This week I'm joined by Tyler Austin, CEO of Data Sift — the powerhouse platform born from the merger of Data Sift and Data Lake. Tyler and I go way back, and we finally got to sit down together in person at a mastermind in Tampa for this one. It's a great conversation.

Tyler breaks down how his platform uses AI to predict over 50% of real estate investor transactions monthly, why less data almost always beats more, and how the right data stack combined with the right phone system can slash your marketing budget while actually increasing your deal flow. We also get into the mindset behind building a real business — risk tolerance, operational discipline, and why nobody ever leaps from 10% to 90% overnight.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:41] – Introducing Tyler Austin and the Data Sift and Data Lake merger.

[1:29] – Tyler's background and what led him to build a data platform for investors.

[3:37] – Why less data beats more data — and how Data Sift's AI predicts investor transactions.

[4:40] – Cutting 100,000 records down to 10,000 most likely — and what that does to your margins.

[5:08] – Distress data suites: obituaries, foreclosures, probate, age of property, and more.

[5:36] – How SmartPhone and Data Sift work together to feed back market response data.

[6:28] – The 600 out of 1,000 people you'll never reach — and how to stop wasting money on them.

[7:11] – Building a proprietary database through consistent marketing feedback loops.

[32:18] – Why operational preparation after hours separates serious investors from everyone else.

[33:34] – The pilot analogy: deep knowledge gives you a glide path when things go wrong.

[34:10] – Two things every W2 needs before making the leap to business ownership.

[34:56] – Why no business scales on a whim — structure and execution are everything.

[35:25] – Incremental improvement beats big leaps: getting from 10% right to 40% right over time.

[37:13] – How to get started with Data Sift: the five-day deal flow challenge for $27.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Less data is more. Precision targeting beats volume every time — fewer records, lower costs, higher margins.
2. Your marketing feedback loop is gold. Every wrong number and dead line is data that sharpens your next campaign.
3. You can't reach 60% of your list no matter what. Build processes specifically for who you're not reaching.
4. Deep preparation gives you confidence. Know your market, your data, and your call flows before you need them.
5. Scale incrementally. No one jumps from 10% to 90%. Consistency and small improvements compound into real results.

Links & Resources

• Data Sift – AI-powered real estate data and CRM platform 👉 datasift.io
• Five Day Deal Flow Challenge – Learn the fundamentals for ~$27 👉 datasift.io
• Data Sift Real Estate Mastermind – Search on Facebook and request to join
• SmrtPhone – The only phone system built for real estate investors (mention Data Sift when signing up)
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes and exclusive tech discounts

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with an investor who's spending too much on marketing and not seeing the returns — because the problem usually isn't the channel. It's the data behind it.

More high-signal conversations coming next.

In this episode, I sit down with Martine Richardson from The Freedom Inc., and this one goes in a direction we haven't covered before on this podcast — rentals. Martine started as a wholesaler, stumbled into her first rental by accident, and never looked back. She's closed over 100 deals, built a portfolio that covers all her expenses, and now helps investors buy their first or next rental with little to none of their own money.

We get into the mindset shift from active income to passive wealth, why investing a little more upfront in your properties saves you years of headaches, and how to get started in rentals even in today's market. If you're a wholesaler thinking about making the leap into buy-and-hold — or just looking for a smarter long-term play — this episode is for you.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:52] – Introducing Martine Richardson and The Freedom Inc.

[1:10] – How Martine got her first rental by accident — and why it changed everything.

[3:43] – From wholesaling to 100+ deals and why passive income became the goal.

[4:36] – Why wholesalers should be thinking about rentals right now.

[5:23] – The mindset shift from high-paying job to true time and money freedom.

[6:00] – Bought for $35K, now worth $240K — letting the asset do the work.

[6:40] – Why rental properties win even as wholesaling faces more regulatory pressure.

[7:17] – The 90% passive model and what systems make that possible.

[29:54] – How Martine got into coaching and why she got a coach before becoming one.

[30:45] – Why she charges for coaching — and why free is often lazy.

[33:13] – The free Freedom Inc. community: what's in it and who it's for.

[34:16] – Why wholesalers should know about buy-and-hold buyers in her community.

