Top of Mind

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Michael Batnick from The Irrelevant Investor to talk about how today’s economic turmoil is affecting the financial and real estate markets. Michael shares his thoughts and insights into where the economy is going, offers his take on the Fed’s recent aggressive moves, and provides some wisdom on what consumers can do to come out ahead in a volatile market.

About Michael Batnick

Michael Batnick is a Managing Partner at Ritholtz Wealth Management and a highly influential financial markets commentator. He is the Author of The Irrelevant Investor and Co-host of the podcasts Animal Spirits and The Compound & Friends. 

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Where Michael Batnick sees the broader economy going and what we should be planning for
• Leading indicators to watch for a potential recession
• Whether the Fed is making mistakes with interest rates right now 
• How real estate is different than other types of assets in a portfolio
• Why cashing out your portfolio is “poison” as a strategy

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Michael Batnick on LinkedIn
• Ritholtz Wealth Management
• The Irrelevant Investor
• Animal Spirits Podcast
• The Compound & Friends
• Trillion Dollar Triage: How Jay Powell and the Fed Battled a President and a Pandemic — and Prevented Economic Disaster by Nick Timiraos
• Conor Sen on the Top of Mind podcast
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Jay Parsons, VP, Head of Economics and Industry Principals for RealPage, to talk about what’s happening in the rental market. Jay explains how the rental market and housing market are interrelated, gives his take on which rental policies work, and shares leading indicators he’s watching to stay on top of the market in 2023.

About Jay Parsons

Jay Parsons serves as VP, Head of Economics and Industry Principals for RealPage. He is a frequent author and speaker on topics including rental housing investment and asset management strategy, rental housing policy issues, risk management, and property management — covering apartments and single-family rentals. Jay has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNBC, among other outlets. His commentaries have been published by the Pension Real Estate Association, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Apartment Association, American Banker, and GlobeSt.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• Why the rental market is often misunderstood
• How rents will impact inflation and the CPI for the next year
• How home prices and rental prices are interrelated
• Why the surging supply of new construction may not help renter costs any time soon
• What to expect for rents in 2023

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Jay Parsons on LinkedIn
• Jay Parsons on Twitter
• RealPage
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Daren Blomquist, the Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com, for a deep dive into the state of the distressed housing market, the latest insights from investor buyer behavior, and what the Auction.com platform can tell us about the housing market that we can’t see anywhere else. 

About Daren Blomquist

Daren Blomquist is the Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com. In this role, Daren analyzes and forecasts complex macro and microeconomic data trends within the marketplace and industry to provide value to both buyers and sellers using the Auction.com platform.  

Daren’s reports and analysis have been cited by thousands of media outlets — including all the major news networks and leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA TODAY. Daren has been quoted in hundreds of publications and has appeared on many national network broadcasts, including CBS, ABC, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, and Bloomberg.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• The big trends in foreclosures and how the distressed market compares to previous years
• Two unique data points Auction.com uses to forecast future home prices
• Will investors be the backstop for a faltering housing market, or will they be the catalyst for a deeper market correction?
• What will happen with foreclosures in a recessionary economy — how many homes will be in foreclosure, and how quickly will it happen?
• Daren Blomquist’s outlook for what’s next in the industry

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Daren Blomquist on LinkedIn
• Auction.com
• Auction.com In the News
• “Why Do So Few People Buy Affordable Properties at Auction?” by Jung Hyun Choi, Laurie Goodman, and Liam Reynolds
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Kevin Oakley, Managing Partner at Do You Convert, to get insights into what’s happening right now with new home construction. Kevin discusses the impact of the pandemic on the new homes landscape, the affordability challenge with new homes, which markets will see inventory rise as new homes hit the market, and more.

About Kevin Oakley

Kevin Oakley is one of the most trusted names in new home marketing to builders and developers across North America. He has over 17 years of experience running marketing and sales operations for home builders of all shapes, sizes, and areas of expertise, including at NVR, Maronda Homes, and Heartland Homes. Kevin is now a Managing Partner at Do You Convert, which is a leading provider of digital marketing for home builders.

