This is the follow up to our buyer myths episode, and y'all, sellers have some misconceptions of their own that we need to talk about.

We kick things off with a hilarious story about Alissa's seller who found the podcast, started listening to staging episodes while packing boxes, and voluntarily took down more decor than they even discussed. (If only every seller came with a built-in podcast habit, right?) This episode is a great one to share with your sellers, especially first timers who might need a little myth busting before they list.

From Zestimates and spring selling to price reductions and open houses, we're breaking down the biggest home selling myths that trip up sellers and agents all the time. Plus, we're sharing our individual top three myths and some real stories from the trenches.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

• The Zestimate: how accurate is it really, and what Zillow's own data says about their error rates

• Why spring isn't automatically the best time to sell (and when winter buyers can actually work in your favor)

• Breaking even on a sale doesn't mean you lost money

• Your house doesn't have to be perfect to sell, but it does need to be clean & priced right

• Why longer days on market doesn't always mean something is wrong with the house

• The neighbor comparison trap and how to handle sellers fixated on what the house next door sold for

• Why a price reduction is not a failure (and why sitting on the market for three years IS)

• The truth about open houses and what they actually accomplish

• Why buyers almost never prefer an allowance over the work being done

• The danger of rejecting your first offer

• Why your listing agent can't just "bring the buyer"

Key Quotes & Takeaways:

• "If we had left that stinky carpet, they would not have been able to overlook the smell, and we would still be on the market." Alissa

• "Your first buyer is your buyer. They committed to putting it in writing and saying, I want to buy your house." Katy

• "This is the only person asking us to the dance right now. If you want to go to the dance, this is your opportunity." Alissa

• "A price change gives the message that you're not stuck." Katy

• "I'm not here to design your home. I am here to neutralize it to get the biggest buyer pool." Alissa

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Zillow Zestimate accuracy page (zillow.com/zestimate)

• Hustle Humbly Podcast episode categories (hustlehumblypodcast.com/categories)

• Hustle Humbly Community

Want to toast someone on the show? Send us a voice or video message with your name, who you're toasting, and why! Email it to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com.

Leave us a review at http://ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

We finally did it. We sat down with the man behind the numbers AND we recorded it live at the NAR podcast studio in Chicago.

If you've ever been at a dinner party, a showing, or a closing table and gotten hit with "so... how's the market?", this episode is for you. We got to chat with Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, and y'all, we had SO many questions. We're the data nerds who cover the NAR Home Buyers and Sellers Profile Report every single year, so getting face time with the person behind all that research? It was kind of a big deal for us.

Dr. Yun has been at NAR since 2000 and stepped into the Chief Economist role in 2008 right in the middle of the foreclosure crisis. He's testified before Congress, appeared on C-SPAN, and was recognized by the Wall Street Journal for having one of the closest forecasts for 2024. Basically, if there's someone you want breaking down housing market trends for Realtors, it's him.

We cover a lot of ground in this one, from the housing shortage and what's actually being done about it, to the lock-in effect, affordability challenges for first-time buyers, capital gains tax reform, and what a "sweet spot" interest rate would even look like. Dr. Yun also shares something we weren't expecting, a really personal story about his family immigrating to the U.S. and how home ownership shaped his perspective on wealth and the American dream.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

• Why the answer to "how's the market?" is always local — and how to explain that to clients

• The housing shortage by the numbers (hint: we're still millions of units short)

• Why the median age of first-time buyers hitting 40 is "the most depressing statistic" of last year

• The lock-in effect: who it really impacts and why it may be loosening

• Why 6% isn't actually a high rate historically but still feels impossible for today's buyers

• How home prices rising 50% since pre-COVID has changed the affordability conversation

• The capital gains tax exemption that hasn't been updated in 30 years (and why that matters for your sellers AND your investment properties)

• What the Housing for the 21st Century Act could actually do

• How investors releasing rental properties could help the first-time buyer shortage

• What we need to build annually to get out of the housing shortage

Key Quotes & Takeaways:

• "Is it a good time to buy? That's not the right question. Do you want to build wealth over time or not?" Dr. Lawrence Yun

• "Your house was $60,000. Their rate is 6% AND the house is $400,000. It's not the same math." Alissa

• "Median age of the first-time buyer is now 40. That is the most depressing statistic of last year." Dr. Lawrence Yun

• "I had 24 showings and five offers in one day at $175K. The same week, a $500K listing could sit for 50 days. Same market. Totally different world." Katy

• "If you are listening to this podcast, you are already ahead." Dr. Lawrence Yun

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• NAR Home Buyers and Sellers Profile Report(2025 in episode 338)

• NAR Affordability Index

• NAR Existing Home Sales Statistics

• Housing for the 21st Century Act (bipartisan housing legislation)

• Ability to Repay Act (post-2008 mortgage reform legislation)

• Blue Chip Council (economic forecasting panel)

• Wall Street Journal Forecasting Survey

• Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University

• Hustle Humbly Community

Want to toast someone on the show?
Send us a voice or video message with your name, who you're toasting, and why! Email it to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com.

Leave us a review at http://ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

Feeling a little desperate in your real estate business lately? You are not alone—and this episode is your mindset reset.

Katy and Alissa are diving into the behaviors that show up when agents feel pressure to make money… and how those "desperate" decisions can quietly damage your reputation, confidence, and long-term success.

From overpricing listings just to win them, to chasing every shiny lead source, to dropping your professional standards, this episode is your honest (and loving) wake-up call.

The truth? Acting like a desperate real estate agent doesn't attract more business; it repels it.

Instead, we're sharing what to do differently so you can protect your business, maintain your professionalism, and build a career you're actually proud of, even in a slow market.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

• What "desperate agent behavior" really looks like (and why it's so common right now)

• How overpricing a listing can hurt your reputation long-term

• Why saying "yes" to everything is actually hurting your business

• The danger of chasing shiny lead sources when you feel slow

• How dropping your standards can cost you future referrals

• Real examples of setting boundaries with sellers (and earning respect because of it)

• Why consistency beats constant rebranding or "next big thing" energy

• The difference between being flexible vs. losing your boundaries

• What to do instead when business feels slow or uncertain

If you've been feeling the pressure, questioning your business, or tempted to make decisions out of fear—this is the episode you need.

You don't need to be desperate. You need to be consistent, professional, and confident.

Key Quotes & Takeaways

• "When you act like a desperate real estate agent, you're not gaining business; you're losing respect." Alissa

• "Confidence audits your business. Desperation just reacts." Katy

• "If you let your clients run your business, you're doing them a disservice." Alissa

• "You don't need balloons to sell a house; you need people walking through the door." Alissa

• "Referral-based business is a slow burn… but chasing shiny objects will burn you out." Katy

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 113 Be the Boss

• Email Templates 101

• Agent Systems 101

• FREE Database Template

• Hustle Humbly Community

Want to toast someone on the show?
Send us a voice or video message with your name, who you're toasting, and why! Email it to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com.

Leave us a review at http://ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly