Last week, Logan Mohtashami, lead analyst for HousingWire, joined Byron Lazine, Lisa Chinatti, and Tom Toole on the Knowledge Brokers Podcast to talk about, among other things, the fear and uncertainty many consumers are feeling about the U.S. housing market.
We can think of no better example of that than last weekend’s online drama over a Patrick Bet-David Tweet that went viral by using a chart on the multifamily mortgage delinquency rate to sound the alarm on homeowner delinquencies. Oops.
Fortunately, Mohtashami quickly responded and set the record straight. There’s a reason Tom Toole introduced him as the “Chart Daddy.”
But since Mohtashami can’t be everywhere at once, every agent should be prepared to do their part to fight the rampant misinformation online, as well as one client at a time.
Read on for three responses you can give to alleviate housing market fears and become your client’s go-to real estate guide.
Then tune in so you don’t miss out on the full conversation on KBP!
Panic Sells
The internet is full of people trying to convince us that their alarmist posts on the housing market are just “telling it like it is.”
They want you to believe the real housing market experts—those who’ve been studying the market (with historical context) for years—have their heads in the sand, while they’re out there nobly trying to save as many “frogs in the kettle” as they can.
Turns out, loads of them are active on X. You’ve probably seen a few of their posts, sharing visuals they’ve taken completely out of context or grossly misinterpreted (often both).
But if you’re following Mohtashami on the same platform, you can catch him—to quote Lazine—”playing Whack-a-Mole with the doom-and-gloomers” by sharing real and visual data, with context, to expose the flaws in their alarmist Tweets.
And on behalf of every consumer out there trying (and failing) to make sense of all the conflicting headlines and social media posts about the housing market, every “whack” deserves a heartfelt thank you.
He even challenges some of them to public debates on X. Those who accept are quickly and thoroughly schooled. Most decline.
So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Mohtashami’s top advice for real estate agents is this:
“Learn how to talk to your clients with data.”
Don’t leave your clients to the self-appointed prophets on IG, TikTok, YouTube, and X to guide them on what’s really happening in the housing market. If they’re relying on randoms spreading sensational “news” with zero accountability, they will be misled.
And it could cost them BIG in the long run.
So, how do you respond to consumers’ biggest fears about the housing market?
#1: Foreclosures & Bankruptcies Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
Consumers still worry that we’re heading for a repeat of the Great Recession of 2008. And every real estate agent should be prepared when they’re talking to clients and other consumers seeking reliable information about the housing market.
Mohtashami started with data on foreclosures and bankruptcies—both of which contrast sharply with data for 2008.
Number one, foreclosures and bankruptcies were rising in 2005, -6, -7, and -8. It kind of peaked around the 2008–10 period. Foreclosures are near record lows today.
#2: Inventory is Far Below 2008 Numbers
While inventory levels have improved, active inventory numbers are still well below those for 2007, shortly before the Great Financial Crisis (GFC).
Active inventory in 2007 was 4 million using the NAR data active inventory today is 1.24 million. Inventory normally is between two to two and a half million. It’s not that it’s not 2008—it’s not 2005, -6, -7, or -8.
In other words, inventory numbers for 2007 and 2008 had not ballooned from numbers like we’re seeing today to 4 million overnight.
It’s also worth noting that the new administration’s tariff policy could drive up home values by raising the cost of building materials for new construction and home repairs and renovations.
#3: Mortgage Lending Standards 2025 vs 2008
The third point is one Mohtashami has shared countless times with doomsday prophets on X: getting a mortgage today is significantly more challenging than it was pre-GFC. People who cannot realistically afford a home are far less likely to be approved for a loan.
Because of qualified mortgage, for most people who buy homes, [the] 30 year fixed mortgage, fixed debt costs, rising wage, household balance sheets look great. But back then over 23% of homes were underwater.
Compare that to today’s underwater percentage of 2%, which is near all-time lows.
The loan to values (LTV) back in 2008 were 85%; loan to values right now is 46.6%. The nested equity is $38 trillion. It’s the highest ever.
Mortgage lending standards are significantly higher today than they were before the Great Financial Crisis of ‘08. And while FHA loans are still available for qualifying borrowers, these loans account for 90% of the increase in the homeowner delinquency rate.
Overall, the increase in that rate does not point to financial distress for most single-family homeowners. And at 3.53%, it’s still below pre-pandemic levels.
Mohtashami’s final point: “40% of homes don’t have a mortgage,” which removes the danger of foreclosure altogether.
Final Takeaways: How to Keep Clients Informed (and Calm) in 2025
Misinformation spreads fast, and as a real estate professional, it’s your job to cut through the noise with real data. Logan Mohtashami’s insights on the Knowledge Brokers Podcast offer a playbook for addressing the biggest consumer fears about today’s housing market.
Here are three key takeaways every agent should remember:
- Foreclosures and bankruptcies remain near record lows, proving we’re nowhere near a 2008-style crisis.
- Housing inventory is still far below pre-GFC levels, making an oversupply-driven crash highly unlikely.
- Mortgage lending standards are much stricter than before the financial crisis, preventing the kind of risky loans that led to mass foreclosures in 2008.
Your clients are bombarded with conflicting headlines and viral panic posts every day. Be the voice of reason and the source of reliable data to dispel consumer fears and help them make smart decisions for their household.
In other words, be the trusted (and reachable) advisor they need in today’s market.
Tune in to watch the full conversation with Logan Mohtashami. And drop him a “Thank you” on Instagram after enjoying this clip.
