In this month’s Market Update, Gabi Brennesholz and Ruben Gonzalez break down the latest housing and economic headlines impacting buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals right now.

This episode covers:

• Why new construction home sales are improving

• How builders are adjusting pricing and incentives

• What the latest CPI and PCE inflation reports mean

• Why mortgage rates may stay elevated longer than expected

• The growing impact of inflation on consumer confidence

• Surprising news involving Fed Chair Jerome Powell

• What agents, buyers, and sellers should be watching moving forward

As market conditions continue to shift, understanding today’s data is critical for making smart real estate decisions in 2026.

Subscribe for monthly housing market updates, economic insights, and practical strategies for navigating today’s real estate market.

The spring housing market isn’t unfolding the way many expected ... and the data is telling a more complex story.

In this April Market Update, Gabi Brennesholz and Ruben Gonzalez break down the latest housing and economic signals, including softer-than-expected home sales, rising mortgage rates, and growing consumer hesitation.

They explore how global events (particularly rising oil prices) are beginning to ripple through inflation, consumer sentiment, and ultimately real estate activity. With buyer demand cooling, inventory challenges persisting, and regional markets behaving very differently, agents need to adapt quickly.

Plus, what’s next for Fed policy? Will rate relief come later this year, or is the market settling into a “higher for longer” reality?

In this episode:

• Why home sales underperformed despite earlier rate relief
• How oil prices are quietly reshaping inflation
• What’s really happening in the labor market
• Why consumer sentiment just hit historic lows
• What it all means for mortgage rates and the 2026 outlook
• How agents should adjust strategy in a slower, uncertain market.

Podcast Chapter Markers

00:00 – Intro: What’s Driving This Month’s Market Update

00:16 – Market Shock: Home Sales Miss Expectations

09:30 – Inflation Is Back? The Oil Price Effect

15:45 – Fed Outlook: Will Rates Stay Higher for Longer?

19:30 – Outro & Subscribe for Monthly Updates

Sudden global shifts are reshaping the housing market in unexpected ways. In this month’s update, Ruben Gonzalez and Gabi Brennesholtz break down how a sharp spike in oil and gas prices, driven by geopolitical conflict, is creating ripple effects across inflation, mortgage rates, and buyer behavior. They also unpack February’s surprisingly flat housing data, weakening job numbers, and what to expect from the Fed’s upcoming meeting. With uncertainty rising, this episode highlights why timing, strategy, and clear communication matter more than ever for today’s real estate professionals and their clients.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How rising oil and gas prices are fueling inflation and putting upward pressure on mortgage rates
• Why global events can quickly impact local housing markets even in the U.S.
• What February’s flat home sales, steady inventory, and stagnant prices signal about market momentum
• How weakening job growth and consumer confidence are influencing buyer activity
• Why the Fed is likely to hold rates steady (for now) and how new risks could shift forecasts
• How buyers and agents can navigate today’s uncertainty and take advantage of early-season opportunities

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:35 Oil price shock and global supply disruption explained

01:27 How oil and gas prices ripple through inflation and daily costs

02:38 Impact on mortgage rates and interest rate expectations

05:48 Buyer strategy: why acting sooner may offer an advantage

08:12 February housing data: flat sales, inventory, and pricing trends

11:13 Fed meeting preview, job market trends, and economic uncertainty

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

Recorded onsite at Family Reunion in Atlanta, this month’s market update unpacks the biggest insights from Gary Keller’s Vision speech and what they signal for housing in 2026 and beyond. Ruben Gonzalez and Gabi Brennesholtz break down January’s softer-than-expected sales, the role severe winter weather may have played, and why a stronger second half of the year remains the base-case scenario. They also explore emerging labor market cracks, generational wealth myths, rising competition among agents, and what upcoming Fed decisions could mean for mortgage rates.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why January’s weaker sales numbers may be more about severe weather and seasonality than a fundamental slowdown
• What to expect from mortgage rates this year and why the second half of the year could see stronger transaction activity
• How unemployment trends historically connect to home price declines and what early labor market shifts could signal
• The surprising truth about generational wealth: why millennials are earning and owning more assets, yet feeling more financially fragile
• How wealth gaps within generations and access to real estate are driving long-term financial divergence
• Why historically low transactions per agent (despite high overall volume) make today’s market more competitive than ever and raise the stakes for every deal

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:42 January NAR numbers: Weaker-than-expected sales and the impact of severe winter weather

01:58 Gary Keller’s 2026 transaction forecast and expectations for a stronger second half

02:59 Seasonality returns: What normal sales patterns mean for agents and planning

04:44 Home prices, unemployment trends, and early signs of labor market weakness

08:20 Generational wealth myth-busting: Assets, debt, and why millennials feel more fragile

12:31 Historic lows in transactions per agent and rising competition

14:39 Fed policy, leadership dynamics, and what rate cuts could mean for the rest of the year