Kevin’s background gives him a unique perspective on the challenges of today’s market. He’s the Author of Presale Without Fail: The Secret to Launching New Communities with Maximum Results. He’s also the Host of the Market Proof Marketing podcast.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• How the pandemic reshaped the home building landscape
• The impact of record-low consumer sentiment on the market for new homes
• The latest on what’s happening with supply chain issues
• Why new homes are often hit harder by economic downturns
• Which markets may see a spike in inventory when new homes hit the market
• The challenge of affordability in new home construction

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Kevin Oakley on LinkedIn
• Kevin Oakley on Twitter
• Do You Convert
• Market Proof Marketing podcast
• Consumer Sentiment Index - University of Michigan
• National Association of Home Builders
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Len Kiefer, Deputy Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, to talk about the latest housing market and macroeconomic forecast released this week from the mortgage giant. Len explains how Freddie Mac does their forecasting, what they see for the coming year in real estate, how last year’s real estate boom skews today’s inflation numbers, and more. Download the latest research at https://freddiemac.com/research.

About Len Kiefer

Len Kiefer has served as Deputy Chief Economist at Freddie Mac since December 2012. He is responsible for primary and secondary mortgage market analysis and research, macroeconomic analysis, and forecasting. He also analyzes policy issues affecting the housing industry. Before joining Freddie Mac as a Senior Economist in 2009, Len was an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University, where he conducted research on macroeconomics and monetary policy. Previously, he taught economics at Ohio State University and finance at George Mason University. Len is a Member of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association and the American Economics Association.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• The mechanics behind Freddie Mac’s sophisticated economic forecasting
• What Freddie Mac’s latest forecast says about the coming year in real estate
• How last year’s real estate boom skews today’s inflation numbers
• The impact of migration and remote work on home prices
• What the future holds for mortgage rates
• Len Kiefer’s creative approach to data visualization and storytelling

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Len Kiefer on LinkedIn
• Len Kiefer on Twitter
• Len Kiefer’s website
• Freddie Mac
• Freddie Mac’s Housing and Economic Research
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Mike Greene, CEO of ResiShares, to talk about the latest trends in real estate investing. Mike and Mike discuss how investors are thinking about real estate as the market shifts, how to spot opportunities now, which global economic forces pose the biggest risks to US real estate, and more.

About Mike Greene

Mike Greene’s fascination with the housing market began with a guest lecture in his undergrad economics class by Nobel-winning economist Robert Shiller. The lecture focused on Shiller’s home price indices, which first drew attention to the possibility of liquid, geographically-based investment products.

Over the past 15 years, Mike worked first as a Trader at Bocage Capital, and later at HouseCanary, where he witnessed the emergence of the single-family rental ecosystem that convinced him that the world was finally ready to see Shiller’s challenge accepted.

Mike is now the Founder and CEO of ResiShares, a real estate investment fund with a unique technology edge and an innovative approach to finding the best opportunities.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• ResiShares’ mission to make real estate a more liquid and accessible asset class
• Mike Greene’s surprising test for what presents the best investment opportunity
• How ResiShares leverages data to achieve “neighborhood alpha” on their investment portfolio
• The biggest long-term macroeconomic risks for the housing market
• How real estate investment firms can help solve both the financial and social problems for housing
• The key trends to watch in a recessionary economy

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Mike Greene on LinkedIn
• ResiShares
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Jimmy Mackin, CEO of Curaytor, to talk about best practices for communicating with buyers and sellers right now, as the market is changing. Jimmy discusses why the principles of communication are more important than the tools and technology, shares what agents who have transcended their local markets have in common, offers specific ideas and techniques for more powerful communication, and more.

About Jimmy Mackin

Jimmy Mackin is the CEO of Curaytor, a full-service digital marketing company focused on helping listing agents get more listings. In seven years, Curaytor has grown to over $10 million in annual recurring revenue and has been featured in Forbes, Inc, The Huffington Post, USA Today, and American Express Open Forum.

In 2019, Jimmy co-authored Exactly What to Say: For Real Estate Agents, a best-selling book designed to help real estate agents with the most common, critical, and difficult questions they face. Jimmy is also the Host of the hit podcast #WaterCooler. With over 115 episodes and 8.5 million minutes watched, the show is a go-to resource for anyone in the real estate industry looking to grow their business in today’s digital landscape. 

