Beyond the Transaction

Season 1 of Beyond The Transaction was full of inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical advice for navigating the real estate world. From market trends to personal growth, each episode brought something valuable. 🏡 Watch the recap reel and catch up on any episodes you missed—Season 2 is coming soon! 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. #RealEstatePodcast #BeyondTheTransaction #Season1Recap #RealEstateTips #PodcastForAgents

Maria Kauffman reflects on what she’s hearing from first-time homebuyers in this week’s episode of Beyond The Transaction. With so many people wanting to live close to the city, limited inventory is driving prices higher—leaving buyers wondering if their dream is possible. This is a challenge we need to address, and Maria dives into what’s happening behind the scenes. 🎧 Catch the full conversation now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Listen in: https://lnkd.in/guCF9yGq #WestMichiganRealEstate #FirstTimeHomebuyers #DowntownLiving #RealEstate #BeyondTheTransaction

Tim Mroz shares a hopeful perspective in this week’s Beyond The Transaction. Townhomes, condos, and duplexes are finally starting to emerge as options for buyers. But the real challenge? Helping communities see how these developments can create opportunities for everyone. 🏡 This is a conversation about growth, change, and making homeownership possible for more people in West Michigan. 🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform. Listen in: https://lnkd.in/guCF9yGq #WestMichiganDevelopment #HousingTrends #CommunityGrowth #BeyondTheTransaction

🎧 New Episode! In the latest episode of Beyond The Transaction, host Maria Kauffman interviews Tim Mroz, Senior Vice President of The Right Place, to explore the region’s rapid growth. Discover how major projects—like the new amphitheater and soccer stadium—are driving innovation and creating opportunities. Tim also shares strategies for balancing development with preserving neighborhood character and how collaboration is key to successful community growth. Listen now and see how West Michigan is becoming a vibrant place to live, work, and thrive. Stream the full episode today on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/guCF9yGq #WestMichiganPodcast #CommunityGrowth #RealEstateInsights #EconomicDevelopmentPodcast #BeyondTheTransaction #WestMichiganDevelopment

"When you're competing with hundreds or thousands of agents, you need to communicate and stand out by telling your story differently." – Maria Kauffman In a world full of competition, your story is what makes you unique. Maria shares how telling your story in a way that’s authentic and different is the key to truly standing out in a crowded market. #TheArtofStorytelling #RealEstateMarketing #Storytelling #StandOut #MariaKauffman #BeyondTheTransaction

"The key to good storytelling is knowing what you want the audience to do next. It’s about the call to action—what do you want them to do after they’ve experienced your story?" – Mario Passera Mario reminds us that the real power of storytelling lies in knowing what action you want your audience to take once they’ve heard your message. #TheArtofStorytelling #CallToAction #MarketingTips #MarioPassera #BeyondTheTransaction

"In marketing, the audience is the central character of the story. When you tell a brand story, it’s important to understand their ultimate needs and what drives them." – Tim Baumgardner Tim highlights a simple truth: it’s not just about pushing a product, it’s about understanding your audience and what truly matters to them. When you connect with their needs, that’s where the magic happens. #TheArtofStorytelling #BrandStory #KnowYourAudience #TimBaumgardner #BeyondTheTransaction

New Episode Alert! 🎙️ This week on Beyond the Transaction, Maria Kauffman is joined by Tim Baumgardner and Mario Passera to talk all things The Art of Storytelling. They’re sharing insights on how to connect with your audience, communicate authentically, and use stories to grow your brand. Available now on all podcast platforms! Listen in: https://lnkd.in/gffg_Dvm

It was a great, albiet cold, morning at the annual Economic Outlook 2025 presentation hosted by The Right Place, Inc. Job well done to their team and all that are involved in putting on this event. I look forward to it every year. The speakers spent 20 minutes each discussing where we have been and the forecast for the economy at the national, statewide and regional levels. The presentations had an emphasis on manufacturing, which is crucial for our West Michigan market. While my photos are not glam, the content was. 👏 👏 👏 One of the biggest takeaways from today was personal to me. When I graduated with a bachelors degree from Aquinas College - Grand Rapids in the early 2000's there weren't a whole lot of job opportunities for graduates in the area. Most of my friends, myself included, moved to other markets like Chicago, Detroit area, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Texas, out East, out West... While I loved my first big girl job and apartment in Chicago, I think I would of had interest in staying in Grand Rapids at the time. 20+ years later and our region has made massive progress in retaining our talented young workers. A stat shared today said that our area is now retaining 80% of our graduates. This retainment is due to the quality of the local education system, the more diversified economy of the region and our local employers who have engaged with our local talent and are dedicated to development. Also mentioned was the current and coming opportunities for employees based on their education level. There seems to have been more public sentiment lately questioning the importance and ROI from a college degree. I get it, the costs for higher ed are astounding in this country (choosing not to go down that rabbit hole 😉 ). However, the data shows that workers with a bachelor or higher degree are more sought after by employers and create significantly greater income and wealth over the course of their career. AI is here, and it is getting smarter. The forecast shows that it may help higher level careers become more efficient and will target replacing more of the non physical lower income jobs and careers. We've come a long way in West Michigan over the last few decades and we are continuing to grow and retain our population. We have a lot to look forward to and as a mom I am crossing my fingers that this growth means my kiddos won't be moving far from home 😉 .

What’s the secret to thriving in both marriage and business? For the Martincheks, it’s teamwork. In this recent episode of Beyond the Transaction, they share how embracing collaboration took their business—and relationship—to the next level. Available now wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share with someone who inspires you! #BeyondTheTransaction #TeamworkInMarriage #RealEstateCouples #TopTeam #RealEstatePodcast