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Freakonomics Radio

618. Are Realtors Having an Existential Crisis?

17 Jan 2025

Transcription

Full Episode

4.946 - 13.808 Stephen Dubner

Today's episode is about an industry that, like many industries, often talks about how competitive it is and how that competition is good for customers.

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14.428 - 21.65 Kevin Sears

The free market is working, and I think the consumer is benefiting while still receiving professional representation.

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22.21 - 27.331 Stephen Dubner

But if you ask most economists, they have a different view of this industry.

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28.334 - 33.118 Chad Syverson

It's just hard not to say, man, these prices seem way higher than they need to be.

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33.378 - 38.842 Stephen Dubner

This is an industry that most of us interact with rarely. But when you do, the stakes are high.

39.503 - 45.247 Sonia Gilbukh

It's a really important decision financially, emotionally. You need a little bit more hand-holding.

45.747 - 49.51 Stephen Dubner

But is your hand being held or is it being forced?

50.011 - 52.553 Kevin Sears

I take great offense at that characterization.

53.133 - 75.626 Stephen Dubner

Offense noted. But also worth noting, the National Association of Realtors, the NAR, just settled an antitrust lawsuit that requires it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and change the way realtors charge their customers. Today on Freakonomics Radio, we speak with the president of the NAR as well as its chief economist.

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