The U.S. housing market feels impossible to navigate — high prices, rising taxes, low inventory, and mortgage rates that just won’t budge. This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, to cut through the noise and explain what’s really going on.

From the “lock-in effect” keeping homeowners stuck, to why renting may actually be more affordable than buying in many cities, Daryl offers insights grounded in both data and behavioral economics. She also shares practical advice for first-time buyers, discusses the hidden costs of homeownership, and explores how systemic challenges continue to impact Black and Brown communities.

And before she goes, Daryl gives us a sneak peek into her new book Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love and Work — an empowering take on how to use economics to outsmart unfair systems and claim your wins.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Why so many homeowners feel “stuck” with low-rate mortgages

• The growing affordability gap between buying and renting

• How return-to-office mandates are reshaping housing choices

• The hidden costs of owning a home (taxes, insurance, maintenance)

• Programs that can help first-time and minority buyers

• How zoning and local government decisions impact affordability

• Why Black households are seeing declining homeownership rates

• Insights from Daryl’s new book Hate the Game

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