Episode 65 Summary: Leverage Design and Market Knowledge With Renee Lossia Acho

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent | The MREA Podcast
Host: Jason Abrams
Release Date: January 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jason Abrams sits down with Renee Lossia Acho—a former teacher turned top-producing luxury real estate agent in Birmingham, Michigan with over $200 million in annual sales. Renee shares her journey from the classroom to the closing table, revealing how she leveraged design expertise and deep market knowledge to build a thriving business. The discussion covers how real estate professionals can create a unique value proposition, build a referral-based business, and strategically invest in real estate (including turning their primary residence into substantial tax-free gains). Renee also speaks candidly about overcoming personal hardship, balancing success with family, and being a female leader in a male-dominated industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Renee’s Journey: From Teacher to Mega Agent

• Accidental Entry Into Real Estate ([02:29]):

  • Began as a high school history teacher from a family of architects, builders, and designers.
  • Helped friends with design advice, which led to assisting a builder with design selections and holding open houses.
  • A family medical crisis necessitated finding a flexible and lucrative career, propelling her into real estate full-time.
  • Quote:
    “Sometimes you have a set of keys that throughout life, you're putting on a keychain, and you never really understand when you need to use one of those to open a door.” – Renee ([02:48])

• Overcoming Financial Hardship ([04:30]):

  • Daughter’s serious illness led to financial turmoil.
  • Pivoted fully into real estate to pay mounting medical bills.
  • Quote:
    “There's nothing in life that will ever motivate you that I can think of more than the health of a child or a loved one. … I got into real estate to pay medical bills. That was my motivation.” – Renee ([06:28])

Building a Unique Value Proposition

• Leveraging Design & Build Background ([07:14]):

  • Identified a market gap: bringing design and consumer knowledge directly to builders.
  • Offered guidance on design trends, features, pricing, and consumer preferences ahead of project completion.
  • “Let me help you design these products. Let me tell you what the market is...” ([07:51])
  • This niche led to multiple listings at once and later inspired Renee to obtain her builder’s license, conducting her own development projects.

• Product Knowledge as a Differentiator ([09:53]):

  • Experience in both design and construction allows Renee to advise clients beyond mere sales—helping evaluate renovation ROI, construction costs, and market timing.
  • Quote:
    “It’s not about the price you pay today. It's about the overall investment you're making in that home and are you outpacing the market value in that area once you've completed the work.” – Renee ([10:51])

The Role of Deep Knowledge in Real Estate Success

• Knowledge Is Power ([11:53]):

  • Renee emphasizes that knowledge—about the market, trends, inventory, construction, paperwork, and more—is the foundational tool for success.
  • Market knowledge includes hyperlocal factors: school ratings, transportation arteries, municipality features, etc.
  • Product knowledge: distinguishing features in construction materials, mechanicals, and finishes.
  • Quote:
    "You wouldn't go to a mechanic that didn't know how to give you an oil change. … As part of what you're doing, you need to be that resource to help educate your clients." – Renee ([13:24])

• Knowledge Leads to Authentic Lead Generation ([15:32]):

  • “Lead generation to me is nothing more than a conversation. If you really understand your industry, you should be ready for what I call the pop quiz. Anywhere you go...” ([15:50])
  • Being able to answer client questions confidently creates organic opportunities and credibility—turning social encounters into business.

Systems, Community, and Referrals

• Follow-Up Systems ([18:37]):

  • Community-involvement is a “touch”—holding charity events at her homes builds credibility and goodwill.
  • Systematic client contact: regular calls, social and print media, community events, and annual gatherings at her home.
  • Quote:
    “When you are dealing with clients whose takeaway is so profoundly satisfied... they are your lead generators.” – Renee ([20:21])

• Client Advocates and Referral Multiplication ([21:29]):

  • Satisfied clients become “ambassadors,” each sale ideally leading to multiple future referrals.

Real Estate Investing: The “Live-In-Flip” Model

• Investing as an Agent ([23:51]):

  • Renee advocates using an agent’s industry knowledge and resources to invest in real estate, specifically through building or renovating a primary residence.
  • Move in, live for two years and one day, sell for potential tax-free gain (up to $500K for a married couple), and repeat.
  • Quote:
    “I literally built my way out of it. … When I recognized what I then went to sell it, what the profit margin was and if I lived there for two years, what the tax savings was.” – Renee ([24:18])
  • This model generated substantial wealth and a growing real estate portfolio—initially by necessity, now by design.

• Portfolio Flexibility ([26:28]):

  • Looks for properties that can serve as rentals, potential new builds, or renovation candidates, depending on market shifts.

Personal Reflections & Values

• Family, Travel, and Living Intentionally ([27:50]):

  • Despite financial strain, Renee made world travel with her children a priority, citing the value of real experiences over waiting for “the right time.”
  • Quote:
    “Whether they remember or not, I will remember… there are things to be celebrated even in the darkest moments.” – Renee ([28:25])

• Breaking Gender Barriers in Real Estate Development ([30:01]):

  • Acknowledges ongoing challenges as a woman in a male-dominated space.
  • Attributes continued success to deep knowledge and simply “out-knowing” detractors.
  • Quote:
    “There's always challenges. Knowledge will always be your power tool. It'll always be your superpower.” – Renee ([30:45])

• Raising Good Humans ([31:23]):

  • Core family goal is to raise kind, empathetic children rather than focusing solely on financial or professional success.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

“Sometimes you have a set of keys that throughout life, you're putting on a keychain, and you never really understand when you need to use one of those to open a door.”
— Renee (02:48)

“I got into real estate to pay medical bills. That was my motivation.”
— Renee (06:28)

“It’s not about the price you pay today. It's about the overall investment you’re making in that home...”
— Renee (10:51)

“Lead generation to me is nothing more than a conversation. If you really understand your industry, you should be ready for what I call the pop quiz. Anywhere you go...”
— Renee (15:50)

“There's always challenges. Knowledge will always be your power tool. It'll always be your superpower. The way you undo it, I ignore stupidity... and I just struck mine.”
— Renee (30:45)

“My goal was always... I want really good humans. I want good people. … It’s with your heart that to me all other things are paid.”
— Renee (31:31)

Timely Highlights & Timestamps

• Renee’s Origin Story & Switching Careers: 02:29–07:14
• Design Niche & Builder Relationships: 07:14–09:15
• Building Own Homes / Investing Model: 09:15–11:22, 23:51–27:00
• Knowledge Buckets & Superpower Concept: 12:18–15:20
• Lead Generation by Conversation: 15:20–17:10
• Follow-Up Systems & Client Advocacy: 18:37–21:29
• Real Estate Investing for Agents: 23:51–27:00
• Family, Priorities, and Personal Development: 27:29–30:01
• Women in Real Estate Development: 30:01–31:09
• Raising Grounded Children: 31:23–32:13

Actionable Takeaways

• Leverage your unique background and skills to fill market gaps.
• Deep industry knowledge—market, product, process—is critical and differentiates you from competitors.
• Organic lead generation stems from authentic, knowledgeable conversations—anywhere, anytime.
• Build a referral business by delivering exceptional, personal value; your clients will become your best advocates.
• Consider using your primary residence as a vehicle for wealth through the “live-in flip” approach with tax advantages.
• Personal and professional fulfillment often go hand in hand: prioritizing family and living with intention create both meaning and success.

By blending design expertise, relentless learning, authentic connections, and smart investment, Renee Acho demonstrates the blueprints for building a big life and business—one “key” at a time.