
The REconomy Podcast
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.
Latest episodes

Sep 14, 2023 • 13min
Should You Rent or Buy a Home Right Now? - EP 72
In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine the timeless, yet extremely timely question – to be or not to be a homeowner?

Aug 31, 2023 • 16min
Breaking Down the Mortgage Rate Spread and What it Means for Mortgage Rate Trends - EP 71
In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine why mortgage rates have drifted higher by breaking down the components of the spread between the average 30-year, fixed mortgage rate and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield, explaining how each component is contributing to rising mortgage rates.

Aug 17, 2023 • 14min
Why U.S. Homeowners Have a Big Advantage in a Rising Mortgage Rate Environment - EP 70
In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine how mortgage loan products are structured in other countries and compare them to the prevailing mortgage loan product in the U.S. – the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage.

Aug 3, 2023 • 13min
What is a Housing Recession and is the U.S. in One Now? (Part 2) - EP 69
In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi share their new housing recession model that provides a data-driven definition of a housing recession, look back at the history of housing recessions, and discuss whether or not we’re in a housing recession today.

Jul 13, 2023 • 14min
The Dynamics Re-Shaping Commercial Real Estate – The Business of Space - EP 68
In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Senior Commercial Real Estate Economist Xander Snyder discuss the commercial real estate market, explaining the dynamics that are fundamentally re-shaping the ‘business of space.’

Jun 29, 2023 • 15min
Why it Matters That Millennials Have Closed the Homeownership Gap - EP 67
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss explain the history of homeownership in the U.S., the impact of homeownership on wealth creation, and current demographic-driven trends influencing homeownership and the housing market.

Jun 15, 2023 • 14min
Why Homebuilders Have an Advantage in Today’s Housing Market - EP 66
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss the differences between the existing-home market and the new-home market, explaining why homebuilders have an advantage as they sell their homes in today’s environment.

Jun 1, 2023 • 13min
Where is housing affordability for first-time home buyers headed? - EP 65
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss the economic forces influencing housing affordability trends and what that means for first-time home buyers with Economist Ksenia Potapov.

May 18, 2023 • 14min
Where are mortgage rates headed and what makes them so hard to forecast? - EP 64
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss why mortgage rates are notoriously difficult to forecast and how post-pandemic dynamics are influencing the direction of mortgage rates in 2023.

May 4, 2023 • 13min
What Would the Economy and Housing Market Look Like if the Pandemic Never Happened? - EP 63
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss what may have happened to the economy and the housing market if the COVID-19 pandemic had never occurred.
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