A Smarter Way to Sell: The New DIY Alternative to FSBO
The Real Estate Education Podcast
Release Date: 06/18/2025
The Real Estate Education Podcast
In this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Erin Spradlin and James Carlson start with a deep dive into "canon events"—those formative moments that shape us—before tackling two controversial takes: why skipping deposits in midterm rentals is dangerous, and why young buyers using family money isn't something to be ashamed of. They get real about wealth transparency, the evolution of rental platforms, and why some trends in real estate are worth pushing back against. 🏠 Segment 1 – The Deposit Disaster: Why "Worry-Free" Waivers Are Anything But Erin breaks down...
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In this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Erin Spradlin and James Carlson kick off with a fun "propaganda we're not falling for" segment before diving into serious territory: why young buyers are ditching traditional real estate professionals for YouTube and AI, and how housing affordability is literally reshaping America's future families. They explore the trust crisis in real estate, the rise of digital education, and the sobering connection between homeownership dreams and family planning decisions. 📱 Segment 1 – The Real Estate Trust Crisis: Why Gen Z Chooses YouTube Over...
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AirDNA's 2025 Mid-Year Report: Why Market Predictions Come With a Big Asterisk. On this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Erin and James dive into AirDNA's mid-year STR market report, which shows steady recovery from the 2023 Airbnb bust with occupancy rates projected to hit just below 56% in 2026—above pre-pandemic averages. While the data suggests continued balance between supply and demand, the hosts emphasize the report's major caveat: unprecedented policy uncertainty at the national level makes these projections far less reliable than in previous years. The conversation...
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On this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Erin and James break down the return of 100% bonus depreciation for short-term rental investors, now made permanent under the new tax bill. They explain how this powerful tax strategy—often called the "STR loophole"—allows qualifying investors to accelerate depreciation deductions and offset their W2 income, potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars annually. Using real-world examples, they walk through the three key steps to implement this strategy and discuss why it's exclusive to STRs versus traditional long-term rentals. The...
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On this special episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Erin and James celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary by exploring the surprising parallels between successful relationships and smart real estate investing. Drawing from their decade of marriage and years of property investment experience, they break down six key principles that govern both domains: from the critical importance of communication and goal alignment to understanding when battles are worth fighting and why daily consistency trumps grand gestures. The hosts share candid insights about their own relationship...
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Is It a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market? How to Evaluate Your Midterm Rental City On this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Aaron and James dig into one of the most common questions in real estate: is it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market? The answer—like most things in real estate—is more nuanced than you think. Using up-to-date data from Denver and insights from local lender Lonnie Gleisner, we break down the current housing market into three sub-markets: condos, townhomes, and detached single-family homes—and explain why your answer will depend on your...
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In this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, we dig into the hidden power of the MLS (Multiple Listing Service)—and why skipping it might be the most expensive mistake a seller can make. James shares a revealing case study comparing two similar homes in Colorado, each using a very different sales strategy. The results highlight what truly moves a property—and what doesn’t. We also analyze Redfin’s latest report on the decline of second home purchases. Are high mortgage rates and soft rental markets killing the dream of vacation homes? Or is something else happening...
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Airbnb Boom or Bust, Midterm Market Shifts & What a Recession Really Means for Homebuyers In this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Erin and James dive into short-term rental trends, the surprising psychology of recession-era homebuyers, and why your lifestyle (not the market) might be the smartest guide for when to buy. They also open with a sharp cultural take on the Titan sub implosion documentaries—and how blind trust in "experts" can lead to catastrophic outcomes in both deep-sea exploration and real estate investing. 🏚 Segment 1 – Airbnb: Boom, Bust, or Just Plain...
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Six Months in Mexico, Flat-Fee Listings, and What Our Clients Are Teaching Us About the 2025 Real Estate Market In this episode of The Real Estate Education Podcast, we’re covering three major topics—from expat life to evolving real estate models to real-time client case studies—all focused on helping you make smarter moves in today’s U.S. housing market. Segment 1 – Six Months Living in Mexico: What We’ve Learned Thinking of a life change? Whether you're moving cities or countries, this honest reflection on six months of living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico covers what...
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What U.S. Cities Are Growing Fastest—and Why Tiny Towns May Be the Smartest Investment in 2025 In this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, we explore the fastest and slowest growing cities in the Denver metro area—and zoom out to a national trend reshaping American real estate: the rise of tiny towns. These are U.S. markets with fewer than 25,000 housing units, and they’ve seen surprising population growth since the pandemic. But are these “Zoomtowns” still gaining momentum—or is the trend reversing? Segment 1 – The Rise (and Plateau?) of Tiny...
info_outlineSix Months in Mexico, Flat-Fee Listings, and What Our Clients Are Teaching Us About the 2025 Real Estate Market
In this episode of The Real Estate Education Podcast, we’re covering three major topics—from expat life to evolving real estate models to real-time client case studies—all focused on helping you make smarter moves in today’s U.S. housing market.
Segment 1 – Six Months Living in Mexico: What We’ve Learned
Thinking of a life change? Whether you're moving cities or countries, this honest reflection on six months of living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico covers what it’s really like to leave the U.S. in midlife. We discuss cost of living, healthcare, infrastructure, culture, and how this move unexpectedly changed our perspective on homeownership, pace of life, and housing decisions back home.
Segment 2 – Flat-Fee Listings: Can They Save Sellers Thousands?
Flat-fee MLS listings are becoming more attractive in a tight housing market. Erin explains why she’s launching flat-fee services in Colorado, how it works, which properties are a good fit, and what most sellers misunderstand about traditional real estate commissions. If you’re considering selling in 2025, this segment breaks down when not to pay 3% and what really sells a house (hint: it’s not social media).
Segment 3 – Real Client Case Studies: What Buyers and Investors Are Doing Right Now
From midterm rental investors in Missouri, California, and Florida to traditional buyers in Denver and Castle Rock, we’re sharing real strategies and outcomes from current clients. Learn what’s working (and what’s not) in markets across the U.S., including insurance stays, house hacking, FIRE movement buyers, and high-end midterm rental bookings in Portland.
Topics Covered:
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Living abroad vs. U.S. housing stress
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Flat-fee real estate listings explained
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Midterm rental trends in 2025
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How to sell a house without overpaying
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What makes a flat-fee listing successful
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FIRE movement and affordable home strategies
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How real estate technology is changing the agent model
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When full-service agents are still worth it
Search terms optimized in this episode:
real estate podcast 2025, flat fee MLS listing Colorado, midterm rental case study, selling a house without a realtor, moving to Mexico from the U.S., best cities for house hacking, FIRE movement real estate, Colorado housing market update 2025, Portland midterm rental demand, Mexico expat living 2025
Subscribe for real talk, no fluff, and actionable insight from two working real estate pros—who also happen to live in Mexico.
Contact Information: erin@