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Show Summary
In this conversation, John Harcar interviews Lindsey Nix, a seasoned realtor who shares her journey in real estate, the challenges she faced, and how she has adapted to market changes. Lindsey discusses the importance of digital marketing for new realtors and her initiative to create educational classes that incorporate AI tools to help realtors grow their businesses. She emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the competitive real estate market.
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Investor Fuel Show Transcript:
John Harcar (00:00)
Well, AI is great. At first, I didn’t like it.Lindsey Nix (00:00)
Well, AI is great. At first I didn’t like it.I was a little scared of it. But you know, I teach AI as far as what you can use on your computer to help you grow your business. I’m not talking about big robots that walk around. don’t know if I want to go there. But the AI I use is we talk about large language models. There’s not, I mean, there’s more than just one. Everyone really knows chat GPT, but there’s rock, there’s claw, there’s perplexity, there’s Gemini, there’s meta, there’s a ton of them.
John Harcar (00:03)
scared of it but you know I teach AI as far as what you can use on your computer to help you grow your business. I’m not talking about big robots that walk around I don’t know if I want to go there but the AI I use is we talked about large language models there’s not I mean there’s more than just one everyone really knows TQT but there’s Brock there’s Claude there’s perplexright. Hey guys, welcome back to the show. I’m your host, John Harcar, and we’re here today and I’m super excited here today with Lindsey Nix. And what we’re going to talk about with Lindsey besides her journey in real estate and kind of what really brought her to today, we’re going to talk about how she’s helping realtors incorporate AI into their business. Right. We know that, you know, even within our community of investor fuel, AI is a big tool. And I’m excited to talk about how you’re doing it, Lindsey. Welcome to our show.
Lindsey Nix (02:15)
Hello.Well, thank you, John. I’m excited to be here.
John Harcar (02:37)
Thank you, John. I’m excited to be here.Yeah, and I’m excited to find out how you’re helping agents, especially with the AI piece. But before we do all that, ⁓ tell our audience a little bit about you, kind of where you came from, what got you into real estate, what brought you to today.
Lindsey Nix (02:53)
Awesome. Well, I’m originally from Missouri, but I live here in Texas as a little girl. My dad was military and pretty much I taught high school, but I got let go because of budget cuts and I was up in Missouri and I decided to go to LA to do acting. And while I was out there, it was tough to hold down a job when you have to go on auditions. So my friend said, why don’t we get into real estate and we could be realtors and then we could be our own boss. So.John Harcar (03:03)
don’t let go because of budget cuts. I was up in Missouri and I decided to go to LA to do acting. And while I was out there, it was tough to hold down the job when you have to go on auditions. So my friend said, why don’t we get into real estate and we could be realtors and then we could be our own boss.Lindsey Nix (03:19)
I thought, great, so I went and took the classes and she did not. I know, right? But I’m a doer. When I say I’m going to do something, I do. Right? I know. ButJohn Harcar (03:20)
So I thought, great. So I went and took the classes and she did not. Oh, I know, right? I’m a doer when I say I’m doer. Hang you out to dry. That’s right, I know.Lindsey Nix (03:30)
I love rural state. It was great. or I sold homes out there for about seven years. Then I came back here to Texas, to the San Antonio area to be close with a family and became a realtor here. My sister is a realtor here.John Harcar (03:31)
state. It was great. I thought I am. I sold homes out there for about seven years. Then I came back here to Texas to the San Antonio area to be close with family and.became a realtor here. My sister’s a realtor
here and I’ve been doing that here since I was seven. I’ve been in real estate for about 25 years, but I got into real estate because I didn’t want to ask to go on an audition anymore. I wanted to be my own boss so I could just do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. Yeah, no, hundred percent. I like to find out from our guests and some people it has no bearing. Some people it’s very evident, but I like to find out in your past, right? Growing up,
Lindsey Nix (03:47)
I’ve been doing that here since I was seven. So I’ve been in real estate for about 25 years, but I got into real estate because I didn’t want to ask to go on an audition anymore. I wanted to be my own boss so I could just do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it.John Harcar (04:13)
you know, was there any friend, family member, neighbor, somebody in a form of real estate that kind of planted a subliminal seed, right? Or maybe a book you read back in the day or was there something outside of the, hey, let’s get into real estate ⁓ thought? Like was there something that was kind of maybe subliminally planted before? Well, my dad got…Lindsey Nix (04:31)
Well, my dad got hislicense and my brother got his license in Missouri. So they did it for a little bit. My dad did a couple of fix and flips. So yeah, so I saw a little bit there, but I really didn’t know much about it. I just jumped in because I said I was going to do it and I love houses and people. So yeah, so I just decided to jump on board.
