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  • 10: Fed Cuts, Commissions Rebound & HGTV’s Jessie Rodriguez on the Truth About Flipping

    10: Fed Cuts, Commissions Rebound & HGTV’s Jessie Rodriguez on the Truth About Flipping
    2025/12/14
    This week on The Clean Close, we break down the biggest real estate headlines shaping the market right now — from the Fed’s latest rate cut to rising buyer-agent commissions, Zillow’s legal battles, and the growing role of corporate ownership in U.S. housing.

    Then, CEO of Cal American Homes and HGTV host of Vintage Flip, Jessie Rodriguez, joins the show for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about real estate reality TV, what flipping homes is really like when the cameras turn off, and how today’s market headlines impact investors, renovators, and agents alike.

    If you want real context — not hype — this episode is for you.

    📰 Topics Covered in This Episode

    • The Fed cuts interest rates for the third time in 2025 — and why policymakers are divided on what comes next
    • Why mortgage rates don’t always follow Fed cuts
    • Buyer-agent commissions rebound after the NAR settlement
    • Why commissions are rising faster in slower markets
    • Zillow responds to lawsuits over agent-partner and referral programs
    • What ongoing litigation could mean for agents and consumers
    • Corporations now own nearly 9% of U.S. residential parcels — over 20% in some cities
    • How corporate ownership is reshaping inventory, affordability, and competition
    • The real difference between flipping homes on TV vs. real life
    • What HGTV doesn’t show about renovations, budgets, and timelines
    • How Jessie Rodriguez builds culture inside his brokerage and development teams
    • Where flipping, renovation, and value-add investing may be headed in 2026

    🎥 Guest This Week

    Jessie Rodriguez
    Real estate investor, developer, and host of HGTV’s Vintage Flip
    CEO of Cal American Homes
    find him at instagram.com/jessierodriguez

    🔗 Sources & References Mentioned

    • Fed rate cut coverage (Inman)

    • Buyer-agent commissions rebound (Inman)

    • Why commissions are rising (Real Estate News)

    • Zillow responds to litigation (Inman)

    • Corporate landlords & residential land ownership (USA Today)

    • Corporate ownership deep dive (Real Estate News):
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    52 分
  • 8: Russ Cofano talks MLS, NAR, and the Decentralization of Our Industry

    8: Russ Cofano talks MLS, NAR, and the Decentralization of Our Industry
    2025/12/08
    Russ Cofano joins us to break down the future of MLS governance.
    With experience across brokerage, MLS, associations, and proptech, Russ brings unmatched insight into where the industry is headed.

    In this segment, we introduce Russ and his recent articles on:

    Open MLS access

    Raising professional standards

    The new membership landscape

    Why governance needs urgent modernization

    This sets the stage for a powerful conversation.

    📄 Russ’s Articles:
    • NAR Membership Must Be a Choice — https://www.inman.com/2025/11/04/nar-membership-must-be-a-choice-for-agents-brokers-consumers/

    • The MLS Opportunity: Open Access & Raise the Bar — https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/11/19/the-mls-opportunity-open-access-raise-the-bar

    🌐 Alloy Advisors — www.alloy-advisors.com

    🔗 Russ on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/russcofano
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    1 時間 3 分
  • 9: Can I Have Some "Transparency" With That Devaluation?

    9: Can I Have Some "Transparency" With That Devaluation?
    2025/12/08
    This week’s 3 headlines:
    (1) Transparency + industry response to NAR
    (2) Compass v. Zillow lawsuit + industry response
    (3) Sitzer/Burnett appeal update.

    This is a solo episode because the headlines are the guest. We’re talking about what “transparency” actually means in real estate right now—especially around referral fees, private exclusives, portal policies, and the legal/compliance guardrails that are shaping how brokerages respond.

