The REconomy Podcast

Will Rising Mortgage Rates Slow the Housing Market? - EP 15

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain the economic concept of demand elasticity and why housing market demand tends to be inelastic in response to rising mortgage rates.

What Does the Rush to Suburbia Mean for Real Estate? - EP 14

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain the dynamics influencing the second coming of suburbia and the implications for the broader real estate economy. 

Deflation in the Housing Market? Let Us Explain. - EP 13

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how inflation in owner-occupied housing is measured and why an argument can be made that the long-run trend in housing cost has been deflation, not inflation. 

Breaking Down the Limits of the Wealth Effect in Today’s Housing Market - EP 12

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi unpack the ‘wealth effect’ economic theory and explain why, despite soaring house prices, the wealth effect’s influence on the housing market may be limited.

Is the Housing Market Heading for a Crash? - EP 11

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why today’s housing market is unlike the housing market that preceded the Great Recession and why we’re unlikely to see a housing market crash anytime soon.

What Drives the Decision to Become a Homeowner? - Ep 10

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain how the vast majority of potential home buyers reach the decision to become a buy a home and what that means for the housing market and homeownership rate moving forward.

Why Housing Affordability Should Be Viewed Through the Lens of Renters and Supply - EP 9

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why the key to measuring housing affordability is to determine whether a renter can afford to purchase a home, or more precisely how many homes they can afford to buy, if any.

Is the speed of sales sending mixed signals about housing inventory? - EP 8

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine the housing market’s supply shortage ahead of the spring home-buying season and explain how the annual pace of home sales can be rising when there are so few homes for sale.

What does the GameStop frenzy and innovation in mortgage finance have in common? - EP 7

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how technology and innovation played a role in the recent GameStop stock market frenzy and what that phenomenon has in common with innovation in mortgage finance and the housing market.

Why Can’t We Build Enough Homes to Meet Demand? - EP 6

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss the headwinds home builders face as they try to ramp up new home construction amid today’s strong demand for housing and an historic housing supply shortage.