Tariff Turmoil

Splits and Caps Daily: Action for Agents

March 5, 2025

📈 Market Move:

Material Mayhem

Well, that escalated quickly. As of midnight, the U.S. slapped 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico—two major suppliers of construction materials—plus an extra 10% on Chinese goods. Translation? New home costs just got a whole lot uglier.

Homebuilders were hoping the 30-day delay meant a softer landing, but nope. Now, material costs could spike 10% this year, with fixtures jumping even higher. Canada and Mexico aren’t taking this lying down—they’re hitting back with their own tariffs on $155B worth of U.S. goods. Meanwhile, China is broadening its trade war playbook, targeting American food exports and key industries.

Builders are already feeling the squeeze—new home starts dipped in January, and confidence took a hit in February. The National Association of Home Builders has been sounding the alarm, warning that these tariffs could tack on an extra $7,500–$10,000 per new home.

Could the U.S. just produce more of its own materials? Sure… in about three years. Until then, builders and buyers are left footing the bill.

🌟Quote of the Day:

"If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door." — Milton Berle

⚡ Quick Win:

Reply With Video: Next time a lead texts or emails you, reply with a quick 10-second video instead of typing. It stands out, feels personal, and instantly builds trust. Try it—your response rate will double.

🎉 Fun Fact of the Day: 

Cheapest Island on Earth? In 2018, a remote island in Canada sold for just $1. No joke—only 25 acres and completely undeveloped. A steal for anyone looking to escape civilization... if you can get there, of course.

📚 Book Recommendation:

"How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling" by Frank Bettger—Frank Bettger went from a washed-up baseball player to one of the most successful salesmen of his time—and he did it by figuring out what actually makes people buy. This book isn’t theory; it’s his personal playbook on how he turned failure into massive success.

Bettger breaks down the simple but powerful shifts that took him from struggling to closing deals effortlessly. He talks about the importance of enthusiasm (seriously, it’s like a sales superpower), the art of asking the right questions, and why most people fail—not because they lack talent, but because they never master the fundamentals. If you’re in sales and feel like you’re spinning your wheels, this book is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

The fortune is in the follow-up—unless you enjoy leaving money on the table.

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