Loodmy Jacques: Why the 2020-2021 Market Was Fake and What Palm Beach County Agents Learned From It

Written by:

Steve Marcinuk

Date:

19 Nov 2025

KeyCrew Studio

Share

Share via Facebook

Share via Linkedin

Share via X

Copy to clipboard

Loodmy Jacques discusses post-pandemic market dynamics, buyer hesitation myths, and building wealth through strategic real estate decisions

Palm Beach County’s real estate market has undergone dramatic shifts since 2020, creating what one veteran agent calls “the fake years” – a period when normal market dynamics disappeared and anyone could sell property. Understanding this evolution helps both buyers and sellers navigate today’s more challenging environment.

Loodmy Jacques, who leads The Jacques Team at Keller Williams Reserve in West Palm Beach, recently joined Omar Andreasson on the Mr. Deed podcast to discuss how Florida’s market transformed from pandemic frenzy to current reality. With recognition among the top 1.5% of professionals nationwide by Real Trends in 2025, Jacques offers perspective on market misconceptions that continue affecting buyer and seller decisions.

When Market Reality Returned

The pandemic’s initial impact created uncertainty across the real estate industry. Florida’s decision to remain largely open, however, combined with dropping interest rates to create unprecedented demand.

“We call it a fake year, because this was the unbelievable opportunity,” Jacques explains. “Anything you touch was selling. When I would go to a listing appointment, we would list it and in minutes would have a line of people outside.”

This environment attracted a massive agent influx as seemingly anyone could succeed. The inevitable correction followed. By 2025, many agents who entered during boom years stopped working after completing few actual transactions. Current conditions require genuine effort and expertise as motivated sellers now come from necessity rather than emotional desire for change.

The Pricing Strategy That Actually Works

Sellers frequently arrive with unrealistic expectations shaped by 2020-2021 experiences. Jacques addresses this through data presentation showing current market conditions including days on market statistics and withdrawn listing patterns.

“This is not the market where you want to price it above the market,” Jacques tells clients. He presents three options: pricing at market for 30-60 day sales, pricing above market for extended listings, or pricing below market to capture buyer interest quickly. Those who insist on testing higher prices often return months later after experiencing market reality through expired listings.

The Interest Rate Waiting Game

Buyer hesitation around interest rates represents perhaps the most persistent market misconception. Jacques redirects these conversations away from rate fixation toward monthly payment realities and long-term positioning.

“Let’s forget about the rate. What is your mortgage payment you’re comfortable with?” Jacques asks clients. This reframes the decision from abstract rate comparisons to concrete budget planning. If monthly costs align with rent payments, the purchase makes sense.

Buyers who purchase now can refinance later if rates drop substantially. Waiting for rate decreases means competing with every other sidelined buyer when rates finally fall. Current conditions favor buyers through negotiating power on price and terms – advantages that disappear when demand increases.

Jacques emphasizes that real estate remains the primary wealth builder for most affluent individuals. Properties provide automatic savings through mortgage paydown, appreciation, and tangible assets for generational transfer. Missing purchase opportunities while waiting for perfect conditions costs more than higher interest rates.

The 1% Improvement Philosophy

Jacques’s advice for real estate professionals and entrepreneurs centers on incremental progress over perfection paralysis.

“If you stay and you do nothing, you will be exactly where you are the next year,” Jacques explains. “But if you do one thing better, if you just wake up and say I’m going to do that one thing better, that one thing is going to be way better than version zero.”

The compounding effect of consistent 1% improvements drives long-term success. Rather than overwhelming goal-setting, focusing on modest improvement over previous performance creates sustainable growth without requiring perfect execution or ideal circumstances.

Listen to the Full Interview

This article features insights from Loodmy Jacques’s conversation with Omar Andreasson on the Mr. Deed podcast. Listen to the complete episode for additional discussion on South Florida market dynamics and real estate strategy.

[Podcast episode link will be added when available]

About The Jacques Team

Loodmy Jacques leads The Jacques Team at Keller Williams Reserve in West Palm Beach, serving Palm Beach County and surrounding Florida markets. The team specializes in first-time buyer education and comprehensive transaction management.