Figuring out how to finance a home purchase can be a huge challenge for first-time homebuyers. Most people have similar questions: What credit score do you need to buy a home? How do you find the best mortgage rate? Where can you go to find answers?

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen is joined by Dan Green, Founder and CEO of Homebuyer.com, for a deep dive on all things mortgages. Dan talks about how he became passionate about helping people fund their American Dream, why the first-time homebuyer is so neglected (and why that's an opportunity for real estate professionals), how the mortgage market is changing, and what the future holds for homebuyers.

About Dan Green

Dan Green is the Founder and CEO of Homebuyer.com, the mortgage lender for first-time homebuyers. Before Homebuyer.com, Dan founded the popular consumer website TheMortgageReports.com which a leading mortgage company later acquired. While publishing in TheMortgageReports.com, Dan also worked as a retail loan officer and was a perennial top-producer, setting production records in multiple years. Through his websites and business, Dan has helped fund over $12 billion in mortgage loans.

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

• Dan Green explains how he got into the mortgage lending business
• How did Dan use blogging to bring in leads? 
• Why Dan is passionate about helping first-time homebuyers get a fair shot at the American Dream
• Dan explains the content strategy for Homebuyer.com
• How are rising mortgage rates impacting the real estate market?
• What the FHFA is doing to disincentivize inventors and prioritize first-time homebuyers
• Millennial home-buying trends
• Interesting mortgage trends to keep an eye on
• How to stay informed about the ever-changing real estate market

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:

• Dan Green on Linkedin
• Homebuyer.com
• Homebuyer.com on Youtube
• Homebuyer.com on Twitter
• 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 is joined by Conor Sen, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and Founder of Peachtree Creek Investments, to talk about the impacts of global financial markets on real estate. They talk about the challenges housing markets face in delivering homes, how interest rates are influencing home prices, and marketplace trends people should focus on and consider. 

About Conor Sen

Conor Sen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist who writes about financial markets, the economy, housing, cities, and demographics. Conor is also the Founder of Peachtree Creek Investments and has more than a decade of experience in portfolio management and risk management. Conor has broad economic and financial market expertise and offers insights into what’s happening in all the financial markets. He’s been a contributor to the Atlantic and Business Insider and resides in Atlanta.

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

• Conor Sen shares his background and how he ended up writing for Bloomberg Opinion

Peachtree Creek Investments and what it provides 

Why housing markets are top of mind right now 

The cause for the growth of home builders and why big builders are efficient while the local builders aren’t 

Challenges the housing markets are facing trying to deliver homes 

Conor talks about the interest rates in the housing market and how mortgage rates are causing people to overbid for a home 

Are we facing risks that could derail our plans and expectations?

Conor talks about the millennial demographic in terms of job creation and household formation

Why investors and individuals buying properties are increasing 

2021 highlights that surprised Conor and predictions for the future 

Macro trends that people should pay attention to and macro themes people have not heard of yet

Zoom towns and mixed-use developments and the opportunities that are arising as a result

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:

Conor Sen on Twitter 

Conor Sen on LinkedIn 

Bloomberg Opinion 

“Why Experience Matters in Real Estate” with Becky Babcock and Brad Nix

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!

The long-awaited millennial homebuyers have finally entered the real estate market. Where are they buying homes? How are their purchases influencing the market? 

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American Financial Corporation, to talk about millennial and investor real estate trends. Odeta explains why millennials wait so long to buy homes, where the real estate hot spots are, and how the data at First American demonstrates these trends.

About Odeta Kushi

Odeta Kushi is the Deputy Chief Economist for First American Financial Corporation. First American is a leading provider of title insurance settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions. In this role, Odeta offers analysis commentary forecasts on trends in the real estate and mortgage markets. Much of her work revolves around demographic trends, especially when it comes to millennials. Odeta monitors and analyzes the quarterly surveys and economic data related to the housing industry. Her research is regularly cited by leading businesses and trade publications like Business Insider and Housing Wire.

