this Week in Real Estate

This week, we uncover the hottest stories shaping real estate trends across the country. Inside the National Realtors Group, reports of chauffeured cars and Broadway tickets are raising eyebrows—what does this mean for the industry’s reputation? Despite higher interest rates, weekly mortgage demand ticked up, signaling renewed buyer activity. Could this be a sign of recovery?

We’ll also explore the growing influence of safety, climate, and affordability concerns on the housing market. 18% of home hunters are moving due to safety or crime concerns, while 14% cite climate risks. Meanwhile, for the first time in a decade, homes in areas with low natural disaster risk are rising in value faster than those in high-risk zones.

In Florida, home sales are sinking amid hurricane recovery and soaring HOA and insurance costs, while U.S. home prices rose 0.5% in October, marking a full year of consistent growth. At the same time, affordability remains a crisis—nearly 25% of people earning under $50,000 have skipped meals to make housing payments.

On a brighter note, existing home sales posted their biggest increase in nearly three years, and home tours and mortgage locks are bouncing back post-election. Could this be the market’s turning point? We’ll also take a way-too-early look at what Trump’s re-election could mean for housing and why 22% of Americans are more likely to move now that the election is over, with many considering a different country or state.

Finally, we dive into the phenomenon of 1 in 3 young adults still living with their parents—what does this mean for the housing market’s future?

Join us today at 10 PST / 1 EST for sharp insights and candid conversation. Subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and join the live discussion on Clubhouse!

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This week’s episode dives deep into the major developments shaping the housing market and the real estate industry. Compass CEO Robert Reffkin has made a bold statement, claiming Zillow could become the national MLS—is this the future of real estate? Meanwhile, Q3 earnings reports are illuminating the early impact of NAR's commission rule changes, raising questions about how these shifts will reshape agent income.

Legal challenges remain front and center, as a law professor warns that an 'unconstitutional' court order could derail NAR’s settlement deals on appeal. Plus, Anthony Hitt is stepping down as CEO of Engel & Völkers Americas—what’s next for this luxury real estate giant?

In market news, mortgage demand has stalled, and pending home sales held steady leading up to the election, despite mortgage rates hovering near 7%. Experts predict rates will remain elevated and volatile as financial markets digest the Trump presidency and its implications for the economy. Speaking of politics, we’ll explore how Trump’s mass deportation plan could impact immigrant workers and the housing market, and why America’s toughest housing markets are trending red.

On the rental side, national rents remained flat in October, but East Coast and Midwest metros are seeing sharp increases. Finally, we’ll look ahead as Zillow predicts which design trends will dominate in 2025.

Join us today at 10 PST / 1 EST as we break down these critical topics and their implications for buyers, sellers, and agents. Don’t forget to subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and join the live conversation on Clubhouse!

This week, we dive into the headlines dominating real estate and what they mean for agents, clients, and the market as a whole. Election anxiety is running high, and both agents and clients are feeling the tension as loose talk about housing policies impacts decision-making. A recent survey reveals that 38% of early voters say housing affordability influenced their presidential pick—what does this say about the intersection of housing and politics?

In legal news, objections are piling up against NAR and HomeServices settlement deals, while a judge has granted final approval to nine commission lawsuit settlements, potentially reshaping the industry. Meanwhile, real estate commissions have surprisingly held steady, even after new rules were implemented. Plus, Ryan Serhant scored a win in court against KW Black Label in a recruitment dispute.

On the market side, mortgage rates remain a hot topic. Despite a weak jobs report, they’re expected to fall slightly, but buyers are still reeling—mortgage demand has dropped 11% this week, and buyers have lost $33,000 in purchasing power in just six weeks. With the average age of first-time homebuyers hitting an all-time high of 38, what does this shift mean for the market?

We’ll also discuss the growth of renter households, now expanding three times faster than homeowners, and why more people are turning to cash-out refinances amid financial uncertainty. Plus, with 28% of houses for sale being newly built, the lowest share in three years, how will this affect inventory challenges?

Finally, we tackle the big question: What would a Trump presidency mean for housing? With policies likely to differ dramatically from the current administration, we explore the potential impacts on affordability, rates, and homeownership.

Join us today at 10 PST / 1 EST for sharp analysis and candid conversation. Subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and join us live on Clubhouse!

This week, we dive into some of the biggest stories reshaping the real estate landscape. The Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) is making waves, urging NAR to maintain the controversial Clear Cooperation policy in a new letter, claiming that weakening it could harm the integrity of the housing market. However, some local associations are still pushing back, challenging the policy as unnecessary and restrictive.

