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2025: The Year in Blog Posts - Policy/Commentary

We're taking another look back at some of our MB Confidential articles from 2025, this time with a focus on longer-form commentary. 

You see, your blog author here is not just some automaton salesperson, fielding calls and making deals all day.

We’ve also got a little bit of “attitude” about some things. We dig into policy and current events in the real estate industry. And this comes out when we get the chance to write full-blown commentaries.

True story: Once upon a time, we thought being a daily newspaper "opinion" columnist would be a "dream job." (This was long before Twitter, TikTok and podcasting made everyone an opinion machine.)

The year's highlights (click any headline for the whole post):

Searching for Cars Online Sucks. For Homes, It's Better.

... where we consider the threat of a "new world" where home search is broken up all over again, with some listings here, some there, and no rhyme, reason or regulation – exactly like the used-car search experience works now. 

SB 79 Has No Impact in Manhattan Beach

... where our frustration boils over, not about SB 79 (allowing high-rise housing near mass transit stops), but over several flaky claims that this has any relation to our little town.

Realtors Let ChatGPT Write for Them

... where we "bust" local realtors for adopting Artificial Intelligence to create listing copy, and provide the receipts. 

You Should Know if You're Paying Zillow, Relo or Anyone

... where we endorse new moves for transparency in referral fees between real estate agents. 

What If What’s Pictured Isn’t What’s For Sale?

... where we fuss over whether land sales and offerings of badly dated properties, all featuring renderings of gleaming, modern new homes, are misleading, or not. 

Just How Bad is a 50-Year Mortgage?

... where we use graphs and charts to undermine the idea that a proposed longer-term mortgage product offers some kind of enticing deal to lower mortgage payments and enhance "affordability." 

DAM, That’s Better

... where we try to shock you with mild curse words to discuss a very minor change in MLS terminology. 

cash-offer-man-briefcaseTwo Cash Offers, Two Different Outcomes

... where we consider the strange business of real estate "wholesalers," who offer cash for homes, but sometimes renege or adjust their offers once they get sellers under contract. 

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Special Report: 2026 Outlook

Our 2026 Outlook provides indepth analysis of trends ahead for 2026, along with our expectations for prices, mortgage rates, sales, and various submarkets within Manhattan Beach this year. 

 

The report is free and delivered instantly. Just click the button above or follow this link to get the report. Enjoy! 

 

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Listings presented above are supplied via the MLS and are brokered by a variety of agents and firms, not Dave Fratello or Edge Real Estate Agency, unless so stated with the listing. Images and links to properties above lead to a full MLS display of information, including home details, lot size, all photos, and listing broker and agent information and contact information.

Based on information from California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. as of February 8th, 2026 at 2:20pm PST. This information is for your personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties you may be interested in purchasing. Display of MLS data is usually deemed reliable but is NOT guaranteed accurate by the MLS. Buyers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information and should investigate the data themselves or retain appropriate professionals. Information from sources other than the Listing Agent may have been included in the MLS data. Unless otherwise specified in writing, Broker/Agent has not and will not verify any information obtained from other sources. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.