Frauds, Scandals, & an Economy in Shambles

this Week in Real Estate

This week’s episode is packed with hot-button issues shaking the real estate world. Agents are filing lawsuits against Move for allegedly selling “fake leads,” raising major concerns about lead generation practices. Meanwhile, the founder of the Sitzer lawsuit has launched a new startup, charging $49 per home tour—what does this mean for buyers and agents? Homie’s lawsuit against NAR and major brokerages has sparked a potential boycott of listings—how will this disrupt the industry?

We also cover NAR’s bold move to fight the DOJ investigation all the way to the Supreme Court, BrightMLS’ decision to restrict data access, and whether we’re on the verge of a national MLS. Plus, despite falling mortgage rates, home sales remain sluggish as uncertainty around the NAR settlement and the upcoming election keeps buyers on edge.

Mortgage refinance demand has surged 94% from last year as interest rates continue to fall, but what’s behind the increase? And with 6 out of every 7 people locked into a mortgage rate below 6%, we’ll explore how the “lock-in effect” is starting to ease.

On the affordability front, we break down the latest data showing that homebuyers need to earn nearly $80,000 to afford the typical U.S. starter home—just shy of an all-time high. Plus, the typical down payment has skyrocketed to a record $67,500, up 15% from a year ago. We’ll also discuss the Bank of Canada’s latest interest rate cut and how Florida and Texas condo supplies are piling up amid soaring HOA and insurance costs. And finally, find out which five cities have the highest rents for one-bedroom apartments.

Tune in today at 10 PST / 1 EST for all these stories and more. Subscribe, hit the bell for notifications, and join us live on Clubhouse for an unfiltered discussion!