Episodes

  • In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Guy Berger, Director of Economic Research at the Burning Glass Institute, to talk about “The Great Stay”: how the lack of mobility in an otherwise strong labor market is impacting the housing market
    About Guy Berger
    Guy Berger is a macroeconomist with expertise in US labor markets, and currently serves as the Director of Economic Research at the Burning Glass Institute. He was previously the Principal Economist at LinkedIn, and has also worked as an economist at Bank of America and the Royal Bank of Scotland. His work includes the creation of novel economic indicators, the development of models linking the macroeconomy to business performance, and the design of economic reports. His commentary has been featured frequently in the media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNBC, Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance and Axios. Guy holds a doctorate in economics from Yale University.
    Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

    What is “The Great Stay” economy with the labor market and housing?

    Why stagnation in jobs means fewer home sales and why fewer home sales means fewer job openings

    How companies are hoarding labor like Americans are hoarding real estate

    When will this Great Stay era end?

    How the labor market will change with reduced immigration and which sectors will be hit the hardest

    Will the Fed pivot in 2025 to growing employment or will we still be fighting inflation?

    The most important demographic trends to consider in the next few years

    Outlook for the future of jobs in America with big trends like AI and remote work


    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    The Burning Glass Institute

    Guy Berger | LinkedIn

    Mike Simonsen on LinkedIn

    Altos Research


    Featuring Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.
    Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

    Altos on Twitter

    Mike on Twitter


    About Altos Research
    The Top of Mind Podcast is produced by Altos Research.
    Each week, Altos tracks every home for sale in the country - all the pricing, and all the changes in pricing - and synthesizes those analytics to make them available before becoming visible through traditional channels.
    Schedule a demo to see Altos in action. You can also get a copy of our free eBook: How To Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business.
    The Top of Mind podcast features top real estate industry insiders and experts to unpack the most important housing, real estate, mortgage data and trends that are shaping the housing market. Hosted by Altos founder Mike Simonsen and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

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  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Daren Blomquist from Auction.com to talk about the state of the distressed housing market. 
    About Daren Blomquist
    Daren Blomquist is vice president of market economics at Auction.com. In this role, Blomquist analyzes and forecasts complex macro and microeconomic data trends within the marketplace and industry to provide value to both buyers and sellers using the Auction.com platform.
    Daren’s reports and analysis have been cited by thousands of media outlets — including all the major news networks and leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA TODAY. Daren has been quoted in hundreds of publications and has appeared on many national network broadcasts, including CBS, ABC, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business and Bloomberg.
    Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

    What their investor activity tells us about housing demand right now

    What their leading indicators say about home sales in 2025

    The surprising trends with distressed borrowers in 2024

    Which states have distressed and foreclosure levels approaching 2019 (it’s not what you’d think)

    Which states have 80% fewer foreclosures now than in 2019

    The notable new demand trends for distressed property buyers in 2024

    The #1 reason their clients aren’t buying homes

    The leading indicators in their data and what it tells us about 2025

    The new phenomenon of “Foreclosure Spin Cycle” and what it means for American homeowners

    Daren’s bearish forecast for home prices in 2025 and 2026


    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Daren Blomquist | LinkedIn

    Auction.com

    Mike Simonsen | LinkedIn

    Altos Research


    Featuring Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.
    Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

    Altos on Twitter

    Mike on Twitter


    About Altos Research
    The Top of Mind Podcast is produced by Altos Research.
    Each week, Altos tracks every home for sale in the country - all the pricing, and all the changes in pricing - and synthesizes those analytics to make them available before becoming visible through traditional channels.
    Schedule a demo to see Altos in action. You can also get a copy of our free eBook: How To Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business.
    The Top of Mind podcast features top real estate industry insiders and experts to unpack the most important housing, real estate, mortgage data and trends that are shaping the housing market. Hosted by Altos founder Mike Simonsen and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Logan Mohtashami, lead analyst at HousingWire, to talk about his predictions for 2025. Logan looks at inventory challenges, offers his take on what to expect with mortgage rates, and gives his forecast for prices, home sales, and more. He also shares which signals we should be watching for shifts in the market in the coming year.
    About Logan Mohtashami
    Logan Mohtashami is a renowned expert in the mortgage and housing ecosystem, recognized for his insightful analysis and commentary on the U.S. economy and real estate market. Mohtashami is a lead analyst for HousingWire and is a regular contributor on the HousingWire Daily podcast. With a background spanning over two decades in the mortgage industry, Mohtashami — nicknamed “The Chart Guy” — has the remarkable ability to decipher complex economic data and translate it into understandable, actionable insights. This knowledge has made Mohtashami a sought-after commentator and his expertise has been featured extensively in news outlets, including CNBC, where he is a frequent guest.
    Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

    How the housing market at the end of 2024 has fundamentally changed

    Where his forecasts for 2024 missed and where he got it right

    Logan’s forecasts for mortgage rates, home sales, inventory, and home prices in 2025

    Which macroeconomic factors are the most important to watch for housing in 2025

    What to watch for with the Fed in the coming year

    Who is at risk and who has strength in today’s housing economy

    One insightful factor buoying home buyers today

    What’s on the horizon for real estate in the second half of the decade


    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Logan Mohtashami | HousingWire

