this Week in Real Estate

Ray Ellen
  • 5.0 (11)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The longest running real estate news podcast created so that you would have one place to go to find out the latest real estate news and headlines with succinct professional analysis from those of us active in the field! We cover the national housing market, mortgage rates, the federal reserve, housing affordability, and real estate industry news and information! This show is brought to you by listeners & viewers like you. Hit the share button on your favorite podcatcher and send this to someone like you because it is listeners like YOU who make this podcast possible. Subscibe button and hit the bell so that you can be notificed when we are live and participate in the podcast chat. You can make comments and we can display that comment and talk about you or your comment!! We are also broadcasting on facebook, twitter, linked in, and you can join the conversation via audio on ClubHouse. Join us!

  1. 7H AGO

    I met with the National Association of Realtors! 👀

    What I can say is this.... what I learned actually blew my mind. You will have to join the call to hear about it because if I typed it out here, I don't think you would believe it.

    1h 48m

  2. FEB 25

    R these Commercials Good?? Rates Drop & Home buyers explode or nah?

    This week on tWiRE – This Week in Real Estate, we're breaking down one of the most confusing housing markets we've seen in years. 🏷️ The REALTOR® Brand Spotlight NAR highlights how the REALTOR® brand represents professionalism and hard work at a time when trust and transparency are under a microscope. Mortgage rates just dropped below 6% — the lowest level since 2022. Buyer purchasing power is up nearly $30,000. And yet… pending home sales fell 6%, nearly 1 in 7 contracts are falling through, and America now has 44% more sellers than buyers. So what's really happening? We're unpacking: 📉 Housing Market Shift: Is It Officially a Buyer's Market? Pending home sales down 6% Home price growth slows to just 1% to start the year Price cuts rising across the country 44% more sellers than buyers — near record gap  Nearly 1 in 7 deals falling apart Buyer negotiating power rising fast What $30K in extra purchasing power means for spring Rates are down. Inventory is up. Negotiating leverage is shifting. But demand hasn't surged the way many expected. We'll explain why. 📊 Mortgage Rates Below 6% — Breakthrough or Fake Out? Rates dip to the lowest level in nearly 4 years Refinances ticking up Why buyers are still cautious What could unlock more transactions this spring Is this the moment the market turns — or just another head fake? 🏛️ Compass-Anywhere Merger: Political & Industry Firestorm Senator questions possible corruption in AG's office Gary Keller says, "I wouldn't have done it" What this means for brokerage consolidation The broader power struggle inside real estate This one has ripple effects across the entire industry. ⚖️ Referral Fees & Lawsuit Warnings A watchdog group says brokerages need to beef up referral fee disclosures — or prepare for lawsuits. With compliance scrutiny increasing post-settlement, this is not a small story. 🏠 Homes.com vs The Industry CoStar continues defending the Homes.com strategy How portal wars are reshaping lead flow What agents should actually pay attention to 🇺🇸 Politics & Housing Policy Trump promises affordability while protecting home values Democrats counter with limits on institutional investors Can housing be made more affordable without hurting homeowners? We cut through the rhetoric and focus on the economic reality. 🎯 What This Means for Agents, Buyers & Investors This isn't a crash. It isn't a boom. It's a power shift. More inventory. More price cuts. More negotiation. More fallout. And potentially… more opportunity. If you're in real estate, thinking about buying, selling, or investing — this episode matters. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly no-fluff housing market breakdowns 📈 Share with an agent who needs to understand what's really happening   This is tWiRE — real estate news without the hype.

    1h 15m

  3. FEB 18

    Has OpenDoor's Fairytale Ended? Home prices INCREASING? When will Housing CRASH??

