Can You Afford the American Dream?

It’s what you’ve all been waiting for—our 2025 housing market predictions! We’re sharing where we think home prices, interest rates, and real estate will be over the next year. But we’re not just talking about 2025. We’re also going BACK and reviewing our 2024 housing market forecast, painfully detailing each part we got wrong and congratulating whoever got their predictions right. But how did top real estate companies like Zillow perform on their forecasts? Don’t worry; we’re rating their predictions as well! Last year, some of us thought home prices would decline year-over-year, while others were confident we’d still see rising prices. We also had surprisingly accurate mortgage rate predictions, so does that mean we could be right for 2025, too? Stick around to find out! Plus, we’re sharing where we think will become the country's best real estate investing markets and naming the cities we believe have the best potential for building wealth! In This Episode We Cover Updated 2025 housing market predictions and where home prices and mortgage rates could go How we (and Zillow!) did on our 2024 housing market forecast (plus what we got WRONG!) Real estate markets that have the most investment potential in 2025 Why we’re all becoming bullish on lower mortgage rates, EVEN with persistent inflation Did we ever actually make it into recession territory in 2024? And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE  Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Henry's BiggerPockets Profile James' BiggerPockets Profile Kathy's BiggerPockets Profile On The Market Podcast 163 - 2024 Housing Market Predictions: Home Prices, Interest Rates, & Opportunities Grab James’ New Book “The House Flipping Framework” Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (02:38) Zillow's 2024 Predictions (11:32) Home Prices  (14:33) Recession Risk (16:23) Mortgage Rates (17:23) Best Markets to Invest (20:03) 2025 Home Price Predictions  (23:48) 2025 Mortgage Rate Predictions Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-269 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The American Dream was once an everyday reality for most Americans. Now, it’s seemingly impossible for even high-income-earning households to achieve. What went wrong, and is it still possible for financially savvy families to realize the American Dream? A new article dissecting the cost of the American Dream shows that the white picket fence, single-family home, and two new cars cost significantly more than you might think. In this episode, we’re going over the eye-watering costs of the American Dream, the income you’ll need to achieve it, and why most Americans may never get there. But, as financially independent podcasters, we’re living proof that you don’t need everything this article describes to reach financial freedom. We’re sharing what you might want to give up to achieve your version of the American Dream. From college costs to raising kids, buying cars, and purchasing a home, we’ll walk through the costliest factors of the American Dream—and some good news, as one big expense is actually getting cheaper. In This Episode We Cover The astronomical cost of achieving the American Dream in 2024 What you should give up if you want to reach financial freedom faster The household income you have to make if you want to achieve the American Dream Why so many Americans are struggling with rising costs but stagnating wages One significant expense that’s getting surprisingly more affordable The things we’ll never give up spending money on (even if it sets us back) And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Henry's BiggerPockets Profile The American Dream Now Costs $4.4 Million The American Dream Trap: Maneuvering Major Expenses in Your Financial Adventure Reach Your American Dream Faster with “Set for Life” Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (01:20) The Cost of The American Dream (04:01) Housing Costs  (05:14) BIGGEST Cost to Americans (06:43) Kids Are Too Expensive (08:28) Cars Cost SO Much  (10:15) How Much Do You Have to Make? (15:42) You NEED to Make More Money (19:53) What to Give Up (23:43) Some Good News  (25:22) We WON’T Sacrifice THIS Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-268 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people are missing out on what could be the best real estate investments of 2025. Why? Most investors don’t even know about them or have never had access to invest in them before. Today, we’re talking to Fundrise CEO Ben Miller about how he’s taking these once elite-only investments and making them available for the average investor. These investments, for the most part, beat out regular rental properties with sizable returns and way less work. So, what’s the catch? Is there a catch? If you want to get ahead of the curve and know the investments that smart money (managing BILLIONS of dollars) is making, our interview with Ben truly delivers. We’re getting into how “debt” investors are making serious money off of lending to real estate investors (just like you) and the almost unbeatable returns they’re collecting, plus the new type of investment Fundrise is opening up for regular investors. This is a first, as everyday investors have seldom been able to break into this asset class. Finally, Ben gives us his outlook for the 2025 economy and why he’s feeling a bit anxious, even with so many economic factors falling into place for a soft landing.  In This Episode We Cover The one real estate investment making regular double-digit returns with significantly less work Why housing inventory could shrink even with our massive multifamily “oversupply” The “securitized” real estate elite investors used to have a monopoly on (you can get in on it now) Venture capital and why Ben is bullish on AI companies for 2025 and beyond The surprisingly solid state of the economy and why Ben feels anxious (and you might, too) And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Is Now a Better Time to Invest in Real Estate Debt or Equity? Ben's BiggerPockets Profile Grab the Book on Private Money Lending “Lend to Live” Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (01:41) What to Invest In NOW? (04:40) Housing Inventory Will Shrink (08:20) Less Risk, Way Higher Returns (15:01) "Securitized” Debt Explained  (18:22) What Can “Normal” Investors Do?  (20:52) Venture Capital Investing for All  (26:12) Optimistic for 2025? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-267 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone is awaiting the 2024 presidential election results—especially homebuyers. As mortgage rates rise again, potential homebuyers are sitting on the sidelines, hoping that the next president could make it a little easier to purchase a house. Is this housing market slowdown just a temporary phenomenon before the biggest political event of the past four years, or could this last well into the winter? We’re covering it on this headlines show! Could a “Trump trade” push bond yields up and mortgage rates as well? Some economists are betting that a Trump presidency would mean higher mortgage rates. We’ll also talk about California’s Prop 33, which, if passed, could allow more stringent rent control on landlords in the Golden State. With rising costs for property owners, could this lead to landlords selling their rentals to escape California’s tenant-friendly laws? If you want to escape the election cycle, we’ve got you covered. Our last story touches on the best companies for career growth, and if you’re trying to up your skills (and your income) next year, applying for a job at any of these companies could help you! In This Episode We Cover The pre-election housing “slowdown” and why many homebuyers are pausing on purchasing A new mortgage rate update and what’s causing rates to rise back to seven percent The “Trump trade” and why economists are worried it could push bond yields up California’s newest rent control proposition and what it means for landlords in the state The top companies for career growth in the United States (grow your income!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE  Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Henry's BiggerPockets Profile James' BiggerPockets Profile Kathy's BiggerPockets Profile Proposition 33 Ignites Fierce Debate Over California Rent Control Laws Do Elections Affect the Housing Market? Here's What Experts Say Real estate in for a fright as mortgage rates return to 7% Proposition 33 Ignites Fierce Debate Over California Rent Control Laws These Are The Best Companies For Career Growth, Ranked Grab Dave’s Newest Book, “Start with Strategy” Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (01:01) Pre-Election Housing “Slowdown” (13:03) The “Trump Trade”  (16:48) Prop 33 Rent Control? (24:15) Best Companies for Career Growth Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-266 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evictions suck—for everyone. They’re bad for the property owner, the tenant, and America as a whole. On the lowest end of the spectrum, evictions cost Americans over $14,000,000,000 (that’s BILLION) per year. With this massive sum spent on court fees, attorneys, moving trucks, and lost rent, how do we STOP evictions before they happen? What can landlords do to ensure they NEVER have to kick out another tenant for nonpayment? Today, we’re discussing the true cost of evictions and how to avoid them. We’ve brought our own Market Intelligence Analyst, Austin Wolff, back to the show to share how much evictions cost for the landlord, how much they cost to the tenant, and how much they cost society. We’re breaking down which costs hurt real estate investors the most during the process and how long it may take you to get a non-paying tenant out of your house. Once you’ve been seriously sticker-shocked by the price of an eviction, James brings us some actionable steps he uses daily to avoid evictions at his rentals. He recently had one of the worst evictions, costing him SIX FIGURES. He shares what to do so this DOESN’T happen at your investment property, plus the type of rental you can provide that attracts the highest-quality tenants.  In This Episode We Cover The astronomically high cost of evictions in the United States How long evictions usually take, and why they often drag out months (or even years) The cost of an eviction to a tenant and the fees they have to pay once they’re forced to leave How to avoid evictions from the start by following some quick tips from James The key to maintaining a high rent collection rate in your rental portfolio (fewer evictions) What to do if you inherit tenants you suspect WON’T pay once you purchase the property Overall economic impacts of evictions and why we MUST reduce them And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Property Manager Finder Dave's BiggerPockets Profile James' BiggerPockets Profile Austin's BiggerPockets Profile 6 Strategies That Help Landlords Avoid Evictions Grab “The Book on Managing Rental Properties” Evicted Book Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (02:23) Most Expensive Eviction Ever? (05:23) Cost/Time It Takes to Evict (14:11) The Cost to Tenants (18:57) Serious Economic Effects (22:47) How to Avoid Evictions (29:44) Inheriting Tenants (What to Do) (32:09) Astronomical Total Costs Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-265 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Which generation is taking control of the housing market? With Baby Boomers sitting on an enormous amount of equity-based wealth, younger generations now have to do their part to get in the