I know you know I have a real passion for psychological studies, so here’s another one I think you’ll find interesting—and surprisingly relevant to real estate.

Have you ever been in a situation where a group of people confidently gave the wrong answer—and even though you knew it was wrong, you still found yourself going along with it?

That’s exactly what happened in a famous experiment from the 1950s by psychologist Solomon Asch.

The Asch Conformity Experiment
In this study, participants were asked to complete a simple task—match line lengths. But here’s the twist: the other people in the room were in on the experiment. And they all intentionally gave the wrong answer.

The result?
Most participants went along with the group—even when the answer was clearly wrong.

Why? Because social proof is powerful. When we’re unsure, we tend to follow the crowd.

So What Does This Have to Do with Real Estate?
A lot, actually.

A home with multiple offers feels more valuable—even if the offers aren’t that strong.

A crowded open house creates urgency, even if the home isn’t the best fit.

Sellers want to price like their neighbors, even if their property is different.

This isn’t about manipulation—it’s about awareness.
Group behavior can influence our decisions more than we realize. The key is recognizing when that’s happening and staying grounded in your goals, not someone else’s momentum.

Whether you’re buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on the market, it pays to understand the psychology at play.

Want to see the original experiment in action?
👉 Click here to watch the Asch Conformity Study

—

Want help cutting through the noise and making a strategy based on your goals? I’m always here to walk you through it.

Before I got into real estate, I studied psychology. I’ve always been fascinated by why people make the decisions they do—and to this day, those insights still play a big role in how I help my clients.

One of my favorite psychological concepts is something called the Endowment Effect.

Here’s the short version:

In a well-known study, participants were given a coffee mug to keep. Just minutes after owning it, they started valuing the mug almost twice as much as those who didn’t receive one. Nothing had changed about the mug—it was the ownership that made it feel more valuable.

Now think about what that means for selling a home.

We live in our homes. We raise kids, host holidays, patch walls, and paint cabinets. We pour in our time, our energy, and our memories. So naturally—it feels priceless.

But buyers? They’re coming in with fresh eyes. No emotional connection. Just numbers, features, and comparisons.

That’s why pricing a home isn’t just about the market—it’s about mindset. I help my sellers step back from the emotional lens so they can price smart, position their home the right way, and create a strategy that gets results.

If you’re thinking about making a move, I’d love to walk you through what that looks like.

Because selling your home isn’t just about what it’s worth to you. It’s about helping the next buyer see the value too.
The past few weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster. Rates climbed back over 7 percent and now they’re sitting just under that, around 6.87 percent according to Mortgage News Daily.

It sounds small, but this one habit has had a massive impact on how I show up for my business, my family, my training, and myself. The idea came from a book called Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell. And as someone who thrives on structure and discipline, it clicked right away.

Here is how it works for me.

Every night at 8PM, my phone goes off. That timer is not for sleep it is my cue to wind down and transition with intention. I use that hour between 8 and 9PM to unplug, reflect, stretch, pray, read, or just sit in stillness. No screens. No scrolling. No distractions.

Why?

Because I realized the way I ended my day was sabotaging the next one.

Back when I would stay up watching Jiu Jitsu clips or scrolling social media, I convinced myself it was relaxing. But I was really just exhausted and escaping. That kind of burnout stacks up fast. My mornings felt heavy. My brain was foggy. And I was showing up reactive instead of ready.

Since I started honoring that 8PM boundary, everything shifted. I wake up at 4:45AM feeling focused, energized, and in control. My business feels sharper. My time with my family feels more present. And I feel like I am leading from a place of clarity, not chaos.

Here is the truth

discipline does not start in the morning. It starts the night before.

And for me, that 8PM timer became a meeting with my future self. A signal to protect my time, my energy, and my peace. Some nights I slip, but I always feel the difference. The next day feels heavier, more rushed, and more reactive.

So here is my challenge to you. Try it tonight.

Pick a timer one hour before your ideal bedtime. Protect that hour like a VIP meeting. Unplug. Breathe. Reflect. Stretch. Journal. Whatever helps you slow down with purpose.

Try it for seven days and ask yourself do I feel more focused in the morning? More present during the day? Less drained by the end of it?

This is one of the tiniest habits I have ever added, but also one of the most powerful.

If this message speaks to you, reply back or tag me on Instagram. I would love to hear how your evening routine evolves.

We are all building towards something meaningful, and it starts with being intentional especially when no one is watching.

Much love, John Lee

I wanted to give you a quick real talk breakdown of what’s happening in the market right now, especially with mortgage rates moving around this month.

The past few weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster. Rates climbed back over 7 percent and now they’re sitting just under that, around 6.87 percent according to Mortgage News Daily.

It sounds small, but this one habit has had a massive impact on how I show up for my business, my family, my training, and myself. The idea came from a book called Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell. And as someone who thrives on structure and discipline, it clicked right away.

Here is how it works for me.

