The recent National Association of Realtors settlement comes at a critical time for the housing industry, as startups continue to try to shake up the status quo and housing affordability remains at crisis levels. In this episode, Jonathan & Jeremy break down the outcome of the settlement and discuss what it means for every person involved in a home sale – from lenders and appraisers, to buyers and sellers, and of course for the realtors whose livelihoods have long depended upon that 3% commission. Jeremy points out in many ways, the powerful realtors association brought this on itself - it had resisted innovations like flat-fee brokers for years. But, if you think the settlement will make it easier for discount brokers to break into the housing game, you'll want to hear what Jonathan has to say about "Lawless kickbacks" and more. For housing insiders who need to understand the implications of the settlement, this episode is for you.

Email Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

After Jonathan and Jeremy dissect the housing headlines (spoiler alert: the NAR settlement may not actually bring down costs for buyers and sellers) they vent about the glacial pace at which much-needed reform is happening. “‘Work harder and wait longer,’ that’s the message the housing industrial complex is sending,” says Jeremy. Jonathan, himself a veteran of Fannie Mae, says many of the pilot projects the GSEs lead “feel like a way of just kicking the can.” So, what would a “Lawless” pilot look like? “If somebody has paid their rent on time for the last 24 months and their mortgage payment is within 10% of that, give them a f***ing mortgage and let's see how it goes.”

Chrissi Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Alinement Initiative (a nonprofit housing accelerator) and VP of External Affairs at Prosperity Now, joins the discussion to talk about her work to convene multiple stakeholders to crack the housing industrial complex.

Email Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

Welcome to Housing Insiders! In this pilot episode, your co-hosts Jonathan Lawless and Jeremy Potter welcome special guest Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist for First American Financial Corporation. Hear an overview of the state of housing affordability today, the cities Millennials and Gen Zers are migrating to, the impact of remote work on housing and office spaces, why the cities are (maybe) dying, and the true cost of home ownership. Email Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform