Housing Chief Economist Explains 3 Reasons Buyers Are NOT Overpaying

George Ratiu, KCM Chief Economist, joins Byron Lazine, Tom Toole, and Lisa Chinatti to discuss a bi-partisan affordable housing bill, U.S. debt default warning, flat inventory, how inflation impacts the 30-year fixed, and three reasons why buyers are not overpaying.
Collage of four smiling podcast hosts around a central image of money with a red X and a 'For Sale' sign.
Collage of four smiling podcast hosts around a central image of money with a red X and a 'For Sale' sign.
BAM BBQ 2026

If you're still treating AI like a search engine, this is for you. BAM BBQ is two and a half hours of real instruction on AI for real estate, from conversations to content to systems. It’s free, virtual, and loaded with plays you can run the same week. Save your spot →

Six smiling real estate agents stand against orange, black, and red panels with a bold headline about learning AI now and BAMx/realtor logos in the band at the bottom.
FREE VIRTUAL EVENT
BAM BBQ 2026

If you're still treating AI like a search engine, this is for you. BAM BBQ is two and a half hours of real instruction on AI for real estate, from conversations to content to systems. It’s free, virtual, and loaded with plays you can run the same week. Save your spot →

This week on the Knowledge Brokers Podcast, KCM Chief Economist George Ratiu joins Byron Lazine, Tom Toole, and Lisa Chinatti for an episode packed to the brim with insights on the housing market, starting with current inventory levels and the likely effect of a recession (if one is indeed coming). 

Next, they moved to possible solutions to help with inflation, how interest rates affect inventory, and how to navigate through the math for consumers. 

From there, they discussed how to explain the gap between the federal funds rate and the mortgage rate, what George expects the Fed to do at their next FOMC meeting (and why), and whether the Fed should take a break and let the market play itself out. 

In the final 20 minutes, they covered three reasons why consumers are NOT overspending, how to get more new homes that are affordable onto the market, and how to deal with old-school, restrictive zoning regulations

You’ll want to watch this episode more than once to get all the value from it. 

Click on any of the timestamps below to watch: 

00:0001:50 Intro

01:50 Inventory is flat

06:21 Is recession coming? And if so, what will that do to inventory?

09:39 Wouldn’t reducing the amount we/our government spends help with inflation?

13:30 Interest rates and inventory

15:50 How to navigate through the math for consumers?

17:36 83% of homes have a mortgage rate at or below 5%; 42% own their home outright

21:26 How do you recommend explaining the gap between the federal funds rate and mortgage rates?

27:24 Is 2% a realistic goal for inflation?

29:51 There are some saying we’re already in the 3% range (inflation). Do you agree?

32:13 By definition, is housing still in recession, or have we come out of it?

34:46 What do you think the Fed will do at the next FOMC meeting?

39:48 Should the Fed take a break and let the market play itself out?

43:00 Three reasons consumers are NOT overpaying on homes

48:49 How can we get more new homes that are affordable onto the market?

55:23 How do you deal with old-school zoning regulations?

Click on any of the timestamps below to watch: 

Subscribe to Knowledge Brokers Podcast

Download the printable PDF with all 27 lines:

Sign Up for the BAM Newsletter

For daily real estate news, business and marketing.

About the Author

Real estate may be all about location, location, location, but we know that content is king! That's why we have an army of talented writers behind the scenes, crafting posts like this one to help you navigate the ins and outs of the industry.

Share:

Related Posts

Recent Articles

Upcoming Events

Virtual Event
Virtual
Webinar
Virtual

Related Posts