- Real Estate Roundup
- Posts
- Builders’ Big Win
Builders’ Big Win
One small step for housing supply
#125
WELCOME
If love is in the air this weekend, it’s for the oversized island. Kitchen islands are one of 2026’s most popular must-haves—and the bigger, the better. According to Forbes, 58% of kitchen renovations include adding or updating an island, and 52% of renovators who upgraded their kitchen island chose a length of 7+ feet. Most of these new islands are also decked out with appliances, like an ice maker, microwave, dishwasher, or cooktop.
Our advice? Next time you’re showing a property with a wish-list island, start your tour in the heart of the home and hope for love at first (island) sight ♥️
Jonathan Spears, the young founder of the Spears Group, a top luxury real estate team out of Northwest Florida, operates in a niche market where vacation rentals are making investors millions every season. But he didn’t let that high deal value intimidate him. From earning his first degree at just 16, to closing major real estate deals at just 18, find out how Jonathan overcame clients’ perception of youth to build valuable rapport that won him listing after listing.
TRACK THE MARKET: It’s getting better for builders
Congress is finally taking housing affordability seriously by addressing the issue at its root: supply. As of this week, both the House and Senate have passed bills that include proposals to incentivize greater homebuilding, streamline environmental reviews, expand FHA multifamily loan limits, and loosen manufactured housing regulations. While no individual provision will fully transform the housing shortage, taken together, they have the potential to promote greater and faster homebuilding to cover the housing gap.
Why these bills?
Home prices are up 88% over the past decade due to long-term supply constraints.
Construction has fallen well below past peaks. In the past three years, builders started about 1.4M units annually, compared to over 2M units in a single year at several points in recent history.
Housing affordability has bipartisan support. The House bill passed 390-9 and the Senate version earned unanimous support, so the time is right for real policy progress.
The two proposals first must be reconciled, then one final version can be signed into law. After that, it’s up to local regulators and builders to make the most of the new policies.
DIVE IN
The Friday Five
📖 Bed on it. Designer Paige Wassel’s reminder not to lose sleep over the style of your sheets.
👀 Art meets engineering. Go behind the scenes with the architectural genius behind the unforgettable net-zero Bridge House.
👀 Miami BOGO. Google’s Larry Page just scooped up two mansions in Miami for a remarkable $173M.
💡Buyers get a break. 62% of buyers got a break on their home purchase—with an average discount of 8%.
💡Rental rise. The biggest trend in housing offers moving without the mortgage.
WHAT’S NEW FROM ESTATE MEDIA
Co-Listings & Commissions Live workshop
How do you sell yourself before selling the home? You build an unforgettable personal brand, build trust from the start (or even before they meet you in real life!), and treat your online presence like a walking talking resume. That’s Tracy’s first piece of advice in this week’s live Q&A-style workshop for serious agents looking to dig deeper than the basics.
Catch the full power-hour conversation, including questions like…
What’s the most important factor in closing a listing appointment?
What do you say when the client says they’re not ready to list?
How do you handle sellers who know you’re right, but are dragging their feet?
…in this in-depth, question-led workshop for advanced agents ready for real strategies.
FEATURED LUXURY LISTING
TIPS & TAKEAWAYS
All in on AI?
Everybody in real estate is talking about what role AI should play in your day job. Whether you’re on the cutting edge—using AI for every process in your workflow—or still doing business the old fashioned way, James Harris’ advice rings true: AI won’t replace you and it won’t close your deals for you. But it can help you close a whole lot more of them, with less effort and energy along the way.
Tap for his 60-second take on where AI fits into your relationships, efficiency, and response times.
HANGS & HAPPENINGS
REMAX R4 Conference | Las Vegas, NV | February 22 - 25, 2026
This year’s flagship event for business growth and international networking features a standout roster of speakers, led by #1 New York Times bestselling author James Clear.
The Gathering by HousingWire | Austin, TX | April 27 - 30, 2026
This event for mortgage professionals, brokerage leaders, and investors connects you with some of the most powerful and prominent executives in the housing industry. Hear from experts on housing policy, real estate solutions, affordability opportunities, investments, and more.
Inman Luxury Connect | San Diego, CA | July 27 - 28, 2026
The industry’s premier event for elite agents and brokers in the luxury space hosts immersive discussions, interactive workshops, top-tier networking events, and a roster of speakers including James Harris, Jason Oppenheim, and Jade Mills.
Before we go…
ESTATE RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
📣WANT TO REACH 100K+ REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS RIGHT IN THEIR INBOX?
Promote your brand with Real Estate Roundup and get noticed by the leading professionals in the real estate industry. Our subscribers include high-income decision-makers, investors, and key players in the real estate sector. For more information, please email [email protected].