Episodes
Megan Gorman, author of "All the President's Money," explores the financial habits of US presidents throughout history. Gorman, a financial advisor, tax attorney, and wealth manager, discusses the presidents' varying approaches to money management, from frugal to extravagant. She also explores the historical context of each president's financial decisions and draws parallels to modern-day financial challenges. The interview offers valuable insights into financial literacy and wealth building,...
Published 09/10/24
Jason Hartman welcomes Curt Doolittle, founder of the Natural Law Institute, referred by previous guest Rudyard Lynch. Doolittle, an expert on Culture War economics and historical contexts, discusses the transformation of cultures over time. He explains the cyclical nature of societal changes, using historical examples like the Greek and Roman impact on the Middle East and the Industrial Revolution's social shifts. Doolittle highlights the challenges and resistances faced by societies in...
Published 08/10/24
The Dollar Milkshake Theory, proposed by Brent Johnson of Santiago Capital, predicts a surge in the US dollar's value compared to other currencies. This is due to the US's strong financial system, deep markets, and the dominance of the dollar in global transactions, like oil purchases. When a global debt crisis strikes, countries will scramble for dollars to pay off their debts, further boosting the dollar's value. This could lead to a "dollar milkshake effect" where money flows heavily into...
Published 07/20/24
Jason welcomes Catherine Austin Fitts, of the Solari Report back to his show after nearly eight years. Catherine, served as Assistant Secretary of Housing under George H.W. Bush. They discuss the disappearance of trillions of dollars from federal budgets, starting in the mid-90s and escalating over the years. By 2001, $4 trillion was unaccounted for, rising to $21 trillion by 2015. Catherine reveals systemic financial mismanagement and secrecy within the U.S. government, emphasizing the...
Published 07/06/24
Jason and Sean O'Toole of PropertyRadar.com discuss the current state of the real estate market, focusing on inventory trends, the impact of high interest rates, and the value of real estate over price. They also explore the potential for price drops, the influence of technological advancements on prices, and the challenges of rising housing costs. Lastly, they examine the activities of wholesalers in the real estate market and the ongoing issue of foreclosures, with Sean providing insights...
Published 06/29/24
Jason welcomes Mike Simonsen of Altos Research. Mike discusses real estate trends, noting increased inventory leading to higher sales. Despite higher mortgage rates, demand persists, with 2.8 to 7.7 million more buyers qualifying as rates drop. This surge could strain inventory, creating a competitive market. Simonsen emphasizes the need for sustained higher rates to restore pre-pandemic inventory levels. Jason Hartman underscores the market's importance for the broader economy, highlighting...
Published 06/22/24
Jason introduces Sahala Moshsin and her book "Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order" and discusses the impact of economic sanctions, particularly those imposed on Russia. They also explore the challenges faced by countries trying to work around the US dollar's global dominance, the mounting debt and its implications for the country's future, and the negative impacts of US currency policy on globalization. Lastly, Saleha discusses the current social and...
Published 06/15/24
Jason and Lance Lambert finish their discussion as they explore the "lock-in effect" caused by historically low mortgage rates. They highlight the significant impact on home sales and turnover rates in the real estate market, with a 57% reduction in home sales due to fixed-rate mortgage holders unwilling to give up their low-interest loans. They also touch on the multifamily housing market's influence on single-family rentals, noting that while rent increases have moderated, they remain...
Published 06/08/24
Lance Lambert, co-founder of Resi Club, discusses the real estate market's nuances with host Jason Hartman. Lambert highlights the tight resale market, down 30-35% from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, noting that despite this, 2019 wasn't a buyer's market. Affordability strains persist, especially in areas like Connecticut, impacted by the "donut effect" from pandemic migration. Lambert emphasizes builders' resilience, adjusting home sizes and finishes to tackle affordability while maintaining...
Published 05/15/24
Jason and Amanda, a certified public accountant and author, discussed the potential negative impact of the 2024 budget proposal on real estate investors, the benefits of cost segregation for tax reduction, and the advantages of being a real estate professional. They also highlighted the importance of tax planning, the depreciation schedule for breast implants, and the potential for cost segregation. Lastly, they cautioned against tax misconceptions and encouraged listeners to consult with...
Published 05/08/24
Jason welcomes real estate analyst Rick Sharga. Rick discusses the housing market and economic trends. Despite concerns of a crash, he suggests a slow period with modest price increases rather than a downturn. He dismisses crash predictions, highlighting historical data showing home prices generally rise during recessions. Sharga addresses factors like consumer spending, job growth, inflation, and Fed policies influencing mortgage rates. He acknowledges the possibility of a mild recession due...
