this Week in Real Estate

Buyers finally have more leverage—but mortgage rates are rising, home prices are still climbing, and pending sales are slipping. Is it really a buyer's market when the monthly payment still does not work?

This week in real estate news, we're examining the contradiction defining the 2026 housing market: buyers have more negotiating power, more price cuts, and less competition, but stubbornly high housing costs continue to hold demand back.

We'll also look at why some affluent baby boomers are buying larger homes instead of downsizing, how outdated capital-gains exclusions may discourage longtime homeowners from selling, and why national home-price numbers are hiding dramatically different local markets.

Beyond the market data, communities are pushing back against AI data centers, buyers are prioritizing clean indoor air over traditional luxury features, Boxabl has reached the public market through a $3.5 billion SPAC transaction, and one of Keller Williams' most influential leaders is stepping away from his day-to-day role.

In this live episode, we'll cover:

• Why mortgage rates are rising while some buyers are gaining negotiating power • How home prices can climb nationally while many local markets favor buyers • What slipping pending sales actually tell us about housing demand • Why some baby boomers are buying bigger homes instead of downsizing • The so-called "hidden home equity tax" affecting more longtime sellers • Why clean air is becoming more desirable than views and luxury amenities • The growing opposition to AI data centers—and the potential community tradeoffs • Whether Boxabl's public debut validates its housing model or simply tests its valuation • Jay Papasan's transition after 26 years with Keller Williams • How agents can determine whether AI search tools can access their websites

Join us live on YouTube and tell us: What matters more in your market right now—buyer leverage, the monthly payment, or finding the right inventory?

#RealEstateNews #HousingMarket #mortgagerates

Record home prices. Mortgage rates at a nearly one-year high. And somehow, buyers have more negotiating power across much of the country.

The 2026 housing market is splitting by income, geography, and inventory—and the national headlines are hiding it.

In this live episode of tWiRE, we're asking the question behind all the conflicting data: Is this finally a buyer's market, or only for the shrinking group of buyers who can still afford to participate?

A new federal housing law promises to increase supply, reduce barriers to construction, and limit large institutional investors. But housing policy moves slowly, while mortgage rates, inflation, inventory, and local demand are changing the market right now.

In this live episode, we'll cover:

What the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act actually changes for buyers, sellers, builders, and investors Why mortgage rates climbed despite a softer inflation report How home prices can hit a record while Miami, Nashville, and major Texas markets favor buyers Why weather, climate concerns, and college-town demand are reshaping migration and home values What "worst states to live" rankings miss about affordability, growth, and housing demand Compass expanding its Zillow fight through regulators, MLSs, and Realtor associations NAR's guidance for office exclusives, Coming Soon listings, and broker disclosures Keller Williams' planned acquisition of the 1,200-agent Jason Mitchell Group—and what it says about consolidation and lead-generation power

Join live on our YouTube channel, every Wednesday at 12 PM CST!

The real estate industry is fighting over who gets the listing first, who owns the lead, and who controls the story buyers and sellers actually see.

This week on *This Week in Real Estate*, we're digging into the Zillow, MRED, and Compass courtroom battle, Robert Reffkin's testimony, the private listings fight, fair housing arguments, Kelley Blue Book's surprising move into seller lead generation, and Compass rolling out its agent platform across major brokerage brands.

Then we're shifting into the market data: more agents are calling this a balanced market, but home prices are still hitting record highs, monthly payments are ticking back up, mortgage demand is slipping again, and Realtor.com just lowered its 2026 home price growth forecast.

We'll also talk about a story every seller should understand: the moment you list or sell your home, your photos, floor plan, public records, and personal data may already be moving through the internet in ways most homeowners never think about.

In this live episode, we'll cover:

* Why Zillow, Compass, and MRED are really fighting over the first days of a listing * Whether private listings are seller choice, a transparency problem, or a portal power struggle * What Kelley Blue Book Homes could mean for real estate lead generation * Why Compass' agent platform rollout matters after the Anywhere acquisition * Whether the housing market is truly becoming balanced * What record prices and stubborn mortgage rates mean for buyers and sellers * How sellers can think more carefully about privacy, listing photos, and wire fraud risk

Join us live on YouTube for sharp, no-fluff real estate news, market analysis, and the real story behind the headlines

#RealEstateNews #HousingMarket #MortgageRates

Today on This Week in Real Estate, the listing control war is back in federal court.

Zillow, MRED, and Compass are fighting over MLS feeds, private listings, arbitration, and who really gets to control where listings show up. Is this about consumer transparency, brokerage power, portal control, MLS authority, or all of the above?

We'll also break down NAR's latest explanation of "local discretion," the Compass lawsuit over a $475 transaction fee, and a wild cautionary story about a new agent, phantom buyers, and the kind of ethical mistake that can end a career.