[35:25] – How to join the free community and apply for a strategy session.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Rentals create freedom. Wholesaling creates a job. If time freedom is your goal, the asset has to do the work — not you.
2. Invest a little more upfront. Replacing the aging water heater before a tenant moves in buys you years of problem-free ownership.
3. Little to no money down is possible. With the right strategy and creative financing, your first rental doesn't require a massive cash outlay.
4. Systems make it passive. It's not 100% hands-off, but the right systems get you to 90% — and that changes your life.
5. Credibility comes from doing it first. Work with coaches and mentors who've actually lived the path they're teaching.

Links & Resources

• The Freedom Inc. – Free community for rental property investors 👉 Join on Facebook: search "The Free To Me"
• Strategy Session – Map out how to buy your first or next rental with little to none of your own money 👉 strategy.thefreetome.com
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes and exclusive tech discounts

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with a wholesaler who's been grinding hard but hasn't made the move into passive income yet — because the asset can do the work, but only if you let it.

More high-signal conversations coming next.

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany High from Heel's Homes and Results Driven ROI — and this one is packed. Tiffany and her husband Josh do 300+ deals a year as active investors while also coaching experienced real estate investors on how to build serious phone sales teams. She knows exactly what it takes to scale, and she holds nothing back here.

We dig into why so many investors underestimate their phone system, how Tiffany went from 12 unproductive salespeople to 8 who produce four times the revenue, and why she believes sales is a science — not an art. If you're building a phone team or thinking about scaling your acquisitions operation, this episode is a masterclass.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:41] – Introducing Tiffany High and her two businesses: Heel's Homes and Results Driven ROI.

[1:29] – Why technology has been the single biggest game changer in Tiffany's business.

[2:38] – The moment Tiffany realized her phone system was killing her team's productivity.

[4:00] – Letting go of three fourths of her staff and rebuilding the right way.

[4:37] – How 8 salespeople now outperform what 12 used to do — and why.

[5:22] – Why sales is a science, not an art — and what that means for scalability.

[6:15] – Call audits: what they are and why every phone sales team needs them.

[6:38] – The whisper feature: how to coach your team live without the seller hearing a word.

[7:02] – Live transfers vs. appointment setting and why appointments are costing you millions.

[23:06] – Why AI tools need to be part of your phone sales infrastructure now.

[29:24] – What Tiffany wishes she knew when she started: leadership can't be outsourced.

[30:34] – Culture drives results — and it starts and ends with you as the leader.

[32:13] – The three technology products every new real estate investor should implement first.

[33:43] – Why building a custom CRM from day one is worth every penny.

[34:26] – How to connect with Tiffany and apply to work with Results Driven ROI.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Your phone system is your most important tech investment. If your team is still hand dialing, you're leaving productivity and revenue on the table.
2. Sales is a science. Build a repeatable, coachable process and scalability becomes infinite.
3. Live transfer beats appointment setting every time. Stop scheduling callbacks and start closing in the moment.
4. Leadership cannot be outsourced. You can duplicate technology overnight — you can't duplicate the ability to lead people.
5. Culture is your number one priority. People quit managers, not companies. Build an environment people want to stay in.

Links & Resources

• Results Driven ROI – Coaching for experienced real estate investors building phone sales teams 👉 tiffanyhigh.com
• Tiffany High – Instagram: @tiffanyhighofficial | Josh High – Instagram: @joshhighofficial
• SmartPhone – The only phone system built for real estate investors
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes and exclusive tech discounts

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with an investor who's struggling to get productivity out of their phone team — because the fix usually isn't the people. It's the system.

More high-signal conversations coming next.

Hey, it's Jordan Samuel Fleming — welcome back to That Real Estate Tech Guy!

This one is a solo episode, and I'm diving into something I just finished that I'm genuinely fired up about — a three-day Voice Accelerator Challenge we ran with over 230 real estate investors. No guest today, just me breaking down what we covered, what questions came up, and why I think most people are still thinking about AI in completely the wrong way.

We go deep into the mindset shift that has to happen before any AI implementation works, why treating agents like labor instead of software changes everything, and how we walked investors through deploying a live inbound acquisitions intake agent during the challenge. If you're curious about voice AI but still on the fence — or if you've tried it and it hasn't clicked yet — this episode is going to reframe the whole thing for you.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Solo episode intro and why Jordan just ran a three-day Voice Accelerator Challenge.

