Housing inventory is surging across the U.S., with new listings up over 11% and total active listings rising more than 30% year-over-year. But despite more homes hitting the market, many buyers are still on the sidelines—held back by high mortgage rates and ongoing affordability concerns. In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down the latest data from Realtor.com’s Weekly Housing Trends Report and explains why increased supply isn't translating into stronger demand. You’ll also hear insights on inflation, Federal Reserve policy, and how buyer sentiment is shifting as the typical home spends longer on the market.

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SOURCE: https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/mortgage-interest-rates-now-may-8-2025/ 

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 00:00 Housing Inventory
• 00:27 Realtor.com's New Report
• 00:54 Total Active Listings
• 01:25 Economic Indications
• 02:00 Days on Market
• 02:18 Home Pricing
• 02:40 Buyer Activity 

 

US credit downgrades are back in the spotlight as Moody’s lowers the U.S. rating from Aaa to Aa1 for the first time since 1949. In today’s episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what this means for bond markets, long-term Treasury yields, and most importantly—mortgage rates. With the 30-year Treasury briefly topping 5%, investors and homebuyers alike are wondering: are borrowing costs headed even higher? Plus, how this move aligns Moody’s with other rating agencies, why deficits and political gridlock are driving concern, and what to watch in the real estate market in the weeks ahead.

LINKS

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/19/us-treasury-yields-moodys-downgrades-us-credit-rating.html  Download Your Free Top 5 Cities to Invest in 2025 PDF! https://www.realwealth.com/1500 JOIN RealWealth® FOR FREE https://realwealth.com/join-step-1 FOLLOW OUR PODCASTS Real Wealth Show: Real Estate Investing Podcast https://link.chtbl.com/RWS Real Estate News: Real Estate Investing Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/REN

 

Topics Discussed:

• 00:00 US Credit Downgrades
• 00:32 Bond Yield Movement
• 01:10 Moody's Reasoning
• 01:27 Market Reaction
• 02:16 Moody's Warning
• 02:28 Mortgage Rates, Car Loans, and Credit Cards

The U.S. and China have agreed to dramatically roll back tariffs — from 125% to 10% — in a surprise deal that's sparking a major Wall Street rally. In this episode, Kathy Fettke explains how the tariff reduction impacts markets, recession forecasts, and investor sentiment. Tech stocks are surging, bond yields are rising, and the Nasdaq has officially entered a new bull market. Tune in to Real Estate News for Investors for expert insight on what this means for the economy, interest rates, and real estate investment strategies.

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Opportunity Zone incentives may soon reach new areas, thanks to a proposed extension through 2033. A key House committee has included major Opportunity Zone reforms in a sweeping tax package, aiming to give investors more time and more places to deploy capital gains for powerful tax advantages. The proposal would allow states to nominate a new round of zones—especially in rural communities—with even stronger incentives, while also tightening eligibility and expanding what kinds of income qualify for OZ investment. In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what’s in the bill, how it could reshape the Opportunity Zone landscape, and what investors should consider now as Congress debates the future of this high-impact program. Topics Discussed:

• 00:00 Opportunity Zones
• 00:20 House Committee Proposal
•  01:10 Program Tax Incentives
• 01:48 Rural Areas 
• 02:10 Tightened Rules and Shift in Funds
• 02:44 Positive Feedback for Bill
• 03:16 Critics of Bill

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Source: https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/opportunity-zones/oz-opportunity-zone-extension-expansion-house-proposal-129324

Builders are slowing down, but inventory is rising. In this Real Estate News Brief, Kathy Fettke dives into the latest trends in home starts, sales, and what it all means for real estate investors. From the sharp decline in single-family construction to the resilience of multifamily and the growing number of completed homes for sale, this episode offers critical insights into a shifting market. Whether you're buying, selling, or holding, tune in to stay ahead of the curve. Topics Discussed:

• 00:00 Real Estate News Brief
• 00:24 Home Builder, Starts Slow
• 01:01 Single Family Starts
• 01:14 Multifamily Construction
• 01:33 Housing Completions
• 01:53 New Home Sales
• 02:16 Inventory
• 02:27 Existing Home Sales

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Zillow is enforcing stricter MLS compliance, requiring publicly marketed listings to appear on the MLS within one business day — or be removed from Zillow and Trulia. This move could have major implications for agents, investors, and off-market deal flow. In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what the policy means, why it’s controversial, and how it could reshape transparency, competition, and control in the real estate industry. Topics Discussed:

• 00:00 Zillow's Shakeup
• 00:25 Zillow's MLS New Rules
• 01:00 Investor Impact
• 01:30 Buyer Visibility
• 01:50 The Controversy 
• 02:28 Zillow's Reasoning 

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Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/real-estate/2025/05/06/zillow-home-listings-new-guidelines/83447930007/ 

The Fed's interest rate pause is making headlines as economic uncertainty reaches new heights. In this episode, Kathy Fettke unpacks what the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates steady means for real estate investors, borrowers, and the broader economy. With rising concerns about stagflation, shaky GDP numbers, and trade tensions driving market volatility, this pause may be more than just a waiting game — it could signal the start of a critical turning point. Topics Discussed:

• 00:00 Fed's Interest Rate Decisions
• 00:38 Fed's Post Meeting Statements
• 01:00 Stagflation Risk and US Economy
• 01:23 Job Market
• 01:45 Tariffs 
• 02:20 Consumer Side 

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Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/07/fed-rate-decision-may-2025.html

First-time home buyers now make up a record 58% of agency purchase loans, according to ICE’s Monthly Mortgage Monitor — but price growth is cooling, and serious delinquencies are ticking up. In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what the latest data means for investors, lenders, and the 2025 housing market.

Topics Discussed:

• 00:00 First Time Home Buyers
• 00:33 Home Buyer Activity
• 01:08 Loans for First Time Home Buyers
• 01:47 Delinquencies 
• 02:16 Foreclosure Activity
• 02:43 Home Prices

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In a major shift, HUD and the FHA are walking back a Biden-era policy on foreclosures that gave nonprofits and government agencies first access to buy distressed properties. Originally intended to support affordable housing and community revitalization, the policy has delivered underwhelming results—prompting officials to reverse course. In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke breaks down what this rollback means for investors, how it could speed up the flow of foreclosed homes to the open market, and why it might lead to new buying opportunities in 2025.

Topics Discussed:

• 00:00 New FHA Policy
• 00:30 FHA Previous Foreclosure Policy
• 01:02 Mixed Results from Policy
• 01:50 Immediate Changes
• 02:10 What this Means for Investors 

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Source: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/fha-walks-back-biden-era-restrictions-on-foreclosed-property-sales/

A groundbreaking new study from the University of Cincinnati reveals that police funding can significantly impact home prices—but the effect depends on the income level of the community. In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke breaks down economist David Brasington’s findings, which show that increasing police budgets raises home values by 13% in low-income areas, while decreasing them by at least 14% in high-income neighborhoods. Tune in to learn why these opposing trends had been hidden in previous research, and what this means for investors, homeowners, and policymakers navigating the evolving landscape of public safety and property values.

Topics Discussed:

• 00:00 New Study: Police Budgets and Housing Prices
• 00:41 Low Income and High Income Communities
• 01:27 Study Methodology
• 02:00 Wealthier Communities
• 02:29 Lower Income Communities

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Source: https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2025/04/police-spending-housing-prices.html