Open House with Pat Roach

Pat Roach
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I’m Patrick Roach, President and Co-Founder of Southwestern Real Estate. When I started in 2007, I was brand new to the business and set out to learn by interviewing top brokers. I built my career on principles that kept me focused, client-first, and committed to doing the work well. Open House is where I share the lessons, stories, and hard-earned truths from life in real estate—what I’ve learned, what I’m still learning, and what I think more people in this business need to hear.

  1. APR 2

    47. Why Gen Z Is Buying in the Midwest and How Dual Agency Actually Works

    Pat and Andres open with Hot Finds that go from big-screen optimism to a horrific documentary recommendation, then jump into a surprisingly hopeful real estate trend: some Midwest cities are actually pulling Gen Z buyers into homeownership. From there, Pat breaks down a topic that can get messy fast if it is handled wrong: dual agency. He walks through when it comes up, why sellers sometimes choose an off-market path, what agents can and cannot say, and how to keep both sides protected when one agent is involved in the same deal. Hot Finds – [00:12:32] Andres’ pick: Project Hail Mary in theaters, a visually beautiful, optimistic sci-fi story about friendship, kindness, and collaboration.Pat’s pick: Trainwreck: Poop Cruise on Netflix, a documentary on the 2013 Carnival Triumph disaster that is as disgusting as it is weirdly entertaining.Rip From the Headlines – [00:21:55] Some Midwest cities are bucking the first-time buyer slump and attracting Gen Z homeowners.The common thread: affordability, younger homeowner communities, and local build-out designed to support young buyers and families.Cities mentioned include Grand Rapids, Omaha, Wichita, Des Moines, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Akron, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis.Pat’s bigger takeaway: southern metros may stay popular with renters, but the Midwest is winning younger buyers who want long-term equity.Main Topic – [00:33:18] Pat explains why he is seeing more dual-agency deals this year and why low inventory is a big part of it.He breaks down the difference between dual agency and transactional brokerage, plus the rules that matter most.The practical angle: why some sellers would rather take a clean off-market deal than deal with prep, showings, and market chaos, and how an agent has to stay transparent without crossing ethical lines. Have questions for us? Submit them here: openhousewpr@gmail.com

    1h 16m

  2. MAR 18

    46. How the Iran War and AI Could Impact Real Estate This Year.

    Pat and Andres are back! (season two?), and after a long catch-up they settle into two big questions hanging over real estate right now. First, what does a war with Iran actually mean for mortgage rates, inventory, and buyer behavior if it drags on? Then they pivot to AI and whether it is really a business changer for agents, or just the latest shiny object being sold to people in the industry. It is part reunion, part market read, and part reality check on what still matters most when people are buying and selling homes. Hot Finds – [00:18:42] Pat’s pick: an Oscars roundup, with strong recommendations for Sentimental Value, One Battle After Another, Train Dreams, and Begonia, plus a hard thumbs down for F1. Andres’ pick: the Brandon Sanderson universe getting greenlit at Apple, with Sanderson reportedly keeping screenplay and adaptation control. Sponsor shout: Fidelity National Title is back in the mix, and Brandon James is helping sponsor Pat’s upcoming client movie event. Rip From the Headlines – [00:31:26] The war in Iran could push mortgage rates higher in the short term, especially if energy prices and inflation stay elevated. If the conflict drags on, higher material costs and labor issues could make housing supply even tighter. AI is everywhere in the real estate conversation, but Pat is skeptical of the sales pitch and thinks most agents still win through trust, systems, and real human connection. Main Topic – [00:31:26] Pat breaks down the difference between a short conflict and a prolonged one, and why the local market may not react the same way the national headlines do. On AI, the big question is not whether it can help with small tasks. It is whether it can replace the emotional intelligence and person-to-person trust that great agents bring to the job. Their answer is pretty clear: use the tools where they save time, but do not confuse automation with service. Closing tag: Have questions for us? Submit them here: openhousewpr@gmail.com

