Real Estate - Our Biggest Struggles and Surprises This Year!

2025 Wins & Losses: How Pain, Loss & Leadership Shaped the Men Behind San Antonio Real Estate Guests: Scott Malouff, Jeff Garza & Ronnie Trevino You’ve Never Heard Real Estate Leaders Get THIS Vulnerable In this special Christmas release of Key Factors Podcast – Real Estate AF, host Mark Jones sits down with three of San Antonio’s most influential real estate leaders: Scott Malouff (Keller Williams), Jeff Garza (Redbird Realty), and Ronnie Trevino (Rezi Realty). What begins as a simple conversation about “wins and losses” quickly turns into one of the most transparent, emotional, and powerful leadership discussions ever recorded on this show. Together, these men recount—many for the first time publicly—the defining moments that shaped who they are: 🚫 Addiction, DUI, broken family systems, childhood dysfunction 😔 Loss of loved ones & grief that nearly broke them 💔 Betrayal in business & the weight of leadership 👊 Overcoming victim mentality and rebuilding identity 🙏 Faith, purpose, emotional intelligence & personal growth 💼 How their darkest moments became the foundation for their success Through laughter, honesty, and raw vulnerability, this episode explores what it really means to lead—not just in real estate, but in life, fatherhood, business, and personal growth. If you’re a Realtor, loan officer, entrepreneur, homebuyer, team leader, or someone navigating your own comeback story, this conversation will change the way you look at failure, success, and purpose. HOST: Mark Jones Sr. Loan Officer | iThink Mortgage powered by Premier Mortgage Resources NMLS ID: 513437 Company NMLS ID: 1169 Licensed in: TEXAS Equal Housing Lender CHAPTERS + TIMECODES 00:00 – Show Intro & Christmas Day Message 00:47 – Mark welcomes listeners & introduces podcast 01:50 – Guest introductions: Scott, Jeff, Ronnie 04:59 – Jeff's story: 17 years in social work, burnout & glass ceilings 09:01 – Leaving his career with no parachute 10:10 – Ronnie’s childhood, addiction, and breaking generational patterns 14:50 – Can you feel joy if you've never felt darkness? 16:09 – What hitting rock bottom teaches you 17:49 – The "two-a-days" analogy & toughness vs modern culture 20:16 – Scott’s story: juvenile trouble, violence, nightclub near-death moment 23:58 – Loss of Scott’s mother & redefining legacy 25:17 – Are losses really losses—or preparation? 27:31 – The power of defining moments 30:24 – What leadership REALLY requires 33:04 – Emotional intelligence & growing through pain 34:36 – Redbird’s origin story—born from grief 37:52 – How loss becomes purpose 39:23 – What keeps leaders pushing through adversity 42:00 – Turning grief into passion 43:19 – Mentors, mindset shifts & leveling up 45:35 – The role of a supportive spouse in personal transformation 47:06 – Leadership humility & vulnerability 50:51 – Transition to real estate industry struggles 54:26 – Market challenges of 2023–2025 56:31 – Morale, culture & leading when others are losing hope 59:03 – Younger agents, distractions & lessons learned 1:03:28 – Betrayal in business, partnerships & loyalty 1:06:28 – Letting go of shiny objects & staying focused Episode DISCLOSURE: Mark Jones, Senior Loan Officer | NMLS # 513437 iThink Mortgage powered by Premier Mortgage Resources | NMLS # 1169 Equal Housing Lender All content on this channel is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a commitment to lend. Loan terms and availability are subject to credit approval, underwriting guidelines, and market conditions. Opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my company. No compensation is given or received for referrals, endorsements, or podcast appearances, in compliance with RESPA. Guests speak on their own behalf. Mortgage examples used in videos are hypothetical and may not reflect current rates or borrower eligibility. LoanBot is an educational tool only and does not provide loan approvals. For personalized mortgage advice, please contact me directly.