The $124 trillion question: How real estate inheritance is reshaping the housing industry
 | Cody Barbo Co-Founder & CEO Trust & Will |
 | Clayton Collins CEO HousingWire |
Overview
Real estate has always been the cornerstone of American wealth. Now it is becoming the centerpiece of American wealth transfer. As $124 trillion moves between generations over the next two decades, the families receiving that wealth will face immediate, high-stakes housing decisions and most are not prepared for them.
In this fireside conversation, HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins sits down with Trust & Will Co-Founder and CEO Cody Barbo to unpack what a generational property transfer means for the professionals at the center of every real estate transaction. Drawing on original consumer research, Cody will share what heirs actually do with inherited property versus what future heirs think they will do, where the process breaks down, and why the home-buying moment has emerged as a critical estate planning trigger for younger clients. The conversation will also explore a surprising finding about how much permission housing professionals already have to lead this conversation.
Key audience takeaways:
- Inherited property is becoming a more common driver of housing transactions than most professionals realize.
- The gap between what heirs plan to do with inherited property and what they actually do has real implications for agents, lenders and title professionals.
- Younger clients are more open to estate planning guidance from housing professionals than conventional wisdom suggests.
- The home-buying closing table is one of the most underutilized moments in the client relationship.
Session Notes
Key takeaway
Estate planning can be an uncomfortable topic, but it is often essential because real estate is among a family’s largest assets. Cody Barbo explains how a clear plan can reduce confusion, delays and stress for heirs when a homeowner dies.
What leaders need to know:
- Real estate is a core estate-planning asset. For many families, the home is one of the largest assets that must be transferred, sold or managed after a death.
- Probate can delay key decisions. Barbo said when real estate isn’t addressed in an estate plan, families can spend months — or years — in probate before they can decide whether to keep, sell or refinance the property.
- Planning protects the people left behind. A clear estate plan can reduce uncertainty for spouses, children and other heirs during an already emotional period.
- Housing professionals can play an education role. Agents, lenders and servicers are often positioned to explain why estate planning matters before a crisis, particularly when the home is the largest asset involved.
- Relationships should extend across generations. Barbo said housing professionals who know the family — not only the homeowner — are better positioned to help when property decisions arise.
- Digital tools are lowering barriers. Barbo said Trust & Will is working to make estate planning more accessible, more affordable and easier to update as families and assets change.
HousingWire perspective
The discussion made a difficult topic practical. For consumers, the takeaway is straightforward: If your home is part of your family’s financial future, it should be part of your estate plan. For housing leaders, the opportunity is to help families plan earlier, protect heirs and reduce friction around real estate decisions during one of life’s hardest moments.
Presentation Materials
The $124 trillion question: How real estate inheritance is reshaping the housing industry
Download the full presentation from the session including charts, data visualizations, and key takeaways.