    🎙️ This Week in Real Estate – Episode 350 (LIVE) This week we zoom out and connect the dots across proptech volatility, builder stress, rate movement, and shifting buyer behavior. The housing market isn't crashing… but it is recalibrating. Here's what we're breaking down LIVE: 🧠 Opendoor: From Disruptor to AI Pivot We're opening with a full backstory on Opendoor — from its 2014 Phoenix launch to rapid expansion, pandemic whiplash, pricing misfires, stock volatility… and now a bold AI-focused reinvention. This week: Opendoor pushes a new AI strategy amid market pressure Investors question sustainability The iBuyer model continues evolving Is this a strategic evolution — or a survival pivot?  If you're tracking proptech, brokerage disruption, or the future of transaction models, this matters.  🏗️ Builders Cutting Faster Than Sellers New construction is flashing warning lights: 19.3% of new homes saw price cuts Builder sentiment edged lower on affordability concerns Housing starts ticked down in 2025 Yet remodeling is projected to grow in 2026 We'll unpack: Why builders are discounting faster than resale sellers What affordability is doing to margins Whether incentives are masking deeper softness 📉 Mortgage Rates Fall — But Demand Isn't Exploding Mortgage rates just hit their lowest level in a month, triggering a spike in refinance demand. But purchase activity? More muted. We'll analyze: Why lower rates aren't translating into a demand surge What this means for spring inventory Whether buyers are still waiting on broader economic clarity 📊 The Data Snapshot: Cooling or Reset? Recent reports show: Pending home sales declined in most major metros U.S. home prices rose just 0.3% in January All-cash purchases fell to a five-year low Down payments shrank for the first time in five months This signals a liquidity shift. Investor pullback. Buyers becoming more payment-sensitive. The market isn't frozen — it's selective.  🚨 Zillow & Break-In Concerns A new report claims criminals are using listing photos from Zillow to identify homes for break-ins. We'll cover: How realistic this risk actually is How homeowners can remove their home in minutes What agents should be advising clients 🥌 REALTOR® Makes Olympic History A member of the National Association of Realtors helped secure the first-ever U.S. mixed doubles Olympic curling medal. We'll highlight the story — and what it says about the diverse backgrounds inside this industry. 🎯 Why This Episode Matters The themes this week: AI and proptech adaptation Builder price compression Affordability constraints Liquidity shifts Market recalibration heading into spring If you're an agent, investor, builder, buyer, or industry watcher — this episode connects the macro headlines to real-world strategy. 💬 Join the conversation LIVE 📈 Subscribe for weekly housing market analysis 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a broadcast tWiRE — no fluff, no fear-mongering, just real talk for the real estate world.

    1h 30m

  4. FEB 11

    Housing Affordability "Improves"?? … Why are Buyers Still Stuck?

    🏛 Zillow Wins in Court. Compass Reshuffles. Is Housing Actually Getting More Affordable? | tWiRE 349 This week on This Week in Real Estate (tWiRE) we break down one of the biggest legal moments in the portal wars so far — a judge has rejected Compass' attempt to block Zillow's private listing ban. What does this mean for off-market strategies, brokerage leverage, and the future of listing distribution? At the same time, Compass names Neda Navab as new president, Anywhere begins leadership changes after the Compass deal closes, and the power structure inside residential real estate keeps shifting. But that's just the industry side. On the consumer front, we're seeing mixed signals everywhere: • FHA mortgage demand is rising • Buyers now need to earn $111,000 to afford the typical home • The rent vs. buy income gap is shrinking  • 94% of buyers say they'll delay or downsize if rates don't fall • Credit card debt hits $1.28 trillion  • Commercial mortgage delinquencies are climbing So… is affordability improving, or are consumers simply stretching further? We'll also cover: 🔥 Redfin's $1M Super Bowl home hunt marketing stunt ⚖️ Questionable agent deals around Temple University 🏚 A $5M fake "Chip & Joanna Gaines" renovation scam  🏛 The House's new bipartisan housing affordability bill — what's actually inside it 📉 Austin flips from hottest market to slowest  📊 January jobs report: payrolls up 130,000, unemployment at 4.3%  💬 Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman says affordability is an availability problem — is he right? 📈 2026 housing market mood: cautious buyers, motivated sellers, agents expecting a busier spring This episode connects the dots between policy, platform control, consumer psychology, and economic pressure — without hype or fear-baiting. If you're an agent, investor, buyer, or just trying to understand where this market is headed, this is the episode you need.   Subscribe for weekly housing market updates, mortgage rate analysis, industry legal battles, and real estate predictions. No fluff. No panic. Just real talk for the real estate world.

