Buckle up — we’re jumping straight into the 2027 game plan and I’m the one steering this conversation with a coffee cup in one hand and a measuring tape in the other. We talk about whether you’re remodeling, buying new, or hunting for that first home, and I give the kind of no-nonsense pointers that actually help you avoid rookie mistakes. We also get real about silica dust: I lay out how quartz granules become a health hazard when fabricators dry-cut without respirators or water suppression, why manufacturers and cutters both share the blame, and what could happen if regulators like the California Air Resources Board decide to act. Spoiler — if they vote to curb or ban certain products, supply and installation could get interesting. Beyond the doom-and-gloom, I walk you through practical takeaways: how to vet fabricators, what PPE and on-site controls matter, and the timeline to watch (that November 19th meeting is worth marking). I close with the usual cheer-squad reminders to subscribe, leave a review, and follow our channels — because keeping the show alive means we keep bringing the messy, useful truth about home projects to you. Expect real talk, a few laughs, and actionable steps you can use before your next contractor shows up with a saw and a smile.

Takeaways:

• We jump into your 2027 game plan — remodeling, buying, or first-home strategies, nailed.
• I warn you about quartz silica dust risks: dry-cutting fabricators without respirators create serious long-term health hazards.
• We're tracking California's Air Resources Board vote — possible ban could be scheduled November 19th, so stay tuned and a little nervous.
• In hour two we gush about spa-level master bathroom upgrades: heated floors, Ardex/Irmada systems, and yes, bidet toilets that feel surprisingly civilized.
• We ask you to subscribe, follow our YouTube channels, leave reviews, and keep those hammers swinging while we dodge rogue ladders and website crashes.

Links referenced in this episode:

• aroundthehouseonline.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Airmada
• Ardex
• Toto
• Kohler
• California Air Resources Board
• YouTube

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Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

Forget polite corporate spin — I ripped into something that smells funny and I’m dragging you along. I talk about how Lennar spun off Milrose (they split it off in early 2025), and then Milrose went on a buying spree: more than 700 finished homes across 15 states in about a month, roughly $200 million worth. My antennae went up when Hunter Brook Media (and yes, they’re affiliated with an investment firm) started poking around and found Milrose buying homes that were supposed to be held as land — not rented out. Then filings changed, suddenly allowing Milrose to rent finished houses. Investors filed a class action claiming misleading statements between February 2025 and October 2026, and I walk through the math that suggests Lennar only barely hit delivery targets because of those sales. It’s sketchy, possibly a backroom move to prop up sales numbers and keep stock sentiment buoyant — and then Warren Buffett’s Berkshire quietly ups its stake. I also share my own, annoyingly personal connection: my fiancés son bought a Lennar home and we’re still battling HVAC and wiring issues. Bottom line: whether this is illegal or just ugly accounting, it stinks for homeowners and could ripple through neighborhoods. I’m staying on this story and doing a feature about a Lennar homeowner’s fight — so yeah, expect more receipts soon.

Takeaways:

• I’m calling shenanigans on Lennar’s move to spin off Milrose and then sell finished homes back to it, because it looks like a dodge to prop delivery numbers and tidy up earnings at just the right time.
• We talked about the investor lawsuit alleging misleading statements between February 2025 and October 2026, and I can’t help but note how odd timing—Lennar misses targets, Milrose pops up buying homes, and Berkshire quietly ups its stake—raises real questions.
• I’ve seen the homeowner side up close—my fiancée’s son bought from Lennar and we’re still fighting HVAC and wiring issues despite inspections, which makes me skeptical about quality control and buyer protections.
• We dug into the data and found nuance: a London School of Economics study suggests institutional buying can depress nearby home prices over time, while a Philly Fed paper found single-family rentals might nudge prices up slightly, so the real impact isn’t black-and-white.
• Heads-up on recalls: big-ticket hazards this week include 3M Scotch laminators that can overheat, crystal glass cups that can shatter into ingestion risks, bedside sleepers posing suffocation dangers, and air rifles firing unexpectedly—so I strongly recommend checking cpsc.gov for anything in your home.
• On a lighter note, I’m kind of into Medea’s new Straw Wash dishwasher—finally someone designing jets to actually clean metal straws and lids, and yeah, I’ll admit I want one because I’m tired of pre-rinsing and pretending it’s fine.

Links referenced in this episode:

• expedia.com
• youtube.com
• cpsc.gov/recalls
• finance.yahoo.com
• aroundthehouseonline.com