

The REconomy Podcast
First American
First American’s economic podcast examining the forces that influence real estate, housing and affordability, featuring First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming, Ph.D. and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 23, 2025 • 8min
Homeownership Steals the Scene in the Holiday Movie Classics
In this special holiday episode of The REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi unwrap the hidden homeownership themes threaded throughout some of the most iconic holiday movie classics. From It’s a Wonderful Life to Home Alone to The Holiday, and Christmas Vacation, homeownership is more than a backdrop, it is the emotional core of the American story. Don’t miss a single REconomy episode, subscribe today.

Dec 18, 2025 • 16min
Commercial Real Estate Turns a Corner: What to Expect in 2026 - EP 131
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi dig into the 2026 outlook for commercial real estate (CRE) with senior economist Xander Snyder, who identified five forces that will shape the CRE market as its nascent recovery accelerates. Stabilizing prices, rising sales activity, rebounding refinancing volumes, increasing distress resolution, and lenders pivoting from defense to offense signal that 2026 may be the year the CRE recovery truly starts to feel like one. Don’t miss a single REconomy episode, subscribe today.

Dec 4, 2025 • 14min
Will the Fed side with Snow Miser or Heat Miser on Rates? - EP 130
In this holiday-themed episode of the REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi channel the classic Heat Miser and Snow Miser characters from The Year Without Santa Claus to debate the Federal Reserve’s upcoming December rate decision. From cooling shelter inflation and moderating wage growth to tariff-driven price pressures and a softening labor market, they break down the mixed signals shaping the Fed’s interest rate dilemma. Mark and Odeta make the case why the Fed may lean toward some Heat Miser rate-cut warmth or adopt some Snow Miser restraint heading into 2026. Don’t miss a single REconomy episode, subscribe today.

Nov 20, 2025 • 15min
The Grateful Eight – A Thanksgiving Recipe for Housing Market Optimism - EP 129
In this Thanksgiving-themed episode of the REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi carve up the 2025 housing market trends they’re thankful for. From easing mortgage rates and improving affordability to growing inventory and demographic tailwinds, they highlight ‘grateful eight’ reasons for housing market optimism. Don’t miss a single REconomy episode, subscribe today.

Nov 6, 2025 • 14min
Bubble Busters – Debunking the Scariest Housing Headlines - EP 128
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi shine a light on the housing market’s scariest headlines, exposing the myths shrouding reality. They explain why slowing price growth, a modest uptick in delinquencies, and low sales volumes point to a market that’s steadily rebalancing, rather than crashing. Don’t miss a single REconomy episode, subscribe today.

Oct 24, 2025 • 12min
Can We All Just De-Stress About Distress in Commercial Real Estate? - EP 127
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™, Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi and Senior Commercial Economist Xander Snyder break down whether the commercial real estate market has reached peak distress, explaining why shifts in debt maturities, delinquency rates and sales activity across asset classes may offer a glimmer of optimism.

Oct 9, 2025 • 16min
Why the Housing Market Recovery is Less Reliant on Federal Reserve Rate Cuts than Many Believe - EP 126
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi break down why Federal Reserve rate cuts don’t always translate into lower mortgage rates and how today’s complex economic environment may make the housing market less rate sensitive than many believe.
Don’t miss a single REconomy episode, subscribe today.

Sep 25, 2025 • 16min
Housing Affordability Through the Lens of History and the NFL - EP 125
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explore the state of housing affordability through the lens of history and even the NFL. They compare affordability levels today with those from the late 1970s and early 1980s, revealing why the “cheaper” homes of the past weren’t necessarily more affordable, and highlight the results of the 2025 Affordability Bowl, which ranks first-time home buyer affordability across NFL divisions.
Don’t miss a single REconomy episode, subscribe today.

Sep 11, 2025 • 12min
Flight to Quality or Softening Demand? What’s Driving the Shift in the Industrial CRE Market - EP 124
In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi welcome back Senior Commercial Real Estate Economist Xander Snyder to discuss the shifting dynamics within the industrial real estate market. Net absorption for industrial turned negative for the first time in 15 years, a clear signal of a rebalancing market, but a closer look indicates long-term support for industrial demand.

Aug 28, 2025 • 14min
Housing Market at a Crossroads – Where Will Mortgage Rates and Sales Go from Here? - EP 123
In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi dig into the question on every potential home buyer’s mind, “where are mortgage rates headed through the end of the year?” Their conversation highlights why rates are not the only driver of market activity and explain the “dual lock-in effect” keeping a lid on housing market activity. However, there’s reason for optimism, as a new real estate cycle may be emerging.