John Harcar (04:35)
So ⁓ they did it for a little bit. My dad did a couple of fix and flips. So yeah, so I saw a little bit there, but I really didn’t know much about it. I just jumped in because I said I was.going to do it and I love houses and people so yeah
so I just
to jump on board. and some people you know like and the reason I ask that is because having that subliminal you having exposure to it in a sense made it in your mind okay because you’ve known someone who’s done it it didn’t kill them you didn’t people that get into it are reserved if they if they maybe haven’t sometimes that does hold them back so I just like to get that that idea. So you do you think that’s why you went to teach as
supposed to get into real estate because you kind of saw you’re like hey I’d rather do not do that at first.
Lindsey Nix (06:15)
Well, when back in aftercollege, when I was like 22, my dad was military, Air Force, and my mom, yeah, we were in Missouri and I taught high school, but I got let go and I taught acting, drama, theater, and my mom, I said, if I’m not gonna teach acting, I’m gonna go do it, so.
John Harcar (06:19)
My dad was military, Air Force. That’s right. Yeah, we were in Missouri and I taught high school, but I got let go and I taught acting, drama, theater and.I said if I’m not gonna teach acting, I’m gonna go do it.
Lindsey Nix (06:37)
So that’s why I went out to LA and then that’s when I decided to be my own boss. Cause I was tired of getting let go. I mean, I’ve been let go three times. I wake up one day and I have no job. That’s happened three times in my life. So it a blessing for me. Yeah, it’s scary. So I decided to teach then I taught, you know, as a younger age, right out of college, I taught cause I loved to do teachingJohn Harcar (06:37)
So that’s why I went out to LA and then that’s when I decided to be my film boss. Because I was tired of getting let go. I mean, I’ve been let go three times. I wake up one day and I have no job. That’s happened three times in my life. So it almost takes a real blessing for me. Yeah, it’s scary. And it’s funny how you say about the whole act. I decided to teach then. I taught as a younger age right out of college. taught because I loved to doLindsey Nix (07:03)
and public speaking. So that’s why I thought, Hey, I’ll teach.John Harcar (07:03)
teaching and public speaking. that’s why I thought, I’ll teach theE’s. Got it. All right. That makes sense. Now I kind of get a little backstory here. And it’s funny how you say about the acting and not holding a job. I have twin daughters. And when they were very young, we put them into acting. ⁓ They were in ⁓ part of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, that movie. But it’s just like, they call you, and you got to get there now. It ain’t like, make a plan. got to go. got to just go. It’s nuts. ⁓
Lindsey Nix (07:06)
Okay.yeah, right. Right, and if you
John Harcar (07:31)
And if you have a regular job, can’t just leave. Exactly.Lindsey Nix (07:31)
have a regular job, you can’t kind of just leave. ⁓John Harcar (07:36)
So what were some of the biggest hurdles, ⁓ obstacles, challenges maybe that you came across when you started your real estate career?Lindsey Nix (07:45)
Oh my goodness, I didn’t sell my first house for six months. I got the buyers that were unrealistic, right? My first buyers, I had them for six months. And my mentors were saying, you got to fire them, Lindsey, you got to fire them. And I’m like, I’m putting so much time. I don’t want to let them go. What if I show them one tomorrow and they buy? But I had to fire my first customer because they were so unrealistic. But it was a good time to be in real estate, though. It was the year 2000, the OCE.John Harcar (07:46)
had sell my first house for six months. I got the buyers that were unrelenting. My first buyers, I had them for six months. And my mentors were saying, you gotta fire them, you gotta fire them. And I’m like, I’m putting so much time. I don’t wanna let them go. What if I show them when tomorrow and they buy? But I had to fire my first customer.Wow. But it was a good time to be in real estate though. was the year 2000.
