Around the House with Eric G®: Home Improvement Remodeling & DIY

Is America short on homes, or short on affordable ones? In this Wednesday Punch List, Eric G walks through this week’s mortgage rates, existing, pending, and new home sales, builder price cuts, the remodeling market, Portland job losses, and the latest product safety recalls from the CPSC.

Mortgage Rates

• Freddie Mac’s 30-year fixed: 7.24%, down from 7.32% the week before and the lowest of the month
• 15-year fixed: 6.6%
• A year ago, the 30-year was 6.17%
• Mortgage News Daily index: 7.3%, up from 7.2%
• 10-year Treasury yield fell three basis points to 4.92%. Mortgage rates usually follow within a day or two.
• New Freddie Mac numbers come out Thursday

Existing and Pending Home Sales

• Existing home sales rose 1.5% in September to a 3.99 million annual pace, but are down 2.2% from a year ago
• Median existing home price: $417,500 (up 1.3% year over year)
• Inventory: 1.6 million homes, a 4.8-month supply
• Pending home sales fell 7.3%, and the NAR index dropped to 66, the lowest since the index began in 2001

New Construction: “No Housing Shortage”

• New home sales: 676,000 annual pace (down 0.6% from August, down 5.3% from a year ago)
• Median new home price: $400,400
• 8.4-month supply of new homes, which Eric says points to an affordability problem rather than a shortage
• NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell three points to 29, the lowest since June 2012
• Buyer traffic: 18
• 43% of builders cut prices in October and 65% offered incentives
• Buyer tip: If you’re shopping new construction, ask about rate buydowns and upgrades

Remodeling Market

• NAHB Remodeling Market Index: 62 in Q3, up one point
• Current conditions: 70 (flat for a third straight quarter)
• Large projects ($50,000 and up): up two points to 66
• Leads and inquiries: 53. Backlogs: 56
• Eric’s take on the West Coast: remodelers are busier elsewhere, but affordability pressures are costing jobs here

Portland Job Losses and Affordability

• Freightliner, founded in Portland and building trucks for 80 years, closed its operation on Friday, Oct. 31 and is moving to another state
• Eric points to job losses across Washington, Oregon, and California as a drag on West Coast housing prices
• Portland’s plan to close 14 schools, which Eric ties to families leaving and not being able to afford kids

Product Safety Recalls (source: cpsc.gov/recalls)

• Dreo space heaters (fire and burn hazards): 338,800 units in the U.S., about 36,000 in Canada
• NTI and HTP gas boilers (fire, carbon monoxide, and impact hazards): about 4,700 units in the U.S., 2,200 in Canada
• Bodum French press coffee makers with replaceable glass carafes (burn injury risk)
• Haiara power banks sold on Amazon (fire hazard): about 11,000 units
• Whatever Works microwave grills (fire hazard): about 8,700 units
• Ocoopa rechargeable hand warmers: 1.5 million units
• Plus more recalls on dressers without anti-tip hardware, mattresses, and kids’ clothing

Join Around The House Nation on Facebook, our friendly closed group, to post what you’re working on and ask your home improvement and design questions. One hour of this weekend’s show will be built around questions from the group. You can also message Eric at aroundthehouseonline.com.

• CPSC recalls: cpsc.gov/recalls
• Around the House: aroundthehouseonline.com
• Facebook group: Around The House Nation

Takeaways:

• I said the election felt like a blunt affordability wake-up call — voters shouted 'cheaper please', and we want results, not party fandom over the next two years.
• We dug through mortgage headlines: 30-year rates hovering near 7.2%, about a full point above last year, so buyer calculus is tight and picky.
• I flagged the 8.4-month supply of new homes — that nukes the 'housing shortage' excuse and tells us the real monster is affordability.
• We saw builders getting desperate-ish — nearly half cutting prices and many offering incentives, so buyers can actually ask for upgrades and rate buydowns.
• I walked listeners through scary recalls — exploding power banks, fire-prone heaters, and fragile French presses — check cpsc.gov before your gadgets become pyrotechnics.
• We balanced gloom and hope: remodeling work remains steady in places, but job losses and school closures on the West Coast signal deeper affordability-driven migration.

