Emma Ridley

A generational shift in wealth was clear when millennials hit the financial scene; between 2018 and 2025, this age group, now aged 28 to 43, saw their net worth surge like never before.

With AI ubiquitous today, personal touch matters more now than ever before. And it can make all the difference when it comes to breaking out of a dry spell.

Agents are doubling down on phone calls, open houses, farm areas and consistent personal outreach, pairing smart tech with high-touch connections for new business.

The four-story Alys Beach residence works creatively within the seaside enclave's famously strict design guidelines.

Homebuyers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for a certain perk—and it's not a swimming pool, three-car garage, or two kitchens. A survey from the National Association of Realtors® showed that Americans are prioritizing walkability in a way they haven't since the pre-Henry Ford era.

Rob sits down with a powerhouse panel made up of Spears Group’s Founder, Jonathan Spears, and its COO, Maria Coukoulis, both of whom are also co-founders of MyOps AI, and Larry Kendall, the author of Ninja Selling, to discuss a pivotal moment in every successful real estate agent’s career. Together, this all-star team tackles the critical crossroads agents face: whether to continue as a solo producer or to build a high-performing real estate team. This conversation goes deep into the nuts and bolts of scaling a real estate business from the ground up. The group explores Jonathan’s transition from a driven solo agent doing $70 million in volume to the leader of a billion-dollar team, highlighting the operational challenges and mindset shifts required for success. They discuss the common pitfalls of team building, the necessity of creating documented systems and processes, and how a strong, clearly defined culture is the engine for sustainable growth. This episode provides an enlightening and informative case-study on how to turn a real estate practice into a true business, unlocking not just financial success but personal freedom and fulfillment.

On the Luxury Presence Podcast, they revealed the systems, habits, and innovations that turned their team into a powerhouse, insights that any agent can adapt to sharpen their own business.

While many Florida markets are experiencing an oversupply of inventory, Spears is witnessing a remarkable phenomenon in the ultra-luxury segment.

The classic home feature has gained new popularity as a way to give outdoor spaces an aesthetic and functional boost.

In recent years, the housing market has been like a roller coaster. Rates have gone from around 3% and remain stuck near 7%, list prices skyrocketed and then came to a halt, and competition went from super stiff to almost nonexistent. With all this change, how are buyers supposed to keep up?

Hollywood veteran Bill Bannerman’s home on the Emerald Coast features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a swimming pool.

Jonathan Spears is a top real estate agent from Compass 30A. He shares his journey from obtaining a real estate license at 18 to building a successful team and thriving in the luxury market. He reveals his proactive approach, the importance of building genuine relationships, and the need to surround oneself with the right people to achieve success. Jonathan also discusses his strategies for brand building and storytelling in real estate, offering insights into his approach to work-life balance and personal betterment.

Wellness spaces such as yoga or meditation rooms are also gaining popularity, according to Max Smith, Esq., a luxury real estate advisor with Spears Group at Compass in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

Forget the old, rickety backyard doghouses of yesteryear. Dogs these days are getting decked-out bedrooms of their very own!

Real estate enthusiasts and professionals alike won’t want to miss the latest episode of Glenda’s Guru, where industry powerhouse Jonathan Spears joins Glenda Baker for an engaging and insightful conversation.

Ahoy there, mateys. If you find yourself lusting after a life on the high seas, one recently listed $5.37 million property may provide you with the perfect chance to take on the role of captain, while your feet remain on solid ground.

This year, Inman highlighted 19 dynamic teams in its recurring Teams Spotlight column. We've rounded them all up in one place. Here's a look back at 2024

Join us for an inspiring real estate conversation with Jonathan Spears, a real estate team leader with over $2 billion in lifetime sales. In this episode, Jonathan reveals the three key areas every struggling real estate agent should focus on to succeed.

VIE had the pleasure of hosting a Fall Soiree to celebrate this stunning custom residence by Bella Mare Real Estate Holdings in collaboration with Burwell Associates architecture. Grand Bay Construction, and Duce & Company interior design on October 10, 2024, at 92 North Heritage Dunes Lane in Seagrove Beach, Florida. A special thank you to our amazing sponsors: Clay Garden & Gifts for the charming front porch decor, 1920 & Co. for the breathtaking floral arrangements, and Wild Olives for keeping the festivities lively with prosecco, wine, charcuterie, and delightful bites for the evening. This beautiful home is for sale through Spears Group of Compass real estate, and the future owner will be truly lucky!

