Real Talk with Leigh Brown

Real Talk with Leigh Brown🎙️ Formerly Crazy Sh*t in Real EstateShatter the HGTV-induced veneer of real estate! On Real Talk with Leigh Brown, nothing's off-limits. Whether it's the real estate roller coaster, housing policies that make no sense, or the unpredictable chaos of working with people, Leigh brings bold stories, smart perspective, and a whole lotta sass.It's the truth behind the transactions, from deals that go sideways to the moments that remind you why this work matters. If you've ever felt like no one's saying what really goes down in real estate... you just found your people.Pull up a chair. You're in good company now.Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting https://leighbrown.comDM Leigh Brown on Instagram: @leighthomasbrownDM Leigh Brown on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeighBrownSpeaker/DM Leigh Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighthomasbrown/

Real Talk with Leigh Brown is a business podcast hosted by Leigh Brown, with 590 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Leigh Brown hosts Real Talk with Leigh Brown, a business show with 590 episodes published.

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  Real Talk with Leigh Brown

  Can We Actually Make Housing More Attainable? | Rent Control, Mortgages & Down Payments

  Oct 2, 202628 min

  What does it really take to make housing more attainable? This week on From the Rooftops, I'm looking at several very different proposals aimed at housing affordability and homeownership, starting with a proposed rent stabilization ordinance in Santa Barbara, California. The Santa Barbara City Council approved a draft Residential Rent Stabilization and Rental Registry Ordinance with amendments and sent it forward for formal introduction. The proposal includes annual rent adjustments equal to 60% of the Consumer Price Index or 3%, whichever is lower, along with a seven-member, tenant-majority Rent Stabilization Board. I'm also digging into a request from Rep. Lauren Boebert for federal regulators to explore mortgage underwriting and credit-score reforms. Her letter calls for consideration of more flexible down-payment requirements, rental-payment history and nontraditional income patterns when evaluating borrowers. For REALTORS® and other commission-based or self-employed workers, that last piece should sound familiar. Then there's the newly introduced Homeownership Promise Act from Sen. Jeff Merkley, cosponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden. The proposal would create Homeownership Promise Accounts offering eligible first-time homebuyers a $5 federal match for every $1 saved toward a down payment. It's a proposed bill, not a $50,000 homebuyer giveaway that's available today. I also return to Western North Carolina two years after Hurricane Helene with a story from my latest Bricks and Grit about a family whose nine-month-old home was destroyed in a landslide while the mortgage remained. Through Patriot Relief, I've seen firsthand how complicated housing becomes when the house itself is gone but the financial obligations remain. Housing affordability touches rental policy, mortgage qualification, down payments and what happens to property owners after disaster. REALTORS® need to understand what is actually being proposed before our clients encounter the headline. This week's From the Rooftops was prerecorded while I'm in Louisiana with Louisiana REALTORS®. Premieres Thursday at 9:00 AM ET. Chapters 0:00 Why housing attainability matters more than affordability 2:10 Santa Barbara proposes disastrous rent control plan 4:39 Tenant-controlled boards will worsen housing shortages 6:46 Mortgage qualification changes aim to help first timers 10:46 Down payment myths keep buyers out of the market 12:33 Government down payment plans will fuel inflation 17:42 Mortgage rates rise because of global economic shifts 23:29 Banks fail families after natural disasters strike ––––––––––– Leigh Brown is a REALTOR®, broker-owner, auctioneer, national keynote speaker, and author whose work helps professionals lead with confidence, communicate with purpose, and build businesses rooted in trust and relationships. Book Leigh for Your Conference or Event https://www.leighbrown.com/speaker ️ Watch Real Talk with Leigh Brown and From the Rooftops https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-9nEf0QTnKTBSf9lF5n5dbbHSK-65KWd Learn more at https://LeighBrown.com

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  Real Talk with Leigh Brown

  Beyond South Beach: The Real Miami Real Estate Market with Chris Wands

  Oct 1, 202619 min

  Miami isn't just Miami Beach. It's a city being reshaped by people, money, development and demand. So what's really happening in the South Florida real estate market? Where is the inventory? What happens when a city grows faster than its housing can keep up? And how did a Zillow lead turn into a conversation about a $100 million purchase? In this episode, I sit down with South Florida real estate professional Chris Wands to talk about how Miami has changed, where the market is headed, and what people should understand about the city beyond the headlines. We talk about: How real estate teams actually work Miami's transformation into an architecturally significant city Inventory, affordability and workforce housing The surprising story behind a $100 million Zillow lead The Miami neighborhoods worth exploring beyond South Beach Join the Conversation Live Thanks for spending part of your day with me. Every Thursday at 9:00 AM ET, I go live on YouTube to talk through the week's biggest housing and real estate headlines. The best part is hearing your questions and perspectives while we're live. I'd love for you to join the conversation. Subscribe and turn on notifications here: https://www.youtube.com/@LeighBrownSpeaker I'll see you From the Rooftops. About Chris Wands Originally from Port Washington, NY, Christopher comes from a long line of real estate professionals. The Wands family name has been synonymous with the industry for generations, beginning with his great-grandparents and grandparents, and later his mother, a top-producing broker. Today, Christopher proudly carries on that legacy alongside his brother, Robert. Connect with Chris Website: Christopher Wands | Real Estate Agent | Douglas Elliman Instagram: @chris_wands | @thewandsteam About Leigh Brown Leigh Brown is a keynote speaker and leadership expert who helps organizations navigate growth, conflict, and change with clarity and courage. Her message resonates with leaders facing real-world pressure—whether that's housing challenges, organizational friction, or cultural shifts. Her latest book, Next Is Now, equips leaders to stop reacting and start leading with intention. https://amzn.to/48FKenF Bring Leigh to your stage: https://leighbrown.com DM Leigh on Instagram: @LeighThomasBrown

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  Real Talk with Leigh Brown

  After Hurricane Helene: When Rivers Move and Property Lines Change

  Sep 24, 202651 min

  Two years after Hurricane Helene, the headlines have moved on. Western North Carolina is still dealing with what Helene left behind. And some of the consequences are things most of us would never consider until they happen to our own property. What happens when the river moves? What happens when the tree, rock, stream or other landmark people have relied on to understand a property boundary is gone? What happens when land itself has been washed away—and a family that has lived there for generations is trying to figure out what they own, what they can rebuild and how they stay? In this special episode of Real Talk with Leigh Brown , I sit down with my friend and One Community Real Estate partner Starr Franklin to talk about what we saw after Hurricane Helene and what Western North Carolina is still dealing with two years later. We talk about The chaos of those first days Churches and volunteers becoming relief hubs Building temporary shelter so people could stay on their land Rivers changing course and property markers disappearing The surveying and real estate questions that followed Families who are still working to get home Resources mentioned https://www.patriotrelief.org/ https://www.onecommunity.realestate/ A Million Miracles: Life After Hurricane Helene by Stephanie Johnson | Paperback Join the Conversation Live Thanks for spending part of your day with me. Every Thursday at 9:00 AM ET, I go live on YouTube to talk through the week's biggest housing and real estate headlines. The best part is hearing your questions and perspectives while we're live. I'd love for you to join the conversation. Subscribe and turn on notifications here: https://www.youtube.com/@LeighBrownSpeaker I'll see you From the Rooftops. About Starr Franklin Starr is a North Carolina native with more than 25 years of real estate experience. Based in Western North Carolina, she specializes in residential, new construction, commercial, multifamily, land sales, and relocation, with a special focus on serving military families. For more than 13 years, Starr has worked alongside a team of top professionals, helping clients make informed decisions through honest, knowledgeable, and relationship-driven service. Connect with Starr Website: Starr Franklin | OneCommunity.realestate Facebook: Starr M Franklin, Real Estate Broker | Hickory NC About Leigh Brown Leigh Brown is a keynote speaker and leadership expert who helps organizations navigate growth, conflict, and change with clarity and courage. Her message resonates with leaders facing real-world pressure—whether that's housing challenges, organizational friction, or cultural shifts. Her latest book, Next Is Now, equips leaders to stop reacting and start leading with intention. https://amzn.to/48FKenF Bring Leigh to your stage: https://leighbrown.com DM Leigh on Instagram: @LeighThomasBrown

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  Real Talk with Leigh Brown

  Who's Watching Your Money? | The Real Estate Costs & Risks Consumers Need to Know

  Sep 17, 202642 min

  Buying a home involves more than the price of the house. Buyers and sellers are navigating transaction fees, increasingly sophisticated real estate scams, changing technology and a housing market where the cost of building enough homes remains a major challenge. This week on From the Rooftops, I'm looking at several real estate headlines that raise an important question: Who is watching the consumer's money? NPR is reporting on so-called real estate "junk fees," including administrative and document-storage fees charged during a transaction. CNN is reporting on two homebuyers who lost $66,000 in a suspected voice-cloning scam, highlighting the growing threat of wire fraud and AI-assisted fraud in real estate transactions. Then there's Airbnb. The short-term rental company has announced a $250 million Housing Accelerator designed to provide last-dollar financing for housing developments that are ready to build but still need capital. Airbnb says the initiative could help unlock more than $5 billion in housing investment over the next decade, alongside efforts involving zoning reform, permitting, building codes and construction technology. For REALTORS®, these conversations matter because consumers rely on us to help them understand the people, processes and costs surrounding one of the largest financial transactions of their lives. How do we help consumers recognize questionable fees? What happens when AI makes real estate fraud harder to detect? And what should we make of Airbnb investing directly in housing construction? Join me Thursday, September 17 at 9:00 AM ET for From the Rooftops. Bring your questions and tell me what you're seeing in your market. Leigh Brown is a REALTOR®, national speaker, author and real estate industry leader who helps real estate professionals understand the issues shaping their business, their communities and the consumers they serve. Book Leigh to speak: https://www.leighbrown.com/speaker?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=remainder-lf&utm_content=4yS6g4qIG08 More from Leigh: https://LeighBrown.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=remainder-lf&utm_content=4yS6g4qIG08

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  Real Talk with Leigh Brown

  Is Real Estate Changing Under Our Feet? | Housing Headlines REALTORS® Need to Watch

  Sep 11, 202641 min

  The real estate business is changing in ways that affect how consumers find homes, how borrowers qualify for mortgages, and how property owners understand their rights. This week on From the Rooftops, I'm digging into several housing and real estate headlines that REALTORS® should be watching closely. One conversation centers on the MLS and the growing use of private or delayed listings. As brokerages experiment with different ways of marketing homes, buyers may need to understand which properties they can actually see and whether the agent or brokerage they choose affects their access to available inventory. For REALTORS®, that brings us right back to transparency, cooperation and our responsibility to the consumer. There's also a significant development in mortgage lending. FHFA has approved VantageScore 4.0 for lenders originating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages, giving us another reason to pay attention to how changes in credit scoring could affect future homebuyers. Then there's property ownership itself. More than 2,600 landlords are reportedly slated for compensation related to losses stemming from a COVID-era eviction freeze. The legal fight raises a larger question about property rights and what happens when public policy restricts an owner's ability to use private property. And Washington is talking about housing, technology and affordability. One idea being discussed is whether greater digitization could help address some of the friction and expense involved in buying a home. These stories touch different corners of real estate, but every one of them matters to professionals who advise consumers about buying, selling and owning property. What changes when the systems underneath a real estate transaction begin changing too? Join me Thursday, September 10 at 9:00 AM ET for From the Rooftops. Bring your questions and tell me what you're seeing in your market. Leigh Brown is a REALTOR®, broker-owner, auctioneer, national keynote speaker, and author whose work helps professionals lead with confidence, communicate with purpose, and build businesses rooted in trust and relationships. Book Leigh for Your Conference or Event https://www.leighbrown.com/speaker ️ Watch Real Talk with Leigh Brown and From the Rooftops https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-9nEf0QTnKTBSf9lF5n5dbbHSK-65KWd Learn more https://LeighBrown.com

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