FROM THE CALM AGENT DESK

What Happens When You Face the Fear, Not Avoid It

Almost always, it is some kind of fear that holds us back from the life we want to live.

But we don’t call it fear.
We call it timing. Or strategy. Or say the market isn’t right.
We build logic around avoidance, and it sounds reasonable enough to believe.

Here are three fears most agents know well:

• Rejection: You’re about to cold call. Ask for a listing. Make a pitch. But the fear of “no” stops you.

• Cancellation: You’ve poured weeks into a deal. Then financing falls through, or the buyer walks. It feels like you’ve lost more than time.

• Reputation risk: One nasty comment on social media. One bad interaction. Suddenly, you’re questioning your instincts, your tone, your every move.

These fears affect work activities and choices and will hold you back unless you tackle them head-on. If you don’t name them and acknowledge them, they will start running the show.

That’s where fear-setting comes in.
It’s a framework from Tim Ferriss that helps you step out of the loop and into action. It replaces avoidance with acceptance and action.

With this prompt, you can work through the Fear Setting exercise with the help of AI:

Tim Ferriss’ Fear-Setting Technique (Prompt)

Your challenge this week:
Pick one decision you’ve been circling. Use the prompt. Write down your answers.
Then take one small step despite of the fear.

Further reading:
Tim Ferriss on Fear-Setting
Mindful Ambition breakdown

REAL ESTATE NEWS

Inventory Is Back to 2019 Levels. What Does That Mean for 2025?

The national housing inventory is now close to 2019 levels, with active listings up 34% compared to a year ago. That’s a significant shift away from the scarcity of 2021–2023. HousingWire breaks it down:

• More options, more leverage
  Buyers are getting breathing room. Expect less urgency and stronger negotiation positions.

• Longer listing times
  Homes are staying on the market longer. Seller expectations may need recalibration.

• Price pressure from both sides
  National home prices are roughly flat year-over-year. If rates drop, buyers may surge. If not, prices may soften further.

Takeaways for Agents:

1. Equip buyers with options and comparison tools.

2. Prepare sellers for more days on market and price sensitivity.

3. Monitor mortgage rate trends closely—they’ll dictate the second half of the year.

AI UPDATES

Google’s Avalanche on May 22

Google pushed out dozens of new AI tools at I/O 2025. Several are built into platforms you already use and are available now.

Live Tools You Can Use:

• AI Mode in Search: Now live for all U.S. users. Ask layered questions and get synthesized answers. Labs version supports Deep Research and visual queries via camera (Search Live).

• Gemini 2.5 and Gemini Live: The most advanced model yet. Use it to compare markets, summarize PDFs, or screen-share with clients via iOS.

• Canvas “Create” menu: Turn prompts into flyers, web pages, or infographics—great for client education or open house visuals.

• Project Astra (Labs preview): Use your phone camera to identify features, styles, or materials on-site.

• Gmail Smart Replies (coming soon): Auto-drafts replies based on your prior emails and tone.

• Gemini Beam & Meet Translation: Real-time 3D video chat and instant voice translation in Google Meet make client communication smoother, especially across languages.

• Imagen 4: AI-powered image generation with fine-tuned control—ideal for visual mockups, branding concepts, or digital listing content.

• Veo 3: Create 8-second, high-quality video with native sound, voice, and music—perfect for listing highlights or social intros.

• Agent Mode (coming soon): Experimental assistant that can take multi-step actions like scheduling showings or coordinating logistics from a single prompt.

• SynthID watermarking: AI-generated content from Gemini now includes embedded watermarking for safer, more transparent use.

Make sure to explore the Google Labs by clicking on the Labs Icon or here.

AI PRODUCTIVITY

AI Mode in GOOGLE Search

Google’s new AI Mode in Search offers a smarter, more conversational way to find information. Powered by a version of the Gemini 2.5 AI model, AI Mode delivers direct, in-depth answers to complex questions, supports follow-up queries, and lets you search with text, voice, or images.

Why It Works:

• Handles layered prompts
  Ask it to compare ZIP codes, summarize trends, and draft a client email about the results. All in one go.

• Powered by Gemini 2.5
  Google’s most capable model enables smarter reasoning, multimodal understanding (text, images, audio), and context-aware responses.

• Available in regular Google Search
  No new app is needed, but it is not yet available on Google Workspace accounts. You must use a personal Gmail account to access it.

Use Cases for Agents:

• Client research: Ask about pricing, neighborhood features, walkability.

• Content writing: Draft buyer emails and marketing pieces based on your search results.

Try This Now:

1. Use a personal Gmail account.

2. Search: “Compare price trends, hiking trails, and restaurants in ZIPs …. and ….”

3. Ask: “Summarize this for a first-time buyer. Format: bullet points.”

4. Refine: “Make it more casual and friendly.”

Calm Agent ChatGPT Playbook for Real Estate Agents is here!

Access it in the Calm Agent AI Suite on the website. Here is a link to the download page.