In this powerful conversation, luxury specialist Michael LaFido sits down with James Dwiggins—third-generation broker, co-founder of NextHome, and host of Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered—to unpack what’s really happening in real estate post–August 17, 2024 and why every agent, team leader, and broker-owner needs to pay attention.

James was one of the first voices in the industry to publicly lay out what the commission lawsuits and settlement would mean for real estate professionals, long before most leaders were talking about it. In this episode, he and Michael break down how offers of compensation have changed, why “just put it in the offer” is the safest path forward, and how agents may be unknowingly exposing themselves to steering claims and future litigation.

They also dive deep into the high-stakes battle between Compass and Zillow, private networks, and the looming threat of a “private listings war” that could reshape the MLS, crush smaller brokerages, and even push Zillow to become a full-blown brokerage. Throughout the discussion, one theme stays front and center: your fiduciary duty to the consumer, and why transparency and exposure—not secrecy and restriction—are still the best path for both buyers and sellers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What actually changed for buyers and sellers after August 17, 2024

• Why calling the listing agent to ask “What will your seller pay the buyer’s broker?” is a legal landmine

• How to structure your buyer rep and compensation conversations to reduce risk

• The real difference between MLS-wide private networks and brokerage-only private networks

• How the Compass vs. Zillow fight could trigger massive consolidation—and what that means for your future in this business

Unlock how AI can quietly build your authority—and your pipeline—while you sleep. Michael sits down with AI strategist Tiffany Marroquín to break down the shift from traditional SEO to AEO (AI Engine Optimization) so you can start showing up as the trusted answer when clients ask tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for the best luxury agents. You’ll hear practical moves you can implement this week: tighten and unify your bios across platforms, build an AEO-friendly content hub with data-backed guides, structure your reviews and pages with schema, post FAQs that mirror real client questions, and leverage LinkedIn, YouTube transcripts, Reddit, and Quora for high-trust signals. Tiffany also shares a rapid workflow—record a 3–5 minute weekly voice memo and spin it into blogs, emails, shorts, and captions—plus how custom GPTs and agent-style automations can research competitors and keep you consistently visible.

Want to raise your average sale price and dominate high-end listings? Join the in-person LUXE Designation training on November 19 (bonus mansion tour!). Details and savings at LuxuryDesignation.com/Chicago.

In this episode, Michael LaFido sits down with global keynote speaker and tech strategist Marki Lemons to discuss the future of AI in luxury real estate. Together, they explore how REALTORSⓇ can use artificial intelligence to elevate their marketing, connect more deeply with affluent clients, and build authority online.

You’ll learn how tools like Humantic.AI and RPR/ESRI help agents understand client behavior and personality, why aligning with luxury brands can instantly boost your credibility, and how to repurpose a single piece of content into multiple revenue-generating assets.

Whether you’re looking to break into luxury, scale your business, or simply work smarter—not harder, this episode is packed with actionable insights, real-world stories, and powerful takeaways that can help you dominate your market in 2025 and beyond.

🎯 Want to take your business to the next level? Join Michael and Marki at the upcoming LUXE Designation Training on November 19th in Schaumburg. 👉 Learn more at www.LuxuryDesignation.com/Chicago