Welcome to Real Estate Success Stories!
In this episode of Real Estate Success Stories, Leo Pareja sits down for a real, raw, and no-fluff conversation with exp Realty ICONs of the Year, LaShawn and Towanna Peterson-Jackson, the powerhouse partners behind Detroit’s unstoppable Team Peterson Jackson. From personal bankruptcy and career pivots to building a team that now closes over 300 deals per year, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and real results.
They break down how they cracked into a broken Detroit market using storytelling, down payment education, and Facebook DMs, not cold calls. You’ll hear how they scaled from a duo doing 100 deals to leading 60+ agents, the team culture mistakes they made early on, and how Team Leader Academy helped them build real systems that actually stick. It’s packed with unfiltered truths about leadership, legacy, and building a team that runs on purpose, not ego.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or unsure how to scale without losing yourself in the process, this conversation will flip the switch. LaShawn and Towanna are doing more than selling homes. They're rebuilding a city and rewriting what success looks like in real estate.
Why Watch?
✅ From Poverty to Powerhouse: Learn how Towanna overcame personal bankruptcy and injuries to build a top-producing team
✅ Storytelling Sells: Find out why showing run-down homes went viral and got them 10 clients in weeks
✅ Social Media Mastery: Discover how DMs and jokes in Facebook groups replaced cold calls
✅ Build a Team Without Breaking It: Hear what nearly destroyed their team and how they fixed it using eXp's Team Leader Academy
✅ AI, Name, Image & Likeness (NIL), and What’s Next: Get the future forecast on youth financial literacy, NIL athletes, and real estate tech
✅ Referrals Without Asking: Master the referral script that doesn’t sound like a script
⏱️ Chapters:
- [00:00] – They Went from Nothing to 300 Deals/Year in Detroit
- [03:30] – From Bankruptcy & Injuries to Real Estate Powerhouse
- [09:15] – Detroit’s Market Had 4 Mortgages…They Saw Opportunity
- [13:20] – The Social Media Script That Actually Works
- [18:40] – How They Turn Events into Referral Goldmines
- [21:30] – Accidental Team Building & the eXp Explosion
- [28:00] – Real Systems, Leadership and Results
- [33:00] – NIL Athletes, AI Tools & the Future of Real Estate
- [35:44] – Closing Words: Give More Than You Take
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About Real Estate Success Stories with Leo Pareja
Join host Leo Pareja, CEO of eXp Realty, as he delves into the exciting world of real estate with top producers from around the globe. Each episode offers exclusive, in-depth interviews with industry leaders who reveal their journeys, strategies, and tactics for achieving unparalleled success in their local real estate markets and beyond.
🔔 Subscribe to stay updated: Don't miss out on the latest insights and stories from the best in the business. Click the subscribe icon to get notified when new episodes drop.
🎧 Listen on the go: Find us on your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
💬 Join the conversation: We love hearing from you! Leave your comments below, and let us know what topics you want to hear about or questions you have for our guests. Your feedback makes our show even better!
📢 Share with your network: If you find our episodes valuable, please share them with your colleagues and friends in the real estate industry. Let's grow and learn together!
Thank you for tuning in to Real Estate Success Stories! See you next week!
What is Real Estate Success Stories?
Join host Leo Pareja, CEO of eXp Realty, as hes dives into the world of real estate with top producers from around the globe. Each episode features in-depth interviews with industry leaders who share their journeys, strategies, and tactics for achieving success in their local real estate market and beyond.
🔔 Subscribe to stay updated: Don't miss out on the latest insights and stories from the best in the business. Click the subscribe icon to get notified when new episodes drop.
🎧 Listen on the go: Find us on your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and More.
📢 Share with your network: If you find our episodes valuable, please share them with your colleagues and friends in the real estate industry. Let's grow and learn together!