03.18.25

Written by Chase Majerus

The Future Is Today…

And Yesterdays Problems Are Our Future?

The housing market never sleeps, and neither does the news—so let’s break down what’s making waves this week. AI is selling homes, tariffs are driving up costs, and the U.S. is still millions of houses short, making affordability more of a pipe dream.

Meanwhile, golf pro Pat Perez’s mansion is up for grabs, and we’re busting some of the biggest HELOC myths to help you tap into your home’s potential. Buckle up—it’s time to get smarter, faster, and maybe a little richer.

Sign up to receive our "This Week Today" newsletter.

Today's Agenda:

S1L Home Equity Loan

Use Your Home For The Best Future Gains

A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, lets you borrow against your home’s available equity. Applying for a HELOC with Synergy One Lending is fast and easy. Our application is fast, easy, and all online. If pre-approved, you’ll be instantly presented with your offer options.

Keychain

AI Just Sold $100M in Homes… Are Realtors in Trouble?

A real estate brokerage in Portugal just closed $100 million in sales using an AI agent that never sleeps, forgets details, or takes a lunch break.

Built by Israeli startup eSelf AI, this digital assistant answers questions, filters listings, and even gives virtual tours, making it easier for buyers, especially international ones, to shop for homes without waiting on a human agent’s schedule

With 5,000+ properties in its database, the AI knows every detail, something CEO João Cília says is impossible for a human to match. And it’s not just about convenience, AI agents could seriously cut costs by replacing traditional realtors, at least for the early stages of home shopping. While that might sound like a nightmare for agents, for buyers, it means instant access to property info without the hard sell.

The big question: Is AI just the new Zillow, or is it coming for real estate commissions next?

Read more here

Major Manor

Live Like a LIV Golf Pro

Golf pro Pat Perez is selling his jaw-dropping 9,712-square-foot mansion in Scottsdale, AZ, for $12.75 million—and this place is next-level luxury. Here’s what makes it stand out:

  • Location: Nestled in the private, gated hills of Lost Canyon, offering ultimate serenity and exclusivity
  • Bold Design: Striking modern architecture, with black marble flooring, custom hand-painted walls, and a dramatic backlit staircase
  • Chef’s Dream Kitchen: Black granite, backlit onyx countertops, and an authentic teppanyaki grill for the ultimate cooking experience
  • Luxury Living Spaces: 4 bedrooms, 6 baths, plus a home office, game room, and movie theater for endless entertainment
  • Primary Suite Goals: Cozy gas fireplace, spa-like bath, and two massive walk-in closets that feel like a high-end boutique
  • Garage & Guest House: AC-controlled garage fits up to 8 cars (with lift potential) + a detached guest house for added privacy.
  • Epic Outdoor Setup: Sport court, pizza oven-equipped outdoor kitchen, a resort-style pool, jacuzzi, sunken conversation pit, and desert views that steal the show.
  • Bonus Feature: Perez’s legendary sneaker room (but don’t expect to inherit his Air Jordans)

Read more here or
See the Listing Here

Social Space

Our Top Social Links of the week

Video:
Your HOME could be a secret weapon for CASH – Watch here!

Read:
Compass is in talks to buy Buffett’s real-estate brokerage unit – Read here!

Video:
Worst construction ever… somehow it’s funny – Watch here!

Video:
Worst construction ever… somehow it’s funny – Watch here!

Financial Fitness

Short Financial Fitness Sub Head Here

MYTH#1: A HELOC is just a home equity loan

The Reality: While both A HELOC and a home equity loan use your home’s equity, they work very differently.

  • A home equity loan is a lump sum with a fixed interest rate and monthly payments.
  • A HELOC is a revolving line of credit—you borrow only what you need, when you need it, and only pay interest on the amount used.

Think of it like this: A home equity loan is like a one-time paycheck, while a HELOC is like a credit card with a lower interest rate and way more flexibility.

MYTH#2: A HELOC is complicated and leads to more debt

The Reality: A HELOC is actually one of the most straightforward financial tools available.

