
Top of Mind
The Top of Mind podcast features top real estate industry insiders and experts to unpack the most important housing, real estate, mortgage data and trends that are shaping the housing market. Hosted by Altos founder Mike Simonsen and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.
Latest episodes

Oct 11, 2023 • 1h 6min
Fortune’s Lance Lambert on Economic Trends & the Housing Market
In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Fortune editorial director Lance Lambert to talk about his insights and perspectives on the housing market. We discuss why housing played an outsized role in pandemic inflation, and what makes the post-pandemic housing market unique; his view on whether we’re in a housing bubble now, and what to watch for; and insights into what’s happening with home builders. We also look at which dynamics are driving growth or slowdown in local markets like Cincinnati and Austin, and what to expect in the future.About Lance LambertLance Lambert is the editorial director of Fortune Education. He also writes the weekly Fortune Analytics newsletter and reports on topics ranging from the future of work to the housing market.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
Why housing played an outsized role in pandemic inflation, and what makes the post-pandemic housing market unique
How his house-flipper parents fared during the great recession and how that shapes his housing market analysis now
The advantage that home builders have in this cycle that’s different from previous cycles, and what analysis of home builder financials teaches us about the market
His personal remote work journey from Manhattan to Cincinnati in 2020, and why he bought new construction
His view on whether we’re in a housing bubble now, and what to watch for
Why housing may have helped stave off a recession, and his view on how the market would react to a recession
His strategy for staying open-minded and clear on the changing trends in the market
The housing market crisis that keeps him up at night
Local market insights: why Austin is the outlier coldest market in the country this year; why he’s bearish on Florida home price growth, but bullish on the Midwest; and why it wasn’t a surprise that Cincinnati didn’t have the correction that slowed much of the country last year
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Lance on LinkedIn
Fortune
Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
Altos Research
Featuring Mike Simonsen, President of Altos ResearchA true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:
Altos on Twitter
Mike on Twitter
About Altos ResearchThe Top of Mind Podcast is produced by Altos Research.Each week, Altos tracks every home for sale in the country - all the pricing, and all the changes in pricing - and synthesizes those analytics to make them available before becoming visible through traditional channels.Schedule a demo to see Altos in action. You can also get a copy of our free eBook: How To Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 2023 • 15min
Mortgage rates continue to climb, deterring potential homebuyers (10/9/23 Market Update)
Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.Enjoy the data!Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos ResearchA true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 3, 2023 • 13min
Inventory builds, putting pressure on home prices (10/2/23 Market Update)
Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.Enjoy the data!Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos ResearchA true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 27, 2023 • 51min
NAR’s Jessica Lautz Takes the Pulse of the Real Estate Industry
In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®, to talk about the big trends shaping the real estate industry.Jessica shares why NAR expects home prices to edge up over the next year, talks about her model for forecasting mortgage rates (and whether we should expect 8% mortgage rates in the future), and surfaces some surprising trends about millennial homebuyers. She also offers insights from NAR’s study on Adaptive Reuse: how to turn empty office buildings into housing.About Jessica LautzDr. Jessica Lautz is Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®. The core of her research focuses on analyzing trends for both NAR members and housing consumers. Through the management of surveys, focus groups, and data analysis, she presents new and innovative ways to showcase results. She effectively utilizes Research data to educate and impact policymakers on the state of the housing market and discusses research findings in major media outlets and international presentations. In 2021, Jessica was named one of Housing Wire’s Women of Influence, a list representing 100 of the most influential women in leadership in the housing industry. In 2022 and 2023, Jessica was named a RISMedia Newsmaker in the Influencer and the Crusader categories, respectively. She also volunteers at Nottingham Trent University as an industry fellow mentoring real estate graduate students. Jessica received her Doctorate of Real Estate from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. She also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from American University and undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Law and Justice from Central Washington University.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
Why NAR expects home prices to edge up over the next year
Which stats demonstrate demand has been greater than supply
Her model for forecasting mortgage rates
Whether we should expect 8% mortgage rates in the future
Why NAR uses surveys and focus groups in addition to tracking properties to gain insights into the market, and what they’re learning now
Surprising trends about millennial homebuyers
What the current household formation rate means for housing in the near future
