#property-forecast

#property-forecast

I never expected to own a home. I wasn't born into generational wealth. I grew up poor. There was-and is-no big family inheritance coming my way. Not property. Not cash. Not stocks or bonds or whatever financial instrument one might trade or sell or leverage to join the landed class.

Steve Murray, co-founder of RealTrends Consulting, stated that anyone claiming privately owned independent brokerages cannot compete is misinformed. The data indicates otherwise, showing their resilience and success.

One of the biggest takeaways is that from a national perspective, the largest investors account for a really small proportion of single-family home purchases and that share has decreased in recent years. So the ban is going to have less of a bite now than it would have had it been enacted a few years ago. It is attacking a trend that is already decreasing as opposed to one that is becoming increasingly part of the market.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, residential revenue was up 8% annually to $428 million, mortgage revenue rose 39% on a yearly basis to $57 million and the rentals sector recorded a 45% year-over-year increase in revenue. For the full year 2025, the residential sector generated $1.704 billion in revenue, up 7% annually, while the mortgage operation generated $199 million in revenue, up 37% compared to the year prior.

Our top KW-affiliated agents tell me continually that real estate has always been a relationship business. What's changed is where those relationships are formed, nurtured and reinforced. Today, social media is one of the most powerful relationship platforms for building and sustaining relationships in real estate. But despite constant platform changes, algorithm updates and new tools, the agents and businesses seeing real growth aren't chasing shortcuts. They're building trust through each connection, which leads to scale.

In December, Seattle dazzled with an active listing count of 1,566, showcasing an impressive 27.8% surge compared to the same month last year. This was more than double the national growth rate of 12.1%. The number of newly listed homes in Seattle edged up by 0.7% year-over-year, bucking the national decline of 1.8%. This significant rise in inventory unveiled a more balanced market, providing buyers with an enticing array of home selections.