A “flat” year can still reshape how we work, what buyers want, and where the best opportunities hide. We unpack why prices and sales ended near even while affordable segments stayed hot, luxury cooled, and inventory climbed to the healthiest levels we’ve seen in years. From spring spikes and fall slowdowns to the psychology of rates easing toward 6 percent, we connect seasonality and sentiment to real decisions about pricing, timing, and negotiation.

We also go deep on the 2026 horizon. National forecasts point to more transactions and modest appreciation, but the real story is local: tighter strategy in the low-to-mid tiers, renewed confidence as rates stabilize, and smarter coaching around what to expect in a balanced market. For agents, the gap widens between passive presence and deliberate action. We share the practices that separated top performers this year: consistent sphere flow, accountability sprints, client events, and clear, data-backed conversations that reduce anxiety and move people forward.

Then we dig into where technology actually helps. Conversational AI search changes how consumers ask for homes—think “water view,” “near Trader Joe’s,” “ADU potential,” or “pool maintenance costs after moving from California.” That shift favors answer-engine optimization: short, useful videos paired with detailed written summaries, living FAQs, and local guides that meet high-intent queries. We outline a practical content system that turns search trends into listings, and listings into authority. Finally, we spotlight a policy wave that may redefine opportunity in Washington: ADU mandates and middle housing reforms. More options on existing lots mean new paths for homeowners, investors, and developers—if you can explain feasibility, financing, and resale with confidence.

Subscribe for more market clarity, practical playbooks, and tech tools that elevate your business. If this helped, share it with a colleague and leave a quick review so others can find the show.

For real estate career questions, you can contact Paul at paulbalzotti@johnlscott.com

Paul and Howard dive into the significant industry shifts happening in 2025, including clear cooperation policies, lawsuits, and changing market dynamics that are reshaping how properties are bought and sold.

• Clear cooperation policy requires listings to be shared with all agents and the public, not kept as private exclusives
• Approximately 80% of sellers only speak with one agent, making transparency in listing strategies crucial
• Private exclusives risk creating a fragmented market that's less efficient and potentially problematic for fair housing
• John L Scott's "Listing Launch" strategy maximizes exposure through coordinated marketing and strategic open houses
• Successful selling requires understanding both the "backlog of buyers" and how to reach "off-market buyers"
• Social media advertising and financing knowledge (like 2-1 buydowns) are essential skills for today's agents
• Creating weekend buzz with proper presentation and pricing helps overcome buyer hesitation in a high-interest rate environment

If you're a real estate professional looking to navigate these changes, make sure you're staying informed about policy changes and focusing on transparent, consumer-first approaches that maximize exposure for your listings.

At the foothills of Blanchard Mountain and just south of the scenic Chuckanut Drive, Bow Edison is a charming town that flies under the radar for many home buyers. The community offers a historic town area plus nearby access to incredible parks and trails. Bow Edison is also close to freeway access and within 25 minutes of larger cities including Anacortes, Mount Vernon and Bellingham.

Shalyce Pocock is a broker that not only serves in Bow Edison, but also resides in the community with her family. In this podcast, she shares the amenities of the area, along with local housing information.

2:00 About Bow-Edison
3:45 Downtown and nearby amenities
6:00 Different types of homes in the area
9:50 Market update for the Bow-Edison area
12:00 Where buyers are coming from.

For more, please reach out to Shaylce at shalycepocock@johnlscott.com or 360-421-4407.

San Juan is the largest and most populated island on the San Juan islands, with 2 very popular harbors, Roche and Friday Harbor. Sadie Holt is a Realtor and local resident of San Juan Island. On this episode, Sadie talks about living on San Juan Island and some information on Orcas and Lopez Island as well.

2:00 Lisa shares her story and why her and her husband chose San Juan Island to raise there family.
5:00 Explaining medical and other services available on the San Juan Island
8:00 Where the relocating buyers are coming from.
9:30 What the community is like for those moving from out of area.
11:30 Housing opportunities on San Juan and the greater San Juan Islands.
14:20 The San Juan Island culture.

To learn more about San Juan Island you can reach Sadie at SadieHolt@johnlscott.com or 360-990-0714.

Betsy Anorbe is a Realtor serving Skagit, Island & Whatcom County. She sold 37 homes in her first 12 months in Real Estate, and is currently on track to sell over 50 homes in her year 2.
In this episode of Get In Real about Real Estate, Betsy and Paul Balzotti discuss her recipe for success. For those who are considering a career in Real Estate or need a jump start, Betsy shares many valuable insights.

1:05 How Betsy started her career day one.

4:00 Joining the chamber of commerce.

5:20 Reaching out to veteran brokers and previewing homes.

7:00 Previewing homes and creating video for social media.

8:10 Faking it till you make it.

10:30 Engaging on social media.

15:30 Relationship building with no agenda.

18:50 The failure rate of new licensees.

19:44 Don't focus on the money.

23:40 Summarizing Betsy's secrets to success.

Interested or buying or selling? Reach out to Betsy at betsyanorbe@johnlscott.com.
Interested in a career in Real Estate? Reach out to paulbalzotti@johnlscott.com

Leslia Iacolucci joins the John L. Scott Real Estate Anacortes Get in Real Podcast to share a mid-year housing update for Anacortes Washington and Skagit County.

00:30 About Leslie Iacolucci and her experience serving the Anacortes community.

03:00 Skagit County housing update from Leslie.

04:15 Paul Balzotti & Howard on why home prices are up and home sales are down.

07;11 Leslie on the Anacortes Washington housing market update.

08:00 Paul on the housing forecast for the second half of the year.

09:21 Leslie on new building starts in Anacortes.

11:00 Timing your purchase with Leslie.

For more reach out to leslielac@johnlscott.com

For those planning relocation to Oak Harbor Washington, Paul Balzotti and Howard Chung interview Real Estate broker Teresa Griffith about the lifestyle of Oak Harbor and what you should know about housing and the Real Estate market.

Teresa starts by sharing how her mother and grandparents are from Oak Harbor and how she moved back to raise her family in the community. The conversation then goes to the benefits of the community, some of the trade-offs, and the state of the housing market on Whidbey Island and in Oak Harbor.


To reach Teresa directly you can reach her at teresagriffith@johnlscott.com or 360-622-1611

It is a turbulent time in the Real Estate industry heading into 2024, with pending Real Estate lawsuits against major Real Estate firms and the National Association of Realtors. Most of the litigation is framed around a position that Realtors have not provided proper transparency to the Real Estate commission process, particularly with buyers.
For the last 2+ years, Washington state lawmakers, working alongside the Washington State Realtor Association and the member-owned Northwest MLS, have taken proactive steps to increase transparency in contracts in both Real Estate contracts as well as listing agreements. Now in 2024, Washington state will require buyer agency agreements between buyers and brokers. This service agreement will need to be in place as soon as a Real Estate broker in Washington state begins to provide services to a buyer, which could include advising, and/or showing homes.
Howard Chung and Paul Balzotti of John L. Scott Real Estate deep dive into what has transpired over the last 20 years and what comes next for the Real Estate industry.