Then we shift to the housing market: luxury home prices are rising much faster than the rest of the market, fewer homeowners are listing as spring ends quietly, listing prices are seeing record declines, and buyers may finally be getting some affordability relief. Plus, we'll talk mortgage demand, riskier loan products, and a moving company nightmare every relocating buyer should hear.

This one is about power, trust, leverage, and what agents, buyers, and sellers need to understand about the market right now.

Topics covered: Zillow lawsuit, MRED, Compass, MLS policy, private listings, NAR, real estate lawsuits, housing market 2026, luxury real estate, mortgage rates, home prices, buyer affordability, real estate ethics, and relocation risks.

The real estate industry is changing fast, and this week's headlines are all about power, control, and pressure.

Today on This Week in Real Estate, we're talking about Compass reportedly overtaking Zillow in market value, SERHANT. making a major move into Texas, and what all this consolidation means for agents, brokerages, portals, and consumers.

We'll also break down the latest from NAR, including dues staying steady, the debate over whether REALTORS should have to disclose knowledge gaps, and NAR's expanding legal fight tied to Mauricio Umansky's thePLS.com and the Clear Cooperation Policy.

Then we'll get into the actual housing market, where things are getting strange. Redfin says home-price growth accelerated in May, seller concessions hit a record high for that month, and housing payments are back near painful highs. So are buyers gaining leverage, or are affordability problems still keeping them stuck on the sidelines?

Join us live on YouTube for sharp, no-fluff real estate news, market analysis, and agent-focused commentary.

Topics include: Compass vs Zillow SERHANT Texas expansion NAR dues and leadership REALTOR ethics debate Clear Cooperation Policy Private listings and thePLS.com Mortgage rates and housing affordability Home prices, seller concessions, and buyer demand

It's Fed Day, and the real estate industry is fighting for control.

In Episode 365 of This Week in Real Estate, we're going live on one of the biggest housing market days of the month: the Federal Reserve's latest rate announcement. Mortgage rates, buyer demand, affordability, home prices, and market confidence are all tied to what the Fed says next, and we'll be watching the announcement as it hits near the end of the show.

But the Fed is only one part of the story.

This week, we're breaking down a wild set of real estate headlines that all point back to one major question: who controls the housing market now?

We'll cover the growing tension inside NAR, Inman's new advisory council featuring leaders from Zillow, Compass, and HomeServices, the latest twist in the Zillow, Compass, MRED, and CoStar legal fight, and why eXp says the off-MLS listing debate keeps leaving out the buyer.

We'll also dig into Google's nationwide real estate listing rollout and what it could mean for agents, brokerages, portals, and listing visibility. If Google becomes a bigger home search destination, what happens to Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, MLSs, and the broader real estate portal ecosystem?

Plus, Bed Bath & Beyond is acquiring Fathom Holdings in a $53.8 million deal, and we're looking at the SEC filing tied to the REAL and ReMax transaction. Was the mysterious "Party C" possibly eXp? We'll talk through what the filing says, what it does not say, and why brokerage consolidation may be one of the most important trends agents are underestimating.

Then we'll shift to the housing market itself. Record home prices, elevated mortgage rates, weaker purchase demand, rising contract cancellations in former hot seller's markets, and new signs that buyers may be reemerging. Is this finally a housing market turning point, or are affordability issues still keeping buyers stuck on the sidelines?

Join Ray Ellen for tWiRE Episode 365 as we unpack the biggest real estate news, housing market trends, mortgage rate updates, private listing battles, portal wars, brokerage consolidation, and the Fed's latest interest rate decision.

What do you think matters most for the housing market right now: the Fed, mortgage rates, Google entering listings, Zillow's off-MLS fight, or buyers pulling back? Drop your take in the live chat or comments.

Subscribe for sharp, no-fluff real estate news and housing market analysis every week.

#HousingMarket #MortgageRates #RealEstateNews

Private listings are under fire, Compass is facing new antitrust scrutiny, and the MLS-Zillow-Compass battle keeps getting bigger.

In Episode 364 of This Week in Real Estate, we're breaking down the latest push from states like New York and Washington to restrict off-MLS and private listings, what regulators may be watching in the Compass/Anywhere deal, and why this fight could reshape how homes are marketed across the country.

We're also digging into the latest houasing market signals: agent optimism is rising, new listings are slipping, mortgage demand jumped, rates remain volatile, inflation is putting pressure on the Fed, and former pandemic hotspots like Nashville, Miami, and Austin are shifting firmly toward buyers.

Are private listings a seller choice issue, a fair housing issue, or a brokerage power play? And is the housing market gaining momentum, or are rising rates about to stall it again?

Join us LIVE on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for sharp, no-fluff real estate analysis built for agents, buyers, sellers, and investors trying to understand what's really happening behind the headlines.