Links referenced in this episode:

• cpsc.gov/recalls
• aroundthehouseonline.com
• youtube.com/@AroundTheHouseHQ
• facebook.com/aroundthehousenation

Thanks for listening to Around the House with Eric G! Subscribe so you never miss a new episode: around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

Watch and follow us on YouTube:

• Around the House with Eric G: www.youtube.com/@aroundthehouseEricG
• Around the House HQ: www.youtube.com/@AroundtheHouseHQ

Join the Around the House Insider for the full back catalog, exclusive content, early access to new shows and a direct line to Eric G: around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

Has this episode helped with your house? We'd love a quick rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the best way to help other homeowners find the show. For more tips, products and past episodes, visit aroundthehouseonline.com

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

Is your furnace ready for winter? We're busting the most common heating and cooling myths with Athen Ashby of Pyramid Heating and Cooling, the team that's taken care of Eric's house for more than a decade. They serve Portland and Central Oregon (Bend), Oregon CCB #59382. (We legally have to do that in Oregon)

We cover what homeowners should do right now before cold weather hits: changing the air filter (and why that cheap one-inch filter can overheat your furnace), annual gas tune-ups, flame sensor cleaning, and why register filters and "beauty cages" around your outdoor unit do more harm than good. We also get into how modern heat pumps work in the cold, why steam and ice in a defrost cycle are normal, heat pump vs. gas furnace costs, mini-split maintenance, and covering your AC for winter the right way.

You'll also learn which warning signs aren't normal, why you should never fire up a furnace that's sat unused without an inspection, how smart thermostats age, and why hiring a licensed, bonded and insured HVAC pro beats the "Chuck in a truck."

Book service with Pyramid Heating and Cooling at pyramidheating.com. If you're outside Oregon, find your local dealer.

Hosted by Eric Goranson, CKD.

Takeaways:

• We kept it simple and loud: change your furnace filter regularly, because restricted airflow overheats the system, causes shutdowns, and makes your bills and repair list much uglier.
• I seriously recommend scheduling a pre-winter tune-up — we can find flaky flame sensors, calibration issues, or backordered parts before temperatures drop and your phone explodes with service calls.
• We busted the DIY filter myth: sticking screens on every register chokes the system — there's one proper filter location at the furnace, not a hundred little band-aids.
• I had fun blowing up the heat pump myth — it doesn't just make cold air; we reverse refrigerant flow to harvest outside heat and deliver useful BTUs even when it’s pretty chilly.
• Please don’t build a cute doghouse or Instagram cage around the outdoor unit: trapping air makes it work harder, lose capacity, and possibly shut down on the worst day.
• If your heat pump spits a little steam during defrost, relax — that’s normal; heavy ice sheets, freezing rain, or persistent ice though, means emergency heat or technician attention.
• We love mini-splits — great for older homes, lofts, or tricky rooms — but keep up with cleaning, sanitizing blower wheels, and clearing drain lines to prevent smelly bacterial nasties.
• I’ll say this straight: hire licensed, bonded pros who size systems by load and know current codes; cheap hacks can cost you way more in comfort and replacement down the road.

Links referenced in this episode:

• pyramidheatingcooling.com
• pyramidheating.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Pyramid Heating and Cooling
• Carrier
• Lennox
• Honeywell
• Netflix

Thanks for listening to Around the House with Eric G! Subscribe so you never miss a new episode: around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

Watch and follow us on YouTube:

• Around the House with Eric G: www.youtube.com/@aroundthehouseEricG
• Around the House HQ: www.youtube.com/@AroundtheHouseHQ

Join the Around the House Insider for the full back catalog, exclusive content, early access to new shows and a direct line to Eric G: around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

Has this episode helped with your house? We'd love a quick rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the best way to help other homeowners find the show. For more tips, products and past episodes, visit aroundthehouseonline.com

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

Want a smarter home but don't know where to start? We sit down with interior designer Wendy Glaister of Wendy Glaister Interiors for a beginner-friendly, DIY guide to home technology that you can actually install yourself.

We start with the foundation: a fast internet connection, a speed test, and a mesh Wi-Fi system that gets rid of dead zones. Then we get into picking one smart home "language," like Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings or Matter, so all your devices work together from one app and you're not juggling 12 of them. Eric shares his favorites: Lutron Caseta switches and battery-powered shades, Baldwin/Level smart locks, Chamberlain myQ garage control with Amazon in-garage delivery, Aqara cameras and doorbells, Ting electrical fire sensors, and Deep Sentinel's AI-plus-live-guard security.

