Bre Gaither, founder and broker-in-charge of BG Luxe Realty, sits down with Ed and Terence to break down how she turned a disappointing first home-buying experience (a $2 cupcake and a promised bottle of wine that never showed) into a six-figure luxury closing experience that's now become the industry standard. She traces her path from starting in real estate during COVID lockdown, through five different brokerages (eXp, Upsurge Realty, Compass, Realty ONE Group, Henderson Ventures), to launching her own firm in January 2025. Bre gets real about what it actually costs to run a brokerage — payroll, systems, training — and how she vets every agent who wants to join her team. Part 1 of 3.

Special Guest:

Bre Gaither, Founder and Broker In Charge - BG Luxe Realty

Sharmaine Croutch returns to Free Game with Charlotte realtor Ed Averette and lender Terence Guess for Part 2 of her powerful story.

This time, the conversation goes even deeper. After sharing her journey from trauma to triumph in Part 1, Sharmaine connects her faith walk directly to the real estate process and the parallels are undeniable. From self-honesty as the foundation of financial readiness, to why sustaining homeownership matters more than buying it, to what it's really like being a Black female agent in today's market — Ed, Terence, and Sharmaine deliver the kind of conversation that changes how you think about real estate and life.

Special Guest: Sharmaine Croutch, Realtor - Lifestyle International Realty, Transformational Speaker, Author: Fear Of An Overcomer: Reflections Of His Grace

Ed and Terence sit down with Charlotte native Sharmaine Croutch — realtor, transformational speaker, author, and overcomer — for a conversation that goes far deeper than real estate. Sharmaine brings her full story to the table: a West Side Charlotte upbringing shaped by childhood trauma, a faith-rooted journey through adversity, and a calling to help others reach goals she once only dreamed of herself. She breaks down the current market, the mindset of today's buyers, and why her homebuyer education sessions feel more like life conferences than real estate workshops. Ed and Terence also check in on the first half of 2026 — rising credit card delinquency, market pressure, and the hard truth that no deal is real until it closes.

If you had an accepted offer on your home sitting in front of you right now, what would stop you from signing it?

In part two of this week's Free Game, Terence Guess and Ed Averette flip the script from last episode's buyer conversation and ask the question every homeowner needs to answer before calling a realtor: What kind of seller are you? Terence gets raw and personal, sharing how a five-year interest-only ARM, a divorce he didn't plan for, and the 2008-2009 market collapse left him upside down and forced into a short sale, a real-life reminder that life doesn't care about your game plan. From there, the conversation unpacks the full spectrum of seller motivations: the urgent seller who needed to close yesterday, the dreamer already eyeing their next house, the "market tester" with no real intention of leaving, and the hesitant homeowner quietly paralyzed by the jump from a 3% rate to today's reality.

Ed drops a critical call to action for realtors — stop overpromising profits and start running a seller's net sheet upfront, before the marketing money is spent and the commission negotiation drama begins. The guys also dig into capital gains tax thresholds, the truth about 100% financing and what it really means when it's time to sell, the importance of property disclosures, and why timing the market (spring vs. Q4) still matters. Ed even gets candid about a current listing where his client negotiated a counter, came to terms, and then just... ghosted the signature. The takeaway is clear and timeless: whether you're selling out of necessity, strategy, or lifestyle change, you have to know your why, communicate it honestly with your agent, and take the shot.

Ed Averette and Terence Guess get real with buyers in this straight-talk episode of the Free Game Real Estate Podcast. Before diving into the market, Ed and Terence challenge listeners to look in the mirror and ask themselves a critical question — what type of buyer are you? From buyers who just want the Instagram closing post to those who come fully prepared with documents, income, and a clear game plan, the hosts break down how a buyer's mindset and preparation directly shapes their entire home-buying experience. Terence draws on his background at a Big Five accounting firm to explain why material facts — credit, income, documentation — are the only things that matter when it comes to getting to the closing table. Ed and Terence also discuss the importance of trust between buyers and their real estate professionals, the real difference between down payment assistance deals and conventional purchases, and why real estate agents must stop chasing deals before buyers are truly ready.

Ed Averette and Terence Guess kick off Season 18 with a candid conversation that goes beyond real estate. The episode opens with Ed acknowledging Terence's recognition as a top 1% loan originator nationwide by Mortgage Executive Magazine — a milestone that sets the tone for a deeper discussion about legacy, time, and what truly matters.

The conversation shifts into a powerful reflection on how much time is actually left to make an impact — not just professionally, but as fathers, mentors, and community figures. Terence shares a story about a father who asks his kids not just "what did you learn today?" but "who did you help today?" — a mindset shift that resonates throughout the episode.

From legacy the conversation moves into urgency. Ed and Terence break down the systemic changes they're watching unfold in real estate — redlining, zip code-targeted loan programs, discriminatory covenants, and the quiet rollback of fair housing protections hard-won after 1965. They issue a clear call to action: protect your credit, stack your money, buy now while the window is open, diversify your assets, and don't wait for the cheese to move before you act. This episode is part real talk, part history lesson, and part financial survival guide.

Real estate commissions, buyer brokerage fees, agent splits, and admin costs explained, no filter. Ed Averette and Terence Guess break down exactly what agents charge, what they keep, and why the numbers might surprise you. From the buyer agency agreement to builder bonuses, mentor fees, and the listing side, this is the episode buyers and agents both need to hear.

Ed walks through a real $400K deal, 3% commission, brokerage split, mentor fees, transaction costs, and taxes, showing what an agent actually takes home. He also gets real about seller remorse, working for free, and why some agents are pulling up in Ubers between showings.

If you've ever wondered why your agent charges what they charge, or you're an agent trying to understand your own business, this is "FREE GAME".

Ed Averette and Terence Guess sit down for one of the most candid conversations in Free Game history — why African Americans struggle to work with each other professionally, and what it's costing the community.

Terence opens up about the moment his own neighbor chose a big-box mortgage company over him — and what that interaction revealed about trust, perception, and the unspoken rules that hold Black professionals back. Ed fires back with one of the most quotable lines of the season: "Scamming don't just come in one color."

Together they break down the real root causes — being burned before, the "can't have more than I got" mentality, and why African American men remain the minority in both real estate and homeownership. This isn't a complaint session. It's a call to do better — together.