationships they already have. Your sphere of influence is your best source of business — people who already know, like and trust you. But the key is systematizing your follow-up so that staying in touch isn’t random or reactive — it’s intentional and repeatable.
From Day One, you should have:
- A structured system to stay top of mind with your sphere (calls, texts, social engagement, client appreciation events).
- A process for providing ongoing value — not just market updates, but resources, solutions and perks that make their lives easier.
- A plan for referral generation — teaching your clients how to send you business and rewarding them for it.
But beyond your DataBANK, here’s something else I wish every new agent knew: get in bigger rooms with high performers as often as you can. You don’t grow by staying comfortable.
Surround yourself with people who are thinking bigger, doing bigger and pushing you to level up. Whether that’s a mastermind, a coaching program or just building relationships with top producers — proximity to excellence will change your trajectory.
When you combine a well-nurtured DataBANK with the right people in your circle, you create an unstoppable business built on relationships, referrals and continuous growth. Play the long game, serve first and success will follow.
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by Christy Murdock | Apr 18, 2025 | Industry, News Feed
There was no shortage of opinions following Zillow’s (and later, Redfin’s) ban on private listings marketed publicly.
Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the power of the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!
Each week on The Download, Inman’s Christy Murdock takes a deeper look at the top-read stories of the week to give you what you’ll need to meet Monday head-on. This week: There was no shortage of opinions following Zillow’s (and later, Redfin’s) ban on private listings marketed publicly.
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Battle lines are being drawn, and industry leaders are taking sides for and against private listings, the National Association of Realtors’ Clear Cooperation Policy and its latest adjustment, Delayed Marketing Exempt Listings.
Last week, the portal side pushed back with Zillow’s new policy that states publicly marketed private listings will be banned from the portal for the life of the listing.
READ INMAN’S PORTAL LISTING BAN FAQ
Subsequently, Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman followed Zillow’s announcement with Redfin’s own block on listings that don’t start out on a multiple listing service.
Kelman also called on MLSs to create a “coming-soon” designation to conceal Days on Market and price history from consumers.
“Because we believe that all buyers should be able to see all listings, Redfin.com will not publish any listings that have been publicly marketed before being shared with all real estate websites via the MLS,” Kelman said in a statement.
The portals’ actions in response to a rising tide of private listing networks held behind brokerage firewalls led to a flood of op-eds and analysis from agents, brokers, consumer watchdogs and industry-watchers. In the aftermath, Inman continues to reach out for added clarity, context and perspective, including among our readers.
Real estate brokers need flexible business options to meet people where they are and help them make the decisions that work for their unique circumstances, Cara Ameer writes.
EXTRA: Checkmate or alienate? Reactions mixed as firms align with Zillow
If you’re arguing for secrecy in a marketplace that is built on trust and efficiency, Bright MLS CEO Brian Donnellan writes, then maybe it’s not the model that’s outdated — maybe it’s the mindset.
EXTRA: Watchdog calls on DOJ to investigate private listing networks
MLSs and greater transparency are not the problem, Vanguard Properties’ Nina Dosanjh writes. They are part of a proven infrastructure that evolves as the market changes.
CoStar founder and CEO Andy Florance takes Zillow to task for its new listings policy, calling it anti-consumer and anti-agent.
EXTRA: Give us your hot take on the new Zillow, Redfin listing rules: Pulse
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by Christy Murdock | Apr 14, 2025 | Industry, News Feed
Learn how New York City agent Jennifer Roberts navigates the ups, downs and indecisions of real estate clients while keeping her cool.
Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the power of the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!
With nearly 40 years of experience in New York City’s residential real estate market, Jennifer Roberts knows a thing or two about navigating the unexpected and keeping pace with “the city that never sleeps.”
“I am a daily listmaker,” Roberts said, “which serves me well in not wasting time and accelerates accomplishing what I need to do.”
An avid reader and architecture aficionado who has taken many walking tours of NYC, Roberts leaves no stone unturned in serving her clients. Find out how she fell in love with real estate and what she’s learned from the ups and downs of her market.
Name: Jennifer Roberts
Title: Licensed associate real estate broker
Experience: 39 years in the industry
Location: New York City
Brokerage name: Coldwell Banker Warburg
Sales volume: Over $550 million
1. What’s one big lesson you’ve learned in real estate?
I’ve been a real estate agent now for almost four decades, and I learned a big lesson in the very first week of my real estate career. I started in my first real estate firm on a Monday and took out a buyer two days later who gave me a bid on the first home I showed him.
I was so excited and ran to the home of my manager, who helped me negotiate my first real estate transaction. The offer was accepted, and I recall saying to myself that this was an easy business. How wrong I was!
The deal fell through a few days later. I don’t remember the reason the buyer backed out, but I was crushed.
The important lesson I learned, and it has remained with me, is that things happen in this business, and you must go with the flow. You’ll have your ups and downs, but it is a people business, meaning people change their minds about things.
The lesson is you need to remain levelheaded and unflappable under all circumstances. That will serve you well.
2. What TV show has taught you the most?
My go-to TV station is CNBC, which offers business and financial news and analysis. I have gained vast knowledge from their many programs. The varied segments offer in-depth comments on real estate trends, such as the use of AI in real estate and how the economic and political climate affects the housing market and mortgage rates.
This assists me in being a smarter agent, and I can use what I have learned to intelligently guide my clients to make better decisions in the current buying and selling environment.
3. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? How does real estate relate to that childhood goal?
My father was a dentist, but he had a side business as a developer. With a partner, he built residential apartment buildings in Northern New Jersey and some strip malls. When I was little, I loved to hear his stories about real estate ventures, and I accompanied him to various sites occasionally.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be, but I knew I liked business and wanted to work for myself rather than have a “boss.” After getting my MBA and working for various corporations — American Express, Dun & Bradstreet and Bloomingdale’s — I decided to become a residential real estate agent in Manhattan, where I lived.
Almost 40 years later, I am still going strong. My dad’s love of real estate, which he passed on to me, was passed on to my son, who is a partner in the real estate department of a law firm.
4. What would you tell a new agent before they start in the business?
I would tell new agents that this is not a part-time business, and they must be prepared to put in long hours and work smart. By that, I mean they should develop a business plan on how they intend to grow their business and how they will master the neighborhoods they are covering as agents. To educate themselves on pricing and layouts, they should go to as many open houses as possible.
Another thing I would tell them is that real estate is an up-and-down business, and anything could happen between an accepted offer and the closing table, where even then complications could arise. If an issue comes up at any time during the process, you are the one who must remain calm, even if the parties involved are being high-strung. There is always a solution.
5. If you could do anything other than real estate, what would it be?
If I could do anything other than real estate, I would want to be a clothing designer, particularly a woman’s dress designer. While I can’t really sew, I do like to sketch design ideas now and then.
Plus, when I see certain dresses, I imagine how I could improve the look and fit. Designing dresses would be a way to express my creative side and craft a unique vision.
It would make me happy to give people confidence by wearing my designs. As with real estate, designers need to develop networking skills to build relationships.
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