Lindsey Nix (08:13)
I sold from 2000 to 07. So it was a real blessing out there in LA to sell houses at that time. Good market.John Harcar (08:13)
I sold from 2000 to 07. Okay. It was a real blessing out there in LA to the Stone Houses at that time. Good market. When the market shifted, right? When, you know, the 2008 time, how did you pivot? What did you do? What maybe mindset things did you utilize to keep you in the game?Lindsey Nix (08:33)
Well, in 07, I moved. didn’t move knowing the market was going to do a switch. I moved to Texas, which ended up being a little better market than 08 than Los Angeles. So I was still selling homes here in the San Antonio area. It wasn’t as bad. It did get a hit, but it wasn’t as bad.John Harcar (08:34)
was seven I moved, I didn’t move knowing the market was gonna do a switch. I moved to Texas, which ended up being a little better market. Yeah. In Los Angeles, I was still selling homes here in the San Antonio area. Okay, okay. It wasn’t as bad. Right. was a hit, but it wasn’tbad. When you picked up and went there, did you join a brokerage? Did you start to do your own thing? I mean, what did you do and how long did it take you to get your first deal in Texas?
Lindsey Nix (09:03)
⁓ goodness, it didn’t take that long because in Texas, average home here, mean, people can buy homes here. The average home in LA was like 600 grand over here when I started, it was like 150 maybe. So it didn’t take that long for me to get my first real estate sale here.John Harcar (09:04)
goodness it didn’t take that long because in Texas the average home here I mean people can buy homes here the average home in LA was like 600 grand right over here when I started it was like 150 maybe so it didn’t take that long for me to get my real estate sealhere
Most people when they get into the business right now, whether it’s investing, whether it’s real estate or whatever it is, they they when they start their own thing, especially be their own boss, there’s a situation, maybe something that happens that makes it get real. What was that for you? Like when some folks start up a business, right, they become their own entrepreneur, they be their own boss, right. There’s something that happens or maybe they’re doing flips and they’re starting and there’s something that happens that like, whoa.
Like this is real, like this is holy, holy, holy cow, right? You know, what did I get myself into?
Lindsey Nix (09:54)
I guess.Well, it’s probably my, I was making $6 and 14 cents an hour in California, which was the most expensive city, one of the most expensive cities in the U S. So when I got my first commission check, I was like, my gosh, that was the, that was like, I’m in, mean, I’m in, plus I love houses. The homes were so beautiful out there and they’re beautiful here in the state of Texas as well. And I came here to be closer to family and it’s been really great. But the,
John Harcar (10:33)
six dollars and fourteen cents an hour in California which was the most expensive city one of the most expensive cities in the US and when I got my first commission check I was like my gosh right that was that that was like I’m in I mean love it plus I love houses the homes are so beautiful out there and they’re beautiful here in the state of Texas as well and I am here to be closer to family and it’s been really great butthe the thing that just blew my mind was
Lindsey Nix (10:59)
The thing that just blew my mind wasreal estate. could make this and a regular airline job because I had an airline job. That’s what took me to L.A. I was making six bucks an hour. So it was was amazing. And there was times where I was driving around. We had this thing called Broker Open Houses in L.A. And they were just for the realtors. Right. Now, you could bring a client if you had one, but it was mainly for realtors. So
John Harcar (11:02)
real estate, I could make this and a regular airline job. I guess I had an airline job. ⁓ okay. That’s what took me to LA. I was making six bucks an hour.It was amazing. There was times where I was driving around, we had this thing called Broker Open Houses in LA, and they were just for the realtors, right? Now, you could bring a client if you had one, but it was mainly for realtors.
