The median agent with two years or less in the business grossed $8,000 in 2025. The median agent's business expenses were $9,530. That gap is where most real estate careers end, and almost nobody explains it before someone signs up for licensing school.

In this episode, Agent Kee answers a question she gets asked constantly: is right now a good time to become a real estate agent. The answer comes from data rather than encouragement.

The episode covers the current state of the profession, including national membership figures, income by years of experience, and California licensee counts from the Department of Real Estate. It then walks through the three structural changes a new agent is entering into. How compensation is negotiated after the August 2024 rule changes. What the Compass and Anywhere merger did and did not do to the brokerage landscape. And what artificial intelligence actually absorbed, which is the entry-level work that used to give new agents a way in.

The episode closes with five questions that predict who lasts in this business, an honest description of who should not enter it, and the case for why the advisory work matters more now than it has in years.

Agent Kee is a broker, developer, and housing advocate in Sacramento, and the owner of Mathews and Co. Realty Group. Selling Sacramento airs Wednesdays at 1 PM on 97.5 FM KDEE, the Soul of Sacramento™.

To talk through your own situation, buying, selling, or building a career in this business, book time at agentkee.com.

Dolly Parton died last week, and one story has been everywhere: that she took the millions Whitney Houston's recording of "I Will Always Love You" earned her and bought a commercial property in a Black Nashville neighborhood, calling it "the house that Whitney built."

It's a beautiful story. The property records tell a different one.

In this episode, Agent Kee follows two assets through the same lesson. First the song, including the 1974 phone call from Elvis Presley's manager demanding half of Dolly's publishing, and the night she said no and cried about it. Then the real estate, and what NPR found when it went back to the Nashville Planning Department and checked the dates the Washington Post had reported.

Then the part the tribute posts skip: what happened to that corner over the next thirty years, and who was still holding title when the value showed up.

And because this is not just a Nashville story, Kee brings it home to Oak Park, Del Paso Heights and Meadowview, with the numbers on what the foreclosure crisis did to Black homeownership in Sacramento County and where the appreciation went afterward.

One question runs through all of it. When the value shows up, will your name be on the deed?

Sources cited in the episode notes.

Selling Sacramento airs live Wednesdays 1 to 2 PM on 97.5 FM KDEE, the Soul of Sacramento. Book a consultation at AgentKee.com.

I've had several conversations lately with people asking me the same question: Is this really a good time to buy a home?

The concern behind that question made me realize that people need more than another prediction about where home prices or mortgage rates are headed. They need to understand how we got here.

In this episode of Selling Sacramento, I'm walking through nearly two decades of housing history—from the 2008 housing crash to the Sacramento market we're standing in today.

We start with what actually broke during the Great Recession and what happened when the construction industry lost roughly 2.3 million jobs. Then we follow what happened next: the decline of the skilled-trades pipeline, California's emphasis on the four-year college pathway, the short sale and REO years, First Look programs that gave owner-occupants an opportunity to compete for foreclosed homes, and the generational wealth that was created in some of Sacramento's historically overlooked neighborhoods.

Then we get to 2019, because COVID did not create Sacramento's housing shortage. Inventory was already extremely tight before the pandemic began.

When historically low mortgage rates collided with that shortage in 2020 and 2021, purchasing power increased, competition exploded and Sacramento home values accelerated at a pace far beyond the region's historical average.

So why didn't prices crash when mortgage rates went back above 6%? Why aren't homeowners selling? What happened to rates in 2026? How do construction labor, housing inventory, inflation and the cost of financing all connect?

And after all of that: Is now actually a good time to buy?

There isn't one answer for everybody. My goal is to give you enough context to understand the market so you can make a better decision for yourself and your family.

Selling Sacramento with Agent Kee Mathews
97.5 FM KDEE — The Soul of Sacramento™
AgentKee.com

About two percent of mortgaged homes in this country are underwater. That number is nowhere near where it was during the Great Recession, and it is not a description of your house. The stress in today's market is concentrated, not spread evenly. If you are standing in one of those pockets, the national average does not help you.

In this episode, Agent Kee walks through short sales from the homeowner's side of the table.

She explains what a short sale is in plain terms, how it differs from foreclosure, a loan modification, and a deed in lieu, and why understanding those differences can protect your financial future.

