E54: Valuation Expo, Appraisal Changes, AI in Real Estate, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, Fed Rate Cut Doubts

Mark and Jeff break down key takeaways from the Valuation Expo and explore when appraisals may start looking different. They dive into the current state of artificial intelligence, which they describe as still a "word guesser" but undeniably powerful, and whether this is just the first generation of what's to come. The conversation shifts to new real estate brokerages making waves, the potential evolution of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into a "Great American Mortgage Corporation," and what rising stock prices mean for the market. Plus, they analyze restaurant sales contractions, discretionary spending slowdowns, and a hotter-than-expected PPI report that casts serious doubt on a Fed rate cut next month.