Real Estate Called Out
You've heard the press releases. You've seen the headlines. You've watched the industry smile for the camera and tell you everything is fine.
It's not always fine. And somebody needs to say so.
Real Estate Called Out is the evolution of The Real Estate Replay, reborn with one mission: to tell consumers the truth about what's actually happening in real estate, every single week, without corporate sponsors, without soft-pedaling, and without pretending the PR spin is the whole story.
Hosted by Wendy Gilch, a real estate industry veteran who has spent years watching the same playbook run on the same people, this show exists for buyers, sellers, and anyone who has ever signed something and wondered if they got the full picture. Spoiler: you probably didn't.
Every episode is 20 minutes. One topic. One thing the industry was hoping would float right past you. We dig into the latest news, the mortgage gimmicks, the fine print, and the corporate moves that look great in a headline and tell a very different story underneath it.
No fluff. No favors. No "on the other hand, they make some good points."
The PR machine is loud, but we're louder.
These are my personal opinions, formed after years of watching the real estate industry from the inside. They do not reflect the views of my real jobs, the Consumer Policy Center, or any organization I work with. I wear a lot of hats, this podcast is just where I take them all off."
Episodes
68 episodes
Powerful People in Real Estate With Zero Accountability
Content warning: sexual harassment, assault, sex trafficking, and child exploitation mentioned in this episode.We were going to take the week off. Then our inbox had other plans.This episode is about one thing: powerful peo...
The Pocket Listing Con And Why You Should Just List the D*#& House
Pocket listings. Private exclusives. Coming soon. Off-market. Whatever they're calling it this week, the industry has spent years telling sellers that keeping their home out of public view is somehow for their benefit. In t...
Opendoor's 4.99% Mortgage: A Great Headline. A Very Different Story.
Welcome to Real Estate Called Out, formerly The Real Estate Replay. New name, sharper focus, and zero patience for the corporate spin that passes for real estate news every single week.For our first episode, we're starting with a good on...
Paid Testimonials, Gift Cards & a 3.5 Hour Drive: What Really Happens When You Fight Big Money at the Capitol
What happens when a Silicon Valley company offers homeowners $50 Amazon gift cards to submit favorable testimony to a state legislature, and doesn't disclose it? I watched it happen in real time.In this episode, I'm telling the full stor...
Real Estate Ish That Needs to Stay in 2025
Welcome to 2026! Before we make any resolutions about doing better, let's talk about all the real estate ish that needs to stay in 2025.This episode is your complete guide to everything we're leaving behind: coaches still den...
We Mystery Shopped 281 Real Estate Agents. Here's What They're Really Telling Buyers.
Special Episode!Between July and September 2025, we did something crazy: we pretended to be homebuyers and called 281 real estate agents across 26 cities to see what they're ACTUALLY telling consumers about commissions post-settlement.
The Boogie Man That Protects Your Wallet
In this episode, we sit down with David Friend, who spent over a decade at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from the recovery for the market crash through 2022.Think ...
New Homes, Hidden Problems: Hunterbrook Media Exposes Construction Defects and Mortgage Steering
We're Back! Did you miss us?In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Sam Koppelman, Publisher of Hunterbrook Media, to discuss their groundbreaking investigative work exposing some of the biggest names in real estate.
Fake Faces, Real Rage: The Lead Gen Scam Nobody’s Stopping
Buckle up! This episode is part consumer warning, part investigative rundown, and part Wendy's personal bitch session (you’ve been warned).After tracking more than 30 companies using fake testimonials, undisclosed paid actor...
Follow the Money: The Pocket Listing Power Grab
It’s a solo episode today—just me, a mic, and a whole lot of truth bombs. I was in such a rush to push this out, that I even forgot to add the teaser and closer. In a way, I am doing you a favor and saving you a few minutes (gettin...