You'll also learn how California's nonjudicial foreclosure process works—from the first missed payment through the Notice of Default, the reinstatement period, the Notice of Trustee Sale, and the foreclosure auction—and why seven months of runway is often much shorter than it sounds when lender approval alone can take 60 to 90 days.

The episode also addresses five of the biggest misconceptions about short sales:

• Do you have to be behind on your mortgage to qualify?

• Will you still owe the difference after the sale?

• Can you afford to sell if you have no money for closing costs?

• Why do lenders approve short sales?

• Is a short sale as damaging as a foreclosure?

Agent Kee also discusses what actually causes short sales to fail, why timing is one of the most important factors in a successful outcome, and how to recognize foreclosure rescue scams that often target homeowners immediately after a Notice of Default is recorded.

Agent Kee is a licensed California real estate broker and real estate economist. She is not an attorney or CPA, and nothing discussed in this episode should be considered legal or tax advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your specific situation.

Selling Sacramento airs live every Wednesday from 1:00–2:00 PM on 97.5 FM KDEE, The Soul of Sacramento™.

Learn more or schedule a confidential consultation at AgentKee.com.

Whether you're buying your first newly built home or your next one, understanding the construction process before you sign a contract can save you time, money, and frustration.

In this episode of the Selling Sacramento Podcast, Keisha "Agent Kee" Mathews breaks down what buyers need to know about purchasing new construction in California. You'll learn what to expect from construction timelines, builder contracts, deposits, design center upgrades, inspections, financing, warranties, and why having your own representation matters throughout the process.

If you're considering a new home in communities throughout Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, Rancho Cordova, Natomas, or elsewhere in California, this episode will help you approach the process with confidence.

Topics include:

• Understanding construction timelines
• Builder deposits and upgrade costs
• Builder contracts and negotiations
• Inspections throughout construction
• Financing and rate locks
• Builder warranties
• Choosing upgrades wisely
• Why your own REALTOR® matters

Read the companion article:
Navigating New Home Construction

For questions about buying new construction in the Sacramento region, visit:
AgentKee.com

Why America's Skilled Labor Crisis Is Slowing Home Construction

America's housing shortage isn't simply a shortage of homes. It's also a shortage of the skilled workforce needed to build them.

In this episode of Selling Sacramento, I explore one of the least discussed drivers of today's housing affordability crisis: the construction labor shortage that has been building since the Great Recession. While much of the national conversation focuses on housing supply, homes cannot be built without the electricians, framers, plumbers, roofers, concrete finishers, HVAC technicians, and other skilled tradespeople who bring them to life.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What happened to the construction workforce after the 2008 housing crash.

• Why many skilled tradespeople never returned.

• How labor shortages continue to affect the pace and cost of home construction.

• Why increasing housing supply requires more than land, financing, and government policy.

• What this means for California, Sacramento, and the future of housing affordability.

If we're serious about solving America's housing shortage, we also have to solve the workforce shortage behind it.

🎙️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZMmoNkKYa9bQ4ZmCq0Z5x?si=pzCY-VGpS1er9Kj6ZzZeqA

Every real estate market eventually changes. Interest rates move, inventory shifts, buyer demand changes, and the strategies that worked yesterday don't always work today.

In this episode of Selling Sacramento: Market Clarity with Agent Kee, I explore the four types of real estate professionals every market shift reveals: The Strategist, The Drifter, The Alarmist, and The Builder.

This conversation is designed for REALTORS®, but buyers and sellers will also gain valuable insight into why representation matters more than ever in today's market. You'll learn how changing market conditions expose business habits, why preparation consistently outperforms reaction, and what questions consumers should ask before choosing a real estate professional.

Whether you're navigating your first market cycle or your fifth, this episode will help you better understand how market shifts create opportunities for those who are prepared.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why market shifts reveal habits instead of creating them

• The difference between reacting to the market and preparing for it

• The four responses professionals have during changing markets

• Why consumers should understand how agents adapt

• Questions every buyer and seller should ask before hiring an agent

If this episode brought you value, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from a little more market clarity.

* Originally aired 7/8/2026 at 1P PST on Selling Sacramento on 97.5 FM KDEE, The Soul of Sacramento.

