HouseTalk

The "starter pistol" has fired! In this March 15 episode of House Talk Radio, Jeff Scofield (RE/MAX Plus) and Mike Reed (All County Home Inspections) celebrate a massive milestone: All County reaching an 8.3% market share in the Rochester home inspection market.They dive deep into the data behind the current inventory shortage—where active listings have dropped from 1,000+ pre-pandemic to just 300 today—and what that means for both buyers and sellers as we hit the spring peak.Key Topics Covered:The 8.3% Milestone: How Mike Reed’s data-driven "mad scientist" approach doubled his company's growth goals.Inventory Reality Check: A look at why Monroe County only saw 253 closings in February and why prices remain high.Real Estate Ethics & Fair Housing: Why agents legally cannot answer common questions about "nice neighborhoods" or demographics—and how to use AI (ChatGPT) and crime maps to do your own research safely.Utility Bill Spikes: Discussing the recent doubling of RG&E bills and the long-term impact on home values and energy efficiency (windows, roofs, and insulation).Metal vs. Asphalt Roofs: A guide to when the extra cost of a metal roof is a smart design investment.

Rochester's spring market doesn't wait, and neither does this episode.Jeff Scofield, Mike Reed, and John Marchioni are back at WHAM 1180 for the March 1 edition of House Talk Radio, covering the questions Rochester buyers and sellers are asking right now.What we cover:Interest rates and the magic number: Jeff and Mike break down why 6.12% isn't moving the market, what rate actually would, and why the lag between Fed decisions and mortgage rates is longer than most people realizeThe starter pistol moment: Every year in early March, Rochester inventory releases all at once. Jeff has 5 to 6 listings holding for this exact window. What that means for buyersLow mortgage rate trap: Homes bought at $200K at 2.5% are worth $400K in many Rochester neighborhoods today. Jeff and John explain why that $200K equity gain, tax-free on a primary residence, changes the math entirelyCompeting offer rules most agents don't know: In New York, you cannot disclose another buyer's offer price without the seller's written permission. John Marchioni explains what that means, and why fabricating a competing offer to trigger an escalation clause is a felonySellers at open houses: Why Jeff tells every client to not be there. One offhand comment can kill the dealCall in: 222-1180 | Text: (585) 600-5333 House Talk airs Sundays noon to 1pm on News Radio WHAM 1180, Rochester NY.

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