Welcome to the first panel episode of 2026 on the HyperFast Agent Growth Show with Dan Lesniak, joined by James Buckley, Nick Bush, and Karl Svendsen.

This episode is a fast-moving market conversation covering what’s actually worth paying attention to right now — from Google’s move toward home listings in search (and what that could mean for Zillow/portals), to surprising homeowner data (how many homes are owned without a mortgage), to fresh discussion on the mortgage “rate lock-in” narrative and whether it’s really the driver of low transaction volume.

The panel also reacts to a new political headline about restricting institutional investors from buying single-family homes, and closes with an actionable rapid-fire: one thing agents should do in 2026 to improve results.

Topics covered:

• Google “entering the portal war” and how it could impact Zillow
• Consumer behavior vs agent behavior: where the real portal power sits
• How monetization/ad spend and distribution shape the portal landscape
• Stats on homes owned free & clear (no mortgage) and why it matters
• The mortgage rate “lock-in” effect: what’s real vs what’s overstated
• Investors/institutions: how much do they actually move the needle?
• Brokerage ranking data: transaction sides + productivity metrics (PPP)
• Franchise nuance (why certain brokerages don’t show up as one entity)
• Market consolidation talk + merger process commentary
• Rapid-fire: what agents should focus on in 2026

👍 Enjoying the show? Here’s how you can help us grow:

1️⃣ Subscribe so you never miss an episode
2️⃣ Leave a comment or review — it helps more agents find the show
3️⃣ Share this with another agent who needs to hear it

📲 Follow Dan on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedanlesniak
📲 Follow Keri on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekerishull
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@hyperfastagent