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Top of Mind

Latest episodes

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Jul 6, 2023 • 14min

Mid-year housing market signals for the rest of 2023 (7/3/23 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
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Jul 5, 2023 • 1h 2min

Divvy Homes’ Adena Hefets on Rent-To-Own Innovations

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Adena Hefets, co-founder and CEO of Divvy Homes, to talk about why the rent-to-own model is gaining momentum in today’s housing market. She discusses the challenges many people are facing in getting a mortgage, looks at the dynamics behind the affordability crisis, and shares her thoughts on which segments of the housing market are best poised to hold value and appreciate. She also gives her perspective on which types of proptech startups are poised for success, and which ones will have trouble making it. About Adena Hefets Adena is the co-founder & CEO of Divvy Homes, a proptech company on a mission to make homeownership accessible to everyone. In 2017, Adena set out to solve a problem she saw in the market: fewer people can afford to purchase a home today than two decades ago. To solve this, she came up with a new way to finance a home purchase through a rent-to-own model that allows renters to gradually build up ownership in their future homes - all while living in it.   Prior to founding Divvy, Adena joined Square in 2013 and was responsible for building out Square Capital, a merchant cash advance platform with billions in loans outstanding. Prior to Square, she was part of the large-cap buyout team at TPG, a private equity firm, where she helped purchase companies in the real estate sector. She started her career as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch.   Adena holds a Bachelors of Science, Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University and a Masters of Business Administration, Stanford Graduate School of Business. She was named 40 Under 40 by Fortune and is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Tiger Capital, and Caffeinated Capital. She currently lives in Oakland, California. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  How the rent-to-own model works, why it’s attractive, and which demographic groups are embracing this approach Which type of proptech startups are poised for success, and which ones will have trouble making it Why the biggest crisis we’re facing in real estate is affordability, and what we can do about it Why big investor money is still on the sidelines, and what that means for the housing market Which segments of the housing market are best poised to hold value and appreciate Where we should see the impact of AI innovations on the real estate industry (and where we won’t) Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Adena on LinkedIn Divvy Homes 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
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Jun 27, 2023 • 14min

Signs that home buyers have adjusted to high mortgage rates (6/26/23 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
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Jun 21, 2023 • 50min

Corcoran’s Stephanie Anton on What’s Next for Luxury Real Estate

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Stephanie Anton, President of Corcoran Affiliates, to talk about the market for luxury homes around the world. Stephanie shares advice for how agents and firms can grow during times of market contraction, offers fresh perspectives on real estate branding and design, and looks at some of the strategies agents are using to win in this challenging market. She also provides insights into the market for high-end homes, including migration and growth patterns, and discusses what comes next in this economy. About Stephanie Anton Stephanie Anton is the President, Corcoran Affiliates where she oversees the growth and operations of The Corcoran Group’s global expansion through its fast-growing affiliate network. Anton, who joined Corcoran in July 2020 as Senior Vice President of Affiliate Marketing and Growth, was most recently the SVP of Corcoran Affiliates and served as the Managing Director of Global Service across five of the six Anywhere Real Estate (formerly Realogy) brands.   As President of the Corcoran Affiliate Network, Anton is responsible for leading Corcoran’s franchise business. With deep experience across franchise marketing and operations, Anton is laser-focused on helping Corcoran grow its global network while helping the brand’s respective affiliates grow in their local markets. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  How to grow in times of market contraction Why full-service real estate is thriving Fresh perspectives on branding and design in real estate marketing How technology is helping realtors have more impact How to run a high-end luxury brand and make it “not stuffy” Three surprising markets where high-end real estate is winning - What the latest migration data tells us about the growth of the market and brokerages Which agents are winning now, and what we can learn from them How the consumer marketing concept of the “expandable consumable” applies to real estate Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn Corcoran Group 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
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Jun 20, 2023 • 13min

Are high mortgage rates finally impacting demand? (6/19/23 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
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Jun 13, 2023 • 12min

Home sales have slowed, but home prices are holding up (6/12/23 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
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Jun 7, 2023 • 60min

Houston Vintage Homes’ Tyron McDaniel on Building Affordable Housing

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Tyron McDaniel, CEO of Houston Vintage Homes, to talk about his vision for affordable and attainable housing. Tyron shares why he runs his companies for “impact over income”, discusses his approach to building that creates pride for his tenants and long-term value for communities, and outlines the techniques he uses to build affordable housing successfully. He also offers a look at which markets are most exciting for his work, and which tech trends are the most encouraging for the future of affordable housing. About Tyron McDaniel Tyron began his real estate career working in a mortgage broker’s office as a secretary back in 2000, with the ultimate goal of one day becoming a home builder and developer of affordable housing. After becoming a Mortgage Broker, then a Real Estate Agent, Tyron began to purchase rental properties before venturing into the Buy, Fix & Flip space. This ultimately led to him becoming a homebuilder in 2005, setting the foundation for Houston Vintage Homes and its sister companies, which are focused on the design and development of affordable housing in inner-city communities around the country. With a keen eye for design and historical context, Tyron now works with multiple cities, and coaches and mentors investors, home builders and developers from around the country in creating affordable housing solutions to meet the ever-growing need for more affordable housing. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  Tyron’s vision for affordable and attainable housing Why he runs his companies for “impact over income” How affordable housing helps not only the existing residents but attracts desirable growth for a community The difference between gentrification and displacement How compassionate capitalism creates long-term value Why he looks to build pride in the home for tenants in his properties Techniques he uses for creating affordable housing when so few others can do so Which markets are most exciting for his work in affordable housing Which economic factors are hindering the ability to create affordable housing Which technology trends are the most encouraging for the future of affordable housing   Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Tyron on LinkedIn Houston Vintage Homes Tyron on Twitter 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
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Jun 6, 2023 • 15min

Are We Seeing Shadow Demand for Homes? (6/5/23 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
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May 31, 2023 • 49min

1000watt’s Brian Boero on Thriving in a Difficult Real Estate Market

In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Brian Boero, co-founder of real estate branding and strategy firm 1000watt, to talk about how agents and brokers can thrive in a difficult market. Brian gives us an inside look at what the top real estate brands are saying to consumers now, offers advice for messaging in a down market, and shares insights into what 1000watt’s consumer surveys can tell us about market needs. He also discusses why consumers gravitate towards a “signal of clarity” in challenging times, and how real estate professionals can best provide that signal. About Brian Boero Brian has been in real estate media, marketing and technology since 1997. Before co-founding 1000watt, a branding and strategy agency focused on the housing market, Brian was President of Inman, and he was also CEO of VREO, where he created e-signature and document management software for tablet PCs. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  Why a difficult market is your best opportunity to grow, gain share, and differentiate What some of the great real estate brands are saying to consumers now Why in a difficult market, consumers gravitate towards a “signal of clarity” (and why market data is that clarity!) What 1000watt’s consumer surveys tell us about what real estate consumers need from their agents/brokers Which advertising messages work better in a down market, including real estate marketing cliches to avoid The biggest change coming for realtors in the next few years A surprising signal that realtors are gaining trust How great brands differentiate themselves in real estate Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Brian on LinkedIn 1000watt 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
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May 31, 2023 • 14min

How much do home buyers really care about 7% mortgage rates? (5/29/23 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

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