Real Estate Morning Drive

On this episode, if the house feels bigger than your life, you're not alone. We dig into the real reasons so many people are trading square footage for freedom—from hard data on the downsizing wave to deeply personal stories that make the choice make sense. You'll meet Mary, who chose family proximity and safety after losing her husband, and Judy, who discovered that modern assisted livi...

Why do some listings explode with showings while others sit with price cuts? In this episode, we sit down with world-class architectural photographer James Burkett—a pro who’s shot over 10,000 homes—to reveal how preparation, staging, and smart visuals can add tens of thousands of dollars to your sale price. If you’re selling soon (or preparing a listing for a client), this is your complete playbo...

Ever get cornered at a holiday party with the same three questions: How’s the market, when will rates drop, and is a crash coming? We tackle them head-on with real numbers, real talk, and a real-life move at a 7 percent rate to show how life needs can outweigh rate anxiety when the fit is right. We break down why home turnover has fallen to the lowest level in decades, how “hostage mortgages” keep...

What if your everyday spending quietly funded a warm meal, a clean shirt, and a second chance? We open with hard numbers—437 families, 2,140 people fed, 187 volunteers, 164 drivers, and $19,015 in gift cards—then trace how those outcomes happen when a community decides to route its money with intention. We share a clear snapshot of the housing market that cuts through the noise: more than 400 home...

The holidays feel different when generosity has a plan. We're opening the door to St. George's giving season with a behind-the-scenes look at the Basket Brigade—our annual effort to deliver full Thanksgiving dinners to families across the city. This year, demand is surging past records with over 400 nominations, and we're facing a $3,000 funding gap. But we're tackling it the s...

Seven unfinished houses sitting side-by-side reveal the real story behind Washington County's housing market—and where the smartest deals are hiding right now. We break down the "builder wars" reshaping St. George real estate: a tough 1–1.5M middle band where specs sit unsold, surprising strength in luxury homes above 1.5M, and aggressive entry-level competition where national build...

We use the Five D’s—diamonds, diapers, divorce, death, downsizing—to answer the real question behind “Is it a good time?” and show why life events, not headlines, should guide your next move. Rates matter, but strategy, prep, and timing to your needs matter more. • Defining the Five D’s as a decision framework • Why 2022 was the peak and why that’s okay • How seasonality helps and hurts sellers •...

We break down why many St. George short‑term rental owners are exiting, where three‑bedroom townhomes are getting hit, and why some luxury pockets still hold value. We compare peak‑era payment math to today’s rates, outline options to hold, reposition, or sell, and share real comps across subdivisions. • causes of the covid‑era buying frenzy and cheap money • how higher rates reset supported value...

If you’re holding out for a 3 percent mortgage, here’s the wake-up call: that era was a one-off born of massive intervention, and a return would likely explode home prices overnight. We break down how mortgage lending actually works, what investors need to fund loans, and why a healthy housing market probably lives closer to long-run norms. Instead of chasing an illusion, we map out what “slightly...

Buyer demand is rising into fall, and the shift shows up in the contracts we just closed. We open our playbook on 10 real transactions across Southern Utah—from a $1.375M new-build in Tonaquint Cove to a $1.875M modern-farmhouse estate in Hurricane with its own pond, a $385K Cedar City starter, and several mid-range homes shaped by lifestyle, land, and lending. Short-term rentals face a reset. HOA...

Sellers keep hearing it’s a “tough market,” yet homes across St. George are still moving—and the ones that move fastest and highest follow a clear, repeatable process. We open the playbook we’ve built over 2,000 Southern Utah transactions and walk you step-by-step through how to sell for more, in less time, with fewer headaches. We start by flipping the script: think like a buyer to see the gaps t...

We explore the three financial benefits of homeownership that create a $17,261 annual advantage for property owners versus renters. Jeremy and Jesse break down how even in a flat market, homeowners still come out financially ahead. • Home appreciation historically delivers consistent value over 10-year periods, with Utah seeing 60% growth in the past decade • Principal reduction builds equity with...