You'll also hear how to dodge LED flicker, why matching your doorbell and cameras cuts subscription fees, how to set sunset-based lighting schedules, when to bring in an integrator, and the privacy concerns around voice-controlled devices and devices with cameras.

Hosted by Eric Goranson, CKD.

Takeaways:

• I always start with the Internet — run a speed test, call your ISP if it’s slow, and don’t blame your gadgets until you rule out a squirrel-chewed line. Seriously, been there, fixed that.
• We swear by a true mesh Wi‑Fi setup (think three nodes for most two‑story homes) so cameras, sprinklers, and work-from-home video calls aren’t elbowing each other for bandwidth — get the fastest version you can afford.
• Pick one smart‑home “language” (Apple HomeKit, Matter, SmartThings, etc.) and stick to it — I refuse to live in an app graveyard with a dozen half‑working controls. Interoperability matters more than brand flash.
• Start small and smart: a video doorbell or smart thermostat gives the biggest bang for your buck, but make sure your doorbell matches your camera system to avoid paying two subscription fees. Ouch.
• If you’re DIYing switches, arm yourself with a tester, wire strippers, a screwdriver and common sense — and if you’re unsure, bring in your electrician or an integrator early to save future headaches (we mean it).
• I’m a big fan of Lutron Caséta for lighting and battery blinds that actually stay charged for years, but do check bulb compatibility unless you want an accidental disco strobe for the neighbors.
• Buy safety tech like Forge flame detectors and electrical monitors (Ting) — those devices can warn you before a small problem becomes a house‑eating fire, and insurers are actually into that now. Win.
• Security and privacy aren’t sexy but they’re real: cameras, voice devices and some overseas‑made routers/vacs can introduce risks, so balance convenience with caution and vet device provenance before you plug in.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Control4
• Samsung SmartThings
• Apple
• LG
• Ring
• Aqara
• Lutron
• Baldwin
• Level
• Chamberlain
• Amazon
• Deep Sentinel
• TP-Link
• Roborock
• Volvo
• Bradford White
• AOL
• The Home Depot
• YouTube

Thanks for listening to Around the House with Eric G! Subscribe so you never miss a new episode: around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

Watch and follow us on YouTube:

• Around the House with Eric G: www.youtube.com/@aroundthehouseEricG
• Around the House HQ: www.youtube.com/@AroundtheHouseHQ

Join the Around the House Insider for the full back catalog, exclusive content, early access to new shows and a direct line to Eric G: around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

Has this episode helped with your house? We'd love a quick rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the best way to help other homeowners find the show. For more tips, products and past episodes, visit aroundthehouseonline.com

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

This Saturday on Around the House with Eric G, we're covering smart home tech and how your HVAC system really works! In hour one, Wendy Glaister joins us and Eric teaches Home Tech 101. That means easy smart home products like a one-swipe "good night" scene that locks the doors, closes the garage, lowers the blinds and sets the outdoor lights. We'll also talk about why smart devices like video doorbells only last about five to seven years. In hour two, we sit down with Pyramid Heating and Cooling to explain how your furnace and HVAC work, which noises warn you of trouble, and how fresh-air code changes are affecting today's systems. Listen this weekend on your favorite podcast player. Everything's linked at aroundthehouseonline.com.

Thanks for listening to Around the House with Eric G! Subscribe so you never miss a new episode: around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

Watch and follow us on YouTube:

• Around the House with Eric G: www.youtube.com/@aroundthehouseEricG
• Around the House HQ: www.youtube.com/@AroundtheHouseHQ

Join the Around the House Insider for the full back catalog, exclusive content, early access to new shows and a direct line to Eric G: around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

Has this episode helped with your house? We'd love a quick rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the best way to help other homeowners find the show. For more tips, products and past episodes, visit aroundthehouseonline.com

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

Portland's downtown hotel crash and a nationwide crackdown on unlicensed contractors both hit homeowners, and we break down why. I saw hotels in Portland go from hundreds of millions to pocket change, and that cascade matters even if you're only worried about a kitchen remodel. We riff on jaw-dropping numbers. The Royal Sonesta was bought for $108M in 2016 and resold for about $6.8M. Yeah, you heard that right. We talk about how hotel and commercial fire sales reshape downtown cores, and why those downtown problems eventually trickle into neighborhood housing markets. I give the bleak-but-useful view: commercial collapse can depress surrounding residential values and change who's buying and how properties get repurposed.