    1h 11m

  3. JAN 14

    45. Compass + Anywhere, Investor Ban, Rates Under 6%

    Pat and Andres open with Hot Finds, then hit a packed news run: Compass completes its purchase of Anywhere Real Estate, debate over banning institutional homebuyers heats up, and 30-year mortgage rates briefly slip to 5.99%. The back half connects the dots on demand versus supply and explores “portable mortgages” as a way to free up move-up inventory without giving up ultra-low existing rates. Hot Finds – [00:15:18] Andres’ pick: HIPPEAS Flavored Blast Blazin’ Hot Chickpea Puffs — a “healthier Cheetos” with chickpea protein. Pat’s pick: If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You (Rose Byrne) — intense, art-first film that lingers. Rip From the Headlines – [00:27:08] Compass completes acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate (Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s, Corcoran, ERA, BHG). Ban on institutional single-family rental buyers? Legal questions and real market impact debated. Rates under 6% (briefly): a dip to 5.99% tied to chatter about large MBS purchases. Main Topic – [00:59:29] Demand fixes versus supply reality: tools like retirement or 529 funds help buyers but not inventory. Portable mortgages explained: carry a low-rate balance to the next home and finance the remainder at market rate. Practical lens for agents: track whether policies boost buyers or boost listings, then adjust strategy and messaging. Have questions for us? Submit them here: openhousewpr@gmail.com

    1h 7m

  4. JAN 7

    44. Boomers, Baby Bust, and 2026 Gameplan

    Pat and Andres kick off 2026 with sponsor thanks, travel and health updates, and a lively Hot Finds before diving into three stories that point in the same direction. A record sale in Massachusetts, NAR’s outlook on boomers and buyers with kids, and a surprising list of places adding families set up the takeaway for agents. The second half lays out a clear plan for where the business is headed and how to position yourself to win. Hot Finds – [00:13:59] Andres’ picks: The Kingkiller Chronicle (starting with The Name of the Wind) and a rewatch of Peaky Blinders. Pat’s pick: Pluribus on Apple TV, created by Vince Gilligan and starring Rhea Seehorn, with a hive-mind premise that sparks a philosophy tangent. Rip From the Headlines – [00:26:43] Former Obama summer estate tops Massachusetts sales at $37M on Martha’s Vineyard. NAR lens on boomers and 2026: retirees hold the cards, and only 25% of current buyers have children living at home. Where household size is shrinking fastest and where it is rising: some markets see smaller households as retirees move in, while places like Kokomo, IN attract families with incentives, including down payment help up to $50k. Main Topic – [00:44:17] The next ten years will be won by agents who build real relationships with boomers and with people who influence boomers. Context for newer agents: first-time buyers are a smaller slice than they used to be, so your sphere has to expand beyond your own age group. Practical moves: grow a referral network that includes adult children of boomers, stay consistent on touchpoints, and be ready with clear plans for relocations and right-sizing. Closing tag:Have questions for us? Submit them here: openhousewpr@gmail.com

    59 min

  5. 12/24/2025

    43. Google Home Search; Florida’s No-Property-Tax Pitch; Alex Peterson’s Road to Relationship-First Real Estate

    Pat and Andres open with sponsor thanks to Fidelity National Title, quick life updates, and Hot Finds. They move into headlines on Google testing home listings, November sales slipping in most major markets, and Florida floating a no-property-tax idea for primary homes. Then they welcome Alex Peterson from Southwestern Real Estate to share how he shifted from getting lost in the weeds to a relationship-first business built on systems, clear goals, and service. He closes with a win for a first-generation buyer who became a homeowner. Follow Alex on Instagram: @the1alexpeterson Check out his Real Estate Podcast on Instagram: @whiskey.and.real.estate Watch it on YouTube Listen on Spotify Hot Finds – [00:08:41] Pat’s pick: a skin-care PSA on photodynamic therapy as a gentler alternative to freezing spots or chemo cream, plus a shout to Casa de Crepes in Oakbrook Terrace and Mexican coffee. Andres’ pick: Freeland Spirits rye whiskey from Portland, about $109, saved for special occasions, with an honorable mention to Bull Run. Rip From the Headlines – [00:21:37] November scoreboard: transactions fell in 38 of 40 major markets. Cleveland and Phoenix were up. Steepest drops included San Jose (about -20%) and Austin (about -9%). Google enters the portal game with a controlled experiment that shows listings and a “Request a tour” button. Zillow shares dipped on the news. Florida proposal: eliminate property tax for homestead residents and replace revenue with tourism, higher transfer stamps, non-homestead taxes, and population growth. The pitch is zero property tax and zero income tax for primary residents. Main Topic – [00:33:37] Meet Alex Peterson and his systems and service playbook for building a career in a choppy market. Shift from transactions to relationships with consistent calls, notes, and pop-bys. Compete with your own past work rather than 20-year veterans. A first-generation client gets FHA single-unit approval on a condo after another lender said no and then closes. Homeownership can be for anyone. Have questions for us? Submit them here: openhousewpr@gmail.com

