The Real Estate Collaborative

The Real Estate Collaborative REC is a different kind of brokerage-
working more collaboratively, advocating for housing equity & bringing more equity into every real estate transaction.

ABOUT REC’S BROKER + FOUNDER, PAIGE KAHLE
Since 2004, I have had the pleasure of helping families and individuals find a home where
they can thrive in community. I founded The Real Estate Collaborative (REC) because I saw
a need for a different kind of real estate brokerage - one that works more collaboratively
and that actively engages in advocating for housing for all. HOME... It’s what I do. TM


It’s what I have always done, in one way or another. Before I was eighteen
years old, I had lived in a dozen or more homes. I learned first-hand the
importance of a stable home, especially in terms of developing community. This idea of community is what led me to create The Real Estate
Collaborative. Building community and giving back to community is a
driving force of our team. LIFE PRIOR TO REAL ESTATE
I went to school to become a residential architect. That dream lasted for
about a second. I did not enjoy the design process; however, I did develop
an interest in the history of architecture and spent the rest of my
undergraduate work focusing on history and writing about architecture. I
then attended the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute to learn more about how
the built environment affects social change. My emphasis of study at the
Humphrey was affordable housing, neighborhood segregation, and housing
policy. Prior to becoming a Realtor in 2004, I worked for Greater Minnesota
Housing Fund - an affordable housing non-profit in Saint Paul. HOUSING AS A HUMAN NEED
Stable housing matters. It matters just like healthcare matters. It matters
like clean water matters. It matters like healthy food. Quite simply, it’s
critical in creating successful outcomes for individuals, families, and
communities. This is why when I’m not helping clients buy/sell homes, or
spending time with my family, I am an active advocate for housing for all.

05/31/2026

Hello again to Matt Berna and Marc Byers joining us this week! You may have heard those names before, and that is no mistake. These are two people with a lot of information to share. For this episode, we’re talking about how loan officers are compensated. We’ve spent previous episodes talking about how Realtors® are paid; it’s about time we have the same conversation about others involved in buying and selling your home. There are similarities between the two, but what’s even more interesting is how different they can be! This conversation is a dynamic one, where we go from complex behind-the-scenes numbers talk to straight up hair-do’s. Listen in and learn with Matt about loan officer compensation. Find us at http://therecollab.com

Extras:
Matt Berna - Loan Officer:
https://bell.bank/mortgage/loan-officer/mattberna
REC’s page on Financing:
https://www.therecollab.com/financing
The REC difference :: Retainer Option:
https://www.therecollab.com/blog/retainer-option-saves-you-money
Learn how we approach fees here:
https://www.therecollab.com/blog/dollar-and-sense
REC’s Seller Facilitation option might intrigue you:
https://www.therecollab.com/blog/diy-the-sale-of-your-home-rec-can-help

Thank you to our Sponsors!
Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective:
https://ecoevergreen.co/
Matt Berna @ Bell Bank Mortgage:
https://bell.bank/mortgage/loan-officer/mattberna
Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions:
https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman

Meghan, one of REC’s trusted agents, has a creative daughter who put together this awesome short film starring LEGO® Pai...
05/29/2026

Meghan, one of REC’s trusted agents, has a creative daughter who put together this awesome short film starring LEGO® Paige - realtor, founder of REC, and guide to a cast of LEGO® buyers and sellers. The film follows the journey of a tiny cabin listing as it changes hands, showing how REC helped guide everyone through the process from start to finish.

https://youtu.be/kQJtSRyAq2M?si=GXOwAQhszHFXb6j6

05/28/2026

Newest episode of RECkoning with Real Estate out now! Tune in. Link in bio.

05/24/2026

In Part 2 of our conversation with Doug Miller, we dive into a continuation of last episode’s discussion (linked below) surrounding practices that don’t serve consumers’ best interests. We discuss the 2024 anti-trust lawsuit involving NAR, “standard fee agreements,” and other anti-competitive practices that have been commonplace in the real estate industry for years. From price-fixing concerns to workaround clauses buried in contracts, this episode takes a closer look at some of the legal and ethical questions surrounding traditional real estate practices. While meaningful change in such a large industry may take time, we believe informed consumers are an important part of pushing the conversation forward. Stay informed, stay savvy, and join us for an honest look at the behind-the-scenes systems shaping real estate today. Find us at http://therecollab.com

Extras:
Watch last episode here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/QDJaIUetgZY?si=ohXX4v-qQsqc7dUX
Doug’s page on AttorneyRE.com:
https://minneapolisrealestateattorney.com/about-doug/
Consumer Advocates in American Real Estate:
https://www.caare.org/
REC’s philosophy on Dual Agency:
https://www.therecollab.com/blog/no-dual-agency
Learn how we approach fees here:
https://www.therecollab.com/blog/dollar-and-sense

Thank you to our Sponsors!
Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective:
https://ecoevergreen.co/
Matt Berna @ Bell Bank Mortgage:
https://bell.bank/mortgage/loan-officer/mattberna
Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions:
https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman

05/21/2026

At it again… questioning the industry that has been being sculpted for so long… find out more about how we are trying to reevaluate and pivot in this generation of rethink. therecollab.com or watch RECkoning on YouTube! Link in bio!