    Discussed in this episode:
    https://www.inman.com/2025/11/26/after-failed-nar-vote-brokerages-beef-up-referral-disclosures/

    https://substack.com/inbox/post/180360712?r=3lk6rf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true&triedRedirect=true&triedRedirect=true

    https://www.mikedp.com/articles/2025/11/24/a-strategic-analysis-of-the-compass-v-zillow-court-hearing

    https://www.mikedp.com/articles/2025/11/25/zillows-listing-ban-and-violation-metrics

    https://www.mikedp.com/articles/2025/12/1/logical-fallacies-seller-motives-and-private-exclusives

    https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/12/02/sitzer-burnett-appeals-case-nears-final-judgment

    https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/mortgage-resources/real-estate-settlement-procedures-act/real-estate-settlement-procedures-act-faqs/#respa-section-8a

    https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/5:2022cv03119/396161/150/

    https://www.inman.com/2025/12/03/yes-you-do-buy-real-estate-leads-you-just-dont-realize-it-yet/

    Special thanks to Matthew Fine, Blueprint Home Loans, a sponsor of The Clean Close. Find Matthew on IG at instagram.com/mortgagemattt.

    If you like this type of content, please like, comment, subscribe and join the conversation!

    Please direct all podcast guest submissions to hello@acme-re.com.

    For more on Courtney Poulos, visit instagram.com/thecleanclose.
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    29 分
  • 6: Zillow + Compass Show Their Moves, NAR’s Dilemma & Brokerages Gone Wild!

    6: Zillow + Compass Show Their Moves, NAR’s Dilemma & Brokerages Gone Wild!
    2025/11/09
    The real estate industry is in full-blown drama mode.

    This week on The Clean Close:
    Compass calls out Zillow for “quashing competition.”
    Zillow fires back at Chicago’s Private Listing Network.
    A bold op-ed says NAR membership should finally be optional.
    A watchdog claims commissions aren’t dropping fast enough.

    From lawsuits to loyalty traps, this episode breaks down what’s really happening behind the headlines.

    🧾 HEADLINES
    1️⃣ Compass vs. Zillow – The Portal War Heats Up
    Compass says Zillow’s private-listing ban shuts independents out of the market. Is it competition—or control?
    2️⃣ Zillow vs. Private Listing Networks
    Zillow calls Chicago’s “Private Listing Network” a “hidden listing scheme.” Cue the debate over transparency, fairness, and antitrust.
    3️⃣ Should NAR Membership Be Optional?
    A fiery op-ed argues agents should choose to join NAR, not be forced. Voluntary membership could rebuild trust, improve transparency, and end “broker billing” mandates.
    4️⃣ Commissions Under Fire
    A federal report claims buyers can’t negotiate fees—but critics say the system’s misunderstood. Expertise still has value, and “standard rates” aren’t price-fixing.

    ⚙️ TECH SPOTLIGHT – AutoReel App
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    We tested it—it’s absurdly good. AI isn’t taking your job, it’s taking your edit bay. New features allow you to add moving features to static photos!

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    “The market is always good for someone.”
    Opportunity never dies—it just migrates.
    For sponsorship and guest suggestions, DM instagram.com/thecleanclose!

    Links:

    https://therealdeal.com/national/2025/11/03/compass-claims-zillows-listing-policy-quashed-competition/

    https://www.inman.com/2025/10/31/compass-targets-zillows-warnings-to-agents-in-new-brief/

    https://www.inman.com/2025/11/04/nar-membership-must-be-a-choice-for-agents-brokers-consumers/

    https://www.inman.com/2025/11/04/share-of-first-time-homebuyers-falls-to-lowest-point-ever/

    https://www.inman.com/2025/11/03/zillow-calls-chicagos-private-listing-network-a-hidden-listing-scheme/

    https://www.inman.com/2025/11/03/its-difficult-for-buyers-to-negotiate-lower-commission-rates-watchdog-says/
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    51 分
  • 5: The Great Real Estate Reset: Mergers, Models, the Road Ahead

    5: The Great Real Estate Reset: Mergers, Models, the Road Ahead
    2025/11/02
    The real estate industry is at a crossroads — and we’re diving straight into the chaos.

