Hey everyone, Shawn the Realtor Guy from Portland here. If you’ve been trying to buy or sell a house lately, you’ve probably noticed the same thing I have: the information out there is everywhere, and most of it feels… off. High prices, sky-high mortgage rates, and a constant barrage of “rent forever” or “the crash is coming” takes. Today I want to break down exactly why real estate content has gotten so confusing, what’s really driving it, and—most importantly—where the real opportunities are for regular home buyers and home sellers right now.
1. Real Estate Has Become a Zero-Sum Game
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: a lot of the loudest voices in real estate (house flippers, wholesalers, institutional investors, and even small “wannabe” investors) share information that benefits them… which often means it hurts everyday buyers and sellers.
Before the internet, if someone had a killer strategy to make big money in real estate, you had to buy their $97 book, order the cassette tapes, or fly to their weekend seminar. Information moved slowly. Now? Open YouTube or TikTok and you’ll find thousands of videos teaching people how to flip houses, wholesale, or buy rental portfolios with little money down. The second someone learns the system, they immediately start teaching it to others. The result? The market gets flooded with competition for the same deals. When investors win big, regular families often lose out on affordability. It’s zero-sum.
Investors can still buy because many pay cash or use private money that isn’t tied to today’s mortgage rates. Meanwhile, normal home buyers are stuck with 6% rates and record prices. That’s why so many consumers feel squeezed.
2. 80-90% of What You See Online Is Investor-Centric
Scroll social media and you’ll see it over and over: “Renting is the new American Dream,” “Why buying in this market is stupid,” “Just invest in the S&P 500 instead.” A huge chunk of that content (I’d say close to 80-90%) comes from people who make money when you don’t buy a house—or when you sell yours cheap to them. Some big influencers and even mainstream media outlets are paid (directly or indirectly) to push fear-based narratives that keep regular buyers on the sidelines so investors can scoop up deals. And make sellers think that the market is so bad, they may need to deal with filpper’s offers.
I used to create content for flippers and wholesalers myself. But the more I saw how it affected real families, the less I could do it. My job now is simple: I work every day as a fiduciary for buyers and sellers only. If helping investors means hurting consumers, I’m out.
3. The Wholesaler Debate – Are They Really “Necessary”?
You’ve probably seen the yellow letters and bandit signs: “We buy houses cash, any condition, close fast!”Some wholesalers argue they’re essential because certain homes are too ugly or the seller is in financial distress. My response? Not true.
- Sellers can hire contractors and have repairs paid at closing.
- Buyers can use rehab loans (FHA 203k, Fannie Mae HomeStyle, etc.) to roll repair costs into the mortgage.
- A good, honest Realtor won’t sell your info to wholesalers and will guide you toward real retail buyers who want to pay the market value.
Real example from my own listing in Westland:
A wholesaler offered $550,000. We listed it properly, found a regular family who wanted to move in and raise their kids there, and sold it for close to $685,000. That’s a $135,000 difference for the seller. If you’re not in immediate foreclosure or dire distress, you almost always come out ahead working with a Realtor and retail buyers. (If you are in a true emergency—foreclosure in 60 days, etc.—price it aggressively and you’ll still usually beat the wholesaler’s lowball offer.)
4. Big Opportunity for Home Buyers Right Now
Here’s the good news: the very homes flippers ignore are your golden ticket. Look for houses that have been sitting on the market 60–90+ days. If they are in rough shape and don’t show well. But if the layout and bones are good, these are your opportunities. Instead of paying top dollar for a fully flipped, overpriced house, consider “flipping your own house” — except you get to live in it. Paint, new carpet, minor updates, and you build instant equity. Use a rehab loan so you don’t need all the cash up front. This strategy lets normal families capture the profit that flippers usually take.
Bottom Line – Advice for Buyers & Sellers
For Sellers:
Before you sign with a wholesaler or flipper, talk to 2–3 experienced Realtors first. Tell them you need to sell quickly (1–2 weeks). You’ll be shocked how much more you can net by going the traditional route with basic repairs paid at closing.
For Buyers:
Stop chasing the shiny, fully renovated homes that everyone else is fighting over. Hunt the diamonds in the rough that have been sitting. Be willing to do some work (or use a rehab loan) and you’ll buy better, build equity faster, and actually afford a home in today’s market. The current environment is tough for consumers, but there are still real paths forward—if you know where to look and who to trust. I’ve been helping Portland and Oregon families buy and sell for 18 years, and I’m 100% in the consumer’s corner. No investor agendas here. If you’re thinking about buying or selling in the Portland metro area, reach out anytime. I’d love to help you navigate this market the right way. Call or text me directly: 503-515-4499.
Thanks for reading (or watching the original video). If this helped, drop a like, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe for more straight-talk real estate content that actually puts you first. See you in the next one!
—Shawn The Realtor Guy from Portland
Shawn Realty 