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.