What does it take to build a real estate partnership that can truly stand the test of time? One that’s built to endure every kind of market, serve every type of client, and grow stronger year after year?
That’s exactly the questions tackled in the recent episode of Real Estate Team OS, where host Ethan Beute sits down with Mike Hines, co-founder of Oyler Hines, one of Cincinnati’s most productive and respected real estate teams.
Mike pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to form and sustain a partnership that thrives on aligning on shared values and a long-term vision, and on navigating the less glamorous (but essential) elements like valuations, management agreements, and unified branding.
Lessons in Leadership, Structure, and Scale
In this episode, Mike shares lessons learned from partnering with Scott Oyler to build Oyler Hines. The collaboration has transformed not just their team’s success but their ability to serve clients at the highest level.
Mike highlights the importance of implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to establish a strong foundation, recognizing the early signs that a partnership is the right move, and getting the financials and leadership structure aligned to accelerate growth. Mike also shares why investing in branding, even tripling your budget, can pay off in a big way, along with practical strategies for boosting per-agent productivity and successfully selling new construction in today’s market.
Learning From the Best in the Business
Mike also highlights why resources like Real Estate Team OS are so valuable for teams like his. There aren’t many groups structured quite like Oyler Hines, but listening to how others across the country are growing, scaling, and solving challenges, they’re able to pull small but powerful insights into their own business.
As Mike puts it, “Other than masterminds, reading, or studying other industries, there aren’t many places we can land and really hear from other experts doing things better than we do. That’s what makes this podcast so impactful.”
Shared Visions and Values: The Foundation of a Lasting Partnership
When it comes to building a real estate partnership that truly lasts, shared values and vision aren’t just nice to have; they’re essential.
Mike Hines emphasizes that alignment on values comes first, even before vision or strategy. “The number one most important aspect is shared values,” he says. “If everyone on your leadership team and your team as a whole isn’t aligned in how they serve clients or how they handle their business, then you’re not rowing in the same direction.”
Values, he explains, act as the compass that guides every decision. When everyone knows what the team stands for, how they treat clients, collaborate internally, and represent the brand, it becomes much easier to move forward together.
Vision as the North Star
Right alongside shared values is a shared vision, what Mike calls their “north star”. It’s the unifying destination that keeps the entire organization focused and motivated.
He admits it took time to define that north star clearly. It didn’t happen overnight; it’s been an evolution. But once you align on values and vision, everything else gets easier. You make decisions faster, you communicate better, and you get where you’re going sooner.
In other words, before systems, marketing, or structure come into play, success starts with something much deeper: a team that believes in the same things moves towards the same goal.
How EOS Helped Clarify the North Star for Better Decision-Making
For Mike Hines and his team at Oyler Hines, getting clarity on their North Star, that clear guiding vision for who they are and where they’re going, didn’t happen overnight. It took time, intention, and a lot of honest conversations.
“It took a lot of retreats, a lot of sitting down, not just with our leadership and operations team, but with our agents and even family members who’ve been with us since the beginning,” Mike explains. “We had to ask tough questions: Who are we becoming? What do we stand for? Where are we headed?”
Over time, those discussions evolved into a shared understanding of what Oyler Hines represents. But according to Mike, the biggest turning point came when they adopted EOS (the Entrepreneurial Operating System), a business framework designed to help organizations clarify their vision, gain traction, and align their teams.
From Ideas to Alignment
Switching to EOS, Mike says, was the moment everything started to click.
“Becoming an EOS team helped us affirm exactly where we were headed. It allowed us to put on paper what had always been swirling around in our heads,” he says.
Before EOS, that vision existed mostly in conversation and instinct. But once documented, it became a tangible road map that everyone could see and follow.
That clarity had a ripple effect throughout the organization. As the team grew, questions naturally arose: Who are we? What are we becoming? EOS gave them the tools to answer those questions with confidence.
The Power of Structure in Creative Businesses
Ethan Beute points out that EOS offers something that many real estate teams crave: a clear framework for organizing ideas, decisions, and goals. Rather than “wandering toward imagined solutions,” EOS provides structure and accountability, two things that help teams move faster and make better decisions.
For Oyler Hines, the system not only brought clarity but also freedom. As Mike puts it, they realized they didn’t need to be like every other team; they could build something unique, aligned with their own values and aspirations.
“We didn’t need to be everybody else,” Mike reflects. “We could be whoever we wanted to be; that’s where shared values and EOS came together.”
The Evolution of Oyler Hines: From Solo Agents to Co-Team Leaders
Every thriving partnership has a backstory, one shaped by timing, shared purpose, and a few leaps of faith. For Mike Hines and Scott Oyler, the journey to building one of Cincinnati’s top-performing real estate teams began long before Oyler Hines had a name.
Mike’s path started back in 2007, when he first earned his real estate license. Soon after, he joined his father’s development company, only to face one of the toughest markets in modern history.
“The years, 2007 to 2010, were not ideal for development,” Mike recalls. “So I got a crash course in how much the economy can impact your business and how little control you have over some aspects.”
