Mayor Sylvester Turner's decision to go against staff recommendations and instead direct millions of city money to a project with ties to his longtime law partner is attracting national scrutiny. City hall reporter Dylan McGuinness and investigative reporter Mike Morris talk about how the news broke and the potential implications. Connect with Rebecca, Dylan and Mike. READ: Turner fires Houston housing director who accused him of 'charade' bid process to benefit developer Turner orders review of deal at center of 'charade' claims by fired housing director In defense of project at center of allegations, Turner goes on offense against former housing director Harris County DA investigating deal at center of allegations against Turner Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looped In

How money meant for Houston affordable housing led to a high-profile firing and federal scrutiny

Jackie Cooper, the first female president of the Houston Black Real Estate association, has had a lot of doors slammed in her face. That didn’t prevent her from convincing homesellers, homebuilders and even Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to give Black real estate agents in Houston their business. She shares some memories after HBREA created an award in her honor. Connect with Rebecca Schuetz. Read: Houston Black Real Estate Association recognizes members, continues COVID aid   Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jackie Cooper opened doors

Believe it or not, Texas real estate is being shaped by outer space. As billionaires bent on commercializing travel to the heavens base their operations in remote parts of Texas, those areas are seeing a huge influx of employees and investors. Andrea Leinfelder, the Chronicle’s space reporter, joins Looped In to discuss the impact on the local real estate market. Tweet at Rebecca Schuetz and read her real estate reporting at HoustonChronicle.com. Read Andrea's series Battle of the Billionaires: Part 1)Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos' space race is heating up, and Texas gets a front-row seat Part 2)Elon Musk brings exploding rockets and real estate to South Texas. Not everyone is happy. Part 3)How Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin changed the small West Texas town of Van Horn Reporter's Notebook:A squished tarantula and being followed by a Tesla: How we got the story on SpaceX and Blue Origin Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How outer space is reshaping Texas real estate

Right now, there is a fight that could change how commissions work that is winding its way through the court system. In it, the defendant, who thinks that real estate commissions are too high, is pointing to the United Kingdom as an example of how things could work. So we spoke to real estate agents in different countries to see how real estate commissions – and the home selling process -- work in their corner of the world. Connect with Rebecca Schuetz. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How real estate agents are paid in other countries

When asked about the future of real estate -- are we in a home price bubble? will offices fully recover -- real estate economist Jim Gaines is quick to caution that "there isn't an economist in the world that really knows what the heck he's talking about." We’ve never gone through anything like this before, so modeling it is a difficult endeavor. But here is his take on what a recovery may look like for real estate and what normal might look like in the future. READ: Where Texas A&M real estate economist Jim Gaines sees ups - and downs - in the year ahead Connect with Rebecca Schuetz. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educated guesses on the future of home sales, offices and retail

Many neighborhoods throughout Houston, Texas and the United States have shocking language in documents restricting how the land can be used. “None of the lots… shall be used, owned or occupied by any person other than of the Caucasian Race," reads one example, the deed restrictions of Oak Forest. Making it easier to remove racist language from deed restrictions has been one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities. It passed unanimously in the state Senate in a rare display of bipartisan support. But the bill has yet to be voted on in the House, and time is running out. Residents of Oak Forest, a Houston neighborhood working through the labor-intensive process of removing the language, are watching nervously — whether the bill passes will determine how they’ll spend their next two years before the next legislative session has a chance to examine the issue again. Connect with Rebecca Schuetz. READ: 'It's so damn offensive': More Houston neighborhoods push to remove racist deed language Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neighborhoods are pushing to remove racist deed language. They hope the state will make the process easier

Rebecca visits her dad and share news on her refinance. But a lot has changed since she was shopping for a new mortgage. She chats with Frank Nothaft, chief economist for the real estate analytics company CoreLogic, about what is causing rates to go back up and what he thinks the impact will be on affordability, home prices and home sales, then touches base with loan officer Jennifer Hernandez about how things are looking on the ground for mortgage originators. Connect with Rebecca Schuetz. Read the story: Mortgage rates are on the rise. What does that mean for the housing market? Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moving on up: What's going on with mortgage rates?

In the aftermath of Houston's litany of hurricanes, floods and storms, renters are realizing that renter protections in Texas are anemic at best. If the apartment's condition has deteriorated to the point where it impacts physical health or safety and the landlord does not make timely repairs — usually defined as seven days — renters are supposed to be able to move out. But if tenants and landlords disagree on whether a home is livable or whether reasonable repair efforts are being made, tenants find themselves with few practical options. Connect with Rebecca Schuetz. READ: 'It is a disaster': Renters demand repairs after weeks without water 'Stuck in this netherworld': Deadly freeze exposes Texas' renter protections as anemic at best Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You signed a lease. Then a storm damaged your home. Now what?