Then we flip gears into contractor land. State contractor boards are finally doing the thing we've been nagging about: going after unlicensed, unbonded contractors who show up with a van, a pocket full of cash and zero paperwork. I walk you through the real risks of hiring an unlicensed contractor, from injuries to illegal decks to bad wiring. Then there's the nightmare scenario where your homeowner's policy won't save you because suddenly you're their employer. I share how to check a contractor's license before you hand over a deposit, plus a brutal real-world story of a guy who paid cheap, got $200k of trash work, and doubled down on bad choices. We wrap with product recalls you shouldn't ignore: wire grill brushes, gas patio heaters and knockoff kids' gear. The takeaway? Spend a little more on a licensed and bonded crew, or pay a lot more later, literally and emotionally.

Takeaways:

• I can't believe downtown hotels are selling for pennies on the dollar. We're seeing 70–90% collapses that could trickle into residential housing markets.
• State contractor boards and NASCLA are running nationwide stings against unlicensed contractors. Nevada's undercover ops exposed unlicensed bidders offering work up to $100k, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
• Hiring an unlicensed, unbonded contractor can make you the employer on the hook for injuries, and your homeowner's insurance likely won't cover that mess.
• Here's how to check a contractor's license: I call the state or local licensing agency, dig through service records, and judge how complaints were handled before handing over any deposit.
• I watched a homeowner pay $200,000 to an unlicensed crew, then need another $100,000 in repairs because of illegal decks, bad wiring and dangerous workmanship. It's a textbook contractor scam story.
• Product recalls to know about: wire grill brushes, gas patio heaters and cheap knockoff kids' gear are getting pulled for safety reasons. Don't ignore them, or dinner might fight back.

Links referenced in this episode:

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls: www.cpsc.gov/Recalls
• Oregon CCB contractor license lookup: search.ccb.state.or.us/search
• NASCLA: www.nascla.org
• Around the House: aroundthehouseonline.com

Companies and organizations mentioned:

• Royal Sonesta
• Hotel Zags
• NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies)
• Oregon Construction Contractors Board (Oregon CCB)
• California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
• Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
• San Luis Obispo County District Attorney
• Lithonia Lighting

Thanks for listening to Around the house if you want to hear more please subscribe so you get notified of the latest episode as it posts at https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

If you want to join the Around the House Insider for access to the back catalog, Exclusive Content and a direct email to Eric G and access to the show early https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

We love comments and we would love reviews on how this information has helped you on your house! Thanks for listening! For more information about the show head to https://aroundthehouseonline.com/

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

If you like bathrooms that feel like a tiny resort you can actually afford to enjoy, I want to walk you through my top 10 picks for a 2027 master-bath remodel — the stuff I’d spend money on (and in many cases already did). We chat about the gear that transforms a wet, mildew-prone box into a spa-like, low-maintenance oasis: AirMada’s airjet shower drying system that blows showers dry in 20–30 minutes (seriously, mold hates it), Ardex Flexbone heated floors that warm tile and benches, and Thermasol’s Total Wellness steam systems with aromatherapy, chromotherapy and touchscreen controls. I point out why linear Infinity drains and large-format porcelain slabs make showers easier to clean and more elegant, and why bidet toilet seats (I’m a fan of heated, all-electric units) are a comfort-and-hygiene game changer. I’m not just name-dropping — I give real-world pros and cons. Heated floors need a dedicated circuit and tile professionals (or decent DIY skills), steam showers demand steam-rated waterproofing like Vapor 85 and a sloped ceiling so you’re not showered with condensation, and those flashy touchscreen panels? Keep ’em out of the direct spray or you’ll be calling warranty. I also cover practical bits: Panasonic vent fans, Amba towel warmers that save laundry and make winter mornings bearable, whole-house leak detection/shutoff for peace of mind, and smart lighted mirrors and wood vanities for the look. Overall, this piece is a buyer’s cheat sheet for luxe function — what’s worth splurging on and what to plan for so it actually works long-term.

