Today on The Clean Close, Courtney sits down in studio with Ben Belack, Vice President of SERHANT. CA and star of Buying Beverly Hills.

Ben shares his journey from hospitality and sommelier life to luxury real estate, Netflix, content creation, and now helping build SERHANT.’s California operation. We talk about what it really takes to move up-market, win luxury listings, build credibility, create content that converts, and deliver a level of service that high-net-worth clients actually remember.

Then we shift into the headlines reshaping the industry, including Real Brokerage’s acquisition of RE/MAX, MRED and Compass taking a private listing network national, and the growing conversation around whether the MLS is really a media company in disguise.

In this episode, we cover:
• Ben’s path from hospitality to luxury real estate
• Lessons from selling at the top of the market
• How content, YouTube, social, and podcasts drive real business
• What SERHANT. CA is building in California
• The mistakes agents make when trying to move up-market
• How to win luxury listings and handle credibility objections
• What brokerage consolidation means for agents
• Private listing networks, MLS exposure, and off-market strategy
• Why modern agents need to think like media companies
If you’re a real estate agent, broker, team leader, or anyone watching where the industry is headed, this episode is packed with practical insight and big-picture perspective.
Subscribe for more conversations on real estate, brokerage, marketing, listings, media, and what it really takes to build a modern real estate business.

Follow Courtney:
Instagram: @thecleanclose @acmexserhant
Website: acmexserhant.com

Follow Ben Belack:
Instagram: @benbelack

#TheCleanClose #BenBelack #SERHANT #SERHANTCalifornia #BuyingBeverlyHills #RealEstatePodcast #LuxuryRealEstate #RealEstateAgents #LosAngelesRealEstate #RealEstateMarketing #Brokerage #RealEstateNews #MLS #PrivateListings #RealBrokerage #remax

00:00 Ben previews the YouTube strategy that helped him get seen
01:27 Ben's origin story
06:32 Visibility, competence, and prospecting
11:05 Team structure and agent productivity
17:18 SERHANT. CA leadership and brand alignment
24:57 LA valuation and Zestimate limitations
27:17 Pocket listings and Clear Cooperation
36:52 National MLS, MLS as media, and AI risk
45:28 Real/ReMax acquisition and brokerage consolidation
51:41 Conclusion | ACME x SERHANT as expertise plus visibility.

In this episode of The Clean Close, Courtney sits down with the ever-insightful Ramin (@raminrealtalk) to unpack California’s complicated taxes, grift culture, and what it all means for real estate professionals and everyday Californians. 💸🏡

From property tax pitfalls to state-level strategies, we dive deep into how these policies shape the market and affect your bottom line. It’s a real, unfiltered conversation you don’t want to miss.

🔗 Follow Ramin on Instagram: @ramin_realtalk
🎥 Check out his YouTube channel: youtube.com/@UCYxsM_ClHQirbRZwin_jBtw

🎧 Subscribe to The Clean Close for more sharp takes on real estate, money, and real estate headlines. Hit the bell so you never miss an episode!

#TheCleanClose #RealEstatePodcast #CaliforniaRealEstate #Taxes #RaminRealTalk

More inman op-eds, more geopolitical and stock market ups and downs, and more National Association of Realtors announcements. Will it be enough to save our real estate market?

A panel discussion with Anthony Vulin, Broker/Founder of The Collective and Matthew Fine, lender at Bluprint Home Loans.

Find Anthony at instagram.com/italiancroatian
Find Matthew at instagram.com/mortgagemattt

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