[1:12] – 230+ attendees and the core questions investors had about voice AI.

[2:02] – Why Day 1 started with mindset — and why that surprised people.

[3:00] – The problem with the "AI as a tool" mentality and why it limits your results.

[4:39] – Agents vs. software: the fundamental difference in how you should think about AI.

[5:21] – What separates a real voice agent from a fancy answering service.

[5:52] – The hiring analogy: why you'd never hire a person without a role — and shouldn't hire AI that way either.

[6:54] – SmartPhone's Agent Recruitment Center and the role-based approach to AI.

[9:18] – What these agents are fully trained on: acquisitions, exit strategies, and REI methodology.

[23:06] – Hallucinations, trust, and why properly built agents don't go off the rails.

[24:11] – Why intake agents are explicitly blocked from making offers — and why that matters.

[26:40] – The compounding power of a 24/7 agent that never has a bad day.

[27:10] – What every missed call is really costing you in a high-sales business like real estate.

[27:39] – Why the acquisitions intake agent was the first role in the challenge.

[28:39] – Never miss another inbound call again — and why that changes your whole perspective.

[29:08] – What's next: running the challenge again and how to get involved.

[29:48] – How to connect with Jordan and get started with SmartPhone.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Mindset comes before implementation. If you still see AI as a tool to turn on and off, you'll never get the real value out of it.
2. Agents are labor, not software. Think roles, responsibilities, and outcomes — not features.
3. Role-based agents outperform generic ones. Trained, bounded agents with clear job descriptions produce far better results.
4. Every missed call is money left on the table. In real estate, unanswered inbound calls are one of the most expensive silent killers in your business.
5. Boundaries protect you. Agents that know what they can't do are just as important as agents that know what they can.

Links & Resources

• SmrtPhone – The only phone system and voice AI platform built for real estate investors 👉 smartmophone.io
• Voice Accelerator Challenge – Follow Jordan on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube to get notified when the next challenge runs
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes and exclusive tech discounts

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with an investor who's curious about voice AI but hasn't made the leap yet — because the mindset shift is the hardest part, and this episode will help them get there.

More high-signal conversations coming next.

In this episode, I sit down with Glen Petersen from Bateman Collective, and this one turned into a full-on masterclass in digital marketing for real estate investors. Glen brings years of high-level PPC and SEO experience, including managing massive ad spend and working directly with Google — and he breaks down what’s actually happening behind the scenes in today’s marketing landscape.

We go deep into why so many investors fail before they even get started with PPC and SEO, not because the channels don’t work, but because their business isn’t ready to support the leads. We unpack the real role of data, why speed-to-lead is one of the most underrated drivers of ROI, and how AI is quietly reshaping both paid and organic search. If you’re thinking about scaling your marketing or want to stop wasting money on leads you don’t convert, this episode is packed with practical insight.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Introducing Glen Petersen and Bateman Collective’s focus on PPC and SEO for real estate investors.

[3:16] – From traditional marketing to digital and why attribution changed everything.

[6:57] – Why PPC costs are rising and what’s really happening behind the scenes with Google.

[8:16] – Cost per lead vs cost per acquisition and why most investors track the wrong metric.

[9:56] – Why Bateman turns clients away who aren’t operationally ready.

[13:16] – Demand generation vs demand capture and why messaging must change.

[13:31] – Speed-to-lead and why delayed response kills deals instantly.

[15:11] – Real examples of answering leads instantly vs sending them to voicemail.

[16:27] – Tracking beyond the lead and identifying breakdowns in the funnel.

[18:16] – Using data feedback loops to improve Google’s algorithm performance.

[25:41] – How AI is accelerating SEO results faster than traditional timelines.

[26:32] – Real example of 25% of SEO revenue coming from AI-driven discovery.

[27:19] – AI ads, ChatGPT search, and the future of paid acquisition channels.

[29:39] – When investors should start PPC and SEO in their business journey.

[30:30] – Why SEO is a long-term play but creates massive ROI over time.

[34:33] – The importance of consistency in marketing and avoiding “shiny object syndrome.”

[36:11] – The 3–6 month learning phase most investors underestimate.

