The Rhett Palmer Show 3-13-26

The Firefighter's Indian River County Fair presents the Bellamy Brothers Saturday, March 14th 30-dollar admission tickets on sale now with FirefightersFair.org does not include Gated Mission.

Gates open at 430, music starts at 5 with James Holler, also featuring Carl Owens and Whiskey Trip. Then, it's Howard and David Bellamy, the Bellamy Brothers.

Brought to you by Jeff Wilson Masonry Service and MTI Sound, the Firefighter Sphere at the Indian River County Fairgrounds.

FirefightersFair.org for more information.

And hello folks, nice to have you here where we're living as sort, how do you pronounce your name?

Sorger.

Sorger.

And she is from?

Budapest Hungry.

Budapest Hungry and makes good poppichka?

Poppichka, yes.

Poppichka, yes.

And she came to America with her mother and they started off pretty with the meat close to the bone, let's say, that way.

And they started an ice cream, well, not really ice cream, it's really a gelato.

And it became a raging success in town.

And now she is a relocation expert for Sotheby's.

That's right.

And so what do you, I know you, I've known you what, 11 years now.

Around dad, yes, yes.

And so how did you, you're coming up on five years in real estate, how are you liking it thus far?

I'm loving it.

Why?

Because I get to help people with a biggest decision of their life sometimes, you know.

And so biggest financial decision for sure.

Yeah.

A lot of times it can be a big decision where to move.

And for me to be able to tell them what is the lifestyle here around and what's important, what are the best restaurants?

Obviously I have all those connections still.

I think that is an advantage for them.

All the tools that Ivan drew when I relocated myself from Budapest.

That taught me a lot.

Yeah.

You've seen Viral from the bottom up.

Yes.

I mean, as a newbie.

Yeah.

I came here 33 years ago and it was entirely a different place.

So it's all morphed.

I don't know where we're going now.

But in peak season, of course, it's traffic's a little, little heavy.

It's the rest of the year.

It's very sweet and nice.

Good place to be, right?

The best place to be in my eyes.

Yes.

Yes.

So, um, so relocation experts.

So, uh, so you still work with people back in Budapest and they can contact you?

Yes.

And other realtors.

So to be just opened their Budapest office this summer.

Uh-huh.

So I have a really close contact with my peers over there.

And of course our, our company is a global company.

So our reach is definitely everywhere.

Now what's your greatest challenge as a realtor in Viral Beach, Florida?

Hmm.

The greatest challenge is that everybody would like to be in the village on the island and the central beach area, right?

Um, but those prices are obviously growing.

So, um, what people normally want, they want to pay for it, maybe $1.3 million.

But what they really want costs close to $2 million.

So closing that gap with them during the buying process, that's the biggest challenge.

Of course, people coming up from Southern Florida, let's say Miami, they think these prices are outrageously cheap.

They do.

So they want to scoff at them because they know where it's going, you know?

Yes.

Yes, they know.

And they know that, you know, this is an actual valuing hand because our density is always, hopefully, always going to remain low.

Much lower than any metros, of course, but it's our responsibility to keep the town.

Now I'm putting the pressure on you here and I should afford to, do you have a story?

Because I know you like stories.

Do you have a story, even a fun story or an interesting story of someone who you've worked with over the past five years?

Someone that stands out, you don't have to say the name in over.

Well, I have many, many stories, but of course, I think for everybody, the most remarkable story is always going to be the first conversation.

It's going to be the first client, right?

Who's really trusted you?

Yeah.

They came from Detroit, Michigan.

And we met first at the office.

We never met before, right?

But they knew about us as a discovering group each team within Southern,

is in a national reality because we put out YouTube videos.

So they kind of felt like they made me a little bit, right?

And they saw a little bit of the town.

And we are still really, really good friends.

That is a big honor that someone trusts you just because you had a conversation and they felt like you are ready for helping them anyways.

Yeah, it's kind of like with my artwork.

The first time somebody said, wow, this is an extraordinary folk art.