Every night at 8PM, my phone goes off. That timer is not for sleep it is my cue to wind down and transition with intention. I use that hour between 8 and 9PM to unplug, reflect, stretch, pray, read, or just sit in stillness. No screens. No scrolling. No distractions.

Why?

Because I realized the way I ended my day was sabotaging the next one.

Back when I would stay up watching Jiu Jitsu clips or scrolling social media, I convinced myself it was relaxing. But I was really just exhausted and escaping. That kind of burnout stacks up fast. My mornings felt heavy. My brain was foggy. And I was showing up reactive instead of ready.

Since I started honoring that 8PM boundary, everything shifted. I wake up at 4:45AM feeling focused, energized, and in control. My business feels sharper. My time with my family feels more present. And I feel like I am leading from a place of clarity, not chaos.

Here is the truth

discipline does not start in the morning. It starts the night before.

And for me, that 8PM timer became a meeting with my future self. A signal to protect my time, my energy, and my peace. Some nights I slip, but I always feel the difference. The next day feels heavier, more rushed, and more reactive.

So here is my challenge to you. Try it tonight.

Pick a timer one hour before your ideal bedtime. Protect that hour like a VIP meeting. Unplug. Breathe. Reflect. Stretch. Journal. Whatever helps you slow down with purpose.

Try it for seven days and ask yourself do I feel more focused in the morning? More present during the day? Less drained by the end of it?

This is one of the tiniest habits I have ever added, but also one of the most powerful.

If this message speaks to you, reply back or tag me on Instagram. I would love to hear how your evening routine evolves.

We are all building towards something meaningful, and it starts with being intentional especially when no one is watching.

Much love, John Lee

Most people set alarms to wake up. A few months ago, I started setting mine to go to bed.

It sounds small, but this one habit has had a massive impact on how I show up for my business, my family, my training, and myself. The idea came from a book called Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell. And as someone who thrives on structure and discipline, it clicked right away.

Here is how it works for me.

Every night at 8PM, my phone goes off. That timer is not for sleep it is my cue to wind down and transition with intention. I use that hour between 8 and 9PM to unplug, reflect, stretch, pray, read, or just sit in stillness. No screens. No scrolling. No distractions.

Why?

Because I realized the way I ended my day was sabotaging the next one.

Back when I would stay up watching Jiu Jitsu clips or scrolling social media, I convinced myself it was relaxing. But I was really just exhausted and escaping. That kind of burnout stacks up fast. My mornings felt heavy. My brain was foggy. And I was showing up reactive instead of ready.

Since I started honoring that 8PM boundary, everything shifted. I wake up at 4:45AM feeling focused, energized, and in control. My business feels sharper. My time with my family feels more present. And I feel like I am leading from a place of clarity, not chaos.

Here is the truth

discipline does not start in the morning. It starts the night before.

And for me, that 8PM timer became a meeting with my future self. A signal to protect my time, my energy, and my peace. Some nights I slip, but I always feel the difference. The next day feels heavier, more rushed, and more reactive.

So here is my challenge to you. Try it tonight.

Pick a timer one hour before your ideal bedtime. Protect that hour like a VIP meeting. Unplug. Breathe. Reflect. Stretch. Journal. Whatever helps you slow down with purpose.

Try it for seven days and ask yourself do I feel more focused in the morning? More present during the day? Less drained by the end of it?

This is one of the tiniest habits I have ever added, but also one of the most powerful.

If this message speaks to you, reply back or tag me on Instagram. I would love to hear how your evening routine evolves.

We are all building towards something meaningful, and it starts with being intentional especially when no one is watching.

Much love, John Lee

There is a lot of noise out there right now about the housing market. If your friends are saying things like “I think prices are about to crash,” you are not the only one hearing it. But here is the truth. Home prices are not crashing. They are moderating. And there is a big difference.

You’ve probably seen the headlines by now—“Recession Incoming!” or “Housing Market Crash Ahead!”

While the chances of a recession are slightly higher this year, that does not automatically mean home prices will fall. In fact, during four of the last six recessions, home values actually went up. The 2008 crash was a rare exception, not the rule.

You have probably seen a wave of headlines about a possible recession and the housing market crashing. I want to offer some clarity so you can make informed decisions, not fearful ones.

While the chances of a recession are slightly higher this year, that does not automatically mean home prices will fall. In fact, during four of the last six recessions, home values actually went up. The 2008 crash was a rare exception, not the rule.

Let’s clear something up real quick: “Wall Street is buying all the homes.” It’s all over social media—but the truth? It’s not backed by data.

Here’s what’s actually happening…

$80K a Year for College?! What That Means for Home Prices

Spring is here, and if you’ve been thinking about buying a home, now is the time to expand your options and take advantage of some great opportunities in today’s market. Most buyers don’t realize this, but brand-new homes now make up nearly a third of all available inventory—the highest share in years. Builders are offering incentives, price reductions, and better financing options to move their inventory, which could be a game-changer for you.