In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Damon Lines—longtime CG member and high-level CEO operator—for a conversation that blends grit, strategy, and a whole lot of entrepreneurial wisdom. Damon shares how he went from making six figures in college as a part-time mortgage guy to navigating a near-bankruptcy during the 2008 crash. He opens up about the hard choices he had to make and the key decisions that helped him scale a multimillion-dollar wholesaling business.

We cover Damon’s deep-rooted partnership with Doug Hopkins, what it really takes to build a lean and profitable real estate business, and how a leap into TV advertising—when everyone else said it was too risky—became a game-changer. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re at a crossroads in your real estate journey, this episode is full of insights that will challenge the way you think about growth, discipline, and focus.

[0:00] - Introduction

[2:00] - How Damon and Doug built their wholesaling business in Southern California and Phoenix

[4:00] - Why laser focus on wholesaling became their superpower

[7:00] - The strength of their partnership and what makes it last

[10:00] - Damon’s pivot from pursuing dentistry to making $150K in college

[15:00] - The mental toll of the 2008 crash and how Damon rebuilt from near-zero

[20:00] - How a systems-driven approach helped scale to 250 homes/month

[33:00] - The birth of Sellers Advantage and betting big on TV ads

[39:00] - Why TV advertising outperformed all other lead sources

[47:00] - Building a small but elite team—and why fewer, better people win

[54:00] - What changed after joining Collective Genius and how feedback improved their operation

[57:00] - The value of responding to leads fast—and how it transformed their conversion rates

[1:00:00] - Damon’s perspective on smart hiring, gut checks, and when to ignore the data

1. Focus Wins – Damon and Doug found long-term success by resisting distractions and staying committed to wholesaling—even when others pivoted.

2. TV Still Works – While most investors overlooked it, TV became their number one lead source and continues to drive results in highly competitive markets.

3. Lean and Profitable Beats Big and Average – With fewer than 25 employees across two markets, their team operates lean but earns more by hiring exceptional talent and paying them well.

4. Partnerships Matter – Damon and Doug’s complementary strengths and shared vision have helped them navigate challenges and stay aligned for nearly two decades.

5. Feedback is Fuel – Joining Collective Genius helped Damon see blind spots in his business—from response time to process improvements—and accelerated their growth.

• https://www.sellersadvantage.com/ – Damon and Doug’s California-based home buying company

• https://www.doughopkins.com/ – Their Arizona operation and brand

• https://go.thecollectivegenius.com/podcast/ – Learn more about the mastermind behind this podcast

If this episode hit home or gave you a new perspective, do me a favor—rate the show, follow us, leave a review, and share this conversation with someone else in the real estate game. We appreciate you listening and being a part of the Collective Genius community.