The $70 Billion Merger That Felt Like A Mafia Movie | Alfredo Pujol

Two of the biggest realtor associations in the country sat down in a back room over steak and walked out as the largest local realtor association on the planet. Alfredo Pujol ran that deal, and on this episode of The TruTalk Podcast he tells the full story for the first time. Alfredo is Chairman of the Board of the Miami Association of Realtors, now the largest local realtor association in the world with 93,000 members across South Florida, whose members drove more than $70 billion in real estate volume in 2025. But he started at the bottom in the 2007 crash, cleaning offices, cold calling, and sitting in empty open houses. This conversation traces how he got from there to the boardroom, and what the historic merger means for every agent, broker, and homeowner in the region. In this episode we get into: - The real story behind the $70 billion merger and the steak lunch that closed it - Who actually wins and who loses when the biggest associations combine - The truth about taxes, condo reform, insurance, and financing in Florida - Why condos are where deals go to die, and the segment quietly selling fast - Why Alfredo believes Miami is in the early innings of a boom most locals haven't noticed - The K-shaped reality where 10% of agents do 90% of the business - AI versus old-school relationships, and why you need both to win - The one habit that separates the agents who make it from the ones who quit If you work in real estate, invest in South Florida, or just want a real look at how power moves behind the scenes of a major industry, this one is for you. Follow The TruTalk Podcast so you never miss an episode, and if you got value from this conversation, leave a rating and review. It helps more people find the show. Hosted by Luis M. Perez, founder of TruView Inspections.