We’ll also cover Pacific Sotheby's International Realty’s recent partnership with Rechat, a move that brings cutting-edge tech to streamline agent workflows. Meanwhile, Real Brokerage’s RISE announcements signal strategic growth—what will this mean for agents and clients?

Despite mortgage rates rising again, pending home sales jumped 2.5% in September, marking the biggest monthly increase in over a year and a half. However, first-time buyers are still facing significant challenges with 30 renters for every home for sale in today’s supply-constrained market.

Home prices grew by 0.5% in September, the fastest pace since April, reflecting continued demand despite affordability pressures. As we look to 2025, new surveys highlight buyer and seller expectations and reveal that nearly a quarter of first-time buyers are delaying their purchases until after the election. Will political uncertainty drive even more market hesitation?

Join us today as we break down these key developments!

This week, we explore the major shifts and controversies shaping the real estate industry. We kick things off with NAR’s Clear Cooperation policy under attack—some agents claim it’s giving big brokerages a competitive edge, while others say dismantling it could harm both agents and consumers. One local association is outright rejecting the policy, intensifying the debate. Meanwhile, a survey reveals that 55% of agents now see MLS value declining post-NAR settlement, raising concerns about the future of cooperation in the market.

We also dive into Side’s legal battle with the Alexander brothers over alleged contract breaches. On the market front, mortgage demand dropped 17% this week as rates hit their highest point since August, leaving buyers on edge. Interestingly, nearly 25% of first-time homebuyers plan to delay purchases until after the election, adding more uncertainty to an already tense market.

We’ll also look at a new survey showing that 42% of homeowners favor Trump for maintaining home values, while 35% believe Kamala Harris would do better. Meanwhile, renters are almost twice as likely as homeowners to say housing affordability will affect their vote—what will this mean for the upcoming election?

Despite warmer-than-expected inflation, mortgage rates are unlikely to drop significantly. Yet, there’s good news: Pending home sales posted their biggest jump since 2021, signaling renewed buyer activity.

Join us today. Subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and join the conversation live on Clubhouse!

On today’s episode, we tackle some of the biggest stories shaking up the real estate world. NextHome CEO James Dwiggins is taking a stand, addressing critics of NAR’s Clear Cooperation policy—how will his comments reshape the debate? Meanwhile, eXp Realty has agreed to a massive $34 million settlement to resolve antitrust commission lawsuits. What impact will this have on the industry?

Additionally, the commission suit against Howard Hanna and an MLS has been tossed out on its merits, providing a significant legal victory in a time of increasing scrutiny on commissions. We’ll also dive into Realtor.com’s new legal battle, claiming that a former editor violated federal law—what does this mean for real estate media?

As we look ahead to 2024, we explore what homebuyers are expecting from real estate agents. With the role of agents constantly evolving, what do buyers want in today’s fast-changing market?

In broader housing news, nearly one-third of young adults say Hurricane Helene has influenced their decision on where to live, and September marked a major turning point for demand as pending home sales leveled off after nine months of declines. Tours hit their highest levels since April, showing a possible market revival.

However, mortgage rates have jumped following a strong jobs report, though consumer sentiment is at a 30-month high. Optimism about mortgage rates is growing, but will that translate into a housing market rebound?

Join us today as we break down these critical stories and more. Subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and join the live discussion on Clubhouse.

In this week’s episode, we dive into a whirlwind of real estate news, starting with REcolorado’s big move to cut ties with Realtor organizations after being sold to a private buyer. What impact will this have on the MLS landscape? We also cover NAR’s standoff over its controversial Clear Cooperation policy, as revealed by an eye-opening Inman survey. And in breaking news, NAR’s Chief Legal Officer Katie Johnson is stepping down—what does this mean for the future of the organization?

A law professor is shaking things up with a contract designed specifically with buyers' interests in mind—could this change the way we negotiate home purchases? And good news for first-time buyers: buying a starter home is now cheaper than it was a year ago! Plus, we’re seeing signs of market activity picking up, as mortgage demand shoots up and home tours hit their highest levels since May.

However, don’t get too comfortable—mortgage rates are unlikely to drop much further, even with the Fed’s upcoming rate cuts. Meanwhile, refinance demand has taken a step back after a minor bump in rates. With only 2.5% of U.S. homes changing hands this year—the lowest in decades—what does this signal for the market?

We’ll also explore why newly built apartments are filling up, but at a slower pace, and why asking rents for new units have dropped 6%, their lowest since 2022. Finally, Walmart is making headlines with a groundbreaking 8,000-square-foot building for 3D printing. Could this be a game-changer for construction? 

Join us for an in-depth look at these stories and more. Subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and be part of the live discussion on Clubhouse.

