In 2024, Pemberton Real Estate closed over 1,200 transaction sides totaling $455M in volume, ranking as the No. 2 mega team in Minnesota and the No. 1 eXp Realty team worldwide for both transaction count and volume.
Now, with more than 2,500 projected sides and $800M+ in 2025 volume, the team has officially launched its own independent brokerage: Pemberton Real Estate.
Blake Suddath, Director of Growth, sat down with Mia Matziaris, Courted’s Product & Customer Success Specialist, to share what a successful recruiting process looks like — from identifying the right agents to building lasting relationships that drive growth.
Watch the Full Interview
Key Insights from the Conversation 🔑
Consistency wins. Recruiting is part of Blake’s daily routine — not a task saved for when things slow down.
Hire with intention. The team focuses on agents who’ve closed six or more transactions in the past year and align with their systems and culture.
Use data to focus. Courted helps Pemberton quickly filter through 18K+ agents to find those most likely to thrive with their model.
Follow up thoughtfully. The first meeting centers on the agent’s goals; the second — ideally within 72 hours — addresses questions and next steps.
Retention fuels referrals. Roughly 71% of Pemberton’s hires come through existing agent referrals, a testament to their culture.
Building a Repeatable Recruiting Process
For Blake, growth has come from treating recruiting the same way top agents treat lead generation — with structure and consistency.
Each day, he reviews his Courted lists, identifies high-potential agents, and schedules 6–9 short meetings focused on learning more about each person’s business and goals.
“The most consistent recruiter wins,” Blake shared. “We just focus on being in those conversations every day.”
By keeping those habits consistent, Pemberton has hired more than 80 producing agents in the last year alone.
Leading with the Agent’s Goals
Blake’s approach starts with understanding, not selling.
“Recruiting isn’t about us — it’s about them,” he said. “If we can help someone see what’s possible next, that’s where the real connection happens.”
He spends the first conversation getting to know the agent’s challenges, wins, and priorities. The second meeting is for exploring whether Pemberton’s systems and coaching can support those goals — and making the transition easy if it’s a mutual fit.
What Role Does Courted Play?
Courted gives Blake’s team a single source of truth for recruiting:
Identifying agents with consistent production and growth trends.
Tracking outreach and next steps to keep follow-ups timely.
Understanding market movement and migration signals across the MLS.
“Courted tells a story about each agent before I even meet them,” Blake said. “That context helps us focus on the right people and have better conversations.”
What Other Recruiters Can Take Away
Build a simple, repeatable recruiting system — and stick to it.
Define what a great hire looks like before you start searching.
Lead with the agent’s goals, not your own.
Keep your follow-up as personal and timely as possible!