In this episode of Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered, James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson sit down with Levi Rodgers, CEO of the Levi Rodgers Real Estate Group and a former Green Beret. Levi’s journey from military service to leading the #1 team in Texas is anything but ordinary. His story shows how honesty, systems, and relentless action can transform a career, and even build a real estate brokerage closing nearly $600M in volume.
Starting From Scratch
Levi never planned on becoming a real estate agent. After serving multiple deployments, he was critically injured by an IED in Afghanistan. While recovering, he struggled with finances, addiction to pain medication, and the emotional weight of losing men under his command.
His turning point came with a phone call to a former real estate broker in North Carolina. That broker, Gary Langdon, reminded him of a home he had purchased with a VA loan years earlier. Gary told him it had appreciated by more than $150,000. That one conversation, what Levi calls “30 seconds of honesty”, cleared his debt, gave him hope, and set him on the path to real estate.
Key Takeaway:
- Honesty builds legacies. A single candid conversation from a real estate professional not only created equity for Levi but inspired him to enter the real estate industry.
Building a System-Driven Business
Today, Levi leads a team of nearly 300 agents across San Antonio, Austin, and Killeen. His group closed 1,800 transactions in 2024, producing $600M in sales. But what sets them apart isn’t size, it’s structure.
- ISA Team: U.S.-based specialists route incoming leads daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Mentorship Pods: Five sales managers coach and hold agents accountable.
- On-Staff Appraiser: Every listing gets a 30–45 page desktop appraisal, which eliminates the “price objection” and builds instant credibility.
- Fast Pay: Compliance and accounting ensure agents get paid quickly, a major differentiator from other real estate companies near me.
Key Takeaway:
- Build around behavior, not against it. Instead of fighting agent personalities, Levi built systems to guide them, turning chaos into predictable results.
Leads, Referrals, and the “Just Add Water” Plan
Lead generation is a mix of real estate technology and partnerships. Zillow Flex alone produces over 100 transactions per month. Google campaigns, Easy Home Search, and a massive 500,000+ person database also feed the pipeline.
But Levi doesn’t stop at lead gen. His true leverage is teaching agents how to turn pipeline wins into referral business, compressing what normally takes 10–12 years of networking into just 1–2 years.
Key Takeaway:
- Scale smart. Top-of-funnel deals get agents busy, but SOI systems keep them thriving long-term.
The Human Side of Leadership
As a former commander, Levi admits that letting go of underperformers was one of his hardest lessons. Early in his career, he kept people too long out of loyalty, only to realize he was holding them, and his company, back.
His solution? A military-inspired PACE Plan: Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency. Every role and hire has a backup strategy. He also leads with a “Humans Over Houses” mindset, ensuring culture and care come first.
Key Takeaway:
- Lead with courage. Protecting your people sometimes means making tough calls. In real estate, compassion and accountability must go hand in hand.
Technology, AI, and the Future
Levi doesn’t shy away from AI in real estate. In fact, he co-founded Shiloh, an AI tool that reviews agent calls and coaches them for improvement. He also encourages his team to use AI for property searches, client communication, and coaching.
Keith and James debated whether clients will ever buy a home from an AI agent. Levi’s take: AI won’t replace agents, but agents who embrace AI will replace those who don’t.
Key Takeaway:
- Adopt early. From CRMs like Follow Up Boss to AI assistants, using tech smartly makes you more valuable, not replaceable.
Final Thoughts: Work Works
Levi’s ultimate philosophy is simple: work works. Too many people talk about what they’re going to do instead of showing what they’ve already done. His advice for anyone looking to scale a real estate investment, real estate franchise, or brokerage? Take action, get in the right rooms, and surround yourself with people who stretch your limits.
Whether you’re a rookie searching “real estate agents near me” for inspiration, or a seasoned real estate broker building a multi-market team, Levi’s story proves one thing: in the real estate market, consistent action and human connection create opportunity at scale.
