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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.

Send us a text

Welcome back to Real Estate UnRaked, the bold, funny, and brutally honest real estate podcast where we rake through the hype and get to what actually matters.

In Episode 21, host Eric Rakers and the Real Estate UnRaked crew tackle one of the biggest mistakes families make when moving to Northeast Florida:

Thinking “Florida life” automatically means “beach life.”

The truth?
The best places for families to live, grow, and thrive in Northeast Florida are often nowhere near the shoreline. In this episode, we go beyond the beach dream to spotlight the real family hotspots—communities built for real life, not Instagram.

🌴 Segment One: The Problem With the Beach Dream

We break down why the beach fantasy often crashes into reality:

• High insurance and flood risks
• Traffic, tourism, and noise
• Smaller homes for higher prices
• Lifestyle trade-offs families don’t expect

Most families quickly realize what really matters:
Schools. Space. Safety. Community. Value.

🏡 Segment Two: Hidden Family Hotspots of Northeast Florida

We reveal the communities where families actually thrive:

• Fleming Island – Strong schools, sports, community life, and low chaos
• Green Cove Springs – Space, value, growth potential, and smart long-term investment
• Clay County (Oakleaf, Eagle Landing, etc.) – Master-planned neighborhoods, parks, pools, and real community energy
• St. Johns County (beyond just Nocatee & Bartram) – Shearwater, Rivertown, SilverLeaf pockets with true lifestyle design
• Nassau County & Northside Jacksonville – Quiet, family-friendly, affordable, and growing

These aren’t flashy online—but they make real life better.

🤖 Segment Three: How AI Makes This Way Smarter

We show how modern real estate uses AI and smart tech to help families:

• Match lifestyle psychology to neighborhoods
• Analyze school trends and community growth
• Predict negotiation strength from listing language
• Compare insurance and risk profiles
• Identify future-value areas before they explode

This isn’t “find me a 3-bedroom house.”
This is “find me a life that fits.”

Instead of guessing, stressing, and hoping—you move with clarity, confidence, and strategy.

🏁 Final Takeaway

If you’re moving to Northeast Florida—or making a smarter move inside it—don’t let hype, hope, or highlight reels pick your zip code.

Pic

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.

Send us a text

The real estate market in 2026 is not crashing—and it’s not exploding either. It’s reshuffling.
In Podcast Episode 20 of Real Estate UnRaked, Eric Rakers and the team break down what’s REALLY happening in housing and why the smartest buyers—not the richest—will dominate this market.

If you’re tired of clickbait headlines screaming “CRASH!” or “BOOM!” this episode brings clarity, strategy, and real-world guidance—especially for Northeast Florida buyers and sellers.

You’ll learn:

• Why 2026 is a market reshuffle—not a crash
• How buyer behavior has changed—and why that’s healthy
• Why sellers stuck in 2022 pricing are getting left behind
• The truth about inventory and what “more options” really means
• Why Northeast Florida is still a magnet for growth
• What defines a “Power Buyer” in 2026
• Why preparation beats money
• How strong terms beat desperate high offers
• Why education is the real buying superpower
• How Florida buyers can win with strategy, not stress

This episode is for:

✔ First-time buyers
✔ Move-up buyers
✔ Sellers thinking about listing in 2026
✔ Anyone confused by online market noise
✔ People who want truth, not hype

If you’re buying, selling, or just trying to understand the housing market in 2026—this episode gives you clarity, confidence, and a real strategy.

No fear-mongering.
No clickbait.
No fake experts.

Just real talk, real strategy, and real estate… UnRaked.

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

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.