We're diving into the real reasons the Portland real estate market feels stuck, and spoiler alert, it's not just interest rates or a lack of buyers. In this episode, Steve Nassar and Joe Fistolo of the Portland Real Estate Podcast tackle the state of the market as of May 21st, 2025, revealing the hidden forces at play and what it means for you. Steve and Joe break down why certain segments are struggling more than others (we're looking at you, downtown condos!), and the surprising factors drivin...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 29 min
We’re diving into the real reason you’re not hitting that next level, and spoiler alert, it’s not your marketing plan or your CRM. In this episode, Steve and Joe sit down with nationally renowned coach and speaker Steve Scanlon, founder of Rewire, to explore the real driver behind success in today’s market. Forget the usual "just make the calls" advice. Scanlon breaks down why how you think determines what you do, and whether those changes actually stick. From emotional intelligence to the scien...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Buckle up real estate pros! The industry is changing and we’ve got the inside scoop from someone who knows. In this episode Steve and Joe sit down with Colin Mullane, the candidate for first vice president of NAR, to get the real scoop on what’s going on in the real estate world. From the recent lawsuit settlement to the future of Clear Cooperation, Colin shares what NAR is doing to protect realtors and shape the future of the industry. You’ll hear how these changes aren’t just challenges but op...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Change is here, and it’s reshaping the way we do real estate. In this episode, Steve and Joe dive headfirst into the most talked-about changes shaking up the real estate world. From NAR commission updates to buyer rep agreements, they’re unpacking how the last three months have tested—and strengthened—the industry. You’ll hear why these changes haven’t just maintained stability—they’ve opened new doors for growth. Steve and Joe share real-world insights, surprising trends, and proven strategies ...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 25 min
It’s all about connection! In this episode, we’re diving into how Real Producers Magazine has transformed the real estate community in Portland over the past seven years. We’re excited to welcome Tiffany Larsson, the driving force behind Real Producers, to share her journey of building a platform that’s far more than just a magazine. Steve and Joe sit down with Tiffany to explore the impact of Real Producers on fostering relationships, showcasing top real estate professionals, and creating meani...
Oct 21, 2024•58 min
Talk about perfect timing! Our powerhouse panel went live just 20 minutes after the Fed dropped rates by a whopping 50 basis points - the first cut in 4 years, signaling the end of a tightening cycle. We're thrilled to welcome back industry experts Brittany Gibbs and Heather Robbins to break it all down for you. In this highly relevant episode, hosts Joe and Steve join these powerful women in real estate to discuss the latest changes and outlooks. We dive into the implementation of NAR regulatio...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 20 min
You've heard the saying "multiple streams of income," but what about multiple streams of passive income? Real estate offers a variety of options, from single-family homes to apartment buildings, and today we're joined by two experts to break it all down. Dirk Zeller, CEO of Real Estate Champions, has experience with all types of real estate investments, from single-family homes to small plexes, apartments, and commercial properties. Rob Levy, who has been in the real estate business since 1988, ...