That person spoke it into me and I immediately believed in myself.

So the moment you sold your first real estate transaction, the story is very interesting how you came here with your mom and you started it up.

What was the name of it?

Sweet kiss.

Sweet kiss.

Sweet kiss.

And things were going well, but not quite well enough that your aunt, grandmother got sick and you didn't really have the dough to send your mom back.

So what happened that changed that?

What changed?

It was obviously not having my mom, you know, and having to hire more people for that reason.

No, I mean, the story though, what her going though.

Oh.

No, what happened?

You know, in fact, you won $10,000.

Oh, yes.

You didn't have the money to send her to back to?

No, but I have submitted our gelato to a national competition.

And your mom said, don't you're not going to win.

You're not going to win.

What did she say?

It's the land of what?

Ice cream and you cannot win with gelato.

Well, we did.

And so what did she say?

The moment you said we won.

Now you can buy me an airplane together.

Did she even cry or get excited emotionally?

No.

No.

Did you?

I was jumping up and down in the air when we find out.

Well, I see the hand of God.

You were brought up Catholic, right?

Yes.

So I see the hand of God in this.

I mean, it's pretty remarkable that here you don't have enough money for your mom to go back to be with your grandmother.

You enter a national ice cream contest and you get a phone call.

I mean, it breaks me up now.

You've won $10,000.

Yes.

Oh, my word.

Yes.

And the biggest part of it is that was our co-creation together with my mom.

Me and the flavor.

Yes.

What was the flavor?

It was called Wow.

It was a yogurt ice gelato.

Oh.

I think I used to get that.

Of course you had.

That was one of your favorites.

Yes.

And it had all kinds of nuts and peach marmalade in it.

So that was a very interesting cup.

Well, we have an interesting background, too, because I went in there trying to sell the advertising on my radio show in our magazine.

It was a voice.

Well, they didn't have much dough.

So I said, don't tell anybody.

But I'm going to help you out.

That's exactly how you want it.

And I thought, if I helped build, you know, just all, I just, you know, we, as tapest loyal to you or whatever.

And I said, look, I'll help you out if it succeeds.

And which, which of course, you know, you did do that.

You stuck with me.

And we, we, we started advertising you.

And then, I don't know, it was maybe about five weeks later.

What did you say?

97% of people come through the doors saying, red farmers send me.

So it was very obvious.

We helped to get off the ground.

Yes.

And what happens maybe a half a year later, you started end up paying for your advertising.

And, and so, and you were, you were loyal to me all the years you owned that.

And see, so, and the reason I tell this story is not to scratch repalmer's back or slap them the back.

It's that if you're out there and you're in business, you can help build your own customers by helping them.

Yes.

Why not serve, you know?

Perfect.

You know, it's, but anyway, so that's a great story.

Well, and I'll be forever grateful for that.

Oh, yeah.

And so a lot.

I mean, you know, we have a lot of fun.

And I got a lot of ice cream.

Two.

Probably why I took an ambulance to the hospital.

A little bit.

A little bit.

You know, it's your fault.

But you know, I went to Italy years ago and I had what you sold.

It's a lot of gelato.

And I got to be honest with you, I was, I was at the Tower of Piazza and I didn't like the,

I didn't like the gelato that much.

When I came to town, I can honestly and do believe with that question say,

your gelato was 10 times better.

Why?

Because they don't need their customers to come back and become returning customers.

Because they don't need their customers to come back.

They don't try.

But you and your mom were always in that back room.

Oh, my word.

A lot of work.

Yes.

Yes.

But we wanted to reach excellence and I think we did.

Yeah.

Well, no one can ever take that away from you that we named the number one ice cream,

even though it was gelato in the United States of America and the $10,000 check came in the mail

and your mom got to fly back to see your grandma.

So what made you decide to get into real estate?

Because I know you were very popular with the population on the beach

and they'd make their way over to see you.

And was that an influence somehow or?

I mean, I obviously had a lot of people who knew me, but for someone to hire you

and trust you completely with the financial decision, you need a different depth of relationship.

