Last week’s Fed meeting was largely a non-event for markets, but there was notable news on the horizon: President Trump announced that Kevin Warsh will be nominated as the next Fed Chair this May.
Warsh brings a deep and interesting résumé. He’s a New York native, Stanford and Harvard educated, with early experience at Morgan Stanley before serving in the Bush administration. At just 35, he became the youngest member of the Federal Reserve Board, playing a role during the 2008 financial crisis. On a personal note, he’s married to Jane Lauder of the Estée Lauder family. More importantly, Warsh has a reputation for being highly data-driven and intellectually rigorous—particularly vocal in questioning the reliability of certain economic inputs, including recurring flaws in BLS jobs data. He’s also been an advocate for more decisive action, with expectations pointing toward two 0.25% rate cuts in 2026. Much of the criticism of Chair Powell centered on being slow to act and inadvertently contributing to boom-bust cycles. It’s an extraordinarily difficult job, but there’s cautious optimism that Warsh could bring clarity and discipline at a critical time.
Closer to home, Atlanta made national real estate headlines this week—and not for reasons we’d prefer. Residential contract terminations hit a 10-year high in December, with metro Atlanta leading the country at over a 22% termination rate.
On one hand, increased activity is healthy. On the other, elevated terminations benefit no one: buyers end up discouraged, sellers frustrated, and the industry absorbs an enormous amount of work without productive outcomes. From my seat, I wanted to share a few observations.
Setting expectations early is critical.
This includes pre-listing or pre-purchase inspections, encouraging sellers to address known issues upfront, and—just as importantly—preparing buyers to understand that an inspection report is a decision-making framework, not gospel. Many items read far more alarming on paper than they are in reality. When buyers understand cost relative to the size of the deal, anxiety often subsides. The agents who consistently keep transactions together tend to approach these moments calmly, drawing on experience and prior investigation rather than reacting emotionally.
Working with the right inspectors matters.
A strong inspector doesn’t just identify issues—they provide context. Over the years, I’ve encountered inspectors who unintentionally derail nearly every deal by failing to distinguish between what’s critical, what’s typical for a home of that age, and what’s entirely reasonable to expect. Interestingly, their reports are often no more thorough—just less balanced. Perspective is everything.
Focus on what truly matters.
How many homes did it take to get here? How many offers were written? Does starting over genuinely improve the outcome—or simply reset the clock? Often, walking away feels emotionally justified in the moment but may not be the most rational or beneficial decision.
Use every tool available.
This is where having the right partners makes a meaningful difference. Whether it’s a buy-before-you-sell strategy, asset liquidity solutions, renovation or construction financing, or simple repair escrows for manageable issues, there are often practical paths forward. When these options are presented clearly and calmly, problems that initially feel overwhelming tend to shrink quickly.
The very best agents I see approach these conversations with a plan—anticipating objections, outlining alternatives, and bringing trusted partners into the discussion early. When clients feel that solutions are routine rather than reactive, confidence returns and transactions move forward.
Real estate will always be emotional, especially at the luxury level. Our job is to ensure that emotion doesn’t cloud sound financial judgment or long-term outcomes. When we work collaboratively and lead with clarity, we give our clients the best chance to make smart, confident decisions.
Working as a team, that’s always the goal.