Patrick Merrill - Coldwell Banker Smith Homes

05/20/2026

~ The Spanish Customs House ~
Right on bayou St. John, it’s considered to be the oldest residential house in New Orleans, it stands true to the mystery, intrigue, and the often scandalous past of La Nouvelle Orléans.
Photograph and text by Enrico Bruno.

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

The "Marshmallow Test" isn't just a psychology experiment.

For Gina Shumway — former nurse practitioner, Top 300 Real Producer, and owner of Titan Group at Keller Williams Greater Chattanooga — it's the principle behind her entire business model.

5 takeaways from this week's LIFTED, on building a pipeline that actually compounds.

💬 Link in comments ↓

05/18/2026

The Great Real Estate Investor Migration 🚚🏘️

Massive shifts are happening in the out-of-state investing world!
Investors are liquidating their portfolios in places like California, New York, New Jersey, and especially Florida. Why? Because recent natural disasters have caused property insurance rates to absolutely skyrocket, completely eating up investors' cash flow! Instead, they are taking their capital and flocking to markets like Chattanooga, Tennessee, and North Georgia. These states offer significantly lower property taxes, affordable insurance, and incredibly landlord-friendly laws that actually protect the owner's bottom line.

Are you seeing a wave of out-of-state investors flooding into your local market right now?

05/16/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟵𝟬-𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 ⏳🏡

Did you know the average real estate agent takes a full six months to sell their very first property?
When you first get into this business, nobody warns you about the 60-day slump. Around that 45 to 60-day mark, it is completely normal to feel like you are spinning your wheels and going absolutely nowhere. But here is the brutal truth of real estate: this industry runs on a massive delay! The lead generation, follow-up, and nurturing you do today won't actually pay off for another 90 to 120 days. Don't quit right before the harvest! Keep planting the seeds, and the pipeline will eventually overflow.

How long did it take you to close your very first real estate deal?

05/15/2026

𝟭𝟬 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲. 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿. 𝗡𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻.

Gina Shumway bought her broker's team at Keller Williams Greater Chattanooga anyway — and went on to earn recognition as a Top 300 Real Producer.

Her edge? The Marshmallow Test. Delayed gratification applied not to candy, but to the 90-to-120-day pipeline.

This week on LIFTED, Gina explains exactly how that model compounds.

💬 Link in comments ↓

05/14/2026

7 surgeries. 16 years. Still not stopping. Because the moment you rest, you rust. Doug Phillips runs a 52-agent team that closed $189 million — and his #1 rule is the one most agents forget first: put the client above the check. We got into what actually keeps a career alive when the market shifts. Swipe through ↓

05/11/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🤝📋

A great real estate agent doesn't just open doors; they educate, inform, and empower!
Whether a client is looking at resale, new construction, or entirely different neighborhoods, your job as a fiduciary is to get deep into the weeds of exactly what they are looking for. You cannot do that effectively without sitting down for a robust buyer consultation first! When you uncover what truly matters to them, you can present all the options and guide them to make the absolute best, most informed decision for their family.
Agents, do you require a sit-down buyer consultation before you start showing houses?

05/09/2026

The Secret to Affording New Construction Right Now 🏗️💸

Think a brand new build is completely out of your budget? You might need to run the numbers again!
Between massive builder incentives and lender rate buy-downs, there is a very good chance you can actually get into a brand new home with a lower interest rate than you would get on the resale market. That means you get all the brand new warranties, zero immediate maintenance, and a fresh build for the exact same monthly payment you would have on an older home! Before you rule out new construction, look at the incentives.

Have you considered new construction in your home search, or are you strictly looking at resale properties?