Plus, a major move by Rocket and Redfin
#78
WELCOME
What are you doing March 26th?
How about joining us live for Future Forward: The New Role of Real Estate Agents in a Changing World!
For our first in-person expert panel of 2025, we’re hosting a powerhouse lineup, including Ben Belack as moderator and Jason Oppenheim, Tracy Tutor, and Jade Mills as our special guests.
We’ll be dropping registration details and the RSVP link on Instagram and in next week’s newsletter. In the meantime, grab your notebook and save the date.
If you’re a new agent—or new to the luxury market—this week’s Rise Above the Ranks episode with James Harris and David Parnes is the ultimate crash course in setting your business up smart from the start. Watch for James and David’s best advice for building credibility in the competitive luxury market, establishing trust (even before you have a proven track record), creating a personal brand that connects, and more.
TRACK THE MARKET: Housing’s Seven-Year Solution
Despite the increase in homebuilding last year, the housing market is still 3.8 million homes short. At the current construction pace, a report by Realtor.com estimates it will take builders years of accelerated construction to fill the gap—and bring affordability back to the market. But the deficit isn’t evenly distributed. Some parts of the country—especially the South—are adding homes faster than the Northeast and Midwest, which may be stuck in a shortage for decades.
By the numbers:
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Builders started 1.4 million new homes in 2024—the first time in nearly a decade that new construction outpaced household formations.
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Even with the recent construction boom, Realtor.com estimates it will take 7.5 years to close the national housing supply gap at the current pace.
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At the current building rate, the South could close its housing gap in just three years, while the Midwest is looking at 41 years before supply catches up.
Looking ahead, policy shifts could further impact construction. Potential tariffs on Canadian lumber and labor shortages caused by immigration policies could drive up building costs, creating additional challenges for developers. Experts remain cautious, noting that while builders will continue to add supply, the pace may not be fast enough to significantly ease the housing crisis in the short-term.
DIVE IN
The Friday Five
📖 Splash of inspiration. Go BTS of designer Paige Wassel’s pool-themed photoshoot—and new product launch.
👀 Halsey’s hideout. See inside Halsey’s Spanish Colonial home, now surprisingly listed for $5.5M.
👀 Palm Springs paradise. What’s your take on ‘New Desert Architecture’—the new trend sweeping the Southwest?
💡 Embracing integrity. Josh Flagg’s advice for renovating classic homes without compromising character.
💡 Estate Elegance. Tour some of the most incredible homes in the US in this mash-up of luxury listings.
NEXT WEEK IN ESTATE ELITE
Two of the biggest skills that separate top-producing agents from the rest of the pack are luxury lead generation and emotional intelligence in the sales conversation. Together, these skills put you in front of the right audience—and give you the tools you need to close them.
Next week in Estate Elite, our two live Q&A sessions will dive into the specific steps you can take to master client relationships at every level, from initial connection to final deal.
Join us for:
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Lead Generation Strategies for Luxury Realtors with James Harris & David Parnes, on March 18th at 3pm ET
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Mastering Emotional Intelligence in Real Estate Sales with Glennda Baker, on March 19th at 3pm ET
And don’t forget—every Real Estate Roundup reader gets 14-days of free access to Estate Elite. That’s two full weeks of expert coaching, live Q&As, and networking with top agents. Tap here to start your trial and take your business to the next level.
WHAT’S NEW FROM ESTATE MEDIA
Rocket Companies is making a major move in the real estate industry with its $1.75 billion acquisition of Redfin. The all-stock deal, valued at $12.50 per share, gives Rocket access to Redfin’s massive consumer base—50 million monthly visitors and over a million active listings. While Redfin will continue operating under its own brand, its CEO Glenn Kelman will now report directly to Rocket’s leadership, positioning the brokerage for a deeper integration with Rocket’s mortgage services.
Tap to read why this bold move puts Rocket in position to move on more mergers—and what that means for agents and buyers.
FEATURED LUXURY LISTING
TIPS & TAKEAWAYS
Speak from your passion
In last week’s live Q&A session in Estate Elite, Josh Flagg and Craig Lowe talked about presenting your value to a potential client by proving your market knowledge from the first conversation.
As Josh put it, it takes more than knowing comps and neighborhood stats. When you study everything about your local market and can educate the client from a place of expertise and passion, your value speaks for itself.
Catch a sneak peek of the interview here, or watch the full recorded session in Estate Elite.
HANGS & HAPPENINGS
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.
Inman Connect | San Diego, CA | July 30 – August 1. Sharpen your real estate game with immersive discussions, interactive workshops, top-tier networking, and more, alongside some of the biggest players in real estate, proptech, and lending.
Before we go…
ESTATE RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
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