This week, we’re excited to be joined live by Skap, Matt, and Michele for a lively discussion on the hottest real estate headlines. We’ll kick off with a debate on NAR’s new consumer guides, which have sparked controversy among agents nationwide. And, Ryan Serhant’s latest tech rollout, S.MPLE, promises to streamline workflows for agents—how will this new platform impact real estate professionals?

In legal news, Compass CEO Robert Reffkin is making waves, claiming NAR’s Clear Cooperation policy violates ethics codes and state laws. Meanwhile, Move’s data-theft lawsuit against CoStar hits a major roadblock, putting a spotlight on the tensions between these two giants. We’ll also unpack the Move class-action lawsuit, which is shining an uncomfortable light on the world of paid leads.

On the market side, half of all home listings are now going stale, sitting unsold for 60 days or more. But there’s a glimmer of hope—buying a home has just become more affordable for the first time since 2020. Could this be the beginning of a market shift? We’ll also cover Fannie Mae’s prediction that 2024 could be the worst year for home sales since 1995—what does this mean for buyers and sellers? And with mortgage applications rising just 1% this week, the market remains in a delicate balance.

Plus, we’ll dive into AI-driven real estate fraud as a South Florida man shares his near-miss experience with this emerging scam. Finally, Realtor.com’s new feature promises to answer the burning question on every buyer’s mind: "Is This the Best Deal on the Street?"

With key insights from our special guests, this episode is one you don’t want to miss. Tune in today at 10 PST / 1 EST and join the conversation live on Clubhouse!

This week, we’re diving into the hottest headlines rocking the real estate world! Support for NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy is plummeting as the pressure around pocket listings intensifies. Mauricio Umansky is even threatening to sue NAR over these growing concerns, signaling a major showdown in the industry. Meanwhile, the "Portal Wars" are heating up, with $1 billion in advertising driving massive competition among real estate portals—what does this mean for buyers, sellers, and agents?

We also explore shocking allegations in a former NAR employee’s amended complaint, which details claims of discrimination and sexual harassment within the organization. And in a surprising turn of events, the owner of the infamous 'Billionaire Bunker' mansion is suing their realtor for not disclosing that Jeff Bezos was the buyer—what legal ramifications could this hold?

Plus, we take a look at the latest real estate scams, including "The Wolf of West Virginia"—a TikTok scam targeting unsuspecting buyers. On the tech side, Zillow is stepping up with an AI-powered home search that could render traditional filters obsolete. How will this change the way we shop for homes?

In economic news, the Fed is poised for its first rate cut in years after a hotter-than-expected CPI report. However, is it too soon to refinance your mortgage? Mortgage rates are falling, making housing payments more affordable than they were a year ago despite higher home prices. We’ll also cover the falling demand for second-home mortgages, which has hit an eight-year low, and what that signals for the luxury market.

U.S. home prices rose by 0.5% in August, the largest increase in four months, while home listings are surging by over 60% in some cities. But despite builder sentiment improving as rates fall, affordability challenges persist, with existing home and pending sales at their lowest levels since the pandemic. What does all this mean for the future of the market?

Tune in for all this and more as we break down the biggest real estate stories of the week. Subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and join us live on Clubhouse!

This week’s episode is packed with hot-button issues shaking the real estate world. Agents are filing lawsuits against Move for allegedly selling “fake leads,” raising major concerns about lead generation practices. Meanwhile, the founder of the Sitzer lawsuit has launched a new startup, charging $49 per home tour—what does this mean for buyers and agents? Homie’s lawsuit against NAR and major brokerages has sparked a potential boycott of listings—how will this disrupt the industry?

We also cover NAR’s bold move to fight the DOJ investigation all the way to the Supreme Court, BrightMLS’ decision to restrict data access, and whether we’re on the verge of a national MLS. Plus, despite falling mortgage rates, home sales remain sluggish as uncertainty around the NAR settlement and the upcoming election keeps buyers on edge.

Mortgage refinance demand has surged 94% from last year as interest rates continue to fall, but what’s behind the increase? And with 6 out of every 7 people locked into a mortgage rate below 6%, we’ll explore how the “lock-in effect” is starting to ease.

On the affordability front, we break down the latest data showing that homebuyers need to earn nearly $80,000 to afford the typical U.S. starter home—just shy of an all-time high. Plus, the typical down payment has skyrocketed to a record $67,500, up 15% from a year ago. We’ll also discuss the Bank of Canada’s latest interest rate cut and how Florida and Texas condo supplies are piling up amid soaring HOA and insurance costs. And finally, find out which five cities have the highest rents for one-bedroom apartments.

Tune in today at 10 PST / 1 EST for all these stories and more. Subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and join us live on Clubhouse for an unfiltered discussion!