Jul 17, 2024•1 hr 22 min
One of our favorite guests, Kurt von Wasmuth, President and CEO of RMLS, is here to talk about the latest industry upheavals. Kurt, a frequent guest and one of our biggest advocates, will help clear up some of the confusion and questions about this process. For years, MLS systems have provided data about properties for sale along with the compensation structure from listing brokers to buyer brokers. In 2019, the DOJ filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against NAR, alleging that certain rules and pol...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Almost everything from our last Best of Masters was about the NAR lawsuit and settlement. In fact, this was our largest audience ever. Everyone is interested in knowing how this is going to play out. In this episode, Steve and Joe share what this means to them and what it could look like going forward. They also share insightful comments and questions from listeners. In 2021, there were 100 billion dollars in commissions in the US. Is this pie going to shrink after the NAR lawsuit and settlement...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Have you been wondering how to stay on top of all the industry, market, and technology changes in today's real estate world? Understanding market trends, compliance, and leveraging technology has never been more critical. It's not just about navigating the legalities; it's about thriving in a market that demands adaptability, foresight, and integrity. What are the emerging market trends and technological advances that can benefit today’s real estate professionals? Ken Perry , a former lender tur...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 10 min
In 2015, Tucker Merrihew got the idea for The Portland Real Estate Podcast. And he cohosted the show for seven years. But in 2022, Tucker left the Pacific Northwest for the sun and sand of southwest Florida. What has he been up to since then? How does Naples, Florida, differ from Tucker’s old stomping grounds in Lake Oswego? What does it look like to rebuild a real estate business in a new market? On this episode of The Portland Real Estate Podcast, your hosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar catch ...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 26 min
A Missouri court recently found NAR, HomeServices of America and Keller Williams liable for $1.8B in damages for conspiring to keep commissions artificially high. And there’s a long list of copycat lawsuits advocating a shift in the way commissions are paid in real estate. So, what might that look like? What does it mean for you and your business? Rob Levy has been a licensed Portland REALTOR since 1988 and currently serves as Principal Broker with The Rob Levy Real Estate Team , a top-producer ...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Do you have clients who need more space but can’t move in the current market? With rates reaching 8% for the first time in 20 years, plenty of people are stuck in the home they’ve got. What if you could offer a solution that would give them the space they need and add value to their current home without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on an addition or ADU? Anthony Taylor-Weber is Founder and CEO of Outdoor Office , a business that designs and builds custom, fully finished backyard stu...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 18 min
The Portland region needs 60,000 housing units to resolve the current housing shortage. What new land use laws are helping close the gap? And what legal developments make it even harder for developers to keep up with demand? Ezra Hammer and Jamie Howsley are attorneys at Jordan Ramis , a firm that serves the businesses of Pacific Northwest. Ezra and Jamie have expertise in land use and development, environmental and natural resource permitting and government affairs. On this episode of The Portl...
Aug 29, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Are you inclined to compete with other real estate agents and defend your territory? Or collaborate as colleagues? At Masters in Real Estate , we believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. And because there’s enough business for everybody, we share best practices with the intention of helping each other succeed. Justin Stoddart is CEO of ProInsight , a platform that helps real estate agents integrate our services with other professionals, collaborating to improve our value proposition and bette...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 16 min
The average person lives in a home for about 7 years. And agents and lenders need to stay top of mind, so we’re there when the client is ready to move again. However, 88% of people forget their real estate team less than a year after closing. But what if there was an easy way to stay engaged with clients and support them in taking care of their home—with very little effort on your part? Scott Fouser is Chief Revenue Officer of Househappy , a tech platform that helps real estate professionals sta...
May 29, 2023•1 hr 5 min
No doubt you’ve read multiple news items about artificial intelligence and received several emails promoting AI trainings since ChatGPT launched last November. And many believe that AI technology will start a revolution bigger than anything we’ve experienced in our lifetime, including the internet. But what is AI really capable of? And how might real estate professionals use it in a meaningful way? Eric Post has 20 years of experience in the industry, owning both real estate and mortgage brokera...
Apr 11, 2023•1 hr 18 min
In the spring of 2020, Oregon REALTORS voted to have statewide forms administered by the state association as a member benefit—not for profit. To that end, the association made an offer to purchase the other two owners’ interests in OREF. But that offer was rejected. Consequently, Oregon REALTORS developed its own forms library , which went live on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Jeff Wiren , President of Premier Property Group, was President of Oregon REALTORS when the new forms were announced, a...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 14 min
We can all agree that the real estate market was pretty bad last year. Case in point, pending sales in the Portland metro area were down 50% year-over-year in November 2022. But things are starting to pick up as we move into 2023. And we can either complain about the challenges OR step into 2023 with a positive attitude. Because if you ask Dill Ward, energy begets energy, and the agents who show up with joy will build momentum. In other words, the market is between your ears. Dill is Principal B...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Interest rates are up to 7%. Pending sales are down 42%. And yet, many real estate agents continue to do business at a high level, despite the dramatic market shift. In April of 2022, Brittany Gibbs, Heather Robbins and Kim Gellatly appeared on the podcast to discuss the developing shift and share what they were doing to prepare for the market correction. So, what did Brittany, Heather and Kim get right? What has surprised them in the last six months? And what are they doing to find success in t...