Takeaways:

• I swear by the AirMada airjet: it dries a glass shower in 20–30 minutes versus hours, massively cutting mold risk—just don’t skip pairing it with a killer vent fan.
• We put Ardex Flexbone heated floors in the shower and bench, and honestly it changed mornings; remember it needs a dedicated circuit, helps dry floors fast, and protects subfloors.
• I’m team all‑electric bidet seats (heated, adjustable water temp, self‑cleaning nozzle) — Brondell’s SC400 is the sweet spot for comfort without paying Toto‑level prices, and yes, get a GFCI outlet.
• I love my Thermasol steam shower for wellness and aromatherapy, but I’ll be brutally honest: the touchscreen electronics aren’t waterproof, so place screens away from direct spray and expect to plan for 220V and service access.
• We used a Panasonic vent fan plus a clever transom idea to pull steam out efficiently; coordinate your AirMada blower and fan or you’ll be setting off hallway smoke detectors.
• Go barrier‑free with Infinity linear drains and large porcelain slabs — they’re gorgeous, easier to clean, and reduce grout drama, but install with the right large‑format mortars and Ardex products.
• Practical luxuries pay off: a whole‑house leak detector with auto shutoff can save your insurance claim, and a hardwired Amba towel warmer seriously cuts laundry and makes winter mornings feel deluxe.
• Lesson learned: don’t DIY a steam‑shower glass door, consolidate plumbing/electrical in accessible attic or service space, add rockwool for quiet and condensation control, and budget realistically because steam systems can cost tens of thousands.

Links referenced in this episode:

• aroundthehouseonline.com

Thanks for listening to Around the house if you want to hear more please subscribe so you get notified of the latest episode as it posts at https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

If you want to join the Around the House Insider for access to the back catalog, Exclusive Content and a direct email to Eric G and access to the show early https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

We love comments and we would love reviews on how this information has helped you on your house! Thanks for listening! For more information about the show head to https://aroundthehouseonline.com/

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

Alright, here’s how I’d play 2027 if I were you: the housing market is shifting from a relentless seller’s treadmill to something friendlier to buyers — at least in most metros. I walk you through the numbers we’ve been watching (Redfin’s gap, inventory creeping up, average time on market around 33 days) and explain why mortgage rates in the mid-to-high sevens aren’t apocalypse-level — they’re just the new normal compared to the dreamy 3% era. I also tell it straight about deferred maintenance: water is the slow killer of houses, and if you let caulking, roofing and exterior wood slide for years you’ll pay way more later. So we talk trade-offs: buy now if your lease is ending and you can lock a deal; otherwise consider smart renovations if you’re sitting on a low-rate mortgage or want to avoid risky landlord laws in your area. I get a little personal — we’re fighting a Hvac saga with Lennar and I’ve been to the Mayo Clinic for a week (thanks for the patience) — because real decisions are always messy and human. Then I pivot to practical, high-ROI moves: fix deferred maintenance, consider turning a house into a rental only in markets where landlord protections make sense, and don’t let interest-rate fear freeze you. TL;DR: be strategic, not panicked. If you’re a millennial tired of renting, there are deals out there; if you own, prioritize maintenance and energy checks so you’re not caught off guard when market or utility shocks hit.

Takeaways:

• I’m telling you: 2027 looks like a buyer’s market in many places — more inventory and seller concessions mean if you can escape a lease, now’s a smart time to pounce.
• We keep saying it on the show: water and deferred maintenance will quietly ruin your house — I beg you, fix roofs, caulking, and siding before small stuff becomes a teardown drama.
• If you’re remodeling, I’d reserve your quartz slabs today — California might ban man‑made quartz, and I’m expecting a 60–90 day sell-through scramble that could mess with your timeline.
• I don’t hate quartz, but silica dust is a real worker health crisis — ask fabricators about wet cutting, vacuums, StopAct certification, and take a shop tour so I don’t have to scold anyone later.
• Listen up: tariffs could hit imported cabinets and upholstered goods hard on January 1, 2027 — I’d buy now or choose Made‑in‑USA pieces unless you enjoy surprise sticker shock.
• We’re seeing real kitchen shifts: I love the return of defined zones, back kitchens, concealed appliances, two‑tone islands, plus practical resilience like leak detection and backup power.
• Energy reality check from me: heating oil prices are way up and electricity isn’t cheap either — tune your furnace, consider fuel swaps, and install whole‑house safety systems before bills give you heartburn.