The day you hire a real estate agent, something happens that nobody explains to you. You go quiet, and someone else begins speaking for you in rooms you'll never enter. Every conversation, every negotiation, and every recommendation is now being made on your behalf.

On this episode of Selling Sacramento, Agent Kee explores the decision that matters more than the house, the price, or the paperwork: who represents you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why your agent becomes your voice the moment you sign—and how that voice can influence your transaction in ways you'll never see.

• The story of a real transaction where the buyers were unknowingly put at risk by their own representation.

• The five representation styles—from the commission-driven agent to the bulldozer to the true professional—and what each one can cost the client.

• The seven questions every buyer and seller should ask before hiring an agent, including the one almost no one thinks to ask.

• Why great negotiations are built on relationships, not just money.

• What fiduciary duty really means and why it should matter to every buyer and seller.

Whether you're buying or selling in Sacramento, El Dorado Hills, or Placer County—or simply want to better understand what exceptional representation looks like—this episode will change the way you choose a real estate professional.

Selling Sacramento airs live every Wednesday from 1:00 to 2:00 PM on 97.5 FM KDEE, The Soul of Sacramento, and is hosted by Keisha "Agent Kee" Mathews, Broker/Owner of Mathews & Co. Realty Group.

Schedule a consultation at AgentKee.com.

Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – The Most Important Decision You'll Make Before Buying or Selling a Home
04:16 – Your Agent Is Your Voice
07:33 – The Transaction the Buyers Never Saw
15:00 – The Five Representation Styles
40:00 – How to Interview an Agent Before You Hire Them

Misinformation can be expensive, especially when it comes to buying a home. In this episode of Selling Sacramento: Market Clarity with Agent Kee, we separate fact from fiction and tackle three common myths that continue to confuse buyers and homeowners.

🎙 Episode Chapters

2:24 – 15:17 | The VA Loan Myth
Many veterans and active-duty service members have heard that VA offers are harder to win or that sellers don't want them. We discuss what today's market really looks like and why VA financing remains one of the strongest benefits available to eligible buyers.

16:17 – 33:40 | The Condo Myth
A lower list price doesn't always mean a lower monthly payment. Learn how HOA dues affect buying power, why lenders focus on monthly obligations rather than purchase price, and the questions every condo buyer should ask before writing an offer.

34:36 – 51:30 | The Renovation Myth
Many homeowners believe remodeling projects automatically increase a home's value. We discuss the difference between cost and value, which improvements buyers appreciate most, and why some projects provide a better return than others.

Whether you're buying your first home, planning your next move, or simply trying to make informed decisions, this episode will help you cut through the noise and approach real estate with greater clarity and confidence.

Have the conversation.

Selling Sacramento: Market Clarity with Agent Kee
Wednesdays • 1:00–2:00 PM PST
97.5 FM KDEE • The Soul of Sacramento

There are two types of buyers in Sacramento right now, and there are two types of sellers. The buyer your home attracts is determined almost entirely by the choices you make before the sign ever goes in the yard.

On this episode of Selling Sacramento: Market Clarity with Agent Kee, I walk you through both buyer types, both seller types, the timeframes you can realistically expect, the four buckets of preparation that separate a 10-day contract from a 90-day stale listing, and the five most expensive mistakes I see costing sellers tens of thousands of dollars in this market.

What you will hear in this episode:

The difference between the intentional buyer, also known as the FOMO buyer, and the forensic buyer who is hunting your days on market like a medical chart.

The four buckets every prepared seller works through before going live: condition, presentation, photography and marketing, and pricing.

The "days on market tax" and what it actually costs sellers in this market.

What to do when life is happening and you cannot afford to wait 90 days to prepare a home for sale.

How to know whether you are ready to list, or whether you need a few more weeks to get there.

This episode is for anyone thinking about selling in the next 30, 60, or 90 days, anyone already listed and wondering why their phone is not ringing, and anyone supporting a family member or client through a sale during a life transition.

To work with me directly, the fastest path is calendly.com/mcrghomes/chat-with-kee or agentkee.com. Consultations are free, private, and scheduled around your life.

Selling Sacramento: Market Clarity with Agent Kee airs live every Wednesday from 1 to 2 PM on 97.5 FM KDEE, the Soul of Sacramento™.