WELCOME

If you find yourself in Fort Lauderdale this weekend, come by and say hello 👋

This weekend, our own Josh Flagg is stopping by the Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show for a meet-and-greet on Saturday and Sunday. As the show’s featured guest, he’ll be sharing a few of his favorite design and remodeling tips, plus the trends he’s seeing in the luxury market.

Can’t make it to the Southeast? Keep reading for a second chance to connect with Josh next week in one of Estate Elite’s two upcoming live Q&A sessions. 👇 

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS: Today’s Top Podcast Rec 🔊

The impact of the Los Angeles wildfires extends beyond the wreckage. In this special episode of The Breakdown, Beverly Hills realtor and cast member of Buying Beverly Hills, Bill Belack investigates how looting, price gouging, and rising insurance prices are affecting the region—and how agents can help advocate for positive changes.

TRACK THE MARKET: Back to the Rate Wait

Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting confirmed not what the housing market hoped for, but what many expected: no immediate interest rate cuts are on the horizon. Judging by the Fed’s remarks, mortgage professionals predict interest rates will hold steady for at least the first half of this year—barring any significant economic change. 

By the numbers: 

• The Mortgage Bankers Association now predicts just one rate cut in 2025. 

• Fitch Ratings noted that mortgage rates will need to come down by at least 75 basis points before refinancing activity will increase.

• Some experts see steady interest rates as an opportunity for small, independent mortgage brokers to break through, as they’re able to offer creative alternatives and more lax qualification standards that lower the barrier to qualification. 

For agents, this news means home loans aren’t getting any cheaper. And with prices still rising in some regions, your buyer’s best chance at affordability may pass sooner than they think.

DIVE IN

The Friday Five

📖 Paint it red. See inside Paige and Kate’s first brick-and-mortar storefront and interior design studio.

👀 Top 10 sales. Check out the biggest real estate deals of the past week, from Vegas to Miami. 

👀 TV traffic. Would you pay $4M for an iconic piece of Breaking Bad history?

💡Building trust. Why this one word is the cornerstone of your real estate business. 

💡3 The Point. Join Glennda on a tour of the nearly 12,000sqft waterfront masterpiece in Coronado, CA.

Next Week in Estate Elite

This month, our luxury real estate coaches have focused on helping Estate Elite community members build a powerful personal brand and sustainable social media presence that feeds their business. We’ve covered topics like podcasting, negotiations, proving your value, and more—and there’s more where that came from. 

If you’re struggling to define your unique personal brand or position high-end homes on social media, our upcoming Q&A sessions are can’t-miss resources. Join us on:

• February 4th at 3pm ET for The Pillars of a Strong Personal Brand with Glennda Baker, and

• February 6th at 3pm ET for The Best Ways to Show Luxury Listings on Social Media with Josh Flagg

ICYMI, every Real Estate Roundup reader has free access to Estate Elite for 14 days. That’s two full weeks of Q&A sessions, networking, discussions, and more. Just tap to activate your trial and get the guidance you need to build the business you want.

WHAT’S NEW FROM ESTATE MEDIA

If you send automated marketing texts for things like property listings or open house invites, you have one more year to get your consents in order. The FCC’s “one-to-one consent” rule, which requires explicit consent before sending marketing texts, was originally set to take effect in 2023 but has now been postponed until 2026, pending further judicial review.

What does this mean for your messages, invites, and listing updates? For the full breakdown of the proposed rule and new deadline, tap here to read our post.

FEATURED LUXURY LISTING

TIPS & TAKEAWAYS

Contract Construction Matters

Take it from Glennda, when you’re putting in offers for your clients, contract construction can make all the difference. 

Vaguely written contracts—the kind that leave out key closing details and specifics—put your buyer at a disadvantage. Because when a listing agent gets two offers, one written with crystal clarity and one that leaves more questions than confidence, nine times out of 10, the clear contract will win the listing.

HANGS & HAPPENINGS

RETCon | Las Vegas, NV | March 10-12, 2025. RETCon is a must-attend event for real estate technology and innovation professionals. The conference focuses on PropTech and RealTech solutions, trends, automation tools, AI advances, and more, and gives agents and industry pros a place to learn, network, and stay competitive.

REALTOR Broker Summit | Louisville, KY | April 8-9. Get leadership and marketing insights tailored to brokers, real estate leaders, and teams ready to refine their strategies and jump ahead of the competition. Register for two days packed with workshops, presentations, meet-and-greets, and more.

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