    Redfin gets pulled into a legal battle between Zillow and Compass.
    Compass merges with Anywhere Real Estate in a move shaking the brokerage world.
    The National Association of Realtors faces open rebellion from its own members.
    And new players like Housewell are rewriting the rules of what a brokerage even is.

    In this episode, The Clean Close host takes on the biggest headlines shaking real estate — and sits down with:
    🏠 Parker Bryant, CEO & Founder of Housewell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parker-bryant-680b3217a/
    💼 Jeff Biebuyck, Team Lead of Compass’s Frontgate Real Estate: https://www.instagram.com/frontgate.realestate/

    They go head-to-head on:

    ⚔️ The “Portal Wars” — Zillow, Redfin, Compass, and the fight for control of data and consumers

    🏢 The Compass + Anywhere merger: consolidation or desperation?

    🤝 The NAR trust crisis and what it means for agents

    💡 Whether innovation or legacy power will shape the brokerage of the future

    Plus: a breaking news update on mortgage rates and Jerome Powell’s “iffy” rate cut warning.

    Subscribe for more fearless real estate talk.
    #RealEstatePodcast #Zillow #Compass #Redfin #NAR #BrokerageReset #TheCleanClose #ParkerBryant #Housewell #FrontgateRealEstate #JeromePowell #mortgagerates

    https://www.housingwire.com/articles/redfin-pulled-into-the-fray-as-zillow-compass-fight-over-witness/

    https://parker997.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web

    https://www.inman.com/2025/10/28/robert-reffkin-my-commitments-to-anywheres-brands/

    https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/25/new-broker-group-demands-accountability-from-nar

    https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/27/brokers-to-nar-fix-these-6-core-areas-to-restore-trust

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQUuRjTEQii/

    https://www.inman.com/2015/03/20/zillow-makes-formal-pledge-not-to-be-a-brokerage-mls/

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPenRlTkeXJ/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
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    57 分
  • 4: Data Wars: Reffkin, Zillow, and the Fight for Real Estate’s Soul

    4: Data Wars: Reffkin, Zillow, and the Fight for Real Estate’s Soul
    2025/10/24
    In this week’s episode of The Clean Close, Courtney Poulos breaks down the biggest real estate data battles shaking the industry. From Compass CEO Robert Reffkin’s showdown with CRMLS to Zillow’s aggressive new lead policies, Matterport’s quiet exit, and OpenAI’s new Atlas browser — this episode explores what happens when technology platforms blur the line between partnership and control.

    We’re diving into:

    • 🧾 Reffkin vs. CRMLS – Is it a fight for independence or a clash of philosophies?

    • 💬 Zillow’s new Follow Up Boss (FUB) policy – Are they now calling your leads?

    • ⚖️ SCOTUS ends the REX vs. Zillow/NAR battle – What it means for disruptors.

    • 🏠 Zillow drops Matterport tours – Closing its ecosystem.

    • 🤖 ChatGPT Atlas browser launch – The AI tool that might know too much.

    • 💸 California real estate fraud scandal – Developers charged in a $50M homelessness fund scheme.

    • 💡 Leadership gap or tech revolution? – How AI is redefining power in real estate.

