On this episode of On The Highway, Bridgette Hardonk talks with Mary Vaca, a process-driven loan officer who left corporate tech at 40 and has hit President's Club every year since 2020, including a $16M quarter in a market no one's calling easy.

Mary shares the playbooks behind the numbers: how she preps clients for rate dips months out, why she walked away from chasing social media stardom, the listing-agent move that keeps referrals coming back, how she uses AI to handle greedy clients, and the time-blocking system that lets her run a top-producing business while showing up for three kids, CrossFit, and family.

Inflation accelerated in April at both the consumer and wholesale levels, complicating the outlook for interest rate cuts, while existing home sales posted a m…Inflation accelerated in April at both the consumer and wholesale levels, complicating the outlook for interest rate cuts, while existing home sales posted a modest increase. The latest data also offers a snapshot of trends in consumer spending and the labor market.

The MBS Highway National Housing Index rose 5 points in May 2026, climbing from 42 in April to 47. Buyer activity rebounded sharply from last month’s rate-driven pullback, hitting exactly 50 — the expansion threshold — while price direction continued its slow but steady climb.

Labor market data sent mixed signals this week, with a strong headline jobs number masking softer details underneath and ADP data revealing a split market. But housing told a different story, with new home sales beating expectations and forecasts pointing to real opportunity for buyers.

Scott Brixen breaks down the April 2026 housing inventory numbers from Realtor.com. Active listings crossed a major milestone nationally this spring, but is that the rebound buyers have been waiting for or just seasonal noise? Scott weighs April against last year and pre-pandemic norms, then gets to the real story of where that inventory actually lives.

In this episode, Scott Brixen breaks down the latest Case-Shiller Home Price Index for February 2026, and the headline number might surprise you. Tune in to find out which cities are heating up, which are cooling down, and what it all means for conversations with your clients.

The Fed held rates steady amid ongoing policy debate, while inflation edged higher driven by rising oil prices. National home values climbed for a seventh consecutive month, underscoring the continued benefits of homeownership. On the construction side, housing starts came in above expectations, though permits pulled back, offering a mixed picture for new supply. Looking ahead, GDP and unemployment figures remain key data points in focus.

Pending home sales showed a modest lift in March, offering a small sign of movement as the market looks for direction, while retail sales came in stronger than expected, helped in part by rising gas prices. At the same time, jobless claims continue to reflect an evolving labor landscape, with underlying shifts in how and where people work still playing out.

In this exclusive webinar, learn from top producers who have refined their messaging and built point-of-sale conversations that are converting in 2026.

The housing market showed a shift in April after several months of building momentum. The MBS Highway Housing Index pulled back, driven largely by a noticeable drop in buyer activity as mortgage rates moved higher. While pricing hasn’t cracked in a meaningful way, demand clearly softened, signaling that the spring surge may not be as strong or as durable as expected. The bigger story here is how sensitive this market remains to rate movement, and what that could mean for the months ahead.