So I was so broke, I would put a little cooler in my car because each one served food, right? ⁓
Lindsey Nix (11:29)
I was so broke I would put a little cooler in my car because each one served food, So I would killtwo birds with one stone. I would go check out the house because I could have a buyer call me that day or whatever and they would want something like that house. But I also grabbed the sandwiches, I went in and looked around, grabbed the sandwich when I went out and I stuck it in my cooler. had food, it was every Tuesday, I had a week’s worth of lunch. So when I got that first check,
John Harcar (11:38)
Yeah, that’s awesome ⁓Lindsey Nix (12:00)
My mind was just blown.John Harcar (12:03)
soFor folks that are getting just starting, wanting to get into being a real estate agent or getting into a real estate game at all, what are a couple of things that you, words of advice, pearls of wisdom, that would help them get set off on the right foot for success? Well, right now, it’s a pretty tough market at the current moment. It’s hard to sell a house, to be honest, right now. I have a lot of
Lindsey Nix (12:18)
Well, right now it’s a pretty tough market at the current moment. It’s hard to sell a house to be honest right now. ⁓ I have a lot of friends in WillisState and they’re also new home sales and they’re telling me how slow it is. I just got, I was working with a builder, Ralph Coleman Holmes and when he sold the company, that’s when I decided to teach more full time. So I think the new realtors today need really
John Harcar (12:28)
estate and they’re also new home sales and they’re telling me how slow it is. I just got…I was working with a builder, Roush Cronman-Holmes, and when he sold the company, that’s when I decided to teach more full time. So I think the new realtors today need really,
Lindsey Nix (12:46)
I’m being told by my realtor friends that they need digital marketing. They need to know marketing more than anything right now to get those leads coming in. And so that’s why they’re liking the AI classes that I teach.John Harcar (12:46)
I’m being told by my realtor friends that they need digital marketing. They need to know marketing more than anything right now to get those leads coming in. And so that’s why they’re liking the AI classes that I teach. And I think the industry as a whole, real estate as a whole, it’s become so competitive. There’s been so many peoplepeople
that have gotten their licenses or got into investing and you gotta really find yourself, find a way to differentiate, Make yourself stand out. So that brings us kind of up to today. What does your business look like now? What is your focus? What are you working on?
Lindsey Nix (13:21)
Well, I created my school called Cool Classes. I became a CE provider when I started my short-term rental and I had no idea really how to do it. And there wasn’t many classes out there for me to go take and I needed CE as a realtor. So I thought, hey, I’m gonna start teaching this because I had my short-term rental up and running and it was a very needed class for the realtors. So.John Harcar (13:27)
became a CE provider when I started my short-term rental and I had no idea really how to do it and there wasn’t many classes out there for me to go take and I needed CE as a realtor so I thought hey I’m going to start teaching this because I had my short-term rental up and running and it was a very needed class for the realtorsso I created that class, check approved it, I became a provider and now I have five classes. have short-term rentals, I have mid-term rentals and I have three A’s.
Lindsey Nix (13:47)
I created that class, check approved it. I became a provider and now I have five classes. I have short term rentals, I have midterm rentals, and I have three AI classesJohn Harcar (13:57)
classes to help agents with their marketing of their business.Lindsey Nix (13:58)
to help agents ⁓ with their marketing of their business.John Harcar (14:02)
That’s awesome. So are you teaching kind of the whole soup to nuts, whole start to finish, how to acquire, how to manage, how to prepare, all those things for both short term and midterm?Lindsey Nix (14:12)
Yes, my short-term rental is a three-hour class. Now anyone can take it, investors. I do offer CE for that, but we go into everything, locating it, how to run it, the whole business marketing, how to get five-star reviews. We go over the rules and regulations and taxes in San Antonio. I also have a class for new Bromfields, and I’ll be having classes for the whole state. ⁓John Harcar (14:16)
anyone can take it investors. do offer CE for that, but we go into everything. I’m locating it, how to run it, the whole business marketing, how to get five-star reviews. We go over the rules and regulations and taxes in San Antonio. I also have a fast renew Bromfields and I’ll be having classes for the whole state. ⁓Lindsey Nix (14:37)
Andthen midterm rentals that covers the whole state. It’s a two hour class and it talks about the differences and the different guests or tenants that want a midterm rental compared to a short term rental.