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Best practices for communicating with buyers and sellers right now
• Why the principles of communication are more important than the tools and technology
• What agents who have transcended their local markets have in common
• Why asking questions is better than giving answers in a changing market
• Specific ideas and techniques for more powerful communication

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Jimmy Mackin on LinkedIn
• Jimmy Mackin on Instagram
• Jimmy Mackin on Twitter
• Curaytor
• Curaytor on Instagram
• Curaytor on Twitter
• #WaterCooler podcast
• Exactly What to Say: For Real Estate Agents by Jimmy Mackin, Phil M. Jones, and Chris Smith 
• The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness by Morgan Housel
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Logan Mohtashami from HousingWire to talk about the changing real estate market and the big economic issues of the day. Logan explains how macroeconomic forces actually impact the housing market, shares his surprising take on future home price declines, gives his predictions for where the market is headed, and much more.

About Logan Mohtashami

Logan Mohtashami is a housing data analyst, financial writer, and blogger covering the US economy specializing in the housing market. Logan’s work is frequently quoted in BankRate.com and Bloomberg Financial. Logan is also a Lead Analyst for HousingWire. 

Logan’s astute analysis of economic data and years of direct lending experience allows him to present a unique, informed, and unbiased perspective on the financial markets. He’s perhaps best known for his highly prescient yearly predictions articles, and his predictions on the state of the housing market and mortgage rate trends published weekly on Bankrate.com.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• How macroeconomic forces are impacting the housing market
• What needs to happen for home prices to decline, and why — Logan Mohtashami is actually hoping for this
• When to expect inventory to get back to normal
• Long-term trends buyers and sellers should be thinking about
• Predictions for where the market is headed

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Logan Mohtashami on LinkedIn
• Logan Mohtashami on Twitter
• Logan Mohtashami on Instagram
• Logan Mohtashami’s website
• HousingWire
• HousingWire Daily podcast
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Johnny Wolff, Founder and CEO of HomeRoom, to talk about HomeRoom’s innovative platform for matching renters with real estate investors. Johnny discusses the advantages of shared housing for both renters and investors, the growing trend of young adults living with roommates, why cities see opportunities in shared housing, and more.

About Johnny Wolff

Johnny Wolff is the CEO and Founder of HomeRoom — one of the fastest-growing real estate investing platforms in the United States. 

HomeRoom simplifies out-of-state investing and streamlines affordable renting. The company’s marketplace connects rental property investors seeking a turnkey, high-yield experience with renters seeking modern yet affordable housing.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• The advantages of shared housing for both renters and investors
• How remote work has created a massive opportunity for shared housing
• The growing trend of young adults living with roommates
• The case for increasing density to help our housing crisis
• How cities are working with HomeRoom to address living affordability challenges

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Johnny Wolff on LinkedIn
• HomeRoom
• Y Combinator
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Rick Sharga, EVP of Market Intelligence at ATTOM, for a deep dive into the state of the current housing market. Rick talks about areas of risk for housing in today’s economy, shares some surprising insights into the foreclosure situation, discusses which policies might impact demand, and more.

About Rick Sharga

Rick Sharga is the Executive Vice President of Market Intelligence at ATTOM, one of the country's leading providers of real estate data for real estate, financial services, insurance companies, and government agencies.

An accomplished executive with over 25 years of experience in consumer and B2B marketing, Rick has held numerous senior leadership positions in the real estate and mortgage industries and has also developed and executed sales and marketing programs for tech companies such as Fujitsu, JD Edwards, Toshiba, and Hitachi; start-ups like Tickets.com; and consumer brands including Pizza Hut, Acura and Cox Communications. 

One of the country’s most frequently-quoted sources on real estate, mortgage, and foreclosure trends, Rick has appeared regularly over the past 15 years on CNBC, the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, CNN, ABC World News, FOX, Bloomberg, and NPR. 

Rick has also been named twice to the Inman News Inman 100, an annual list of the most influential leaders in real estate.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• Which segments of borrowers are most at risk in the current environment
• Surprising insights about the foreclosure situation
• Which regulatory changes might further dampen buyer demand this year
• Why new buyers are facing a “triple whammy” of challenges
• Rick Sharga’s outlook for what’s next in the industry

Featuring Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research

A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Rick Sharga on LinkedIn
• Rick Sharga on Twitter
• ATTOM
• RealtyTrac
• Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
• Altos Research

Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

https://twitter.com/altosresearch

https://twitter.com/mikesimonsen

See you next week!