Yeah.

A different depth of relationship, yes.

And I think that was an advantage that a lot of people knew me in town.

But I think the depth of my relationships are the base of the status.

So I think that's why you're doing well as you have heart.

In other words, I want to go and I'm going to buy a car.

I'm not going to buy it if I don't like the guy who's trying to send me or the gal.

And with the house, what I really gets me is I see that there was this 21-year-old kid.

I forget his name in town here a few years ago.

I thought, who's going to buy a house from a 21-year-old?

You know, the reason we like Van Gogh is the story.

The reason we connect to Monet, Monet is the story.

It's the story behind the person you two, you and your mom have that story of a struggle

and then succeeding in America.

And the fact that you, and I know you, and I can't sell that to other people.

But I know that you care, like you just said, those things.

The Bible says out of the mouth, the heart speaks it.

And you were just saying you build a relationship.

Even if it's to your own heart, right?

In other words, I think the day that you become a professional salesperson is the day you say,

I'm sorry Mrs. McGillicutty, this is not really for you.

I can't with all my heart, I'd make a big profit, I make a $50,000 commission,

but you know what? I can't sell it, because it's not what you really need.

The long one, this is not going to be right.

Let's keep on going on until we find something that's apropos.

And people want to trust you with their heart, with their desires.

And so it's hard to find, because I'm always checking out.

I'm taking a ride with a real term and some other state.

I want to buy some investments in real estate.

I'm kind of looking at this guy or looking at this guy going,

do they realize this, am I just a paycheck?

And it's hard to differentiate that, you know?

Yes.

I think you feel it, because if someone really cares,

you'll feel that energy coming from them.

And you'll feel it because they're going to be really frank with you.

And sometimes that's hard, but it's for the client's advantage.

So I've got to do what I got to do.

Yeah, you will be very surprised.

Most of the listing appointments, I ask what you are looking for in a real term, right?

Yes.

And the first thing that I hear is honesty.

Yes.

And, you know, you cannot really prove honesty right away.

So they have to feel your integrity and you have to tell them the hard truth.

And I think that will qualify you.

And, you know, then people will feel that you're genuine.

You don't try to get the business just to get the business.

You don't sell houses.

You sell a home.

Yes.

Big difference.

Yes.

And so that's why sometimes I look at the guys go,

okay, you know, who's really, who's with,

I think that's why there's a lot of females that are successful in real estate,

because they're the nurturers.

Who makes the decision?

Usually, isn't it the female, like, for instance,

how do you know the presumptive buy?

When you see someone, she says, well, I could put my couch here.

Now, that's a, that's what they bought.

That lady has now bought that living room in her heart.

Yes.

And then you just have to stand back and wait and then just say,

okay, well, let's make it come to an agreement and supply this, right?

Yeah.

You can see even someone is nesting already when you are on a showing.

Yes.

You can tell when they are planning how their life is going to look like in that home.

Because the house is not just a house for a family.

It is really depending on the lifestyle they would like to live.

And if it's matches with their lifestyle.

Of course, there are different driving factors in different price ranges,

but in real estate on the market.

But I will have to say that I think that's the most important thing lately.

People want to live a certain type of life.

And if that type of lifestyle is not available in that type of home,

then they're not going to purchase it.

It's a good place to invest in, but I know when we had our house,

my insurance or my taxes were about $7,000 a year.

Well, the people who bought my house, it's now a little less than 30,000 a year.

Because I had the, what is it called?

The assessed value jumps up to the price.

But I had the what?

I had the...

Well, you had it for a very long time.

And I was a member of that.

What's the thing you can join and the price doesn't go up?

Homestead.

Homestead.

Well, it does a little bit, but it's just the matter of your assessed value

was based on what you paid.

You know, maybe 20 years ago.

And yes, it goes up a little bit, but it's not substantial.

When someone buys the property, their assessed value will be the new purchase price.

And that is going to jump higher.