05/18/2026

Let’s talk about zoning laws… the rules that kind of say who gets to live where, what kinds of homes can be built, and why “starter homes” are so hard to find.

A lot of modern zoning laws were created to separate people by class — and often by race — through things like single-family-only zoning, minimum lot sizes, and restrictions on multi-unit housing. Decades later, we’re still living with the effects: rising housing costs, limited density, longer commutes, and fewer affordable options for first-time buyers.

So who actually benefits from zoning as it exists today? And what would happen if we changed it?

Find out how to help and more by watching this episode of Reckoning with Real Estate! Link in bio 🏡

05/17/2026

We find ourselves yet again in the depths of the side of real estate most consumers never get to see. In this episode, we sit down with Doug Miller: consumer protection attorney, Executive Director of Consumer Advocates in American Real Estate, and believe it or not, a real estate agent himself. A trusted ally of REC, Doug pulls back the curtain on the practices, conflicts of interest, and industry protections quietly shaping residential real estate, many of which consumers unknowingly agree to every day. From private listing networks to the reality of dual agency, this conversation challenges the idea that the system is built with the public’s best interest in mind. If you’ve ever wondered who real estate systems are really designed to serve, this conversation is for you. Find us at http://therecollab.com

Extras:
Doug’s page on AttorneyRE.com:
https://minneapolisrealestateattorney.com/about-doug/
Consumer Advocates in American Real Estate:
https://www.caare.org/
REC’s philosophy on Dual Agency:
https://www.therecollab.com/blog/no-dual-agency
Learn how we approach fees here:
https://www.therecollab.com/blog/dollar-and-sense

Thank you to our Sponsors!
Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective:
https://ecoevergreen.co/
Matt Berna @ Bell Bank Mortgage:
https://bell.bank/mortgage/loan-officer/mattberna
Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions:
https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman

First Q&A is out now!! Maybe you’ve received it in the mail? We’re launching a new series where we answer the questions ...
05/15/2026

First Q&A is out now!! Maybe you’ve received it in the mail?

We’re launching a new series where we answer the questions we hear the most, one at a time. Stay tuned each month about this time to find out what question we’ll answer next! And of course, feel free to ask us your own questions any time at therecollab.com!

05/13/2026

Listen in to find out what we’re all about!!!

In this episode of Reckoning with Real Estate, we’re talking about the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025… and so much more.

Find out more on our YouTube channel or website!! (In bio)

05/10/2026

This episode originally aired February 1, 2026:

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Ben Feldman. This is an encore episode that was aired previously, but that we thought important enough to re-run! Ben is one of the owners of Active Insurance Solutions, an independently owned insurance company. In this episode, we unpack often-overlooked parts of homeowners insurance, including roof coverage, minimum deductibles, and common add-ons/endorsements. These details don’t come up often, but they’re helpful to understand ahead of time, before it may be too late. Find us at https://www.therecollab.com/

A few key takeaways:
Home insurance should be reviewed annually, as coverage and risk change over time.
A sewer line inspection can help clarify responsibility before it’s too late! Don’t skimp out on getting this done.
When building your real estate team (insurance broker, real estate agent, mortgage lender, home inspector, title officer, and real estate attorney), look local. Find trustworthy people that are easily accessible so that you know exactly who you'll be talking with every time.
Definitions:
Roof exclusions: Certain policies limit or exclude coverage for roof damage based on factors like age, material, or cause of loss. This can mean repairs are only partially covered—or not covered at all—depending on the situation.
Impact-resistant shingle classes: Roofing materials are rated based on how well they withstand hail and impact. Higher-rated shingles can reduce damage risk and, in some cases, influence insurance coverage or premiums.

Extras:
Ben Feldman:
https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman
Active Insurance Solutions out of Chanhassen:
http://aisolusionmn.com
REC Blog ~ Read about what makes REC different here:
https://www.therecollab.com/about-us
AI Solutions Blog ~ How to protect your property for severe weather:
https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/blog/2025/is-your-home-ready-for-severe-weather-how-to-protect-your-property

Thank you to our Sponsors!
Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective:
https://ecoevergreen.co/
Matt Berna @ TruStone Home Mortgage:
https://trustonefinancial.org/mortgages/meet-our-team/matt-berna
Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions:
https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman

Address

Saint Paul, MN
55102

Telephone

+16514123765

Website

http://Linkedin.com/in/paige-kahle-and-rec/, http://instagram.com/therecollab, http://therecoll

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