Equity Snatchers: The Truth About Home Equity Agreements
Quick cash, no interest, no monthly payments—sounds like a sweet deal, right? Wrong. In this episode of Real Estate REPlay, Wendy Gilch teams up with her no-nonsense lender BFF, Chelle Prunkel, to call BS on the slick marketing behind ...
Ask Away, Homebuyers: If Your Agent Can’t Handle Questions, Find a Better One
What was supposed to be a week off took an unexpected turn after a Reddit post about a buyer asking their real estate agent some simple, reasonable questions left me frustrated—and fired up. Why? Because some agents don’t like being held accoun...
Real Estate’s Great Confusion: Why No One Knows What to Do (and What It Means for You)
In this episode of Real Estate REPlay, we unravel the chaos surrounding the latest commission settlement with special guest Summer Goralik, a real estate compliance consultant and former California Department of Real Estate inve...
2025 Real Estate Crystal Ball: Dual Agency, Pocket Listings, and Dodging Industry Shenanigans
What’s on the horizon for homebuyers and sellers in 2025? Spoiler: It’s a mix of opportunity, challenges, and the same old industry antics. In this casual episode, we’re breaking it all down with the help of Fred Glick, a non-traditional ...
Collateral Damage: How Agents Clinging to the Status Quo in Commissions Hurt Consumers and Ethical Agents
The real estate industry is at a tipping point. On one side, you have agents clinging to old commission practices, refusing to adapt to a changing landscape (Group B Agents). On the other, forward-thinking agents are paving the way for transpar...
Election Aftermath: What’s Next for Real Estate and Consumer Protection?
Unlock the secrets behind the ongoing tug-of-war between the Department of Justice and the National Association of Realtors that could redefine the real estate landscape. Discover why some real estate agents are buzzing with the idea that Donal...
Exposing Appraisal Management Companies: Hidden Costs, Ethical Concerns, and the Call for Reform in Real Estate
Did you know there’s a hidden middleman in many real estate transactions, sometimes taking a bigger cut of your appraisal fee than the appraiser doing the work? In this episode, Wendy Gilch and seasoned appraiser Joshua Tucker reve...
"Free" Refinancing Revealed: Unmasking Mortgage Myths, Scams, and Ethical Dilemmas
Unlock the secrets behind "free" refinancing your mortgage with insights from Chelle Prunkel, an experienced licensed lender. Navigate the murky waters of "no-cost" refinancing and understand the true costs and benefits of various refinancing o...
Consumer Battles: How CFPB Funding and Political Shifts Impact Your Finances
Prepare to uncover the truth about your financial protection and what the future holds for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as we edge closer to the 2024 election. Why does it matter who funds the CFPB, and how could these politi...
Real Estate's Unspoken Rules of Referral Fees and Commission Battles
Ever feel like there's something more to those "free" real estate platforms? We're revealing the truth behind agent referral systems and the hidden costs they bury. In this episode, journey with us as we question the standard commission rates, ...
Data in 10: The other ways iBuyers profit with your personal information
New Data In 10 (or less) episode! Peel back the curtain on real estate's shadowy corners with us, as we expose the truth about industry practices that could be dipping into your pocket without you even blinking an eye. &n...
Part 1: Consumer Alert - The Truth Behind Brokerage Fees and Real Estate Contracts
If you are thinking of buying a home this year, you need to listen to this episode!In light of the many antitrust lawsuits floating through the court system, the messaging now being pushed to agents is to get a buyer broker agreement si...
Tales From The "Deal Killer" Inspector
There is a hidden side of the real estate industry that we like to call the "underbelly." The underbelly is where all the bad stuff is hidden from consumers and rarely discussed. Those that do discuss the "underbelly" are typically...
Will Big Tech replace agents? How they make money, how these lawsuits affect them, and more stuff you should know
The many antitrust lawsuit that have hit the court system recently have created the idea that “big tech “is going to replace real estate agents. But if that’s possible, we need to understand how much they currently make off o...