Join The Next Steps Group in Florida
Florida Just Ranked Us #3. Now We're Going for #1. And We Want You on the Roster.
eXp Realty’s April 2026 report put The Next Steps Group in the Top 3 real estate teams in Florida. 700+ closings in 2025. 3,000+ total sales. 190+ five-star Zillow reviews. The Ocala market is wide open, and this team is built to take it.
The Next Steps Group started with three agents and a system. Four years later, it’s a 29-member team with a Top 3 ranking in the state. Discipline, real leads, and mentorship that goes deeper than a webinar. If you’re a coachable agent ready to stop leaving money on the table, the door is ope
Top 3
Florida — eXp Realty 2026
4.9
190 Zillow reviews
700+
Closings in 2025
$160M+
Volume in 2025
3,000+
Total career sales
THE ANNOUNCEMENT
We Just Hit Top 3 in Florida. And It Happened Because of You.
Some rankings feel routine. This one doesn't.
eXp Realty’s April 2026 report named The Next Steps Group one of the Top 3 large real estate teams in
Florida, out of thousands of teams operating across the entire state.
That number didn’t come from a marketing campaign. It came from 700 closings in a single year, 29 agents who
show up every day, and a system that turns coachable, disciplined agents into consistent producers. Four years of
building the right culture, the right pipeline, and the right team finally put a number on what those inside already knew.
The Top 3 ranking didn't arrive by chance. It arrived because the system works.
THE REAL PROBLEM
Most Florida Agents Are Leaving Money on the Table. Here's Why.
The Ocala market is one of the fastest-growing real estate corridors in Florida. Buyers arrive from Tampa, Orlando, and South Florida every single month — priced out of larger metros and looking for exactly what Ocala offers: affordability, lifestyle, equestrian culture, and retirement communities like The Villages and On Top of the World.
The opportunity has never been bigger. Yet most agents in this market are:
- Paying desk fees month after month with nothing to show for it
- Cold-calling leads that go cold before they close
- Flying solo without a mentor, a system, or anyone who actually knows their name
- Missing out on eXp stock awards and revenue sharing because they're at the wrong brokerage
- Watching deals fall through because they don't have the tech stack or team support behind them
The agents winning in Ocala right now have one thing in common. They got on the right team.
WHAT YOU GET
What Joining The Next Steps Group Actually Looks Like
The credibility of Florida's #3-ranked team — working for you
County seat with a small core population, surrounded by farms and wooded tracts. We help buyers compare in-town homes versus nearby acreage, and help sellers frame land, wells, and outbuildings in a way portal-driven buyers can actually understand.
A lead pipeline with 700+ Zillow closings behind it
The team’s lead system is built on the Zillow Premier Agent platform. The same foundation that generated over 700 direct closings. Agents get access to qualified, motivated buyers and sellers rather than chasing cold prospects. The numbers back it up: 652 sales in the last 12 months alone.
eXp stock awards and revenue sharing
eXp Realty is the only major brokerage that gives agents equity in the company (AGNT stock) through production milestones. Revenue sharing puts a percentage of production into your pocket from agents you bring to the network. Commissions are only one income stream here, and that’s the point.
Mentorship that goes beyond the group Zoom call
One-on-one coaching from René Bartum and senior team members. Whether you’re writing your first contract or scaling toward 50+ closings a year, you get a coach who knows your name, your pipeline, and your gaps. No recorded sessions. No one-size-fits-all playbooks collecting digital dust.
A full tech stack from day one
Mira (eXp’s AI assistant), a national referral network, pre-market listing syndication, CRM systems, and a full marketing suite. The team also operates on Zillow’s Showcase platform, giving listings premium exposure with virtual tours and interactive floor plans. These are the tools that drive 700+ closings a year, and every agent on the team gets them from day one.
29 active agents. One shared mission.
The Next Steps Group has 29 members across 17 service areas. Levy County, Citrus County, Marion County, The Villages, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Hernando, Silver Springs, Beverly Hills, Belleview, and beyond. You’re joining a real team, not a solo act with a logo.
Downtown Ocala roots and the market knowledge that comes with them
The team operates out of 40 SW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL 34470. Local knowledge runs deep here. From On Top of the World and Del Webb Stone Creek to the horse farms of SW Marion County and the waterfront communities of Hernando and Citrus Counties. Statewide teams can’t buy that kind of market fluency.
