Above, Matt Mick
Growing up in a small Nebraska town, Matt Mick developed an interest in real estate while he was still in high school.
“My girlfriend’s father was a real estate agent,” he said, “and my aunt and uncle had a small real estate company on the outskirts of Omaha.”
Mick went on to college and changed his major five times before coming full circle. He got his real estate license in 2013 and went to work for his aunt and uncle.
“It was a great learning experience,” he said, “but after a few months in a small pond, my aunt encouraged me to move to Omaha and try my skills in a larger market.”
For three years as part of two different teams, Mick learned the wisdom of collaboration “in an insanely massive market,” and in 2017, when he moved to Lincoln and joined Nebraska Realty, he felt prepared to create a team of his own.
His Lincoln Select Real Estate Group, now numbering 22 agents, four administrators and four virtual assistants, has been named the city of Lincoln’s top-producing team from 2018 forward, and the state of Nebraska’s top team for the past three years, with 227 transactions and $57 million in volume last year.
They are numbers he plans to double in the year ahead.
Barbara Pronin: Doubling those numbers is an ambitious project. How do you plan to do that?
Matt Mick: It’s been a long, winding road, but I’ve grown so much personally in the last few years and learned so much about the industry. I’ve learned the principles of a truly collaborative workplace, and my first good hire was a hard-working transaction coordinator who has since become part owner of the business. Also, our agents are invited to partner with us, meaning they have a share in the team’s success in return for sharing some of their income.
BP: What is your criteria for recruiting agents?
MM: We don’t have a large pool of applicants in Lincoln – maybe 800 licensed agents. But we look for people with resolve and full-time commitment, and we do attract a fair number because of our awesome Agent Amplify! (the ! is part of the name) onboarding platform. It’s a deep-dive, two-week training program that covers elements of the business, like prospecting, dialogue, CRM, tools and systems, and more. Experienced agents internalize that training with a goal of more than doubling their production of the previous year.
BP: That’s a tough assignment.
MM: Yes. But one agent went from selling five or six homes last year to 15-18 this year. Some are selling as many as 20 or 30, and one top producer is selling some 85 homes a year. And we look for agents we think will be a good fit with our culture. We are very competitive, but we have similar values, and we enjoy hanging out with each other, in and out of the office.
BP: What happens after that first two weeks of training?
MM: We try to stay on top of things. I still sell five or six homes a year, which helps me keep my finger on the pulse of the market. And we are well-organized. We have a team meeting every Tuesday for updates, planning, sharing, and goal-setting. Then we do general training sessions on Wednesdays, dialoguing on Thursdays, and one-on-ones as needed each week.
BP: What areas do you serve and what is the average sale price?
MM: We serve the greater Lincoln area. Lincoln is Nebraska’s second-largest city, with a population of just under 300,000. I would say the average sale price is about $295,000, although we do have listings valued at twice that number.
BP: What do you think makes your team the one to call for Lincoln’s buyers and sellers?
MM: Professionalism. A reputation for top-notch customer service – and unmatched market expertise. Much of our business comes from referral. We are very much a part of the communities we serve, and we all build lifelong relationships.
BP: What is your team goal for 2025?
MM: There was a big market reshuffle in 2024. There are still ups and down in today’s market, and many of our agents have recently started with us. But we are focused on doubling our volume in 2025 from $57 million to $104 million, and it’s a goal I think we can reach.
BP: What is your best advice for team leaders just starting out?
MM: You can’t undervalue training and coaching. It sets the tone for your team and starts each new agent with a blueprint for moving forward. You also need to begin with a collaborative mindset, and believe in both your systems and your people.
Lincoln Select Real Estate Group Team Listing
1501 Nemaha Street
Lincoln, Nebraska
Listing price: $337,500
From the listing description: Updated brick ranch located in Indian Village. Spanning nearly 1,500 square feet on the main level, this spacious 4-bedroom home features generously sized bedrooms and plenty of storage, including a versatile flex room that can serve as a fifth non-conforming bedroom, a fitness area or an office. Both the bathrooms and kitchen have been beautifully renovated, showcasing soft-close drawers and cabinets, pull-out shelves, stainless steel appliances and other thoughtful touches. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, you’ll enjoy updates with: HVAC system, water heater, plumbing, electrical panel and shed. A modern Thrasher drainage system, complete with waterproofing, drain tile, and a sump pump are also in place.
To view the full listing, click here. (if link is broken, the property has sold)
To visit the Lincoln Select Real Estate Group website, click here.