    1h 17m

  5. FEB 4

    Zillow Fires Back at Compass as the Platform Wars Escalate

    🎙️ This Week in Real Estate | Episode 348 Zillow vs Compass Escalates, National MLS Talk, Lawsuit Fallout & a Shifting Buyer Market The real estate industry is drifting toward a breaking point — and this week, the cracks got louder. In Episode 348 of This Week in Real Estate, we unpack the intensifying Zillow vs Compass showdown, fresh legal developments, and why industry leaders are openly comparing real estate's future to airline-style consolidation. At the same time, buyers are quietly gaining leverage, sellers are cutting prices, and winter weather is freezing demand across parts of the country. Here's what we're breaking down LIVE 👇 🔥 Industry Power Plays & Platform Wars • Zillow's Errol Samuelson fires back at Compass as tensions rise over listing access, tech, and control • Newly revealed Zillow internal files shed light on how the company actually viewed Compass' technology • Robert Reffkin floats a national MLS concept — while claiming Compass previously declined a Zillow partnership • An MLS executive calls out brokers for "talking out of both sides of their mouth" on consolidation • CEOs warn real estate is heading toward a "United, Delta, American Airlines" moment — fewer giants, more power concentration ⚖️ Lawsuits, Settlements & Legal Fallout • Keller Williams settles the Batton commission lawsuit for $20M — what it signals for brokers nationwide • NAR says it's still pursuing all legal options in the Batton case despite growing pressure  • What these settlements mean for brokerage risk, commission models & long-term strategy 📉📈 Market Reality Check • Luxury home prices keep climbing — even as demand shows signs of fatigue • Homebuyers are scoring the biggest discounts in 13 years, with most homes now selling below list • 62.2% of homes sold under asking in 2025 — a massive shift in leverage  • A surprising number of homeowners are still sitting on high mortgage rates • Rough winter weather slams mortgage demand, temporarily distorting buyer activity 🏦 Rates, Policy & What Comes Next • Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair — what that could signal for interest rates and housing • How markets may interpret this move and why expectations matter more than headlines 🎭 Bonus Story • An influencer couple pleads guilty to a $5M home renovation scam — and why "real estate content" doesn't equal credibility  This episode is about power, leverage, and control — who has it, who's losing it, and what agents actually need to pay attention to heading into the next phase of the market. 👍 Like the stream 🔔 Subscribe for weekly real estate news & analysis 📡 Share this with an agent who needs context, not hype

    1h 23m

  6. JAN 28

    Everyone's Suing Everyone in Real Estate...

    📺 Episode 347 — This Week in Real Estate (LIVE) This week, the real estate industry is getting squeezed from every direction — lawsuits, regulation, collapsing deals, portal wars, commission pressure, and shaky buyer confidence. We break down what actually matters, what's noise, and what agents should be watching closely as 2026 takes shape. 🔥 Industry Tea & Legal Fallout Rocket Companies hit with a lawsuit alleging mortgage steering and RESPA violations — why this case could ripple far beyond one lender Realtor.com rolls out Realtor.com+ in a major MLS expansion — power move or too late to matter? Investors publicly torch CoStar Group's residential strategy, calling Homes.com spending a "fiasco" A real estate CEO pleads guilty in a $380M Ponzi scheme — warning signs agents should never ignore California's new digitally altered listing photo disclosure law — what AB 723 means for marketing nationwide Douglas Elliman CEO weighs in on Compass–Anywhere Real Estate, saying from the outside "it looks like a mess" The Consumer Policy Center (CPC) claims buyers are "grossly overpaying" on commissions — what the report gets wrong (and right) 📉 Market Reality Check Homebuyer deal cancellations hit an all-time high in December — what's breaking transactions right now Mortgage demand drops 8.5% as rates jump to a three-week high Buyer & seller activity shows early signs of life, but affordability still rules the conversation Gen Z homeownership is rising, but slowly — why this isn't the surge some headlines claim 🌍 Macro & Politics Donald Trump at Davos talks housing — and leaves out some critical details agents should notice  This episode is about separating signal from spin. If you're an agent, broker, investor, or housing-obsessed human trying to navigate 2026 without getting blindsided, this one matters.

