- Real Estate Roundup
- Posts
- Firm Footing
Firm Footing
All signs point positive
#123
WELCOME
One of the most viewed homes of last year wasn’t popular because of its floor plan, finishes, or location, location, location. A Palo Alto listing became the most-clicked home on Redfin in 2025 after briefly touting in the listing description that every owner’s child since a recent property rebuild had gone on to attend Harvard or Stanford—driving nearly 35,000 views of the listing in a single day. Though the description was quickly changed, the property still sold for $712,000 over asking. So while the “Ivy League auras” were taken down, apparently the attention stuck—and got it sold.
When Steve Shull first started his real estate career in the early nineties, he knew next to nothing about the industry. But he knew how to set habits, work hard, and make connections. In his first year in the business, he door-knocked his way to over 100 transactions. Now, over three decades later, he’s built a massive agent coaching network—and essentially wrote the real estate playbook successful agents follow to this day. Catch Steve’s full story, including the missing piece he sees time and time again in sales, his approach to “tactical empathy”, and how to get the ‘that’s right!’ response that seals the deal in this quick-listen episode of Glennda’s Guru.
TRACK THE MARKET: Positive signs for 2026
By all early indicators, 2026 is going to be a strong year for the housing market—with a few lucky breaks on the horizon for buyers. Demand is picking up, inventory is “unstuck”, and prices are largely leveling off, a combination that signals a freely flowing market rather than a will-it-won’t-it rebound. While it’s not yet a buying and selling frenzy, with several major trend lines pointing in the same direction (a positive one), the months ahead look rosy for real estate.
HousingWire data shows:
Weekly pending home sales climbed steadily this month, reaching 56,252 by the end of last week—after starting the month at just 30,538.
Mortgage purchase applications jumped 5% week over week and were up 18% year over year, further evidence that demand is on the rise going into spring.
Active inventory grew to nearly 700,000 listings, or 2.6 months of supply. That’s technically still seller-favorable, but is much more balanced than in recent years.
Taken together, these early indicators suggest the market isn’t back to full strength, but is finding its footing. For agents, this means it’s time to gear up for a great season and steadier deal-flow if you put in the preparation, pricing strategies, and follow-up needed to make the most of it.
DIVE IN
The Friday Five
📖 Psychology and physiology. How design impacts stress, sense of safety, and ability to relax—and who did it best.
👀 Adjusted expectations. Robert Beyer had to cut nearly $25M off the asking price, but finally sold his sprawling Brentwood compound.
👀 Disruption in 3D. New 3D-printed homes are hitting the market—and they’re surprisingly stylish.
💡Hot take. Why MLS’ matter for a healthy, competitive market.
💡Mind your habits. James’ biggest do’s and don’t’s if your real estate income feels like a rollercoaster ride.
WHAT’S NEW FROM ESTATE MEDIA
Ownership Overseas
Growing up in London with a patchwork of countries just a short flight away, James Harris can say firsthand that traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures and lifestyles truly broadens your perspective on the world in a rewarding way. That’s why, when he had the chance to interview John Calvao—partner and fund principle at Arrow Global—about Arrow’s development in Portugal’s Algarve region, he jumped at the opportunity to talk all things overseas investment.
If you (or a client) are considering purchasing a second home or investment rental overseas, or you’re just curious about experiencing Europe firsthand before committing to a real estate move, give this conversation a listen. James and John specifically focus on the development Arrow is spearheading in Portugal, but the lessons shared can apply to any international destination you’re interested in exploring.
FEATURED LUXURY LISTING
TIPS & TAKEAWAYS
Who are you talking to?
One of the keys to David Parnes’ lead-gen and follow-up strategy is focusing on who you’re talking to before you decide what to share. Before you pick up the phone, consider the list you’re calling through. Is it local FSBOs, old internet leads, past clients, expired listings, or connections in your network? Each persona resonates with different information and unique talking points. Keeping the purpose and needs of your list right in front of you before you start dialing helps you stay clear on what matters most to each person who answers.
For three more tips just as valuable as this one, check out this edition of The Blueprint.
HANGS & HAPPENINGS
Inman Connect | New York City, NY | February 3 - 5, 2026
The biggest names in real estate share their secrets to success with our attendees in curated sessions that will equip you with the skills to level up.
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].