    1h 21m

  6. 12/17/2025

    42. Inheriting a Home 101: Taxes, Loans, Siblings

    Pat and Andres check in, thank Fidelity National Title, and roll into Hot Finds before tackling headlines on Tucker Carlson’s Qatar move and why buyer-agent commissions have ticked up. Then the back half gets practical: what really happens when you inherit a house—how step-up basis works, what to do if there’s a mortgage or a reverse mortgage, and how to handle it when siblings disagree. It’s a clear, street-level guide with a quick legal note to always loop in your tax pro. Hot Finds – [00:12:46] Pat’s pick: “J. Kelly” on Netflix — a George Clooney and Adam Sandler film Pat calls a genuine surprise with clever in-jokes and a reflective lead character arc. Andres’ picks: a short Hafez poem (“God and I have become like two giant, fat people…”) and a Stormlight Archive quote on choosing the path over the destination. Rip From the Headlines – [00:23:40] Tucker Carlson in Doha: plans to buy a home in Qatar spark reactions and irony about “freedom” abroad. Buyer-agent commissions tick up: average rises from 2.36% → 2.42% as agents set fees directly with buyers post-rules change. Main Topic – [00:39:35] Hook: So you inherited a house—now what? Start with taxes, loans, and who else has a say. Step-up basis: you inherit at fair-market value on the date you receive it; taxes apply to gains above that when you sell. Loans and traps: check for a mortgage, possible assumption, or a reverse mortgage that may have eaten the equity; if it’s underwater, a short sale might be the play. Siblings & solutions: cash buyouts, promissory notes, or—in a stalemate—a court partition; best avoided with a living trust set up ahead of time. Have questions for us? Submit them here: openhousewpr@gmail.com

    1h 7m

  7. 12/10/2025

    41. 2026 Housing Forecast: “It Depends”

    Pat and Andres celebrate the show’s Wrapped stats, trade a wild closing-and-permits story (hello, transfer stamps and retroactive inspections), and explain earnest money with a quick Fidelity shout before zooming out: what 2026 might really look like for housing. They unpack national forecasts, the “silver tsunami” of downsizing boomers, and why the only honest answer is regional—some markets warm, some cool, most just… depend. Hot Finds – [00:32:02] Andres’ pick (comical): a “Trump ear” curiosity—either miraculous healing or world-class plastic surgery; he lays out the facts and lets listeners infer. Pat didn’t bring a Hot Find this week—calls an audible for a Cold Find: Spindrift Cranberry (hard pass). Rip From the Headlines – [00:42:14] 2026 previews everywhere; Pat wants less clickbait, more context. Consensus forming on mortgage rates hovering ~6–6.3% in 2026. National home-price forecasts cluster near flat-to-low growth; the real story is local. Main Topic – [00:49:12] Hook: “For 2026…the answer is it depends—where you live matters most.” Silver tsunami ≠ crash: more likely a gradual tide as boomers age in place, downsize slowly, and inventory releases over years, not months. Takeaway: real estate is hyper-local; use national numbers as background noise and make decisions with neighborhood data and a pro who’s in it daily. Closing tag:Have questions for us? Submit them here: openhousewpr@gmail.com

    1h 13m

  8. 12/03/2025

    40. From Nicki Minaj to Pat Roach | Nick Sproul

    Pat and Andres sit down with Nick Sproul—managing broker for Southwestern Real Estate in Florida—to trace his path from late-night studio sessions to a relationship-driven real estate business. Nick breaks down how he built Florida for the brokerage, why genuine coffee meetings beat cold calls, how to handle hard moves with care, and the routines that keep him steady when deals get messy. It is a practical, evergreen look at what the job is really like and what it actually takes to succeed. Main Topic – [00:02:59] Hook: What a career in real estate is really like and the keys to success, told through Nick’s Florida journey. Through line: shift from transactional leads to community, systems, and a referral flywheel; manage tough news with transparency and care. Habits: morning routine, weekly planning, and simple practices that compound over time. Have questions for us? Submit them here: openhousewpr@gmail.com

    53 min
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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

I’m Patrick Roach, President and Co-Founder of Southwestern Real Estate. When I started in 2007, I was brand new to the business and set out to learn by interviewing top brokers. I built my career on principles that kept me focused, client-first, and committed to doing the work well. Open House is where I share the lessons, stories, and hard-earned truths from life in real estate—what I’ve learned, what I’m still learning, and what I think more people in this business need to hear.

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