    1h 13m

  7. JAN 21

    Zillow SUED, Redfin CEO Steps Down, Are Home Prices going DOWN?

    Episode 346 kicks off the first This Week in Real Estate show of the year with a hard look at how the industry is entering 2026—and what agents, brokers, buyers, and sellers need to recalibrate fast. From lawsuits against Zillow and leadership changes at Redfin, to shifting MLS rules, buyer leverage, shrinking homes, and federal action targeting Wall Street investors, this episode sets the tone for what actually matters going forward.  If you're still operating with 2024 expectations, this episode is your wake-up call. 🔥 What We're Breaking Down LIVE ⚖️ Legal & Industry Shakeups A Washington agent sues Zillow over alleged mortgage steering—and why this case could ripple beyond one lawsuit How Compass views MLS enforcement and where the pressure points really are A new playbook proposing non-Realtor MLS access and why it's making industry leaders nervous Glenn Kelman announces his exit after 20 years—what it signals for Redfin's future Members asked, National Association of Realtors delivered—but does the 2025 Annual Report change anything? 📉 Market Reality Check Monthly housing payments drop 5%, the biggest decline in over a year Pending home sales fall to the lowest level on record outside the pandemic  Home sellers outnumber buyers by a historic margin, shifting negotiation power U.S. home prices inch up just 0.1%—what that really means for pricing strategy Single-family homes keep getting smaller, and that trend isn't reversing 🏦 Mortgage & Policy Moves Refinance activity surges again—then rates jump higher New federal action aimed at limiting Wall Street investors in single-family housing What this means for affordability, inventory, and long-term housing supply 🥂 Why This Episode Matters 2026 is already forcing higher standards—on pricing, transparency, representation, and strategy. This isn't a hype show. It's a reality check for professionals who want to stay relevant and informed as the rules, risks, and leverage continue to shift. 👉 Subscribe for weekly real estate news, legal updates, and market analysis 👉 Like & share if you want clearer signal and less noise 📘 Sign up for the book club!! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/oOIGczJTRK2CfBbD_dSuiQ#/registration

    1h 13m

  8. 12/17/2025

    Google Home Listings END Zillow? Agents? PLUS 2026 Housing PREDICTIONS!

    Google just stepped into the portal wars… and it might be the most dangerous player yet. Episode 345: The Annual Prediction Special (and the LAST show of the year). We're doing the most satisfying (and brutal) thing possible: - We pull up our 2024 predictions and grade them LIVE Were we right… or dead wrong?  - Then we go on the record with 2026 predictions Rates. Prices. Inventory. Buyer demand. New construction. Investors. Chaos. The headline that changes everything: "GOOGLE is testing "home listings" inside search." So let's ask the scary questions out loud: - Will Google Home Listings end Zillow… or end agents? - If listings live in Google, who owns the consumer?  - Does this become the new "front door" to real estate… or just another ad product? (And yes, we'll talk about what we actually know so far: it's a test, currently seen on mobile in select markets, with built-in "request a tour / contact an agent" style actions.) If you want to know what housing looks like next year, show up tonight and plant your flag. Because next year… we're reviewing the receipts again.

    1h 54m
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The longest running real estate news podcast created so that you would have one place to go to find out the latest real estate news and headlines with succinct professional analysis from those of us active in the field! We cover the national housing market, mortgage rates, the federal reserve, housing affordability, and real estate industry news and information! This show is brought to you by listeners & viewers like you. Hit the share button on your favorite podcatcher and send this to someone like you because it is listeners like YOU who make this podcast possible. Subscibe button and hit the bell so that you can be notificed when we are live and participate in the podcast chat. You can make comments and we can display that comment and talk about you or your comment!! We are also broadcasting on facebook, twitter, linked in, and you can join the conversation via audio on ClubHouse. Join us!

Information

  • Creator
    Ray Ellen
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023
  • Show Website
    this Week in Real Estate

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