Links referenced in this episode:

• aroundthehouseonline.com

Thanks for listening to Around the house if you want to hear more please subscribe so you get notified of the latest episode as it posts at https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

If you want to join the Around the House Insider for access to the back catalog, Exclusive Content and a direct email to Eric G and access to the show early https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

We love comments and we would love reviews on how this information has helped you on your house! Thanks for listening! For more information about the show head to https://aroundthehouseonline.com/

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

Buckle up — we’re jumping straight into the 2027 game plan and I’m the one steering this conversation with a coffee cup in one hand and a measuring tape in the other. We talk about whether you’re remodeling, buying new, or hunting for that first home, and I give the kind of no-nonsense pointers that actually help you avoid rookie mistakes. We also get real about silica dust: I lay out how quartz granules become a health hazard when fabricators dry-cut without respirators or water suppression, why manufacturers and cutters both share the blame, and what could happen if regulators like the California Air Resources Board decide to act. Spoiler — if they vote to curb or ban certain products, supply and installation could get interesting. Beyond the doom-and-gloom, I walk you through practical takeaways: how to vet fabricators, what PPE and on-site controls matter, and the timeline to watch (that November 19th meeting is worth marking). I close with the usual cheer-squad reminders to subscribe, leave a review, and follow our channels — because keeping the show alive means we keep bringing the messy, useful truth about home projects to you. Expect real talk, a few laughs, and actionable steps you can use before your next contractor shows up with a saw and a smile.

Takeaways:

• We jump into your 2027 game plan — remodeling, buying, or first-home strategies, nailed.
• I warn you about quartz silica dust risks: dry-cutting fabricators without respirators create serious long-term health hazards.
• We're tracking California's Air Resources Board vote — possible ban could be scheduled November 19th, so stay tuned and a little nervous.
• In hour two we gush about spa-level master bathroom upgrades: heated floors, Ardex/Irmada systems, and yes, bidet toilets that feel surprisingly civilized.
• We ask you to subscribe, follow our YouTube channels, leave reviews, and keep those hammers swinging while we dodge rogue ladders and website crashes.

Links referenced in this episode:

• aroundthehouseonline.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Airmada
• Ardex
• Toto
• Kohler
• California Air Resources Board
• YouTube

Thanks for listening to Around the house if you want to hear more please subscribe so you get notified of the latest episode as it posts at https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

If you want to join the Around the House Insider for access to the back catalog, Exclusive Content and a direct email to Eric G and access to the show early https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

We love comments and we would love reviews on how this information has helped you on your house! Thanks for listening! For more information about the show head to https://aroundthehouseonline.com/

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

Forget polite corporate spin — I ripped into something that smells funny and I’m dragging you along. I talk about how Lennar spun off Milrose (they split it off in early 2025), and then Milrose went on a buying spree: more than 700 finished homes across 15 states in about a month, roughly $200 million worth. My antennae went up when Hunter Brook Media (and yes, they’re affiliated with an investment firm) started poking around and found Milrose buying homes that were supposed to be held as land — not rented out. Then filings changed, suddenly allowing Milrose to rent finished houses. Investors filed a class action claiming misleading statements between February 2025 and October 2026, and I walk through the math that suggests Lennar only barely hit delivery targets because of those sales. It’s sketchy, possibly a backroom move to prop up sales numbers and keep stock sentiment buoyant — and then Warren Buffett’s Berkshire quietly ups its stake. I also share my own, annoyingly personal connection: my fiancés son bought a Lennar home and we’re still battling HVAC and wiring issues. Bottom line: whether this is illegal or just ugly accounting, it stinks for homeowners and could ripple through neighborhoods. I’m staying on this story and doing a feature about a Lennar homeowner’s fight — so yeah, expect more receipts soon.

Takeaways:

• I’m calling shenanigans on Lennar’s move to spin off Milrose and then sell finished homes back to it, because it looks like a dodge to prop delivery numbers and tidy up earnings at just the right time.
• We talked about the investor lawsuit alleging misleading statements between February 2025 and October 2026, and I can’t help but note how odd timing—Lennar misses targets, Milrose pops up buying homes, and Berkshire quietly ups its stake—raises real questions.
• I’ve seen the homeowner side up close—my fiancée’s son bought from Lennar and we’re still fighting HVAC and wiring issues despite inspections, which makes me skeptical about quality control and buyer protections.
• We dug into the data and found nuance: a London School of Economics study suggests institutional buying can depress nearby home prices over time, while a Philly Fed paper found single-family rentals might nudge prices up slightly, so the real impact isn’t black-and-white.
• Heads-up on recalls: big-ticket hazards this week include 3M Scotch laminators that can overheat, crystal glass cups that can shatter into ingestion risks, bedside sleepers posing suffocation dangers, and air rifles firing unexpectedly—so I strongly recommend checking cpsc.gov for anything in your home.
• On a lighter note, I’m kind of into Medea’s new Straw Wash dishwasher—finally someone designing jets to actually clean metal straws and lids, and yeah, I’ll admit I want one because I’m tired of pre-rinsing and pretending it’s fine.

