The market finally feels like a market again—more choices, smarter buyers, and real negotiations that reward accuracy over adrenaline. We sat down with real estate analyst and regional vice president for Howard Hanna Allen Tate, Tony Jarrett to unpack where 2025 left us and how to play offense in 2026 without chasing headlines or hoping for miracles.

Inventory is climbing across the Carolinas, but it’s not a free-for-all. We break down the split reality most people miss: a fast lane for well-prepped, well-priced homes that go under contract in roughly two months, and a slow lane for wishful listings that sit for four months with mounting reductions. You’ll hear why delistings have surged, why fall-throughs are up to 10–12 percent in some pockets, and how property condition has overtaken appraisals as the number one deal killer. If you want to sell quickly and for more, the playbook is simple: price to the active set, stage and fix what matters, and consider targeted concessions like rate buydowns.

We also tackle appreciation, affordability, and rates with context that actually helps. Expect steady two to four percent price growth, healthier months of supply, and mortgage rates flirting with the fives—enough to pull millions off the sidelines. Builders are winning with incentives; resale sellers who package similar offers are meeting intentional buyers where they are. For first-time buyers, layered financing and credible condition beat shiny headlines. For boomers holding big equity, we lay out honest strategies to bridge the renovation gap and trade up, down, or closer to work as remote policies shift.

If you’re an agent, your edge is education and consistency: weekly reviews of the active competition, micro-market updates to your database, and clear scripts that anchor decisions in today’s numbers. If you’re a buyer or seller, the path is straightforward—make moves when life needs it, not when the news cycle shouts. We’re here with the data, the context, and a plan you can use on your next appointment or your next offer.

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow the show, share it with a colleague or friend, and leave a quick review so more people can turn data into smart decisions.

Want proof that service scales? Angi Standish joins us with a candid, energizing tour through nearly three decades in real estate—starting with a third attempt at the licensing exam and arriving at leading a high-performing Lake Norman office.

Along the way, she built a mixed-use community, weathered a recession, detoured into banking to sharpen her leadership, then returned to coach agents with calm, clarity, and systems that actually stick. We dig into the real story behind today’s market and why headlines can mislead your clients.

Angi lays out the local data—new listings up, closings up, median price holding, and average days on market under two months—and explains how pricing to condition still sparks multiple offers. For buyers, she makes a practical case: you only know today’s rates and prices, inventory offers more choice, and rent is 100% interest. Get pre-approved, move thoughtfully, and lock payment certainty while others wait for perfect.

Angi also details the traits that drive sustainable success: abundance, positivity, tenacity, knowledge, and confidence. Then she stacks the veteran playbook on top—systems, expectation-setting, and adaptability—so you stay in flow during longer ownership cycles.

We spotlight open houses as growth engines when you treat them like events: abundant signage, neighbor invites, social promotion, fast follow-up, and sincere conversations that lead to listings.

On the digital front, Angi shares how one agent turned short-form video into 60% of her business, and why outsourcing content is a smart move if you lack time. The throughline is servant leadership: show up, teach, mentor, encourage, and solve problems with authenticity so people become who they want to be.

Listen for practical scripts, market clarity you can share with your sphere, and real-world tactics you can run this weekend. If this conversation helped you find your next step, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more agents lead with service.

Want a realistic roadmap for 2026 housing? In this episode you'll hear the top minds at Howard Hanna Allen Tate connect the dots that actually matter: how inventory is building into a healthier four-to-five months of supply, why six percent is becoming the new mental norm for mortgages, and where modest price gains can coexist with improving affordability. No hype, no doom—just a grounded view of what will move buyers and sellers.

We dig into existing home sales and why a stronger starting inventory may lift unit volume even without dramatic rate cuts. On new construction, we unpack how builder incentives are moving standing inventory, why permitting speeds could change the math, and how Southeast markets are still drawing capital despite margin pressure. You’ll hear a clear, practical take on mortgage rates: what keeps them range-bound, what could push them into the fives, and how a single digit can unlock millions of additional eligible buyers.

The conversation sharpens around pricing power and balance. With more listings and slower appreciation—think one to four percent—multiple-offer drama fades while appraisals get cleaner. We outline a field-tested agent playbook: set seller expectations with data, launch listings with precision, and use payment math plus wage gains to reframe affordability for first-time buyers and move-up clients. We also explore jobs and inflation in plain English, showing how softer labor data and calmer energy costs can nudge financing without promising miracles.

If this helped sharpen your 2026 plan, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps more pros find the data, strategy, and encouragement they need to win the year.