How to Build a Real Estate Team: Key Steps for Sustainable Growth and Success

Austin, Texas, is known for its vibrant growth, with tech giants and start-ups flocking to the city’s booming economy. But behind many of those major real estate transactions is a name that has become synonymous with trust, innovation, and community: Alice Duffy. As the founder and team leader, Alice has emerged as a real estate powerhouse, leveraging her deep local roots and forward-thinking strategies to build one of Austin’s most respected teams: Duffy Real Estate Team.

Building a Team on Trust and Referrals

Alice Duffy’s journey into real estate began like many entrepreneurs—organically and with hard work. In her early years as a solo agent, Alice quickly became overwhelmed by the sheer volume of business she generated. “I built my team very organically,” Alice recalls. “The referrals kept coming, and I couldn’t handle it all on my own. I realized that to grow, I had to bring others on board.”

In 2005, Alice and her husband made their first real estate investment, a small duplex in northeast Austin. What started as an investment quickly turned into a passion. Alice dove headfirst into building a business, combining her love for Austin with a new understanding of the real estate market​.

Leverage Through Collaboration

For Alice, building a team wasn’t just about managing workload; it was about creating leverage—both in business and life. “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together,” Alice says, quoting a well-known proverb. Her team’s creation allowed Alice to regain balance, giving her time to spend with her family while continuing to grow her business​.

In the first year of forming her team, Alice managed 12 deals by herself—a feat that earned her the Rookie of the Year title at her office and the Austin Board of Realtors. From there, Alice knew that with the right support, she could scale her business even further. She brought on a transaction coordinator, doubling her business within a year. As the business grew, so did her team, adding operations staff, virtual assistants, and a growing group of agents.

Fostering Organic Growth

Alice attributes much of her success to Keller Williams, where she teaches in the Ignite series for new agents. She emphasizes that her recruitment process is largely organic. “I mentor a lot of agents, even if they aren’t part of my team,” Alice explains. By doing so, Alice has built a talent pipeline that feeds naturally into her growing team, ensuring that new hires align with her vision of personalized, client-focused service.

Interestingly, Alice handles both residential and commercial real estate, running two separate divisions within her team. She believes that specialization allows her agents to focus and excel in their respective areas, an approach that has paid off, particularly in Austin’s dynamic and complex real estate market.

Mentorship Over Coaching

Alice’s leadership style is deeply rooted in mentorship. Unlike Keller Williams’ MAPS coaching, which focuses on productivity, Alice’s mentorship goes beyond mere performance metrics. She’s hands-on, helping agents navigate contracts, legal issues using amazing attorneys, and even the intricacies of real estate compliance. “Real estate is about more than just transactions; it’s about problem-solving,” Alice shares.

Alice’s passion for mentorship extends beyond her immediate team. She actively teaches wealth-building and retirement planning for agents, a skill she honed herself as an investor. “Real estate agents don’t have retirement plans, so I show them how to build their own,” Alice says, underscoring her commitment to long-term success, not just short-term gains. This was a critical part of how she created her top-rated real estate team.

How to create a real estate team: Building Sustainable Success

Alice’s leadership philosophy is simple: empower others to succeed, and you will succeed. She looks for self-motivated agents who are eager to learn, adaptable, and proactive. The first 90 days on her team are structured and demanding, with a clear plan to measure success. “We use a 30-60-90-day plan to make sure agents are hitting their marks. If they aren’t succeeding after 60 days, it’s probably not the right fit,” Alice says.

New agents are tasked with making care calls to family and friends initially, building connections and relationships before moving on to prospecting and networking with industry professionals. This approach ensures that agents are not just selling homes, but building relationships—a cornerstone of Alice’s business model.

The Road Ahead

With Austin continuing to grow at a rapid pace, Alice and her team are poised to lead the way. The Duffy Real Estate Team is expanding its commercial real estate division and continuing to innovate in residential real estate, focusing on client satisfaction and long-term growth.

“We’re just getting started,” Alice says, beaming with confidence about the future. Her ability to combine local expertise with a focus on mentorship and growth has made her a key player in Austin’s real estate landscape.

Conclusion

How to build a real estate team? Alice Duffy’s story is one of growth, balance, and collaboration. By building a team centered on trust and mentorship, she’s created a real estate powerhouse in the heart of Austin. As her team continues to thrive, Alice’s leadership shows that success in real estate is about more than just closing deals—it’s about building lasting relationships and empowering others to achieve their dreams. So there you have it: this is how you create a real estate team in one of the world’s most competitive real estate markets: Austin, TX!