Ep. 202 Make millions as a Real Estate Professional.

Spears advocates getting into the market as soon as possible, even with current high interest rates. He suggests using strategies like “dating the rate,” where buyers accept a higher rate initially with plans to refinance when rates drop.

Jonathan Spears from Spears Group at Compass highlights that millennials who bought homes before the pandemic saw rapid equity growth: "The last five years was maybe one of the greatest time frames in United States history for wealth accumulation and growth."

“The ones that did invest [in real estate] were able to grow their wealth exponentially,” Spears says. “The last five years was maybe one of the greatest time frames in the United States history for wealth accumulation and growth.”

Jonathan Spears and Holly Meyer Lucas break down what it takes to lead a team in a time of market changes. Learn how to motivate your team and set your agents up for success in a buyers market.

Buyers looking for properties near the beach care about sand because it can impact their overall experience. Agents say high-quality sand is an economic asset.

Set off Florida's iconic highway 30A, the six-bedroom home is being offered by retired exec Brian Jenkins.

Jonathan Spears said he and his team were looking for outside-the-box ways to expose the property that were fun and leaned toward entertainment.

The stardust of being formerly owned by soul singer Reverend Al “Let’s Stay Together” Green recently traded for $13.25 million.

The $9.995 million Walton County house has a fire pit, a heated plunge pool, and an outdoor kitchen

Sand can be sticky, messy, and irritating. On the right beach, it’s the ultimate luxury.

The $9.995 million Walton County house has a fire pit, a heated plunge pool, and an outdoor kitchen

The former CEO of arcade-and-restaurant chain Dave & Busters just listed his incredible six-bedroom, waterfront property in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, for just a hair under $10 million.

The housing market has been tough in 2024, with stubbornly high mortgage rates keeping many homebuyers on the sidelines. But in August, a light appeared at the end of this tunnel when rates dropped to yearlong lows—below 6.5% for a 30-year fixed home loan.

Larry Kendall is back in the host’s chair this week and is excited to welcome the remarkable Jonathan Spears.

Panelists at Inman Luxury Connect Monday argued that good marketing in the luxury segment is all about telling stories that speak to a specific type of consumer.

The 2-acre property is gated with a horseshoe driveway at 1561 Sunset Road. Paul Nicol/Provided By Spears Group.

The Golden I Club recognizes excellence in luxury real estate, and this year's finalists span from coast to coast.

From Golden Visa availability to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and a trend favored by the rich that proves all the world's a stage.

As one of only eight beachfront homes and the highest-priced sale in WaterColor, its acquisition sets a new standard for excellence.

WaterColor, a picturesque coastal community nestled along the scenic Highway 30A in Northwest Florida, has just seen its highest-priced home sale in history.

A Florida home recently became the highest-priced sale in its beachfront town’s history, thanks to its coastal elegance.

Find out how this top luxury team leader and his marketing-forward Spears Group have transformed the Florida market.

The home, found in Dothan’s exclusive Spann Farm subdivision, was featured in The Wall Street Journal Tuesday.

It has 10,000 square feet of living space, a large movie theatre and indoor golf simulator, a 500-bottle wine cellar and a TV hidden behind a mirror in one of the bathrooms.

Craig Schmidtke, who is now selling the home, wasn’t sure the finished estate would ever see the light of day.

Now, the home is on the market for nearly $5 million, making it the most expensive home listing in the city.

This newly built waterfront home is located at 8364 E County Highway 30A in Rosemary Beach, Florida, and is situated on 2/3 of an acre of land.

The waterfront spec house in Santa Rosa Beach, now asking $22.575M, features in the episode on Mansion Global’s YouTube.

The top Florida vacation spots for snowbirds have been well known – and popularly patronized for generations.

Thinking about selling your house in 2024? While many home sellers wait until spring to put their property on the market.

In 2023, many homeowners who hoped to sell decided to hit a pause on those plans. And for good reason.

In the post-pandemic real estate market, well-established team leaders are focused on nurturing talented early-career agents.

For most of 2023, homebuyers faced a daunting real estate market marked by dizzyingly high mortgage rates.

A seaside home with your normal, run-of-the-mill exterior and dramatic — and sunny — interior has landed on the real estate market in Santa Rosa Beach.

Nestled on the coast, the property boasts 75 feet of linear frontage along the Gulf of Mexico and offers panoramic water views.