game, but who is faring best? Gen Z is hungry to get into homeownership, but with their high cost of living, credit card and student debt, and low affordability, will they be a forever-renter generation? What about Millennials, many of whom were financially shell-shocked after leaving college and entering the workforce during the Great Financial Crisis? And don’t worry, Gen X, we didn’t forget you (even though almost everyone else did). Today, Dave and each of our experts have taken one generation to report on. We’ll talk about Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers—how much wealth they hold, their debts, whether or not they’re buying houses, and how they could affect the future housing market. Plus, we’ll touch on the financial mentality behind each generation and whether or not they have what it takes to become homeowners. Finally, will the “Silver Tsunami” ever happen when Baby Boomers pass away and the flood of Boomer-owned houses hits the market? We’ll discuss the likelihood of this happening and whether or not the growing trend of “aging in place” could keep our housing inventory at rock bottom.  In This Episode We Cover Why Gen Z is so poised to start buying real estate (but will they be able to?) The Baby Boomers’ massive amount of equity wealth that may benefit the future generations  The largest generation of homebuyers that is still actively looking for places to live Why this “forgotten generation” might be one of the wealthiest to come  The chance of a “Silver Tsunami” and what happens when Boomers pass down their housing wealth  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Henry's BiggerPockets Profile James' BiggerPockets Profile Kathy's BiggerPockets Profile Grab Henry’s New Book, “Real Estate Deal Maker” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Boomers Hoard Houses, Millennials Struggle to Buy, But Gen Z Gets Ahead Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (02:58) Gen Z - The Renter Generation (10:47) Millennials - The Homebuyer Generation (16:51) Gen X - The Forgotten Generation (26:18) Baby Boomers - The RICH Generation Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-264 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does it feel like we’re in a recession? People are constantly discussing layoffs, many Americans are in credit card debt, home ownership seems unachievable, and you probably feel like you should be making more money based on how expensive everything is. But, on the other hand, inflation is down, stocks are up, and unemployment is still (relatively) low. This is what Nicole Lapin would refer to not as a recession but a “vibecession;” it feels like we’re in a recession, even if we aren’t. As a renowned journalist, author, and money-minded podcast host of Money Rehab, Nicole is one of the best in the industry to come on and explain the state of the American consumer, why they feel so negative toward the economy, and what good news we have going into 2025. Nicole is breaking down exactly why Americans feel so disconnected from our growing economy and the reason consumers are getting frustrated. But it’s not just bad vibes (okay, enough with the Gen-Z verbiage); there are “bright spots” in the economy that few are paying attention to. These data points come close to proving that we may be out of recession territory and confirm that the Fed did achieve its “soft landing.” Are we on our way to finally feeling good about the economy again? In This Episode We Cover Why it feels like we’re in a recession even though the economy is growing The disconnect between men and women and who’s more optimistic in 2024 Did the Fed actually achieve their soft landing and an inflation rate update The good news on wage growth (with a BIG caveat) Rising credit card debt and whether or not this is a precursor to economic crisis The “bright spots” in the economy that point to some good news for Americans And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Here’s What the U.S. Consumer Tells Us About the State of the Economy Money Rehab Thinking, Fast and Slow WSJ: The State of America’s Wallet Build Wealth in Any Market Cycle with “Recession-Proof Real Estate Investing” Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (01:50) Welcome to the "Vibe-cession" (05:18) Men vs. Women Economic Sentiment (06:59) Wages Grow, But... (10:56) Consumer Debt is Climbing (16:23) GOOD News for the Economy (18:42) Hope for Average Americans (21:39) Where is the Economy Headed? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-263 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Housing affordability in America is the lowest it’s been in forty years. Every year, there are fewer and fewer affordable places to buy a house, and many of the cities that used to be affordable have become so popular that they’re now the pricey ones. Are there any affordable housing markets left, and if so, which ones should investors pay the most attention to? We did a new data analysis on American housing markets to bring the exact list to you today. Austin Wolff, our own BiggerPockets market intelligence analyst, spent some time analyzing housing markets that not only have job, population, and wage growth but also have affordable home prices perfect for investors. Today, he’s sharing this new list, along with some of the least affordable housing markets that are nearly impossible to break into without millions of dollars. But is America the only country suffering from a stubborn unaffordability crisis? Many of the top economies are also feeling the sting of high inflation, limited real wage growth, and strong home price appreciation. But are we doing better or worse than many of the top developed countries? We’re sharing those stats, too! In This Episode We Cover America’s affordable housing crisis explained, and whether it’s going to get better or worse Most affordable housing markets with job, population, and income growth Comparing American home prices vs. other top economies’ home prices The least affordable real estate markets with the highest home-price-to-wage ratios The single most affordable city in the United States that could be an excellent investing market And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Kathy's BiggerPockets Profile These Are the 10 Most Affordable Markets To Invest in During 2024 Bankrate’s 2024 Home Affordability Report Why Trump and Harris Aren’t Talking About the $1.8 Trillion Deficit Austin's BiggerPockets Profile Grab Dave’s Book, “Real Estate by the Numbers”   Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (02:36) Why Affordability Matters (04:59) Most Unaffordable Period Ever?  (08:00) How Does America Compare?  (12:23) Least Affordable Markets (15:09) Most Affordable (Growing!) Markets (24:35) Will Affordability Improve? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-262 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While short-term rentals are seeing slowing demand, mid-term rentals are taking off (and fast). Mid-term rentals, also called medium-term rentals or MTRs, are thirty-day or longer stays, usually for traveling professionals or those who need temporary housing while relocating. These rentals give you more rent than a regular long-term rental, less turnover than short-term rentals, and can be successful in even the most average of markets. Where are MTRs heading next? We brought on Jeff Hurst, CEO of the leading MTR listing website Furnished Finder, to share the data he’s seeing. Jeff believes MTRs are still years away from peaking in demand and supply. But maybe he’s a little biased as someone who works in the field. Even as an industry insider, Jeff brought some solid stats that show that MTR is far from falling off the investing map. He’s so bullish on this strategy that he believes MTR is now where Airbnb was in 2012. But what should you do to get in on MTR investing? Jeff shares the best MTR markets and signs for whether or not your city could be a great place to try it, plus the surprising property type that works best for this strategy (MUCH more affordable than short-term rentals) and how landlords and investors can find tenants WITHOUT going through pricey booking platforms. In This Episode We Cover The state of the mid-term rental market and why it’s looking much brighter than short-term rentals Mid-term rental investing explained, and who’s staying at these properties Why rural markets actually make terrific mid-term rental investing areas How to start investing in mid-term rentals WITHOUT owning a single property (rental arbitrage) How to find tenants for your mid-term rentals without paying high listing fees The (surprisingly) small property types that work best for mid-term rentals And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Henry's BiggerPockets Profile How to Invest in Medium-Term Rentals Furnished Finder Stats Grab the MTR Book, “30-Day Stay” Jump to topic: (00:00) Intro (01:57) What Are Mid-Term Rentals? (06:21) Mid-Term Demand is Still Growing (09:58) Best Mid-Term Markets  (18:19) Are We Past the Peak? (20:26) Finding Tenants (23:59) Fewer Regulations? (30:03) Bullish on Mid-Term’s Future Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-261 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America is experiencing a strange housing supply problem. On one hand, we don’t have enough housing supply nationally; on the other, we have too much housing supply in cities like Austin and Fort Myers, and as a result, these cities are seeing significant rent declines. Meanwhile, rents are still going strong in much of the Midwest, as their supply-constrained markets give landlords and real estate investors the upper hand. But, even in the “oversupplied” markets, is there a chance for rent price redemption in the future? We brought on BiggerPockets’ own Market Intelligence Analyst, Austin Wolff, to share his latest findings on housing supply. Austin talks about why rents are growing in some parts of the US but declining in more oversupplied markets. But with the slowing down of construction, will these oversupplied markets become undersupplied? Will landlords in these markets be happy they held onto their properties in a few years? Austin also shares the exact market he’s making his first real estate investment, which boasts high demand but has yet to see a significant supply bump for his asset class. Does higher supply always mean lower rents? Not quite, and we’ll get into why in this episode! In This Episode We Cover The state of our 2024 housing shortage problem and why we may be under and oversupplied Where rent prices are falling and the cities with the most supply coming online When demand could finally “catch up” to the high supply these markets are experiencing The correlation between supply and rent prices (and why they aren’t ALWAYS opposite) Long-term rent projections as building starts to slow and demand stays high And So Much More! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Easily Identify Your Next Market to Invest In with BiggerPockets Market Finder Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Connect with Austin Check Out Austin’s Data-Driven Blog Posts Bureau of Labor Statistics Census Data CoStar Zillow Data Master the Simple Formulas Behind Every Great Real Estate Deal with “Real Estate by the Numbers” Jump to topic 00:00 Intro 04:49 Our 2024 Housing Supply Problem 08:22 Where Rents Are Falling 13:13 Demand Will “Catch Up” 17:31 What Happens When Supply Rises?  25:46 Long-Term Rent Projections Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and  https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-260 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices