What if the market you keep waiting to return to isn’t coming back, and this is the new normal? The real estate market outlook for 2027 starts with accepting where we are right now.
On this episode of Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered, James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson break out the new studio setup for a three-quarter review of 2026, covering the headlines that shaped the year so far and how agents and brokers should prepare for the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
With roughly 4 million transactions now looking like the floor, Keith makes the case that if your business isn’t built to function at that level, right-sizing it should be your priority for Q4.
They dig into brokerage consolidation, including Compass acquiring Anywhere, Real buying RE/MAX and AGNT buying NextHome, and why mid-sized brokerages are the most at risk.
They also unpack MLS consolidation and what it means for local associations, NAR stepping back from MLS rulemaking, the fight over private listings, new state laws and looming litigation, and how rising oil prices and inflation pushed rates back up after a promising start to the year.
Most importantly, James and Keith remind listeners that the economy that matters most is your personal one. Cut the distractions, focus on what you can control, and go put deals in contract.
Highlights
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why brokerage consolidation likely isn’t finished
- Which brokerages are most at risk in this market
- How MLS consolidation could affect local associations
- Why private listings may be settled through litigation
- What rising rates and recession risk mean for real estate
Keith argues the industry spends too much energy deciding who to blame, whether that’s NAR, the Fed or the market, and too little working on solutions.
On private listings, the hosts expect the result to vary state by state. Some states have already passed laws, others have bills pending, and a new wave of lawsuits is on the horizon.
On the economy, Keith explains how early 2026 momentum stalled when oil prices, inflation and global events pushed rates back up. There is one silver lining. Historically, real estate tends to lead the economy out of recessions, not into them.
Their advice for Q4 and beyond: Right-size your business, look for opportunities to capture market share, tune out the noise, and focus on putting deals in contract.
The industry is evolving. The question is: Will your business evolve with it?
Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered is now exclusively on Inman. Tune in for agent- and team-focused content on Mondays and leadership interviews on Wednesdays each week. Listen on Apple or Spotify.
James Dwiggins is the president of NextHome, Inc. and co-host of Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered.
Keith Robinson is the president of strategy at NextHome, Inc. and co-host of Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered.
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The views and opinions expressed on Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered are those of the hosts and guests in their personal capacities and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of AGNT, Inc., eXp Realty, LLC, NextHome, Inc., or any of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, or directors.
