The Don Harkins Real Estate Show

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve been trying to make sense of the real estate market lately, you’re not alone. Every week there are new headlines predicting crashes, surges, rate shocks, rent spikes, or “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities. The problem is most of those predictions don’t match what is actually happening on the ground. In this episode, I break down the current Florida housing market using r...

Send us Fan Mail Breaking housing and mortgage news is circulating that could reshape how Americans buy homes, especially here in Florida. In this episode, we dive into the growing rumors that former President Trump may announce major changes to 401(k) rules that could allow buyers to use retirement funds for a downpayment on a home. As a Florida mortgage loan originator, I break down what this co...

Send us Fan Mail As a 15-year industry veteran who's helped thousands of families buy their dream homes, I'm diving DEEP into the latest White House bombshell: 50-year mortgages. Announced just yesterday (November 9, 2025), this could slash your monthly payments – but at what hidden price? I'll break down the REAL math, pros, cons, and why experts are calling it a "complete gam...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Don Harkins Real Estate Show, we dive into the forces shaping Florida’s housing market right now. U-Haul’s mid-year migration data reveals Florida’s continued magnetism and its echoes of the pre-COVID decade. We break down what today’s rapid drop in mortgage rates to 12-month lows means for buyers and why the upcoming Fed meeting could flip that momentum on...

Send us Fan Mail If you want to truly understand what’s happening in the housing and mortgage market — without the noise, hype, or manipulation — this episode is for you. I break down the Top 5 trusted, unbiased data sources every real estate professional, investor, and serious buyer should be watching in 2025: •FHFA – Home Price Index for true price trends nationwide •NAR – Existing Home Sales to...

Send us Fan Mail 🚨 Redfin claims 500,000 more sellers than buyers in the 2025 housing market—but their math doesn’t add up! In this video, we tear apart their flawed methodology, exposing shaky assumptions, biased data, and ignored off-market deals. Discover how this misleading stat could mess with your buying or selling decisions in today’s 7% rate market, and why Redfin might be pushing it for...

Send us Fan Mail Buying and selling a home at the same time? You’re not alone—and you’re not stuck. In this podcast, I break down the 3 most effective strategies to make it happen without stress, panic, or unnecessary cost: ⛓️ Bridge Loan – Buy first, sell later 🏡 List First, Then Buy – Sell first, then shop with confidence 📋 Make an Offer Contingent – Secure your next home while preparing to se...

Send us Fan Mail If Florida axed property taxes tomorrow, what would really happen to housing affordability, commercial cap rates, and the state’s $20-billion revenue stream? In this episode I'll walk you through: Payment-First Reality – why buyers shop by monthly budget, not sticker price, and how wiping out a 1.5 % tax line lets a $500 k home sell for ~$600 k without raising the payment. Ca...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Don Harkins Real Estate Show , we dive into some of the hottest — and most important — real estate topics you need to know right now. First, I break down Florida’s controversial push to abolish the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) — and why this move could spell trouble for homeowners, buyers, and the entire real estate market. Then, we get tactical: I’ll rev...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Don Harkins Real Estate Show , we’re breaking down the wild ride in the mortgage market, where rates just saw their biggest weekly jump in years. But that’s not all—behind the scenes, the battle between big-name brokerages like Compass, eXp, and Zillow is heating up, and it’s starting to affect the way homes are bought and sold. We also dig into a recent HousingWi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dig into the surprising mechanics behind the recent tariff announcements and how they’re strategically pressuring Treasury yields lower—creating a path for the federal government to refinance ballooning debt at more manageable rates. While the stock market reels, bond demand is surging, yields are falling, and mortgage rates are responding in kind. We’ll unpack...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode, Don Harkins exposes a growing trend among national homebuilders: developing new communities on the cheapest—and often most dangerous—land available. With affordability at an all-time low and inventory scarce, desperate buyers are being lured into homes built next to highways, landfills, flood zones, and even former military bombing ranges. We break dow...

Send us Fan Mail Will home prices keep rising? Are mortgage rates finally coming down? And is 2025 the year buyers regain control of the market? In this episode, we break down the key economic trends, interest rate forecasts, and inventory shifts shaping the housing market in the year ahead. Whether you’re a homebuyer, seller, or investor, we’ll help you understand what’s next for real estate —and...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why mortgage rates fluctuate or why different lenders offer different rates for the same loan? In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the secondary mortgage market —the hidden engine behind how mortgages are bought, sold, and priced. We’ll break down: 🎙 How the secondary mortgage market works and why it impacts your interest rate 🎙 Why lender rate sheets...

Send us Fan Mail Homeowners, are you leaving money on the table? If you’re not taking advantage of the Homestead Exemption , you could be paying way more in property taxes than you need to! In this episode, we break down everything you need to know about this powerful tax-saving tool, including: ✅ The history & evolution of the Homestead Exemption 📜 ✅ How homeowners can save up to $50,000 i...

Send us Fan Mail Buying a home feels more expensive than ever, but what if there was a way to lower your mortgage payment and make homeownership more affordable? In this episode of The Don Harkins Real Estate Show , we’re diving into temporary and permanent mortgage buydowns —one of the smartest tools available to help buyers reduce costs in today’s high-rate environment. We’ll break down: ✅ How...

Send us Fan Mail The U.S. housing market is shifting in ways we’ve never seen before! In this episode, we dive into the latest Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Report from the National Association of REALTORS® to uncover the surprising trends shaping real estate today. We’re talking about: ➡️ The historic drop in first-time homebuyers ➡️ Rising mortgage rates and their impact on affordability ➡️...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Don Harkins Real Estate Show , we dive headfirst into one of the most talked-about debates in modern investing: real estate versus Bitcoin. Both asset classes have their advocates, but which one truly stands the test of time when it comes to building sustainable wealth? Join us as we break down 11 key reasons why real estate continues to outshine Bitcoin. Fr...

Send us Fan Mail Are corporations stealing the American Dream of homeownership? In this episode of The Don Harkins Real Estate Show, we uncover how institutional investors like BlackRock, State Street, and others are reshaping the U.S. housing market. Learn how companies like Invitation Homes and Progress Residential are buying up single-family homes, driving up rents, and leaving fewer properties...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Don Harkins Real Estate Show , we dive into the realities of selling your home during the holiday season. Are the holidays really a bad time to sell, or can they offer hidden opportunities for motivated sellers? Join Don as he breaks down the latest market trends, analyzes data from recent years, and uncovers the truths behind common misconceptions. Whether...