John Harcar (14:38)
And then midterm rentals that covers the whole state. It’s a two hour class and it talks about the differences and the different guests or tenants that run a midterm rental compared to a short termThat’s awesome. There’s a water park in New Braunfels, isn’t there? Is it still there? Schlitterbahn. Schlitterbahn. That’s what it is. My daughters, my daughters grew up in Holodis. So we, yeah, so I took them to Schlitterbahn. I could never remember the name, but yeah, that’s what I remember. ⁓ How did you learn?
Lindsey Nix (15:33)
The Schlitterbahn, yeah, it’s huge. think it’s the largest.⁓ great.
Yeah.
John Harcar (15:47)
short-term mid-term stuff. Well just doing it in 2019 I bought a house that had a little guest house and I wanted to make sure I could run a nightly rental before the contract.Lindsey Nix (15:49)
Well, just doing it in 2019, I bought a house that had a little guest house and I wanted to make sure I could run a nightly rental before the contract.I put that as a contingent. And so I just kind of learned it on my own, calling the city like every, like five times a day, calling the city with questions. Now you can’t really call them. I mean, I guess you could, but it’s a little hard. More people have short-term rentals now. So.
John Harcar (16:00)
put that as a hit-sum-jum. And so I just kind of learned it on my own, calling the city like every, like five times a day, calling the city with questions. Now you can’t really call on one. I mean, I guess you could, but it’s a little hard. More people have short-term rentals now,⁓ there’s emails and you can email them and call them, but back then it wasn’t as popular. So I would just figure it out on my own. And that’s why I created that class later to help others. Awesome. You saw a need and you filled it.
Lindsey Nix (16:16)
There’s emails and you can email them and call them, but back then it wasn’t as popular. So I would just figure it out on my own. And that’s why I created that class later to help others.John Harcar (16:30)
That’s the biggest thing. So let’s talk about the AI piece. ⁓ Part of our mastermind in our community is a lot of topics have been AI, right? And really incorporating it into businesses. So how are you specifically helping realtors really grab hold and take advantage of what AI can do for their business?Lindsey Nix (16:34)
Okay.John Harcar (16:50)
Well, AI is great. At first, I didn’t like it.Lindsey Nix (16:50)
Well, AI is great. At first I didn’t like it.I was a little scared of it. But you know, I teach AI as far as what you can use on your computer to help you grow your business. I’m not talking about big robots that walk around. don’t know if I want to go there. But the AI I use is we talk about large language models. There’s not, I mean, there’s more than just one. Everyone really knows chat GPT, but there’s rock, there’s claw, there’s perplexity, there’s Gemini, there’s meta, there’s a ton of them.
John Harcar (16:53)
scared of it but you know I teach AI as far as what you can use on your computer to help you grow your business. I’m not talking about big robots that walk around I don’t know if I want to go there but the AI I use is we talked about large language models there’s not I mean there’s more than just one everyone really knows TQT but there’s Brock there’s Claude there’s perplexLindsey Nix (17:19)
SoJohn Harcar (17:19)
There’s Gemini, there’s Meadow. And then we also talk about prompting because you have to be a great, you have to be really good at prompt engineering. That’s talking to the AI so you can get the results that you want back. So I have a one hour class on AI prompting. The other class is AI tools. So we go over tools that will help you grow your business. I talk about image creation, video creation. I even talk about Riverside, which is the podcast.Lindsey Nix (17:19)
And then we also talk about prompting because you have to be a great, you have to be really good at prompt engineering. That’s talking to the AI so you can get the results that you want back. So I have a one hour class on AI prompting. The other class is AI tools. So we go over tools that will help you grow your business. I talk about image creation, video creation. I even talk about Riverside, which is the podcast ⁓John Harcar (17:47)
Which we’re usingLindsey Nix (17:47)
at which we’re using now.John Harcar (17:49)
now and I talked about CRM, bots, things like that that they could use in their business. Awesome. Awesome. Have you got a lot of D’s? You have pretty full classes for that. I can probably imagine you do. Yes, I do. I partner a lot with companies like title companies, ⁓ they, it’s great because they help me, give me their venue and the food and then.Lindsey Nix (17:49)
And I talk about CRMs, squat bots, things like that that they could use in their business.Yes, I do. partner a lot with companies like title companies and lenders. ⁓ And they there it’s great because they help me, they give me the venue and the food and then I just
show up and teach and it’s been a great partnership. I’m looking for more partners all over the state too, by the way.
