This week on The Everything Real Estate Show, Cody Kraus breaks down the Windsor-Essex real estate market, reviewing 2025 trends and looking ahead to 2026. He covers local listings, sales, and average prices, explaining why prices have stayed steady despite rising supply and shifting demand.

Cody compares Windsor-Essex to Toronto and Vancouver, where condo oversupply is driving price declines, and dives into the role of interest rates, consumer confidence, and new construction, especially purpose-built rentals. He also highlights historical trends, showing long-term price growth even as sales volumes fluctuate.

On the industry side, Cody touches on major North American mergers, including Compass acquiring Anywhere Real Estate and Rocket Companies acquiring Redfin, and discusses how landlords exiting the market due to Landlord and Tenant Board changes is affecting inventory locally.

Looking ahead, Cody shares his 2026 predictions: flat prices and sales in Windsor-Essex, rents trending lower, stable interest rates, and a gradual decline in active realtors. He wraps up with practical tips for navigating the market and staying focused on local opportunities.

Data-driven, insightful, and grounded in experience, this episode is a must-listen for agents, investors, landlords, and homeowners wanting a clear view of Windsor-Essex real estate and what’s next.

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On this episode of The Everything Real Estate Show, host Cody Kraus is joined by Vanessa Oake, broker/owner of a multi-office Century 21 brokerage serving Peterborough, the Kawarthas, and cottage country.

They discuss how COVID reshaped secondary markets, investor and Airbnb trends, shifting buyer sentiment, and how pricing and inventory in Peterborough compare to the GTA and Windsor. Vanessa also shares her journey into brokerage ownership, lessons from managing 100+ agents, and why productivity, culture, and clear communication matter more than headcount.

The conversation wraps with a thoughtful take on leadership, hard conversations, and why real estate remains a relationship-driven business—even in an increasingly digital world.

Practical, honest, and grounded in real experience.

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This week on The Everything Real Estate Show, host Cody Kraus is joined by Ralph Ciancio, a seasoned GTA real estate professional with nearly two decades of experience and a thoughtful, grounded perspective on business, family, and the real estate industry.

Ralph shares his journey through nearly 1,000 transactions, the evolution of his career, and the lessons learned from rebuilding balance between work, family, and long-term sustainability. He reflects on how those experiences now shape the way he serves clients and approaches the business.

In the back half of the conversation, Cody and Ralph dive into the policy side of real estate, breaking down Bill C-6, the realities of the Landlord and Tenant Board, and how government decisions are impacting landlords, investors, housing supply, and affordability across Ontario. It’s an honest discussion about unintended consequences and the growing disconnect between policy and on-the-ground reality.

Insightful, candid, and rooted in real-world experience, this episode connects the personal and the political, offering valuable perspective for agents, investors, landlords, and homeowners alike.Let’s go!

This week, Cody is joined by Vince Castagna, owner of UCC Mortgage Co., for an in-depth conversation on mortgages, private lending, and the real forces shaping today’s housing market.

Vince shares his path from CPA and commercial banking into mortgage brokerage and private lending, explaining how UCC operates on both the lending and administration side — helping investors deploy capital through private mortgages while guiding borrowers through complex financing situations.

They dive into what’s actually happening in Canadian real estate: first-time homebuyer challenges, condo market struggles, purpose-built rentals, immigration and population trends, and why single-family home prices aren’t likely to fall much further. The conversation also explores succession planning, buying established businesses, development fees, construction costs, and why owning real assets still matters long-term.

A grounded, honest discussion that cuts through the noise and helps make sense of today’s real estate and financing landscape.

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This week, Cody sits down with Phil Spoelstra, partner at Farm Ontario, to unpack how he went from residential real estate to becoming a leader in Ontario’s farm and ag-land market. Phil shares how his early hustle, strong mentorship, and commitment to his four F-words — faith, family, finances and fitness — shaped both his life and his business.

They dive into what makes farm real estate so different: land valuation, soil and drainage, livestock and dairy quota, and why major investors are quietly moving into farmland. Phil also explains how Farm Ontario grew from a small partnership into a province-wide brand selling everything from hobby farms to massive operations.

Cody and Phil finish with a look at succession planning — how farm families protect generational wealth, manage tax hurdles, and keep relationships strong through big transitions.

A grounded, insightful conversation for anyone interested in land, legacy, and building a purpose-driven business.

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This week on The Everything Real Estate Show, host Cody Kraus sits down with Julianna Biondo, President of the Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors (WECAR).

Julianna shares her journey from managing historic buildings in downtown Detroit to becoming a respected Windsor-Essex realtor and local industry leader. She and Cody dive deep into what organized real estate really means — from advocacy and professionalism to how local boards protect both agents and consumers.

They talk about leadership, balance, and what it takes to serve your peers, your clients, and your community — all while running a business and raising a family. Julianna also offers insight into the political side of real estate, servant leadership, and why gratitude and integrity are key to long-term success.

If you’re passionate about real estate, leadership, or community impact, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

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This week on The Everything Real Estate Show, host Cody Kraus sits down with Justin Konikow, founder of Prime Real Estate Brokerage and host of The Prime People Podcast.

Justin shares his journey from commercial real estate to leading one of Southwestern Ontario’s most respected brokerages, covering residential, commercial, farm, and new development. He and Cody discuss the realities of today’s market, the impact of AI and technology, and why the best agents focus on people and relationships, not just transactions.

This episode is full of practical insights, honest reflections, and inspiration for agents, investors, and homeowners looking to navigate the modern real estate landscape.

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After just over a year of weekly episodes and a short summer break, The Everything Real Estate Show is back for Season 2! Host Cody Kraus, real estate broker-owner and lifelong real estate enthusiast, kicks off the new season with an incredible guest — Rashid Farhat of Farhat & Associates Law Firm.

Rashid is a real estate lawyer in Windsor-Essex with nearly 20 years of experience, and one of only 25 certified specialists in real estate law across Ontario. With a large, high-volume practice, Rashid has seen almost everything that can happen in a real estate deal — from smooth transactions to deals that hit unexpected legal potholes.

In this episode, Cody and Rashid dive into the most common issues that arise during closings, why communication between realtors, lenders, and lawyers is so critical, and how experience helps spot and prevent problems before they happen. Rashid also shares insights from his annual presentations to brokerages and banks like RBC, where he breaks down the latest legal challenges and trends in the Windsor-Essex real estate market.

Whether you’re an agent, investor, or homeowner, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and real-world takeaways to help you close confidently and avoid costly mistakes.

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