Which stats she looks at that housing analysts don’t normally track
Insights from NAR’s study on Adaptive Reuse: how to turn empty office buildings into housing
The dangers of the TikTok housing analysts and why everyone keeps expecting a crash in home prices
NAR's view on affordability and the future of housing affordability in the US, and her take on what housing looks like over the next decade
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
National Association of Realtors
Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn
Altos Research
Featuring Mike Simonsen, President of Altos ResearchA true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:
Altos on Twitter
Mike on Twitter
About Altos ResearchThe Top of Mind Podcast is produced by Altos Research.Each week, Altos tracks every home for sale in the country - all the pricing, and all the changes in pricing - and synthesizes those analytics to make them available before becoming visible through traditional channels.Schedule a demo to see Altos in action. You can also get a copy of our free eBook: How To Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 26, 2023 • 11min
Home inventory is climbing even faster than last year (9/25/23 Market Update)
Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.Enjoy the data!Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos ResearchA true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2023 • 15min
A change in homebuyer expectations is slowing the housing market (9/18/23 Market Update)
Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.Enjoy the data!Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos ResearchA true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 2023 • 15min
Home sales dip, but home prices are holding steady for now (9/11/23 Market Update)
Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.Enjoy the data!Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos ResearchA true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 5, 2023 • 15min
Affordability slow home sales, hints at lower prices (9/4/23 Market Update)
Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.Enjoy the data!Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos ResearchA true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 23, 2023 • 1h 5min
Leigh Brown’s View From the Front Lines of Real Estate
In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with storied real estate trainer and broker Leigh Brown to talk about the state of today’s real estate industry. Leigh discusses how to take advantage of volatility to gain market share, gives her take on why people should stop worrying about the number of realtors, and shares what people should know about Wall Street investors and the impact on local housing markets and the American dream. She also offers some surprising insights into how consumers are navigating 7% mortgage rates (and why she thinks mortgage rates could go even higher from here). About Leigh Brown Leigh Brown uses her decades of real estate experience to help everyone from early career to highly seasoned agents build (and rebuild!) their professional presence and confidence by assisting them to define and communicate their value proposition expertly. Her goal is for each real estate agent who is a REALTOR® member to become an impactful presence in their community in the process. She knows today’s agents and brokers face unprecedented pressure to stand out in a competitive market; she also knows that the security to build and maintain solid client relationships starts with one step: Just Say Hi. Through a systemized process to identify and define your value, Leigh gives agents and brokers the confidence and tools to reach greater heights in their chosen career. A best-selling author of three influential business books, Leigh excitedly shares her expertise with anyone looking to ignite their passions and create the outcomes they want. Leigh’s mission is helping others. She has the grit and passion for motivating everyone around her to strive for more. She’s also an Altos superuser with more than a decade of experience using Altos reports in her business. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: What you need to know now about realtors and the growth of the real estate industry, and how to take advantage of volatility to gain market share Why people should stop worrying about the number of realtors How the market looks now that we’re past the end of the white-hot frenzy Surprising insights about how consumers are navigating 7% mortgage rates Why she thinks mortgage rates could go even higher from here What people should know about Wall Street investors and the impact on local housing markets and the American dream How she uses Altos market reports, what she’s learned from the data, and her secret technique for sharing market data with all kinds of people Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Leigh on LinkedIn Leigh Brown Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn Altos Research Featuring Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets. Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights: Altos on Twitter Mike on Twitter About Altos Research The Top of Mind Podcast is produced by Altos Research. Each week, Altos tracks every home for sale in the country - all the pricing, and all the changes in pricing - and synthesizes those analytics to make them available before becoming visible through traditional channels. Schedule a demo to see Altos in action. You can also get a copy of our free eBook: How To Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 22, 2023 • 15min
Housing inventory is at its highest level of the year (8/21/23 Market Update)
Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research. If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch. Enjoy the data! Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices