What does it really take to succeed as a real estate agent in 2026? In this episode of Realty Talk, Suzanne Seini (CEO & Founder of Innovate Realty) and Paul “Fix-It-All” Hanson break down how the market is shifting — and what agents must do to stay ahead.

In this episode, we cover:
• Market conditions, interest rates, and why micro-markets matter
• Buyer demand, inventory shortages, and pricing expectations
• Why today’s buyers and sellers are more informed than ever
• The shift from salesperson to trusted advisor
• How to build trust through transparency and expertise
• Speed, communication, and setting clear client expectations
• Branding, media, and social proof in modern real estate
• Gen Z buyers and changing consumer behavior
• Why culture, mentorship, and people matter more than splits
• How agents must evolve to win in 2026 and beyond

A must-listen for agents reflecting on their business, considering a move, or planning for the future

Welcome back to Real(ty) Talk! Today, Paul and Suzanne unpack why the end of the year is one of the most strategic times to buy, sell, or invest—even though most of the industry slows down. From holiday motivation to inventory psychology, we explain how agents can finish strong and set up a powerful start to 2026.

This episode covers:

• Why buyers have a huge edge during the holiday slowdown

• How agents can stay consistent, time-block, and build next year’s pipeline

• What the Fed’s final meeting under Powell means for rates

• Insights from a recent economic forum on inflation, AI, home values & affordability

• The 5 biggest red flags for buyers—pricing traps, urgency pressure, inspection disasters, sketchy disclosures, and title nightmares

• A hilarious (and terrifying?) Homes Gone Wild story featuring a sweaty stranger and a massive steel wine opener

Tap follow, share with a colleague, and join us next week for more stories, strategy, and insider real-estate insight.

This week on Realty Talk, Suzanne “Queen of the Closing Table” and Paul “Fix-It-All” are recording on-site at Innovate Realty’s La Mesa office in San Diego County. They break down the buzz around 50-year mortgages, what Trump’s proposals and Fed moves could mean for buyers, and how today’s market is really behaving as we head through the end of the year.

They also pull back the curtain on how Innovate’s multi-location model and in-house media team are changing the game for agents and their clients—from collaborative office culture to wedding-style closing videos that generate repeat and referral business.

In this episode, they cover:

• The pros, cons, and real risks of a potential 50-year mortgage

• Why “date the rate” still matters—and what most consumers actually do with debt

• Inventory, days-on-market, and why some listings are flying while others sit

• How Innovate’s La Mesa office is capturing nearly 1% of San Diego County’s market share

• What makes Innovate different for agents: in-house media, multiple locations, and low-ego leadership

If you’re a buyer, seller, or agent wondering how to navigate this market—or thinking about whether your brokerage is really supporting you—this episode is for you.

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