A waterfront property in Seacrest Beach has hit the market with an eye-watering price tag of $18.5 million.

Located off Scenic Highway 30A, the beachfront property is asking $18.5 million after last selling for $10.11 million

Located off Scenic Highway 30A, the beachfront property is asking $18.5 million after last selling for $10.11 million

The Santa Rosa Beach home has the largest private pool on Highway 30A and direct access to a white-sand beach.

On today’s RealTrending, we feature Jonathan Spears, founder of Spears Group with Compass in Destin, Florida. His team is ranked No. 16 medium-sized teams.

Despite its modest size, the 1-bedroom, 1-bath home sold for $2,900,000, setting a new record of $4,135 per square foot.

Wealthy buyers are in a league of their own. When shopping for new homes, their lists of must-haves tend to be different from the average buyer.

For our market, being at the beach is all about the experience — and having a property with breathtaking views.

In an environment where property inventory is increasing, well-built and meticulously detailed homes are paramount.

The Detroit-based lender said it's adding 500 mortgage loan originators to target real estate agents around the nation.

Inman, the leading news source for real estate agents, brokers, executives, and technology leaders, announced the winners of the 2023 Innovator Awards.

'You've got to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,' said top-producing agent Dawn McKenna at Inman Luxury Connect.

Legendary Sotheby's International Realty brokers Nikki Field and Harald Grant joins the Golden I Club Hall of Fame.

The Spears Group founder told Inman that demand for trophy properties or highly unique listings is at an all-time high.

Panhandle communities became hot commodities after another uptick in pandemic tourists visited for the first time.

Nicknamed the ‘Hamptons of the South,’ beach communities along Scenic Highway 30A have seen growth in recent years.

Prologis CEO predicted a more normal period for the industrial sector after outsized growth over the past few years.

Nicknamed the ‘Hamptons of the South,’ beach communities along Scenic Highway 30A have seen explosive growth in recent years.

Indeed, this new listing in Florida could net you more than a million bucks a year in rental income.

Jonathan Spears, founder of Spears Group & Compass 30A, has provided superior service and expertise that have allowed him to close over $1.5 billion.

Spears Group founder Jonathan Spears explains why people are giving up on going to the Greek Islands for Alys Beach.

Learn the strategies of productivity from a panel of top performers as they discuss recruiting, training, and empowering agents.

A main house, with unobstructed views of the Gulf, an adjacent private courtyard, and a carriage house, with private beach access, are part of the property.

There are just 32 homes on the water in Rosemary Beach, a master-planned community on the Emerald Coast.

Demand for property in Alys Beach has soared over the past few years—even if there are a lot of rules.

Meet Caleb Spears, the 24-year-old real estate agent who sold over $100 million in real estate by overcoming his limited thinking and taking on the luxury market.

Ready to find out renovations you shouldn't take on? Keep reading to see which projects should be deleted from your to-do list.

Demand for property in Alys Beach, a planned community on Florida’s Panhandle, has soared over the past few years—even if there are a lot of rules.

Demand for property in Alys Beach, a planned community on Florida’s Panhandle, has soared over the past few years.

A brand-new, four-story beachfront house is ready to welcome its first owner. The 7,966-square-foot home in Inlet Beach, FL, is listed for $22 million.

A brand-new, four-story beachfront house is ready to welcome its first owner. The 7,966-square-foot home is in Inlet Beach.

The famed soul singer sold the Seagrove Beach estate in 2020 to a pair of developers, who tore down the old house and built a new one in its place.

The Seagrove Beach spec house has about 50 feet of beachfrontage on the Gulf of Mexico.

A home on Florida’s Emerald Coast home has sold for $19 million. The Seagrove Beach spec house has about 50 feet of beachfrontage on the Gulf of Mexico.

Looking to buy a home in Florida? Here's a list of real estate firms worth checking out. It’s important to find the best real estate company.

The 10-acre spread offers six paddocks, a riding arena, and a new barn with 21 stalls and a tack room. “To have 10 acres so close to the beaches is a rarity.”

“Flooring color trends that are going out or have been out of style for awhile are orange and honey tones and gray.”

You're sure to find some virtual mentors among these 15 real estate agents and their real-world advice.

The Inlet Beach property, which includes two doggy bathtubs and a dog-friendly swimming pool, is on the market for $19.95 million.

The Inlet Beach property, which includes two doggy bathtubs and a dog-friendly swimming pool, is on the market for $19.95 million.