    Mentioned Sources (Full Links):

    • Inman: https://www.inman.com/2025/10/16/robert-reffkin-pokes-at-crmls-policy-crmls-ceo-pushes-back/

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP4n8d3CVVu/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJgz1X6ThOY

    • Real Estate News: https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/10/22/zillows-chatgpt-integration-forces-industry-reckoning

    • The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/10/22/chatgpt-atlas-browser/

    • Fox Business: https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/california-homeless-crisis-doj-accuses-real-estate-developers-50m-funding-fraud

    • DOJ Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/beverly-hills-man-arrested-brentwood-man-charged-separate-criminal-cases-linked-fraud

    • Recruit & Retain Agents (FUB TOS Overview): https://www.recruitandretainagents.com/try/foundations/fub-tos-update-overview?mcp_token=eyJwaWQiOjExOTE3MzIsInNpZCI6MTIzOTAwNjIsImF4IjoiYzUxNDdiNjhiZDI2NGYyZGU5ZDUwMmVjMzMxMmExNDkiLCJ0cyI6MTc2MDkwOTUwMCwiZXhwIjoxNzYzMzI4NzAwfQ.HGKRl0jZcJ7IxjvNNMoebzWEK3rAI6FWraJRgWtt83M
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    42 分
  • 3: Lawsuits, Settlements, and Inman Interim Editorial Director Jim Dalrymple Joins!

    3: Lawsuits, Settlements, and Inman Interim Editorial Director Jim Dalrymple Joins!
    2025/10/11
    1️⃣ Compass Ordered to Hand Over Anywhere Deal Docs to Zillow
    A court orders Compass to produce internal documents about its acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate.

    2️⃣ Zillow is now an app inside ChatGPT!

    3️⃣ Five More Settlements Granted Preliminary Approval in Gibson Case
    Judges grant preliminary approval for another wave of commission settlements — continuing the billion-dollar reshaping of agent compensation.

    4️⃣ FTC Lawsuit Paused, but Five States Join In Against Zillow & Redfin
    Even as the FTC’s lawsuit is paused by the federal shutdown, Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, and Washington step in with their own filings over the same syndication deal.

    5️⃣ FICO Launches Direct Credit Score Licensing Program
    FICO cuts out the credit bureaus, offering lenders direct access at lower rates — a potential shake-up in mortgage costs.

    💡 Tech Corner
    Perplexity launches ‘Comet,’ an AI-powered browser
    Real-time research that summarizes pages as you browse — fast, transparent, but raising new questions about sameness in digital storytelling.

    https://www.perplexity.ai/comet

    --------
    Follow instagram.com/thecleanclose and thecleanclose.substack.com!

    If you have a product you think would be great for our audience, send over an email to hello@acme-re.com.

    Thank you for watching!
    xx,
    Courtney
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    50 分
  • 2: From FTC vs Zillow to Rocket’s $14B Acquisition: What It Means for Boutique Real Estate

    2: From FTC vs Zillow to Rocket’s $14B Acquisition: What It Means for Boutique Real Estate
    2025/10/09
    This week, the real estate industry is buzzing with headlines: the FTC sues Zillow and Redfin over a $100 million rental syndication deal, NAR’s president urges Realtors to “remember who we serve,” Zillow and CoStar battle over copyright, MLS PIN secures final settlement approval in the Nosalek case, and Rocket completes its $14.2 billion acquisition of Mr. Cooper Group — instantly becoming the nation’s largest mortgage lender and servicer.

    In this episode of The Clean Close, host Courtney Poulos breaks down what these stories mean for agents, consumers, and the industry’s future. Then, she’s joined by Vanessa Bergmark, CEO of Red Oak Realty, who shares how boutique firms can thrive amidst lawsuits, megamergers, and uncertainty. Vanessa offers a clear-eyed look at where brokerages are headed, and why smaller firms may hold the advantage in the next decade.

    Finally, the episode wraps with a spotlight on HouseCanary, an AI tool providing sharp market analytics and valuations to help boutique firms compete with industry giants.

    Guest Bio:
    Vanessa Bergmark is the CEO and Owner of Red Oak Realty, a Bay Area boutique brokerage recognized for its culture-driven approach, community engagement, and agent-first philosophy. She is a sought-after voice on the future of real estate, offering a clear perspective on how boutique firms can compete and thrive in an industry dominated by giants.

    Resources & Links:
    Connect with Vanessa Bergmark on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-bergmark-4396ab)
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    57 分