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

• Why Odeta Kushi became a housing economist
• The gap between new household formation and new house construction
• Will the underbuilding trend continue in the coming years?
• What areas of the US offer the highest return for real estate investors?
• The data at First American that helps them understand real estate trends
• Why millennials are buying homes later in life and moving out of the city
• International real estate market trends
• Why today’s market is different from The Great Recession
• How financial technology innovation is impacting the housing market
• Is the housing market contributing to inflation?

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:

• Odeta Kushi on LinkedIn
• Odeta Kushi on Twitter
• First American Economic Center Blog
• 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!

It’s not easy to predict the future. But when you’re buying a house, it’s nice to have an idea of what could happen. How can you interpret the real estate market data to accurately forecast what’s to come?

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen joins Bill McBride, housing market expert and author of the blog Calculated Risk, to discuss his 2022 real estate market predictions. Bill explains how home-buying trends changed during the pandemic, why there are fewer houses for sale, and what he thinks will be the next big shift in the market. 

About Bill McBride

Bill McBride is a housing market expert and the author of the popular economics blog Calculated Risk. Nobel laureate Paul Krugman of the New York Times called Calculate Risk his “go-to website for housing matters.” Bill may be best known for accurately predicting the housing bubble in 2005 and the bottom of housing prices in early 2012.

Bill retired as a senior executive from a small public company in the '90s before becoming a full-time blogger. He holds an MBA from the University of California, Irvine, and has a background in management, finance, and economics.

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

• Bill McBride shares why he started the Calculated Risk blog
• How Bill predicted the 2005 housing bubble
• What risks does Bill foresee in the future real estate market?
• Why are there fewer houses for sale, and is it a problem?
• Millennial home-buying trends
• Bill’s predictions for the second half of 2022
• Real estate trends outside of the US
• Why sellers should wait for multiple offers instead of taking the first one
• What’s the next big shift in the real estate market?
• How the remote working trend is impacting the real estate market

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:

• Bill McBride on LinkedIn
• Calculated Risk 
• Subscribe to the Calculated Risk newsletter
• Bill McBride on Twitter
• 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 today’s ever-changing housing market, how can you make sense of all the numbers and data? What do they mean for builders and home-buyers?

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen is joined by Ali Wolf, Chief Economist at Zonda, to interpret today’s housing market data. Ali talks about the implications behind the number of new construction homes, millennial home-buying trends, and what forecasters are saying about the future housing market

About Ali Wolf

Ali Wolf is the Chief Economist for Zonda, the largest homebuilding proptech company in North America. As Head of the Economics Department, Ali manages and analyzes the content for Zonda, runs special research projects, and strategizes with the nation’s largest homebuilders. She gives presentations nationwide covering topics across the housing market and the broad economy. Ali is also the creator of Zonda’s proprietary indices, including the New Home Pending Sales Index and the New Home Lot Supply Index. Highly regarded as an industry expert, Ali is quoted frequently in national publications including CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Yahoo! Finance. She has also appeared on national and international TV and radio programs such as Bloomberg TV and Marketplace. Ali serves as an advisor to the White House, providing data and insights on the US housing market.

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

• Ali Wolf shares how Zonda got started
• How did Ali become interested in housing data?
• Zonda’s strategies for collecting data
• What is the housing index telling us right now?
• The implications behind the rising number of new home constructions
• Millennial home-buying trends
• Do the numbers indicate a coming change in the market? 
• Market risks outlook  
• New releases from Zonda: the Zonda Affordability Ratio (ZAR)
• Why “Zoom towns” are becoming more common
• Where are the surprisingly affordable markets?
• What are the signs of a falling market?

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:

• Ali Wolf on LinkedIn 
• Ali Wolf on Twitter
• Zonda 
• 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!

Buying a house can be challenging. Sometimes people try to find help from friends. But what’s the difference between hiring a well-meaning friend versus a professional? 