    Mike Simonsen | LinkedIn

    Altos Research


    Featuring Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.
    Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

    Altos on Twitter

    Mike on Twitter


    About Altos Research
    The Top of Mind Podcast is produced by Altos Research.
    Each week, Altos tracks every home for sale in the country - all the pricing, and all the changes in pricing - and synthesizes those analytics to make them available before becoming visible through traditional channels.
    Schedule a demo to see Altos in action. You can also get a copy of our free eBook: How To Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American Financial Corporation, to talk about the major market dynamics that will shape the real estate market in 2025.
    About Mark Fleming
    Mark Fleming serves as the chief economist for First American Financial Corporation, a premier provider of title, settlement and risk solutions for real estate transactions and the leader in the digital transformation of its industry. In his role, he leads an economics team responsible for analysis, commentary and forecasting trends in the real estate and mortgage markets.
    Fleming's research expertise primarily includes real estate and urban economics, applied econometrics, and mortgage risk. As a trusted and influential voice with 20 years of experience in the mortgage and property information business, Fleming is frequently quoted by national news outlets and industry trade publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Housing Wire, and he is a regular guest on a high-profile broadcast news channels, including CBS, CNBC, Fox Business News and NPR.
    Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

    Are we at the end of “the long cold winter” in the housing market

    Are we poised for a rebound in 2025?

    Why home sales fell but not home prices in the post-pandemic era

    His expectation for where mortgage rates will settle

    How he measures affordability, and what it teaches us about the US right now

    The most and least affordable markets in the country, and how that’s changing

    Whether first time homebuyers in 2025 will finally catch a break

    How to estimate home price appreciation

    Why the biggest trends in the housing market are not poised to change in 2025

    What the election means for housing (and what it doesn’t)

    Surprising stats about how much we (don’t) build homes anymore


    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Mark Fleming | LinkedIn

    First American

    Mike Simonsen | LinkedIn

    Altos Research


    Featuring Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.
    Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

    Altos on Twitter

    Mike on Twitter


    About Altos Research
    The Top of Mind Podcast is produced by Altos Research.
    Each week, Altos tracks every home for sale in the country - all the pricing, and all the changes in pricing - and synthesizes those analytics to make them available before becoming visible through traditional channels.
    Schedule a demo to see Altos in action. You can also get a copy of our free eBook: How To Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • In this episode of the Top of Mind podcast, Mike Simonsen sits down with Eric Finnigan, Vice President of Demographics Research at John Burns, to talk about the biggest themes and trends in American housing demographics today.
    About Eric Finnigan
    Eric Finnigan leads demographics research at John Burns Research and Consulting, where he helps clients plan around demographic shifts that impact real estate and the housing market. Eric has covered the housing market as a researcher since 2007, and before joining John Burns, he held research roles at Clarion Partners in New York and a boutique advisory firm in Berkeley, California. Finally, Eric is an elder millennial and, along with many of his peers, hit some adult milestones a little later than his parents, including getting married in his late 30s and recently buying his first home at 40.
    Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

    The biggest themes in American demographics right now

    What the demographic trends tell us about the next 20 years of housing demand

    The most important demographic data to track, and what’s happening with it now

    What’s going to happen with all the new apartment construction

    The net impact of immigration on housing costs

    Why dramatically limited immigration or mass deportation would be catastrophic to housing market and cause greater unaffordability

    Some shocking new trends in intra-country migration

    How many homes we really need to build over the next 10 years

    The #1 thing that we can do to improve housing construction and alleviate our shortage

    What the US will look like in 2033 and why that matters


    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Eric Finnigan | JBREC

    Eric Finnigan | LinkedIn

    Eric Finnigan | Twitter

    John Burns Research and Consulting

    Mike Simonsen | LinkedIn

    Altos Research


    Featuring Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. The company now serves the largest Wall Street investment firms, banks, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals around the country. Mike's insights on the market have been featured in Forbes, New York Times, Bloomberg, Dallas Morning News, Seattle PI, and many other national media outlets.
    Follow us on Twitter for more data analysis and insights:

    Altos on Twitter

    Mike on Twitter


    About Altos Research
    The Top of Mind Podcast is produced by Altos Research.
    Each week, Altos tracks every home for sale in the country - all the pricing, and all the changes in pricing - and synthesizes those analytics to make them available before becoming visible through traditional channels.
    Schedule a demo to see Altos in action. You can also get a copy of our free eBook: How To Use Market Data to Build Your Real Estate Business.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.

  • Welcome to How’s the Market, our weekly look at what’s happening in the US housing market, powered by data from Altos Research.
    If you want to see all the inventory, pricing, and supply and demand charts we reference in the show, head on over to our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/altosresearch.
    Hosted by Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research
    A true data geek, Mike founded Altos Research in 2006 to bring data and insight on the U.S. housing market to those who need it most. Altos provides national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country, and the company is now part of HW Media, publisher of HousingWire and RealTrends. Mike uses Altos data to identify trends in the real estate market well before the headlines, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes and other publications.