Radical Hospitality Show

From the Silos to Hotel 1928: How Magnolia’s Real Estate Vision is Restoring Glory to Communities

Zeke Freeman

In this inspiring episode, Zeke sits down in Waco, Texas with Dale Pahmiyer, VP of Magnolia Realty and a pivotal figure behind the scenes of Fixer Upper. From his early friendship with Joanna Gaines to overseeing Magnolia’s design and construction teams, Dale shares his personal journey into real estate and hospitality—and how the team’s vision has always centered on making space for meaningful moments.

The conversation dives into Magnolia’s real estate culture, the transformation of downtown Waco, the heart behind projects like Hotel 1928, and Magnolia’s commitment to client care, hospitality, and intentional growth. Dale also opens up about a powerful project that provided an accessible home for a family with two disabled children—highlighting how thoughtful design can be life-changing.

Whether you're passionate about real estate, hospitality, or human-centered design, this episode offers insight into what makes Magnolia’s brand so trusted and beloved.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • How Dale became involved with Magnolia and Fixer Upper
  • The strategy behind transforming downtown Waco
  • Magnolia’s vision: making space for meaningful moments
  • Creating boutique hospitality experiences with heart
  • How Magnolia Realty cultivates values-based real estate agents
  • What makes a “Fixer Upper” property work—and how Magnolia evaluates them
  • Designing for accessibility and why it matters
  • The story behind the Hotel 1928 restoration
  • Magnolia’s slow-growth philosophy and what's next

Resources & Links:
Explore Magnolia Realty: magnoliarealty.com
Learn about Hotel 1928: hotel1928.com
Visit Magnolia Market in Waco: magnolia.com/visit

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

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