[36:41] – Who Bateman Collective works best with and how to get a free audit.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Your business must be ready before your marketing works. Leads are useless without systems, follow-up, and speed.
2. Speed-to-lead is everything. The first conversation often wins the deal.
3. Track beyond the lead. Revenue and conversion data matter more than cost per lead.
4. AI is accelerating search and discovery. SEO is evolving faster than ever before.
5. Consistency beats experimentation. Marketing works when you commit long enough to let it compound.

Links & Resources

• Bateman Collective – PPC, SEO, and digital marketing for real estate investors: https://batemancollective.com
• Free PPC & SEO Audit: https://get.batemancollective.com/rlp
• SmrtPhone – The only phone system built for real estate investors (5,000 free minutes)
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes and exclusive tech discounts

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with an investor who’s spending money on marketing but not seeing results — because most of the time, the problem isn’t the leads… it’s what happens after they come in.

More high-signal conversations coming next.

Joe started with a borrowed cassette tape course in 2000. Jenn was a middle school teacher going into debt. When they met in 2008, they began buying junkers, slowly stacking deals, and figuring out creative finance when the banks tried to cap them at ten mortgages. In 2020, Covid forced the leap to full time — and they never looked back. Today they run a thriving portfolio, a coaching community, and a life built around family and freedom. No flash. Just discipline.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Introduction to Jen and Joe and what makes their story different.

[3:00] – How a teacher and a car dealership finance manager found each other and real estate.

[4:35] – Joe's first deal: $12,000 profit from a borrowed cassette tape course.

[5:52] – Building slowly with BRRRR before it had a name.

[6:12] – The 2016 turning point: banks threaten to cap mortgages, creative finance enters the picture.

[6:33] – How Covid became the catalyst to go full time.

[10:10] – Joe on why "real wealth is silent" — and why the backyard office beats the Lambo.

[12:24] – How technology enabled virtual deals during Covid — and changed everything.

[18:35] – What drove them from investors to coaches: authentic sharing and organic demand.

[22:08] – The "cheat code": Joe's deal knowledge + Jen's teaching ability = a community that actually works.

[28:42] – Why creative finance is no longer optional in today's market.

[30:04] – A current deal: turnkey house, $5,000 down, 3.25% rate, cash flowing from day one.

[31:37] – The lease option model: renters paying 20–30K upfront and multiple six-figure exits.

[32:14] – The full wealth-building path: wholesale → keep the good ones → lease option → 1031 → scale.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Creative finance is a must-have tool. Seller financing and lease options let you buy houses others can't — at prices that actually pencil out.
2. Slow and steady builds real wealth. Joe and Jenn layered knowledge and deals methodically. The foundation is what lasts.
3. The best coaches are still in the game. Their community grew because client results were real — not because of a big profile.
4. Technology removes all excuses. You can buy, manage, and close deals in states you've never visited. The barrier is mindset.
5. The lease option is an underused wealth multiplier. Big upfront deposits, strong cash flow, and 1031 exits compound fast.

Links & Resources

• Creative Finance Playbook – Free Facebook group with Q&A and deal breakdowns
• CreativeFinancePlaybook.com – Free tools to find leads and talk to sellers
• smrtPhone – The only phone system built for real estate investors (5,000 free minutes)
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes and exclusive tech discounts

Closing

If this episode resonated, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy — and share it with someone still waiting for the "right time" to get started.

Discipline will always beat flash.

This week’s episode is a little different. It’s just me. I’ve been speaking at several events recently and noticed that one idea keeps resonating with people over and over again — the idea that AI shouldn’t be viewed as software, but as labor.

Most businesses today are experimenting with AI tools, but very few have actually made the mindset shift required to unlock its real potential. In this episode, I break down why the real transformation happening right now isn’t about shiny tools or clever prompts — it’s about redefining how work gets done inside your business. AI is no longer just something that helps your team work faster. It’s something that can share responsibility for output alongside your team.

We dig into how the evolution from SaaS software to AI agents is changing the structure of businesses, why most companies are still thinking about AI the wrong way, and how role-based AI workers can dramatically increase production without dramatically increasing headcount. If you’re a real estate investor or entrepreneur trying to scale without constantly hiring more people, this episode will challenge how you think about the future of your workforce.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Why this episode is a solo talk based on presentations Jordan has been giving recently.

[1:09] – The core idea: AI should be viewed as labor, not just software.

[2:05] – Why most businesses are still thinking about AI in the wrong way.

