1st Class Realty San Diego Relies on Lofty to Scale Agent Success and Accelerate Recruiting

Josh Pono has worked in real estate for over 16 years, including several years inside top proptech companies—fueling his deep expertise in systems, automation, and technology-driven growth. That experience led him to launch his own brokerage, 1st Class Realty San Diego, with a clear goal: to build a scalable, tech-powered operation focused on systems and processes that help agents succeed without sacrificing time, consistency, or performance. Before adopting Lofty, Josh tested nearly every major CRM on the market—but none offered the simplicity, automation, and structure required to support a fast-growing, process-driven team. Now, with over 50 agents—90% of whom use the platform daily—Lofty acts as the central engine driving his brokerage’s daily operations and long-term growth.

To reduce onboarding time and create consistency across lead sources, Josh has built detailed playbooks inside Lofty—automated smart campaigns that include embedded scripts, custom workflows, and scheduled touchpoints for everything from open houses and Facebook leads to expired listings and Sphere of Influence follow-ups. With this structure in place, his team can onboard 6–10 agents each month without adding administrative overhead. Josh leverages Lofty’s smart plans, automation, and integrated lead routing to eliminate guesswork for agents. From the first lead notification to long-term nurturing, agents are guided on exactly what to do, what to say, and when—without having to build systems themselves. By consolidating his tech stack into one intuitive platform, Josh has created a business where agents can focus on closing deals, and leadership can focus on scaling. Even in a challenging market, Lofty empowers his team to stay consistent, efficient, and ahead of the curve.