Still, the experience laid a foundation that would serve for decades to come. After earning his MBA, Mike launched his own venture in 2010, Build Cincinnati later renamed Build Collective. Focused heavily on new construction and development, the company specialized in infill adn teardown projects in Cincinnati’s most desirable neighborhoods.
“Coming out of the downturn, we asked ourselves where the market would rebound first,” Mike explains. “We believe it would be in those sought-after infill areas where people want to live, no matter what. If we could secure the best land positions, the rest would follow, and it did.”
Over the next decade, the business flourished. Mike worked alongside builders, developers, adn family members, including his father Bill Hines, who helped launch the company, building a tight-knit team with shared values and a clear sense of purpose.
Meanwhile, Scott Oyler was leading his own highly successful team, dominating the resale market and consistently ranking among Cincinnati’s top-producing agents. Though their specialities differed, Mike on new construction and Scott on resale, the two shared mutual respect and a collaborative mindset.
“We were always trading ideas and sharing thoughts,” Mike says. “So, Scott and I came together mainly because of shared values.”
At first, there were no plans to merge. Their conversations were casual, focused on growth, values, and the future of real estate. But over time, those discussions revealed something deeper, alignment not just in business goals but in culture, integrity, and how they wanted to serve their teams and clients.
One day, during a meeting with their teams, they realized, “Why are we doing this separately?” Mike’s team was excelling in new construction, Scott’s in resale, and their agents were already collaborating. It just made sense to bring it all together.
And just like that, Oyler Hines was born, a partnership rooted in trust, shared values, and complementary strengths. Today, the team continues to thrive under the Coldwell Banker brand, combining the best of both worlds: Mike’s deep new-construction expertise and Scott’s dominance in resale. Both teams were successful on their own, but together they built something even stronger.
How Complementary Strengths and Clear Standards Make a Partnership Work
Successful partnerships rarely happen by chance. They’re built on complementary strengths, shared values, and clear expectations. When the Oyler and Hines teams joined forces, their collaboration wasn’t about convenience; it was about creating something stronger together.
Starting with the “Why”
The initial goal was practical: combining resources to scale efficiently. Running a real estate team required major investments in marketing, operations, adn support. By joining forces, the partners could hire stronger talent, move faster, and deliver a higher level of service to clients.
But cost-saving wasn’t the real reason the partnership worked; synergy was. Scott thrived in resale; Mike specialized in new construction. Their expertise complemented one another, creating a natural balance that expanded what each could offer clients.
A Team of Specialists
That philosophy defines the Oyler Hines team today. Every agent plays a specific role, from Bob’s mastery of new construction to Laura’s client confidence and Brice’s deep knowledge of home mechanics. Together, they embody the team’s guiding principle: Make More Possible.
Clear Standards, Shared Vision
A successful partnership demands more than diverse talent; it requires shared standards. The Oyler Hines team leads with service, not numbers, emphasizing communication, client care, and values-driven work. When vision and standards align, there’s no ceiling on what’s achievable.
Fair Structures, Formal Achievements
Behind every strong partnership is a fair structure. Compensation should reflect each partner’s contributions, whether in operations, sales, or management. Clarity ensures fairness. Equally vital is a written management agreement. Real estate moves fast, and even the strongest partnerships benefit from defined expectations around decision-making, compensation, adn contingency plans.
Oyler Hines formalized their agreement after more than a year of collaboration, providing that trust matters, but clarity sustains success.
Investing in a Brand That Lasts
Both partners shared a passion for marketing and innovation, which made professional branding a priority. After months of exploring concepts, they partnered with 1000WATT, a leading real estate branding agency. The investment was triple what a local firm would charge, but it paid off.
1000WATT helped refine not only the team’s visuals but also its story, tone, and positioning. The results were a brand that unified new construction and resale under one name, Oyler Hines, rooted in authenticity and legacy.
Today, Oyler Hines' brand is managed by a dedicated marketing team ensuring every touchpoint feels cohesive, polished, and true to the mission. Because, as the partners say, “Your brand isn’t a logo. It’s a promise.”
Designing a brand that feels both high-end and accessible was key. The Oyler Hines identity is clean, humble, and flexible, professional without pretension. It resonates with first-time buyers and luxury clients alike, reflecting the belief that everyone should feel they belong.
Consistency across all channels, from signage to social media, ensures the message never wavers. 1000WATT guided them to realize, great branding isn’t about what looks impressive; it’s about what feels authentic.
Coaching, Cadence, and Consistency
Weekly Oyler Hines sales meetings and twice-monthly “Teamwork Tuesdays”, a casual lunch-and-learn, keep communication open and learning continuous. One-on-one coaching ensures personal growth amongst agents at every stage, while social events, from happy hours to kickball, keep the culture connected and fun.
The Takeaway
The Oyler Hines story illustrates that thriving in real estate takes more than production; it takes partnership, structure, branding, and culture. When complementary strengths align under shared standards and a clear brand vision, a team doesn’t just sell homes; it builds trust, longevity, and legacy.