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Buy Now or Cry Later + The Internet Is Ruining Real Estate

Everybody keeps asking the same question:
“Should I wait?”

Wait for rates.
Wait for prices.
Wait for the market to crash like it’s a Netflix series with another season coming.

In Podcast Episode #22 of Real Estate UnRaked, host Eric Rakers and the team pull the curtain back on why waiting is usually the most expensive real estate decision people make — and how the internet is actively ruining buyers’ and sellers’ understanding of how real estate actually works.

This episode tackles two of the biggest problems in today’s housing market:

1️⃣ Buy Now or Cry Later

Waiting feels smart… until you do the math.

In this segment, we break down:
• Why trying to “time the market” almost always backfires
• How waiting costs you equity, appreciation, leverage, and time
• Why rent is undefeated — and keeps rising whether you wait or not
• Why real estate is not a stock and not day trading
• How buyers who waited over the last three years are often worse off today

Waiting feels safe in the moment — but expensive in hindsight.

2️⃣ Builders, Incentives & Missed Windows

Right now, builders are offering:
• Rate buydowns
• Closing cost incentives
• Flex cash
• Free upgrades

And buyers are still hesitating.

This episode explains:
• Why builder incentives are temporary windows, not permanent perks
• How buyers miss deals by assuming something better is always coming
• Why incentives disappear fast — and people act shocked afterward
• How hesitation kills leverage in negotiations

You don’t wait for a sale when it’s already on sale.

3️⃣ The Internet Is Ruining Real Estate

Zillow made everyone a fake appraiser.
TikTok made everyone a fake expert.
YouTube made everyone confident — and wrong.

We get real about:
• Why viral real estate advice is dangerous
• How national headlines don’t reflect your local market
• Why people trust strangers online over real professionals
• How fear-based content spreads faster than facts
• Why “a guy in a hoodie in his car” isn’t a housing expert

The internet doesn’t know:
• Your local market
• Your payment
• Your goals
• Your risk tolerance

It just knows how to sell fear with good lighting.

4️⃣ The Reality Check

Real estate is:
✔ Local
✔ Personal
✔

Support the show

That’s it for this episode of Real Estate UnRaked, where we take the mystery—and sometimes the madness—out of today’s housing market.

If you enjoyed the show, follow and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube—and don’t forget to leave us a review. Your feedback helps more people across Northeast Florida discover the truth behind real-estate headlines.

For more tips, insights, and community spotlights, connect with The Rakers Home Group on:
📱 Facebook & Instagram: @RakersHomeGroup

🌐 Website: rakershomegroup.com

Call us at:

Eric Rakers (904) 386-5589

Dane Coussens (904) 838-8275

Bridget Hodges (847) 848-8622

Garrett Allen (904) 860-0415

Dawn Marie Hughes (904) 501-9929

Got a question, story, or topic you’d like us to cover next? Drop us a message—we’d love to feature your ideas in a future episode.

And remember… whether you’re buying, selling, or just exploring, get the Home Team Advantage with The Rakers Home Group.