Pete Fontana joins Mark and Jeff to dive into the growing divide between federal appraisal requirements and the added burdens imposed by individual states. With UAD 3.6 on the horizon and mobile adoption still low among appraisers, a further shakeout of the industry seems inevitable. Will these state-level overlays make it too difficult for new appraisers to enter the field? How are national groups, like the National Association of Realtors (NAR), stepping in to support harmonization? Meanwhile, Mark and Jeff are pushing through day three of a grueling fast (send snacks), and GDP came in red hot at 3%, beating expectations and stirring new questions about the economy’s next move. This is a can't-miss episode for anyone keeping an eye on the future of real estate, regulation, and appraiser resilience.

• Inflation creeps from 2.3% in April to 2.7% in June. What's driving it? Will it last?
• The U.S. government records its first monthly budget surplus in years. Is it a fluke or a turning point?
• For decades, healthcare has been the top employer in most states—but could new trade deals and tariffs bring manufacturing back to the top?

In Episode 50 (wow!) of Market Moves, Mark and Jeff welcome special guest Charles Baker to the show. Charles shares how he found his path into the world of real estate valuation, how life lessons from Tony Robbins have shaped his professional mindset, and how natural disasters — like the devastating California fires — can ripple through local real estate markets. It’s a story of personal growth, professional insight, and market impact you won't want to miss.

Jeff and Mark have a thought-provoking conversation with AI expert Roy Meyer. From real estate to business strategy — and even in our personal lives — artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we live and work. Unlocking its full potential requires more than just curiosity; it demands a whole new way of interacting. Roy dives into why engaging with AI is a fundamental shift from traditional tools like Google, and how mastering new approaches can lead to smarter decisions and greater efficiency in every area of life.

Prediction time! What's in store for the second half of 2025? Mark and Jeff predict Fed rate cuts, mortgage rates, S&P price, Fannie Mae stock price, if Jerome Powell will still be Fed Chair, and national median home prices for 12/31/2025. This episode also covers trade deals and U.S. unemployment data updates, as well as the size of the U.S. economy (only 13 states make up the biggest economy in the world).

Jeff and Mark discuss how the United States and China tariff deal is among macro trends leading to stability and easing of interest rates. Inversion point: number of sellers spiking while number of sellers is dropping. 2022 reported 6.4 million in home sales vs. 4 million home sales in 2025. It turns out, median home sale prices are more seasonal than you might think. This episode also focuses on Home Builder margin compassion for Lennar and KB Homes, an update on the Appraisal Institute lawsuit brought on by former CEO Dr. Cindy Chance, and the role of experience when it comes to being an appraiser - should all experience requirements be removed? Additionally, UAD 3.6 makes its first appearance on the pod, but just barely.

Mark and Jeff commit to teaming up for a fast. Can they do it? With inflation coming down and employment strong, why isn't the FED lowering their interest rate? What's up with thirty-two states seeing month-over-month home value decreases from April to May? Let's check out this X post: Is an appraisal really just "an expensive book report by a pencil pusher who called brokers for their data?" Lastly, how is artificial intelligence like the movies 50 First Dates and Memento?  https://youtu.be/LCEmiRjPEtQ?si=RM6zUGxBAcOTHmCV

Market Moves Intro

In episode 45, Mark and Jeff discuss Chase Bank CEO Jamie Diamond's perspective on the difficulty of the mortgage business - citing rules, regulations, and regulators in the space. Apple says that Large Language Models (LLMs) aren't going to lead to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). What do you think? Additionally, Jerome Powell's Fed chair term is up next year and Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent is being discussed as a possible successor. Finally, Jeff and Mark cover The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, which shows an increase in sentiment, putting an end to 4 months of consecutive declines leading up to May.

Housing - what a topic! Jeff and Mark discuss the change in trend between buyers and sellers in the national market. Homeowners with record levels of home equity are tapping into it at an increasing rate. There really isn't any appraiser licensing in Canada? Mark attended the Appraisal Institute of Canada conference and shares his perspective on the differences between Canada and U.S. real estate. Additionally, will the Chicago suburb condemn Pope Leo's childhood home?