The Founder
The System Doesn't Build Itself. Meet René Bartum.
René Bartum is the founder and lead of The Next Steps Group. He’s a Zillow Premier Agent, ranked #1 in the 34481 zip code (covering On Top of the World, Del Webb Stone Creek, Oak Run, and Palm Kay), and has generated over 700 closings directly through the Zillow platform.René Bartum is the founder and lead of The Next Steps Group. He’s a Zillow Premier Agent, ranked #1 in the 34481 zip code (covering On Top of the World, Del Webb Stone Creek, Oak Run, and Palm Kay), and has generated over 700 closings directly through the Zillow platform.
He started with three agents and a Zillow-based system that skeptics said couldn’t scale. It scaled. Today, the team closes 700+ deals a year, serves 17 areas across Central Florida, and holds a 4.9-star rating across 190 verified Zillow reviews.
His range covers the full spectrum of the Ocala market. The team handled a $8.4 million, 77-acre equestrian estate sale adjacent to the World Equestrian Center, listed in cooperation with Concierge Auctions. Just as readily, the team helps first-time buyers in Beverly Hills, FL, and retirees relocating from Tampa and Orlando. The team speaks English, Spanish, and German, matching the diverse buyer pool that Ocala attracts.
René’s belief is that great agents aren’t found. They’re developed. Every system the team teaches is grounded in real transactions — thousands of them. His philosophy is direct: coachable agents plus disciplined systems plus the right tools equals lasting success. René’s belief is that great agents aren’t found. They’re developed. Every system the team teaches is grounded in real transactions — thousands of them. His philosophy is direct: coachable agents plus disciplined systems plus the right tools equals lasting success.
"Our mission goes beyond production. We are here to help agents build their next steps." — René Bartum.
SOCIAL PROOF
Don't Take Our Word for It. Take Theirs.
“Scott deserves a 10. Very professional, friendly, and has your best interest at hand. Found us a wonderful home. Everything was done in a timely manner.”
Glenda,
June 2026
“We attempted to work with three different agents, and Elaina is the only one I would recommend. We never waited for a response from her. She was on top of everything.”
Randi,
June 2026
“Kerry is absolutely fantastic. My spouse and I got so lucky that Kerry was our realtor through our first home-buying process. She is on top of everything and super communicative.”
Laura Stein,
May 2026
“Bill did a great job selling our old home and finding a new home in our budget. He was there every step of the way and always available to answer any questions or resolve any issues.”
Nancy Heater,
April 2026
“René was the best. From the moment I met him, he was all in. He’s not pushy he’s kind, considerate, knowledgeable, and knows how to talk to people. He really cares.”
Donna S., Ocala, FL.
June 2026
“Working with René was a blessing. Our farm was a difficult sale, and he got it done. We can’t thank him enough for his dedication and knowledge.”
Julie S., Ocala, FL (77+ acres | $8.4M SOLD)
June 2026
4.9 stars across 190 reviews on Zillow. Verified. Current. Real.
THE MARKEt
Ocala Is One of Florida's Hottest Markets. The Agents Who Move First Win.
Here's what's driving demand:
Ocala isn’t a hidden gem anymore. It’s a destination. One of Florida’s fastest-growing real estate markets, it draws buyers from every direction, and the agents who plant their flags here now are the ones who’ll own the market for the next decade.
Migration from larger metros.
Migration from larger metros. Buyers from Tampa, Orlando, and South Florida arrive every month — priced out of their home markets and drawn by Ocala’s affordability, quality of life, and lower cost of living. That migration isn’t slowing down.
A retirement corridor with deep roots.
The Villages, On Top of the World, Del Webb Stone Creek, and Oak Run pull tens of thousands of retirees into Marion County every year. It’s a consistent, motivated buyer pool, and it keeps growing.
The Horse Capital of the World.
Equestrian buyers, luxury farm investors, and estate clients come from across the country for Ocala’s land and facilities. The team closed an $8.4M, 77-acre equestrian estate adjacent to the World Equestrian Center. This market rewards agents who know how to work it.
Inventory is moving.
Agents with a real lead pipeline close deals consistently across the full price spectrum — from $10K land parcels to eight-figure estates. The volume is here.