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

As we close out 2025 and step into the new year, the housing market is offering a clearer signal of what lies ahead. In this month’s market update, Ruben Gonzalez and Gabi Brennesholtz break down final 2025 NAR data, revealing a largely flat year for sales and modest price growth with meaningful regional differences. They also unpack year-end employment and inflation trends, discuss what ongoing economic uncertainty means for buyers, and share the latest outlook on mortgage rates as 2026 gets underway.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What final 2025 NAR data shows about home sales, prices, and inventory nationwide
• How regional price performance varied dramatically across the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West
• Why slower job growth and labor market uncertainty are shaping buyer behavior
• How inflation trends are evolving and what’s still putting pressure on household budgets
• Where mortgage rates stand today and why expectations for major drops remain limited
• What buyers, sellers, and agents should realistically anticipate as the 2026 market unfolds

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:45 Final 2025 NAR housing numbers: sales, prices, and inventory

01:19 Regional price performance and what’s driving market variation

03:04 2026 home sales outlook and the role of pent-up demand

04:05 Employment slowdown and how labor market uncertainty impacts buyers

06:18 Inflation trends, household costs, and affordability pressures

09:48 Mortgage rate movement, forecasts, and what to expect in 2026

11:48 Policy speculation, election-year headlines, and why buyers shouldn’t wait

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

After a highly anticipated Fed rate cut and a year defined by affordability challenges, 2025 is coming to a close with a clearer picture of where the housing market stands and where it’s headed next. In this month’s market update, Ruben Gonzalez and Gabi Brennesholtz break down the biggest trends of the past year, from rising inventory and regional price shifts to the realities of buyer hesitation. They also unpack the Fed’s latest decision and offer data-driven forecasts to help buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals prepare for 2026.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What 2025’s housing data reveals about sales volume, inventory growth, and price trends
• Why affordability remains the defining challenge for buyers and how agents can address it
• How the Fed’s recent rate cut impacts short-term loans but not necessarily mortgage rates
• What a more “hawkish” Fed means for interest rates moving into 2026
• Why inventory is expected to keep rising and prices to grow modestly next year
• How buyers and agents can strategically position themselves ahead of the 2026 spring market

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:50 Key sales, inventory, and price trends from 2025

01:47 Regional market differences and the “tale of two markets”

02:36 Affordability challenges and evolving buyer and seller strategies

05:40 December Fed meeting and what the rate cut really means

07:49 Why the Fed’s hawkish tone matters for future rate cuts

09:19 2026 forecasts for home sales, inventory, and prices

12:30 Strategic advice for buyers and agents heading into the new year

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

A cooling labor market, rising housing inventory, and growing uncertainty around the Fed’s next move are shaping a complex end to the year for real estate. In this month’s market update, Gabi Brennesholtz and Ruben Gonzalez break down the latest unemployment trends, what October’s existing home sales reveal about buyer behavior, and how affordability challenges are reshaping who’s entering the market. They also dig into NAR’s newest survey insights—from cash buyers to rising down payments—and explain why December’s Fed meeting could trigger meaningful rate volatility.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the latest unemployment and claims data suggest about the labor market’s direction
• Why existing home sales remain flat despite easing mortgage rates—and how rising inventory is shifting buyer behavior
• How affordability challenges are pushing the average first-time buyer age to 40 and driving down-payment trends to record highs
• What the NAR’s newest survey reveals about cash buyers, investor participation, and today’s longer buying cycles
• Why December’s Fed meeting is essentially a 50/50 call—and how that uncertainty may impact mortgage-rate volatility
• What a 50-year mortgage would really mean for buyers, equity, and long-term wealth building

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction & overview of this month’s market update

00:51 Unemployment data, claims reports, and what they signal about the labor market

03:12 What the Fed will consider in the upcoming meeting and why uncertainty is unusually high

04:29 October existing home sales, rising inventory, and regional price trends

06:13 NAR survey insights: cash buyers, buyer age, down payments, and shifting buying cycles

12:34 Upcoming Fed meeting and what to expect

14:21 50-year mortgage question: viability, affordability impact, and long-term wealth concerns

17:59 Final takeaways & closing remarks

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

A prolonged government shutdown is creating fresh challenges for the housing market—from delayed closings to missing economic data just as the Fed prepares for another potential rate cut. In this month’s market update, Ruben Gonzalez and Gabi Brennesholtz unpack the real-world impact on homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals. From stalled USDA loans to surprising strength in existing home sales, they break down how lower mortgage rates, supply trends, and economic uncertainty are shaping a complicated but opportunity-filled market.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How the government shutdown is delaying closings and disrupting flood insurance and USDA lending
• Why conventional and FHA loans remain largely unaffected—and what that means for buyers
• How missing data could influence the Fed’s next move and mortgage rate trends
• Why lower mortgage rates are boosting existing home sales even amid broader economic concerns
• What rising inventory and steady prices reveal about the balance between supply and demand
• How buyers and real estate professionals can take advantage of today’s “market of the moment”

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:47 Government shutdown and what it means for real estate

05:33 The Fed’s next move: Missing data and the outlook for another rate cut

08:36 Housing data recap: Rising sales, steady prices, and growing inventory

11:17 What lower rates mean for Q4 and early 2025 housing activity

13:27 Takeaways: Why now may be the right moment for buyers to act

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.