Now, I happened to be blessed and I sold mine at the peak a couple of years ago.

But how are pricing now?

Have things come...

They came down for a while.

Are they still down?

Are they coming back up?

What's going on?

The condo market is different anymore.

We all know that since the collapse in Miami, you know, a lot of people are afraid to buy into condos.

Oh, I didn't know that.

Yes.

The big building that collapsed.

Yes.

But in the meantime, for in my eyes, all the new rules and regulations and new inspections and building,

not just the building, but the financial health of the community is also important.

And now we are catching up with probably 50, 60 years of not really taking care of and not re-budgeting for future maintenance as in these condos.

But now that we are have to, you know, now we're not going to see as many special assessments as we did prior.

Well, I know of an area in town where they pay $300 a month.

But I also know a guy that I bump into when we chat all the time.

He used to own all the franchises for Chuck E. Cheese in the state of Florida.

Well, he owns a, he has a kind of over there worth maybe $600, $700,000.

But his monthly payment, not, not mortgage.

Just on the upcubus, $2,100 a month.

That's a house payment.

You know, you could buy something out west and rent it out on the Amazon or whatever as he went to that.

So anyway, I do want to give you your phone number.

What is your phone number?

Go ahead and say it.

My phone number is 772-584-5967.

Okay.

So I want to get in touch with you.

She's Olivia, Sorger, originally from, from Hungary.

And you've been here now 11 years.

12 years now.

12 years.

Yes.

We got to know each other when we already opened the store.

So that's fine.

Oh, you just started having your 11 years.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So how are the people still running?

You sold that ice cream shop with the number one ice cream in America.

Are they sticking to your recipes?

They are.

Yes.

Jason, make sure that they're.

Yes, I do.

You have to keep this up.

I keep, I keep an eye a little bit of course.

This is still my legacy part of it.

I, that's how I look at it.

You know, so I want them to be very successful.

They also added cakes to the menu.

Yeah.

They have a pastry chef on, on board.

So she's creating actually award winning cakes.

Wonderful.

So everybody go and check them out.

I don't go as much anymore because you're not there.

You know.

I don't say that.

But not as much.

Anyway.

So if you're interested in real estate, you want to find out more.

I feel free to call Olivia.

Again, your phone number is.

772.

584.

5967.

567.

I don't know if I can find that one.

That camera that you're running.

But anyway, okay.

Thanks for coming in.

Thank you.

You have a great day.

God bless you and continued success and say hi to your mom.

We'll do.

Thank you so much.

I hope she comes back and visits again from Hungary.

I'll let you know when she does.

Hey, this is the Mayor of the Airways who loves you, baby.

And I look back and I go, you can't fool the Lord.

And so I say, you know, Lord Jesus,

I got more out of that than that.

I mean, I got on the trucks,

and we're handing out the bulge or wheat

or the rice or whatever it is.

The porous to the poor.

You know, they come with little tin pan or whatever.

But they love, all these little faces.

Now you can't go because little black faces

were big eyes, smiling teeth, white teeth.

But right now the country hates being overrun by bullies.

And so, you know, it's not, it's, you know,

so I can't really go back and I'm a blank

and I'll stand out like a sore thumb.

So anyway, it was good to go to Haiti

and I recommend you go on a missionary trips

and do other things for others

because the secret is really,

I got more out of it than I ever gave.

But I mean, you know, if I was honest before Jesus,

but I'm still thankful that I went.

And, you know, it's a real joy to give to others, you know.

Right.

So I'll see you soon.

See you soon.

Okay. All right.

Don't forget, there's a, my art show at St. Paul's today

at three o'clock or derives and stuff.

And then at four o'clock,

there'll be 10 local artists of which I'm one of.

And I'll be telling you a little bit about my background

revealing some of my paintings

and some of the artwork, the traditional artwork there.

It's a mind-blur.

I mean, it's enough to make me want to walk out

and just say, forget the art.

I think you, I think you need to,

I think you need to help up an ice cream stand, right?

So I'll see you later.