The commission a buyer's agent earns is in the spotlight because of how they're set up. While the buyer's agent has a fiduciary responsibility to the homebuyer, their commissions is largely set by the homeseller before the property is listed on an agent-to-agent database known as the multiple listing service. Even though this is the setup, buyers' agents are required to work in the homebuyers' best interest, which means they should not steer buyers to one house or another just because of how much they'll be paid. However, phone calls recorded by the brokerage Rex seem to show real estate agents doing just that. Rex credits the calls with a Department of Justice suit against the National Association of Realtors. Jack Ryan, Rex's chief executive, talks about what life is like for a brokerage that decides to circumvent the traditional commission structure by staying off the multiple listing service and what he believes will change as a result of the suit. Connect with Rebecca Schuetz. READ: Houston real estate agents caught on tape steering buyers away from homes with less commission Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet the brokerage that taped those calls and takes credit for starting a DOJ suit

Even as Rebecca interviewed people who had shaved hundreds off their monthly mortgage payments — giving them increased financial security in the midst of a recession — and spoke to coworkers and friends about how the historically low rates had benefited them, she put off doing one of her own. After low mortgage rates won a 2020 Loopie Award for Brightest Glimmer of Hope (Besides the Vaccine), her podcast editor suggested to stop dilly dallying and to document her journey so listeners might learn from her experience. So she did. Connect with Rebecca Schuetz.   Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebecca refinances (or does she?) and avoids the cocktail party trap

Every year, Looped In celebrates by recognizing the best and worst of Houston real estate. In 2020, there was a lot to choose from. The pandemic and the need to socially distance has shaped the way we interact, which has shaped the spaces we interact in. Home sales and renovations boomed, while offices were thrown into uncertainty and hotels and small retailers floundered. Some have closed for good. As Looped In looked back on last year, we asked your thoughts on what stood out. And the people have spoken: Most Controversial Controversy 34 percent: The National Association of Realtor's new social media policy 32 percent: How the attempted Daugherty-Elliman merger panned out 26 percent: Al Hartman's handling of masks in the workplace 8 percent: The proposal to turn Sharpstown into a homeowners' association Buzziest Buzzword 56 percent: Unprecedented 22 percent: WFH 16 percent: Uncertainty 6 percent: De-densification Trendiest Development Trend 48 percent: Home office 27 percent: Plexiglass partitions 16 percent: Touchless (fill in the blank) 9 percent: Swimming pools Saddest Demise 62 percent: Luby's 15 percent: Bernie's Burger Bus 15 percent: Barry's Pizza 4 percent: Morningstar Write ins: Benjy's, Sweet Tomatoes, Wendy's Biggest Work-from-Home Perk 43 percent: Less time commuting 28 percent: More time with pets 16 percent: More time with family 13 percent: Kitchen access for lunch and snacks Brightest Glimmer of Hope (Besides the Vaccine) 49 percent: Low mortgage rates 28 percent: Escapes to nature 11 percent: Empty commercial space repurposed into housing 9 percent: Road trips Write ins: Vacation homes, freedom Connect with Rebecca Schuetz and Nancy Sarnoff.  Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And the Loopies for 2020 go to...

Houston real estate agents have been recorded saying they will not show certain homes to their clients — even though the houses meet all the buyers’ desires. This is one of the conversations. Read the story: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/houston-real-estate-agents-less-commission-records-15857087.php  REX: And you don’t think they’d compensate you after everything you’ve done for them? I mean, if you’re working so much for them. Agent: Not as far as what my compensation should be, no. I wouldn’t even feel comfortable asking them for that. And I know it’s not you. Unless you’re the owner of this company. The real estate game is changing. And I’m not -- I mean, it’s putting away my profession. And I’m not in favor of it. So I can’t help you to sell something that’s wiping out my profession. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I’m not even going to show it to them, to be honest with you.”

Houston real estate agents have been recorded saying they will not show certain homes to their clients — even though the houses meet all the buyers’ desires. This is one of the conversations. Read the story: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/houston-real-estate-agents-less-commission-records-15857087.php REX: How our properties work is we list our properties at 2 percent. And we don’t use the MLS so how that works is our sellers are not obligated to pay a buy-side commission. However, we do want you guys to get paid, so how you do that is place your commission on top of the offer price, and you’d get that from your buyer, so it’d be a discussion between you and the buyer on compensation. Agent: Okay, well, I’m not doing that. Thank you. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I’m not doing that.”

Houston real estate agents have been recorded saying they will not show certain homes to their clients — even though the houses meet all the buyers’ desires. This is one of the conversations. Read the story: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/houston-real-estate-agents-less-commission-records-15857087.php Agent: So if I were to bring you a client to purchase this property, do you guys pay me the three percent commission, or how does that work?  REX: That’s a good question. So the seller does not pay a fee -- or not pay a commission to neither the listing agent nor the buyer side agent. So if your client comes to the home and says they like the home, most agents will either have their client place the commission on top of the offering on the home, offer price on the home, or -- Agent: Yeah, that’s not going to work. Okay. Thank you. We can stop right there. Because I know they’re not going to do that. I know they’re capped at a certain amount, so I know they’re not going to want to pay me my commission. And I’m going to bring you a buyer and you’re going to get the property sold and you don’t even pay a commission. So that’s just not how I operate. I really do appreciate your time though, have a good day sir. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“We can stop right there.”

Looped In host Nancy Sarnoff packs up her bags and moves to Canada, with a detour down memory lane. Connect with Rebecca Schuetz and Nancy Sarnoff.   Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nancy has some news, eh?

LATEST EPISODE — Episode 95: Why Mattress Firm blanketed the market — From urban renewal to suburban sprawl, Houston’s real estate market is going through one of its most dynamic times in decades. Join real estate and development reporter Nancy Sarnoff as she meets the city’s developers, deal makers and dreamers and dishes with colleagues on all things Houston real estate.

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Looped In

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