eXp Realty CEO Leo Pareja on AI, Zillow Chaos & Why Most Agents Won’t Survive

What happens when the CEO of eXp Realty joins PowerHouseTalk? You get one of the most tactical real estate conversations of 2026. In this episode, Leo Pareja joins Tim & Julie Harris, Dan Lesniak, and Kacie Anderson to break down the biggest shifts happening in real estate right now: • The truth about buyer agent commissions after the settlement • Why agents are panicking over Zillow, AI, and disappearing leads • How AI is already replacing SaaS tools inside brokerages • Why your Google reviews now matter more than your marketing • The REAL future of buyer agency and brokerage support • The new “winner take all” reality of AI search • What agents should actually be doing right now to survive and grow Leo also shares how eXp is using AI internally, what brokerages are getting wrong, and why most agents still underestimate how fast the industry is changing. This episode is designed for productive, full-time agents who want: • more predictable income • better structure • listings instead of constant lead chasing • a real business — not just another busy year 00:00 The Hardest Conversations in Real Estate 00:56 Introducing eXp Realty CEO Leo Pareja 01:40 Zillow vs MLS Chaos in Chicago 04:09 Will AI Kill Real Estate Portals? 07:46 Sellers Slashing Prices in 2026 13:09 Buyer Agent Commissions Are Going UP? 16:02 The Real Estate AI Singularity 17:25 Claude, AI Tools & Productivity Hacks 20:16 AI Training Systems for Agents 22:46 The AI Tool Every Agent Should Use 29:22 Getting Paid as a Buyer’s Agent 33:03 How to Beat the “My Friend Is an Agent” Objection 36:28 Why Buyers Must Sign Agreements First 40:03 “I’ll Just Go Directly to the Listing Agent” 43:45 Hired or Fired Before They Ever Call You 44:38 How AI Search Is Replacing Google 47:25 Why Reviews Matter More Than Ever 50:16 The Ethical Real Estate Professional System 51:13 Final Thoughts & Closing 🎯 Subscribe to the newsletter: powerhousetalk.com 🎯 Learn more about joining eXp Realty with Libertas: WhyLibertas.com 🎯 Free Real Estate Treasure Map: https://www.timandjulieharris.com/ret...