Welcome back to the Real Estate Success Podcast!
My guest on today’s podcast is Phil Kazmierczak. Phil is a real estate professional, property management leader, COO, and the current president of the newly merged Coastal Virginia Realtors Association. And while he wears a lot of hats, what stood out to me in this conversation is his constant drive to keep growing, evolving, and finding ways to make an impact.
Phil’s journey into real estate started in 2015 after years in retail management. What began as a career change quickly evolved into sales, property management, brokerage leadership, investing, and eventually industry advocacy. Along the way, he learned some difficult lessons about growth—including why more business isn’t always better business. After managing a challenging multifamily portfolio that was draining his time and energy, Phil made the decision to walk away from nearly 100 doors and rebuild around a more sustainable model focused on single-family properties and relationships.
We also dive into Phil’s journey from getting involved with the local Realtor association in 2021 to eventually becoming president during a historic merger that expanded the organization across Coastal Virginia. He shares what leadership looks like behind the scenes, why leaders sometimes have to advocate for positions regardless of their personal opinions, and why one of the most dangerous phrases in any organization is essentially, “That’s the way we’ve always done it.”
We talk about housing affordability, the need for more inventory in Hampton Roads, and why Phil believes advocating for homeownership can have a generational impact. We also get into his philosophy of giving back when you’re able, building the next generation of leaders, avoiding complacency, and even how he somehow found time in the middle of all of this to compete in Dancing with the Hampton Roads Celebrity Stars.
But underneath all of Phil’s different roles is a really interesting definition of success: reclaiming his time. For Phil, building wealth and growing businesses aren’t the ultimate goal. They’re tools that can eventually give him the freedom to choose how he spends his life, what work he takes on, and where he can make the greatest impact.
This conversation is packed with lessons on leadership, adaptability, service, and building a career that creates both opportunity and freedom.
I hope you enjoy this episode of the Real Estate Success Podcast with Phil Kazmierczak.

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This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized investment, tax or legal advice. Financial decisions should reflect your circumstances and goals. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Financial projections are estimates, not guarantees of future results.