Nov 22, 2022•1 hr 23 min
Mortgage interest rates are the highest they’ve been in 20 years. And as a result, mortgage applications are down by 38% and refis have dropped a whopping 86%. So, when will rates start to come back down? What can lenders and real estate agents do to adapt to the current circumstances? Guest Cohost Tammy Wittren is Branch Manager at NFM Lending . With more than 30 years of real estate and lending experience, Tammy separates herself from the competition by building a team of professionals who sha...
Oct 24, 2022•1 hr 20 min
The real estate market was nothing but hot in 2021. We saw a staggering number of transactions, and most homes were on the market for less than a week. And now the market is correcting. Real estate has a longer shelf life and there are fewer buyers. But what if this shift in the market isn’t necessarily a bad thing? What can we do as brokers to adapt to the circumstances and be successful for the long term? Justin Harnish is the Broker-Owner of Harnish Properties , and industry leader in the sal...
Jul 27, 2022•1 hr 11 min
We’ve just seen the most significant interest rate hike since 1994. There’s scary inflation news and an economy in flux.Has all of this caused a slowing down in the real estate market? Kurt von Wasmuth, President/CEO of the Oregon RMLS, is back on the show to share the latest market action data. On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, Kurt joins cohosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to share the active listings data and the forecast for new construction for the rest of 2022. Kurt sha...
Jun 20, 2022•1 hr 5 min
On May 11, a federal judge permanently blocked Oregon’s ban on ‘love letters,’ calling it a violation of homebuyers’ First Amendment rights. And most REALTORS are glad that the ‘love letter’ is still an option. But what does this mean in practice? How do brokers plan to leverage ‘love letters’ moving forward? And what can real estate professionals do to promote fair housing and help prevent the discrimination the ban was supposed to address? On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, c...
May 30, 2022•1 hr 13 min
According to CNBC , today, buyers are paying 37% more for their payments on the same house because of a combination of higher interest rates and higher housing prices over last year. Diana Olick, CNBC Real Estate Correspondent says although closings and pendings have not changed, lockbox activity is down by 19% nationally for the month, an indicator that things are changing. With inflation the highest it’s been since 1981, we’re seeing interest rates back up to where they were in 2009. So how ar...
Apr 25, 2022•1 hr 12 min
A lot is happening in the world right now. The bond market took a dive, interest rates are rising, inflation is prominent, gas prices are up, and there’s a war in Europe. All of these things are interconnected, so how are they going to affect the real estate market going forward? Mark Aalto is a lender and economic forecaster who gives great insight into things that are commonly known among lenders, but might be new, helpful information to realtors. On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Po...
Mar 21, 2022•56 min
Nowadays, there are tons of people in the real estate business. Whether you’re an agent for a large company, small company, or own your own real estate business, it’s important to stand out from the crowd. The truth is that everybody wants to stand out, but not everybody will put in the effort to do it. Justin Stoddart is a real estate coach, podcast host, author, and speaker. He also serves as Founder and CEO of Portland-based company Think Bigger, where they help real estate professionals buil...
Mar 07, 2022•58 min
It’s easy to focus on our deficiencies. To wish we had more going for us or blame the market for the fact that our numbers are low. But what if we focused less on what we lack and more on solving the problems in front of us? James Lee got his real estate license in 2010 and was doing well. And then he suffered an injury that left him paralyzed. How did he get back into real estate after the accident? How does he navigate being paraplegic and running The JL Real Estate Group ? On this episode of ...
Feb 22, 2022•58 min
In January of 2012, as we made our way out of the Great Recession, ethics in real estate was at an all-time low. And Joe Fustolo asked himself, ‘How can I fix this?’ He created the Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group to foster professionalism and cooperation among real estate professionals in the Portland tri-county area. Ten years later, Masters is nearly 8,000 members strong, and Joe’s commitment to the integrity of the group sets it apart from other real estate related communities on Facebo...
Jan 25, 2022•1 hr 6 min
In Episode 137, Tucker, Steve and Joe discuss the future of the Portland Real Estate Podcast. (We had some recording difficulties, so the playback begins a few minutes after originally starting) Tucker will be leaving the show as one of the primary co-hosts and they discuss the future of the show and potential new co-hosts to fill the spot! They also discuss the future of the podcast and what you can hope to see in the coming year. Lastly, they discuss the latest Zillow Collapse and the news sur...
Dec 22, 2021•49 min
