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Rocket Mortgage gets sued for mortgage steering!

Today, I discuss the ethical implications of mortgage steering and RESPA violations in real estate. I will highlight the significant lawsuit against Rocket Mortgage, alleging unethical practices in referral systems that prioritize financial benefits over consumer interests. 

I also delve into the responsibilities of real estate agents to act in the best interest of their clients and the potential legal ramifications of failing to do so. Lastly, I discuss the importance of transparency in referrals and the need for agents to resist pressure from brokerages to prioritize financial incentives.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

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This week I continue to look back at the massive real estate news stories of 2025. Last week, I did stories 10 through 6 of the biggest 10 stories of the year. This week we review stories 5 to 1 discussing how each item changed the real estate industry in 2025 and how the change will continue to affect your business in 2026. 

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO OUR BRAND-NEW COMPANION PODCAST ON HOW TO EASILY IMPLEMENT AI INTO YOUR REAL ESTATE PRACTICE.  Learn how to become AI savvy in just 15 minutes a week.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570988/episodes/18562826

Can also be found on all podcast platforms!

Don't forget to like us and share us!
Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

Send us a text

This week I look back at the massive real estate news stories of 2025. I count down the biggest 10 stories of the year and discuss how each item changed the real estate industry in 2025 and how the change will continue to affect your business in 2026. 

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO OUR BRAND-NEW COMPANION PODCAST ON HOW TO EASILY IMPLEMENT AI INTO YOUR REAL ESTATE PRACTICE.  Learn how to become AI savvy in just 15 minutes a week.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2570988/episodes/18496220

Can also be found on all podcast platforms!

Don't forget to like us and share us!
Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

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Today I look at what all of the experts predict for the 2026 real estate market.  What will interest rates do? Will house prices rise and by how much? Will inventory change and become a buyer market? So many questions are fueling the perception of the market.  

Listen to see what you can expect in the market this coming year. 

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

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Every year I like to look back at the so-called expert predictions for the year's housing market. What did the experts predict for sales, interest rates, inventory and more?  Did the 2025 predictions come true and can we trust that these same experts with getting the predictions for 2026 correct?  

This week I will review and recap the predictions for 2025 and examine what actually happened throughout the year.  

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

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On this extended edition of Dishin' Dirt, I examine the contentious topic of whether South Carolina should adopt a statewide MLS or maintain its current multiple local MLSs. 

I am joined by MLS current and former board members, Craig Summerall, Matthew Thrift, and Brad Allen. Our conversation delves into the pros and cons of both systems, the ethical implications for real estate agents, and the challenges posed by having multiple MLSs in the upstate region. 

My guests share their insights on the importance of local expertise, the technical challenges of a statewide MLS, and the potential for consolidation among existing MLSs. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of MLS in South Carolina and the need for improved standards and practices in the real estate industry.

Guest emails:

Brad [email protected]

Craig Summerall- [email protected]

Matthew [email protected]

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

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Reah Smith joins me on Dishin' Dirt to discuss the ongoing issue of commission steering in real estate, its implications following the Sitzer/Burnett settlement, and the ethical considerations surrounding compensation structures. 

We explore the importance of buyer agency agreements, the role of bonuses in transactions, and the need for a cultural shift within the industry. Our conversation emphasizes the necessity for training and education for real estate agents to navigate these changes effectively and the potential future of compensation models in real estate.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

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The National Association of REALTORs was in the news last week concerning two policies. One was changed and the other was upheld.   

First, NAR voted to end the requirement of NAR membership to gain access to REALTOR owned MLSs. This is a great policy change but did the change go far enough?

Secondly, NAR failed to approve the required disclosure of referral fees in a real estate transaction. This is a very bad look for the Association especially when you hear the amount of support in the Association for the change. 

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

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I have been saying since the settlement that broker-to-broker compensation is a broken model. Tony Nalley of ERA Wilder Realty joins me today to discuss how they moved away from broker-to-broker compensation. Tony tells us why they made the move, how it was rolled out to the agents and how it has been a positive for the brokerage's agents and clients.  

Hopefully, other brokers will hear Tony and ERA's experience and consider making the same move! 

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.

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I had the absolute pleasure this year of meeting and getting to know Keon Alrich, the current SC REALTOR President. Keon is finishing her term as President and agreed to sit down with me for an exclusive one-on-one interview to discuss her thoughts on her year of service. We discuss successes, plans, regrets, threats and opportunity. 

Whether you are a REALTOR or not, you don't want to miss the opportunity to hear from one of the thought leaders in the industry.

Don't forget to like us and share us!
Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.