Topics include: Private Listings Compass Antitrust Scrutiny MLS vs Zillow vs Compass Housing Market 2026 Mortgage Rates Inflation and the Fed Buyer's Markets Real Estate Agent Sentiment

Subscribe for weekly real estate news, housing market updates, and honest analysis from inside the industry.

#RealEstateNews #HousingMarket #PrivateListings

AI is changing the way buyers search for homes, and this week may be one of the clearest signs yet.

In this episode of *This Week in Real Estate*, we're breaking down Realtor.com's new AI home search tool built with Google, Google's new 24/7 AI home-hunting capabilities, and what it means when buyers can search smarter, faster, and with less direct agent involvement.

We'll also talk about one reporter's experience using AI to buy a home without a traditional Realtor, and why that story should get every real estate agent thinking about their value proposition, buyer consultation process, and how they show up before the client ever books a showing.

Then we're moving into one of the biggest housing market signals of the week: Berkshire Hathaway's $8.5 billion acquisition of Taylor Morrison. Is this just a major homebuilder deal, or is Warren Buffett's company signaling that the housing market may be closer to the bottom than buyers and sellers realize?

Plus, we'll cover the latest MLS and portal drama, Realtracs keeping Zillow's Nashville listing feed live, why Realtor associations may need to consolidate, and why the spring housing rebound never really happened.

On the market side, sellers are pulling homes off the market at near-record rates, listing prices are seeing their sharpest drop in years, mortgage rates are easing slightly while buyers retreat, down payments are falling, investor purchases are at their lowest level since 2020, and pending sales are slipping again.

AI disruption, builder confidence, seller reality checks, mortgage rate whiplash, and another strange week in the housing market. Let's get into it.

RUNDOWN & ARTICLE LINKS: Links will be added here after the live show.

Topics in this episode: Realtor.com launches AI home search with Google Google AI can now search for homes 24/7 Can buyers use AI to purchase without an agent? Berkshire Hathaway buys Taylor Morrison What the builder acquisition means for buyer conversations Realtracs keeps Zillow's Nashville feed live Realtor association consolidation Why the spring housing rebound never happened Sellers pull homes off the market at near-record rates Mortgage rates ease, but buyers back away Down payments fall as Americans hold onto cash Investor home purchases hit their lowest level since 2020 Pending home sales drop again Listing prices face their sharpest drop in 9 years The "Let It Bloom" June landscaping trend homeowners may want to rethink

Subscribe for weekly real estate news, housing market updates, mortgage rate trends, AI in real estate, MLS drama, buyer and seller strategy, and straight-talk analysis for agents, consumers, and investors.

The battle over private listings just escalated again.

On Episode 362 of This Week in Real Estate, we're breaking down the latest twist in the Zillow vs. MRED/Compass fight after a judge ordered Chicago listings restored to Zillow. We'll also look at how the fight has spilled onto social media, billboards, and the broader debate over who really benefits from private listings.

Then we shift to the market: mortgage refinance demand drops as rates climb, cash buyers pull back, affordability improves slightly for the seventh straight month, luxury home prices keep rising, rental concessions surge, and pending sales start to wobble again.

We'll also talk about Wells Fargo's new mortgage incentives for 3D-printed homes, contract cancellations stabilizing, and Realtor.com's latest international demand report showing Miami still dominating foreign buyer interest while Los Angeles fades.

This week's big question: is the housing market stabilizing, splitting, or just getting weirder?

The private listing war is getting hotter, and this week Zillow, Compass, MRED, Bright MLS, Redfin, and "Coming Soon" listings are all in the middle of it.

In Episode 361 of This Week in Real Estate, we're breaking down the escalating battle over private listings, portal access, MLS control, and who really gets to decide where homes show up online. Zillow is fighting to keep Chicago listings on its platform, Compass is gaining major MLS ground, Redfin is changing how some pre-marketed listings appear, and new survey data shows sellers may be more interested in "Coming Soon" strategies than the industry wants to admit.

We'll also talk about Zillow's new dual-agency findings, a fake Trump post that somehow became real estate discourse, and what all of this means for agents, consumers, MLSs, and the future of listing exposure.

Plus, we're looking at the housing market side of the week: pending sales jumping to their highest level since 2022, home prices inching higher, price drops becoming slightly less common, homeowners feeling the pressure of ownership, and a major housing bill agreement that could give investors a win.

Big questions this week:

Are private listings becoming a consumer choice or an industry power play?

Is Zillow defending transparency, defending traffic, or both?

Are MLSs losing control of the listing ecosystem?

And is the housing market finally stabilizing, or just shifting into a new kind of weird?

Join us live on YouTube for sharp analysis, real estate industry drama, housing market updates, and a no-fluff breakdown of what these stories actually mean.

Subscribe for weekly real estate news, housing market trends, mortgage updates, industry lawsuits, MLS drama, brokerage news, and real talk for agents, buyers, sellers, and investors.