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen is joined by Becky Babcock and Brad Nix, Co-founders of Path & Post Real Estate, to discuss why hiring a professional makes all the difference in your real estate journey. They talk about the core values at Path & Post, share advice for buying and selling in today’s market, and discuss predictions for the future of the real estate market. 

About Becky Babcock and Brad Nix

Becky Babcock is the CEO, Founder, and Co-owner of the Path & Post Real Estate team brokerage. Becky is passionate about sharing her vision, challenging the status quo, and helping team members achieve success. She focuses on understanding each client's unique life transition to create a memorable experience for clients and meaningful work for team members. Becky is also the author of How to Sell Houses without Selling Your Soul.

Brad Nix is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Path & Post Real Estate team brokerage, where he oversees the operations of 26 team members. Under Brad’s leadership, Path & Post has received over 800 five-star reviews from satisfied clients and sold over 2,400 homes. Throughout his career, Brad has been consistently recognized by the real estate community for delivering exceptional experiences for both his agents and consumers.

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

• Becky Babcock explains what sets Path & Post Real Estate apart from other real estate brokerages
• Brad Nix describes the difference between a professional and an amateur
• How does Path & Post reach new customers?
• Path & Post’s company values: RUG
• Questions to ask to determine if you’re ready to buy a home
• Advice for buyers and sellers in today’s market
• Where is the market headed over the next 10-20 years?
• Surprising real estate trends in the last 24 months
• Becky and Brad’s vision for the future of Path & Post

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:

• Becky Babcock on LinkedIn
• Brad Nix on LinkedIn 
• Path & Post Real Estate 
• 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!

Ralph McLaughlin is the Chief Economist at Kukun, an AI-powered property technology platform for homeowners and real estate investors. Kukun offers fast and intuitive access to the most important home data and analytics. Ralph advises Kukun’s data science team in developing predictive housing market analytics and products. He provides digestible applied research for local governments, public policymakers, and the general public. 

Previously, Ralph was the Chief Economist at Trulia and the Deputy Chief Economist at CoreLogic. He currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California and is an Advisory Chief Economist at Haus Real Estate Group.

In this episode…

Owning a home can seem daunting. How do you know when it's the best time to buy or sell? How do you know what your house is actually worth? 

Kukun takes mountains of real estate data and turns it into digestible information for homeowners. They follow real estate trends and produce predictive analysis reports to help you navigate the complex world of home ownership. Additionally, they can help you understand how renovations add value to your home and how alternative financing options can help you find a home sooner. 

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, host Mike Simonsen is joined by Ralph McLaughlin, Chief Economist at Kukun, to discuss today’s top real estate marketing trends. Ralph explains innovative financing options like shared equity, why he created resources like the Common Haus Pricing Index (CHPI), and what potential policies would benefit homeowners.

Mark Johnson is the CEO of JPAR Real Estate. JPAR is a fast-growing, full-service, transaction-based real estate brokerage based in Texas with offices throughout the country. Mark has invested decades into understanding the inner workings of high-performing real estate companies, managers, teams, and agents. He is also the Host of Success Superstars, a weekly show that highlights the blueprint of real estate agent success, and he is the Co-founder of CoRecruit. 

In this episode…

The last year has seen real estate prices skyrocket and the inventory of homes diminish. The competition for buying and selling houses has never been more challenging. In this atmosphere, how can you stand out as a real estate agent?

Superior Customer Service. People can spot a salesperson a mile away. They want a genuine opinion on whether or not a home will fit their lifestyle. They need a real estate agent who isn’t afraid to say, “This isn’t the home for you, let’s keep looking,” or “Don’t sell yet. We can get you money.” Folks today want a real estate agent with hyper-local expertise who sincerely cares about their future home — otherwise, they’ll walk their feet and dollars to somebody else. 

In this episode of the Top of Mind Podcast, Mike Simonsen is joined by Mark Johnson, CEO of JPAR Real Estate, to discuss how to find success in today's tough real estate landscape. Mark explains why a live local agent is superior to any technology, top tips for becoming a superstar real estate agent, and how the pandemic has changed the industry.