Links referenced in this episode:

• expedia.com
• youtube.com
• cpsc.gov/recalls
• finance.yahoo.com
• aroundthehouseonline.com

Home ventilation with Ken from Panasonic: ERVs, bath and kitchen exhaust fans, crawlspace moisture and MERV-13 filters for better indoor air.

Ventilation is the single biggest thing you can do to keep your home healthy, and John and I got into it with Ken from Panasonic. We talked about why the dusty little $29 fan most builders put in isn't cutting it, and why a quality fan with a real ECM motor pays for itself. Ken has one humming away in his own crawl space that's been running for 18 years.

We broke down ERVs: two fans and a special membrane core that swaps heat and moisture, so you get fresh air without a runaway energy bill. Then the part nobody wants to hear: check those filters. In wildfire smoke or high-pollution areas you may be changing them monthly, and a MERV-13 filter makes a real difference.

We also busted a few myths. An open window isn't always ventilation, because air needs pressure differences to move. Over-the-range microwaves are about the worst "hood" you can buy. And recirculating hoods just push the grease and gunk around. Kitchens, garages and crawl spaces all make moisture and fumes that feed mold, so vent fans to the outside, not into the attic.

In this episode:

- Why cheap bath fans are a false economy, and what ECM motors bring to the table

- How an ERV works and why it saves energy

- MERV-13 filters and how often to change them in wildfire or smoky air

- Smart controls that can pause outside air when air quality is bad, and what they cost

- Why open windows aren't reliable ventilation

- Over-the-range microwaves vs. a properly ducted kitchen hood

- Garage and crawlspace ventilation to keep moisture and mold out

- Motion-sensor and humidity-sensing fans that turn on so you don't have to remember

- Balancing a tight, energy-efficient house with healthy air, code and the builder's budget

Thanks for listening to Around the House! Subscribe so you get the latest episode as soon as it posts: https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

Join the Around the House Insider for the back catalog, exclusive content, early access to the show and a direct email to Eric G: https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

We love comments and reviews about how this info helped with your house. More at https://aroundthehouseonline.com/

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

Takeaways:

• I brag about Panasonic's ECM motors — ours run for decades with minimal fuss, so don't cheap out on fans unless you enjoy mysterious mold and callbacks.
• We reminded listeners that ventilation isn't just for bathrooms; kitchens, garages, and crawl spaces produce moisture, chemicals, and starch aerosols that feed mold and wreck indoor air if ignored.
• I explained ERVs: two fans and a special membrane core that swaps heat and moisture so we save energy and keep humidity manageable, not mystical voodoo.
• We stressed that ERV and ventilation filters must be checked often — in high PM or wildfire-prone areas you'll change them monthly, otherwise your fancy system turns into a black Chia Pet.
• I admitted smart controls can pause ventilation during wildfire smoke or awful outdoor air, but adding Wi‑Fi sensors and automation costs money, and builders are watching every cent.
• We warned that open windows don't guarantee ventilation because air movement needs pressure differentials; mechanical systems give predictable, uneventful fresh air while windows gamble with the weather.
• I roasted over‑the‑range microwaves as the worst ventilation option — they mostly recirculate greasy vapor, so invest in a properly ducted hood that vents outside.
• We balanced reality: tightening the building envelope saves energy but requires smarter ventilation choices, so pick solutions that hit comfort, health, code, and the builder's budget.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Panasonic Ventilation
• Panasonic
• ENERGY STAR
• Gore-Tex
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• YouTube

Thanks for listening to Around the house if you want to hear more please subscribe so you get notified of the latest episode as it posts at https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/listen

If you want to join the Around the House Insider for access to the back catalog, Exclusive Content and a direct email to Eric G and access to the show early https://around-the-house-with-e.captivate.fm/support

We love comments and we would love reviews on how this information has helped you on your house! Thanks for listening! For more information about the show head to https://aroundthehouseonline.com/

Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.