[3:06] – The “shiny tool” problem and why real estate investors are especially prone to it.

[5:42] – A quick historical look at how labor and production have evolved.

[6:40] – How SaaS changed business productivity over the last 30 years.

[9:41] – Why SaaS systems increased efficiency but still relied on human execution.

[10:12] – The next shift: AI systems that can share responsibility for output.

[11:59] – How traditional CRMs hit a ceiling because humans must still execute tasks.

[12:38] – AI agents as workers that can perform roles inside a business.

[14:31] – How Smart Agents were designed around roles instead of generic tools.

[22:00] – A real example: four contracts generated from after-hours AI responses.

[23:17] – Why urgency and speed-to-lead are critical in real estate investing.

[24:37] – The opportunity created by 24/7 lead response.

[27:16] – Where AI agents work best: repetitive, high-volume operational roles.

[28:28] – How businesses that adopt AI labor models will outpace competitors.

5 Key Takeaways

1. AI is not just a tool — it’s a workforce multiplier. Businesses need to treat it as labor, not software.
2. The SaaS era increased efficiency, but AI changes output itself. Systems can now participate in execution.
3. Role-based AI wins. Treat AI agents like employees with defined responsibilities.
4. Speed matters in real estate. AI answering leads instantly can unlock deals humans miss.
5. Start small. Introducing one AI role into your workflow can transform your productivity.

Links & Resources

• SmrtPhone – The only phone system built for real estate investors (5,000 free minutes)
• Smart Agents – AI workforce tools built into the SmartPhone platform
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes and exclusive tech discounts

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with someone who’s experimenting with AI but hasn’t yet made the mindset shift from tools to workforce.

Because the businesses that understand this shift early will build a massive advantage in the years ahead.

This week, I sit down with Bobby Triplett, Senior Vice President of Renovations at Offerpad, and we go deep into one of the most overlooked but critical parts of real estate investing — renovations at scale.

Bobby oversees renovation operations across 15 states and 20+ markets, managing hundreds of projects per month. We talk about what it actually takes to build a consistent, high-performance renovation machine across multiple regions, why most contractors struggle with accountability, and how speed — not just cost — is the real lever that protects profit in today’s market.

If you’re flipping houses, expanding into new markets, or frustrated with unreliable contractors, this episode will completely shift how you think about execution, leadership, and operational consistency.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Introducing Bobby Triplett and Offerpad’s renovation footprint across the country.

[3:19] – How Offerpad evolved from iBuyer to nationwide renovation service provider.

[5:08] – Scaling to 1,200+ flips per month and what that taught the team about systems.

[7:27] – Why no two homes — or markets — are the same.

[9:18] – Leadership summits, shared scars, and building a culture of accountability.

[11:16] – Why tech investment often ignores renovations — and why that’s a mistake.

[14:17] – Standardization vs. local market nuance in construction.

[16:34] – Radical transparency with contractor scorecards and performance metrics.

[18:46] – Creating accountability without yelling and chaos.

[23:36] – Speed vs. cost vs. quality — and why Bobby bets on speed.

[24:41] – Paying contractors fast to build loyalty and priority.

[27:53] – Who Offerpad serves best — mid-sized operators and serious flippers.

[29:28] – Enabling remote investing with trusted boots on the ground.

[31:01] – Institutional-level renovation services without institutional overhead.

[33:08] – The Days Per Thousand (DPT) metric and controlling project timelines.

[34:36] – Why today’s tighter market punishes sloppy execution.

[36:41] – Building investor confidence through consistency and delivery.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Speed protects profit. The longer a project drags, the more risk and holding costs eat your margin.
2. Standardization scales, but local expertise wins. 80% process, 20% market nuance.
3. Transparency drives performance. Scorecards and accountability conversations matter.
4. Pay fast, expect excellence. Strong contractor relationships are built on trust and consistency.
5. Remote investing only works with reliable execution. Acquisition and disposition are easy — swinging hammers is not.

Links & Resources

• Offerpad Renovations – Nationwide renovation services across 15 states
• Connect with Bobby Triplett – LinkedIn
• SmrtPhone – The only phone system built for real estate investors (5,000 free minutes)
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – All episodes and exclusive tech discounts

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with an investor who’s ready to expand markets, tighten execution, and stop letting renovations be the bottleneck in their business.