John Harcar (18:14)
just show up and speak and it’s been a great partnership. I’m looking for more partners all over the state too.mean, hopefully, hopefully we got some folks that are listening that that might want to partner up and reach out to you. So what’s next for you? I you’re you’re doing the CE classes, you’re up to five, you plan to do more. Do you plan to buy any more short term or midterm rentals?
Lindsey Nix (18:32)
⁓ I actually haven’t done a fix and flip and I thought that would be fun to do. And I do want to add more classes to my curriculum. I have AI tools, ⁓ amplified, which is a three hour. And I’m thinking of adding AI content creation as well. And then also, ⁓ just one, maybe, ⁓ for encouragement motivation. I’m very faith based and I think, ⁓ I just really want to help people out there.John Harcar (18:34)
I would be fun. Okay. And I do want to add more classes to my curriculum. have AI tools ⁓ amplified, which is a three hour. And I’m thinking of adding AI content creation as well. And then also,Just one maybe for encouragement, motivation. I’m very faith-based and I think I just really want to help people out
there. Amen. Amen. Yeah. mean, and you never know. I mean, you put these courses together, you can maybe become a coach and sell the courses and, you know, do it all that way as well. I mean, to outside the real estate, I mean, outside the Texas space, you know, they’ll do a nationwide course just on how to incorporate AI tools. That’d be huge.
Lindsey Nix (19:18)
That’s great. That’s my plan too.John Harcar (19:20)
Yeah,that’d be huge. Well, I love it. I love the plan. I love what you’re doing. That’s really a big help to, you know, to realtors to be able to, I think they need to see someone and learn from someone that is in the space and you’re in the space and you get it and it’s more practical education versus someone that teaches and not does, it doesn’t do, right? So I love what you’re doing. Lindsey, if there’s folks that are listening to us, they, you know, love what you’re doing. They want to get into some of your classes.
how do they get in touch? What’s the best way to reach out?
Lindsey Nix (19:49)
Well, you can just email me.⁓ My email address is Lindsey with an EY, L-I-N-D-S-E-Y at mycoolclasses.com. So, lindsay at mycoolclasses.com. And I would love to put them on my list so they know when I’m teaching.
John Harcar (19:53)
Definitely.We’ll put your contact information down in the show notes. ⁓ know folks out there listening, hope you guys really enjoyed this. If once again you’re in the Texas area, San Antonio area, are you just central there or do you teach anywhere?
Lindsey Nix (20:21)
No, I’m actually located now in New Braunfels. So I’ve been teaching in San Antonio, New Braunfels, Austin, and I’m willing to travel really anywhere if I get a big class and a nice venue. And yeah, and I’m going to start teaching by Zoom. My fourth Zoom class is November 4th. It’s on AI tools. So email me as well if you’re interested in taking that Zoom class, which is next week, November 4th.John Harcar (20:21)
outside in Texas. I’m actually located now in New Braunfels, I’ve been teaching San Antonio, New Braunfels, Austin, and I’m willing to travel really anywhere. Okay. I get a big class and a nice venue and yeah. Okay, super. I’m gonna start teaching by Zoom. My first Zoom class is November 4th.It’s on AI Toolful, so email me as well if you’re interested in taking that Zoom class, which is next week. That
It’s awesome. If you email me the link for that, I could probably put that in the show notes as well, which might be able to boost some attendance for that. ⁓ But Lindsey, thank you. Thank you for coming on and sharing everything. ⁓ Congratulations on your success and what you’re doing. And I wish you the best. Guys out there listening, hope you enjoyed it. Hope you learned. Hope you gained some knowledge. If you’re in the area, reach out.
Lindsey Nix (20:56)
Thank you.John Harcar (21:10)
to Lindsey and get some extra education. Thank you again Lindsey. Thank you guys for joining. We’ll see you on the next one.Lindsey Nix (21:15)
Thank you for having me.Okay, bye, cheers.