  • You get a set credit limit based on your home’s equity, and you can borrow as little or as much as you need.
  • Interest rates are typically much lower than credit cards or personal loans, making it a smarter borrowing option.
  • You have control over repayment—only paying interest on what you use, with the ability to pay down the balance at your own pace.

It’s not about racking up debt—it’s about having financial flexibility. The key? Use it strategically, not impulsively.

MYTH#3: I can’t do much with a HELOC

The Reality: A HELOC isn’t just for emergencies—it’s a tool to build wealth and improve your financial health.

Here’s what you can do with it:

  • Home renovations that boost your property value
  • Debt consolidation to lower high-interest payments
  • Tuition or education expenses for a child or career growth
  • Starting a business with access to flexible capital
  • Investment opportunities when the right deal comes along

A HELOC is what you make of it—it can be a financial safety net or a tool to take your wealth to the next level.

BOTTOM LINE:

A HELOC isn’t just another loan—it’s a powerful financial resource when used wisely. If you have home equity, this tool can give you flexibility, control, and access to low-cost borrowing for the things that matter most. Financial fitness starts with knowing your options—so now that we’ve busted these myths, what’s your next move?

Considering a HELOC? Let’s explore how it fits into your financial game plan.

Thank you for reading! We hope you have a wonderful day! See you next week!

S1 FinFit App

Digital financial assistant at your fingertips

S1 FinFit is a FREE app that provides a roadmap to help you reach your financial and lifestyle goals, no matter how big or small! Free credit monitoring with alerts, set financial goals, create budgets, and keep track of your spending to see where your money is going.

Download the app on the appropriate app store with the links below!

Keychain

Tariffs Could Add $10K to New Home Prices & Builders Aren’t Happy

The National Association of Home Builders says new tariffs could increase material costs for the average new home by $7,500 to $10,000, making housing even less affordable.

Lumber from Canada, drywall from Mexico, and steel and aluminum from China are all getting hit with higher taxes, raising overall construction costs by more than $3 billion if the full 25% tariffs go into effect. Homebuilders like D.R. Horton and K.B. Home are already feeling the pressure, with supply chains shifting, costs rising, and investor confidence shaking. The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF is down 22% since November.

Meanwhile, analysts say border states could take another hit if the government’s deportation plans shrink the construction workforce. While some builders like the deregulation part of government policies, they’re not thrilled about higher costs and supply chain chaos.

Read more here

THE U.S. IS SHORT 3.8 MILLION HOMES

The U.S. housing market needs 3.8 million more homes to meet buyer demand, and at the current pace, builders won’t catch up for at least 7.5 years, according to a Realtor.com report. The U.S. housing market needs 3.8 million more homes to meet buyer demand, and at the current pace, builders won’t catch up for at least 7.5 years, according to a Realtor.com report.

While 2024 marked the first time since 2016 that construction outpaced new household formation, it’s still not nearly enough to fix the housing shortage. A major roadblock? Zoning laws, especially single-family zoning, which restricts the construction of multifamily or affordable homes, despite calls from economists to change the rules.

Some argue that easing restrictions could boost supply and lower costs, while others warn that zoning reforms could have unintended long-term effects on affordability. Either way, with builders still playing catch-up from the 2008 crash, home prices aren’t coming down anytime soon.

Read more here

Sign up to receive the “This Week Today” newsletter every week.

Follow us on social for more quick tips & videos

Video of
the Week

 Learn more here

Recap: BEGIN 1ST PARAGRAPH HERE LINK HERE ENDING 1ST PARAGRAPH HERE

Recap: BEGIN 2ND PARAGRAPH HERE LINK HERE ENDING 2ND PARAGRAPH HERE

Video Image

35 Characters Maximum Here

35 Characters Maximum Here

Lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum 1

Lorem ipsum

  • Lorem ipsum 2
  • Lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum 3

Lorem ipsum

Fixed-Rate
Second Mortgage