The real estate market has shifted dramatically, but who's really holding the cards when it comes to buying and selling property? We explore how the term "buyer's market" creates misconceptions about who has the power in real estate transactions. • Challenging the thin-slicing assumption that a "buyer's market" means all sellers are desperate • A client in the $1...

In today's real estate market, everyone is unhappy but each in their own way – creating what's been called the "Anna Karenina housing market." This perspective helps explain why builders are offering incentives, sellers are reluctant to lower prices, and buyers face the double challenge of high rates and high prices. • Monthly payments for buyers are up 60% since 2021 despite v...

Despite widespread perceptions of falling home prices, real estate values in Washington County have remained remarkably stable over the past two years, with data showing the median sales price holding steady or slightly increasing. • The gap between seller expectations and buyer valuations is at a 17-year high • Most homes sell within two weeks of hitting the right price point • After just 45 days...

Jeremy and Jesse ask the burning question on everyone's mind: are we headed for a real estate market crash or recovery? The real estate market is experiencing a tale of two markets, where buyers and sellers are waiting for opposite outcomes. • Buyers and sellers both playing a waiting game for different reasons • Western US currently has 190,000 sellers but only 122,000 buyers • Current marke...

Jeremy Larkin shares insights from his recent wedding and how they parallel the real estate buying and selling process. The real estate market continues to move steadily despite misconceptions that activity has stalled due to higher interest rates and price concerns. • Delisting's are at an all-time high as sellers refuse to accept current market realities • People mistakenly believe no one i...

When it comes to selling your home in today's St. George real estate market, preparation makes all the difference between success and disappointment. With approximately 1,750 listings currently available in Washington County and fewer active buyers than during the pandemic boom, sellers face a fundamental challenge: how to make their property the obvious choice when buyers have so many option...

The real estate market is experiencing a fascinating standoff between buyers and sellers that resembles a high-stakes game of chicken. After 11 years of consistent price appreciation that culminated in the pandemic-fueled buying frenzy, we're witnessing a necessary period of market correction. This isn't a crash – it's simply the market taking a breath after a marathon sprint. What...

The shifting real estate landscape demands new strategies from sellers who might unknowingly be sabotaging their own success. Jesse Poll and Jessica Taggart Marron dive into this timely topic with candid conversation and practical advice for today's market. After seven years of sellers holding nearly all the cards, buyers now have options—and they're using that leverage. Through revealin...

"Are St. George home prices crashing?" It's the question on everyone's mind, and in this enlightening conversation, Jeremy Larkin and professional appraiser Carl Wright deliver the definitive answer backed by hard data and decades of market experience. The short answer? No crash here. Home values in St. George have decreased just 2% year-over-year, a modest adjustment that&apos...

Is the St. George real estate market really slowing down in 2025? The numbers tell a surprisingly different story than what most people believe. The headline revelation from our mid-year analysis: Washington County has seen exactly the same number of home sales this year as last (within just nine transactions). Yet despite this consistent activity, there's an undeniable feeling of market dece...

The delicate dance of relocating in today's housing market presents a unique set of challenges for homeowners. In this eye-opening conversation, Jesse Poll welcomes Chantry Abbott from Guild Mortgage to break down what they've coined "the two home tango" – the often complicated process of selling one home while purchasing another. Drawing from his recent personal experience, Ch...

Are you living in a home with rooms you haven't entered in years? You're not alone. Empty nesters across the country find themselves maintaining spaces they no longer need, from basements that collect dust to second floors they rarely climb. The St. George Real Estate Morning Drive with Jeremy Larkin and Jesse Paul explores what they call "the downsizing dilemma" – should you s...

A fascinating dichotomy exists in today's St. George real estate market where some sellers face bidding wars while others can't get a showing. We explore the crucial strategy of pricing homes correctly to create buyer competition rather than endless price reductions. • Current market data shows only an 18% chance of selling your home in the first month • Almost every home will sell withi...