Published 04/25/24
Jason welcomes Stephen M.R. Covey as they discuss his book "The Speed of Trust." In business, cultivating trust is key for successful deals and relationships. The principle of "win-win or no deal" emphasizes fair collaboration, where both parties benefit. Trust fosters enduring relationships, enabling faster, more efficient cooperation. Smart trust involves assessing situations, clarifying expectations, and ensuring accountability. While contracts are necessary, they can't substitute genuine...
Published 04/15/24
Jason and Paul Moore delve into the current state of commercial real estate, focusing on multifamily, office, RV and mobile home markets. They discuss the rise of rescue capital, which assists struggling deals, particularly in multifamily, where many properties are overpriced. They explore how office markets may never fully recover due to remote work trends and pandemic-induced lifestyle changes. They also touch on the impact of struggling office portfolios on banks, revealing a potential...
Published 03/15/24
Jason welcomes back guest Martin Armstrong, a renowned economic forecaster. The conversation touches on Armstrong’s background, experiences in the financial industry, and his computer-driven approach to analysis. Armstrong’s economic confidence model predicts a peak on May 7th, signaling a shift towards a recession, civil unrest, and international conflicts into 2028. He emphasizes the significant role of the U.S. as a consumer-based economy and the global demand for American products,...
Published 02/29/24
Jason welcomes Joshua Simon, founder of Simon Commercial Real Estate, as they discuss the state of commercial real estate. Josh highlights the strength of retail, especially in open-air strip centers and grocery-anchored spaces. Simon emphasized the retail renaissance, citing low vacancy rates and increased demand. Industrial properties faced challenges due to overbuilding, particularly in larger formats. Simon recommended investing in debt instruments or high-yielding retail assets, focusing...
Published 02/15/24
Jason discusses the topic of decentralized finance (defi) and its potential advantages in the cryptocurrency world. He also touches on the issue of the US housing shortage and how it presents opportunities for real estate investors. Additionally, Jason highlights the benefits of joining the “Fire Your Managers” program and announced an upcoming Empowered Investor pro meeting that will host a guest who will present a special “tenant insurance” product. Finally, he invites everyone to join...
Published 01/30/24
Jason welcomes Selma Hepp, the Chief Economist of Core Logic. They discuss the challenging state of the real estate market and noted that the market was facing issues due to rising mortgage rates, which led to a decline in transactions and mortgage refinances. Additionally, she highlighted that existing homeowners were benefiting from this situation due to their low mortgage rates and increasing equity. Selma also pointed out that the volume of home sales was down by 18% last year and was...
Published 01/22/24
Jason discusses the state of the economy, focusing on the role of the Federal Reserve and potential supply chain issues. He also shared his opinion on the strength of the US dollar and Argentina’s decision to adopt it. Towards the end, Jason addressed the issue of inflation and its steady fall since June of the previous year. He also discussed changes in active inventory across various local real estate markets, comparing it to 2019, and highlighted the importance of inventory in the real...
Published 01/15/24
Jason talks about the importance of understanding the relationship between household real estate value, mortgage debt, and GDP. The presented chart indicates increased equity and decreased mortgage debt as a percentage of GDP, highlighting a more stable housing market. He touches on the benefits of leveraging properties and he analyzes a chart on median sold prices based on bedroom count, revealing significant appreciation in lower-priced properties.
Jason welcomes Len Kiefer, Deputy Chief...
Published 01/08/24
Today Jason talks about “shadow demand” in the housing market. He emphasizes the impact of demographics, particularly the 25 to 34 age group, where about 16% are still living at home, representing untapped demand. With 11 million potential homebuyers in this category, Jason explores the dynamics of supply and demand, debunking predictions of a looming shadow supply. He also touches on factors like low inventory, the influence of baby boomers staying in their homes, and potential wildcards...
Published 12/30/23
Jason discusses the impact of mortgage status on the US housing market and wealth distribution, highlighting the growing wealth gap and the formation of two socioeconomic classes due to approximately 40% of US homeowners not having a mortgage. He also touched on the performance of cyclical markets, particularly in luxury markets in Miami, New York, and California, attributing low sales volume to low inventory and high buyer demand. Lastly, he mentioned an upcoming cruise event and a monthly...
Published 12/15/23
Michael Zuber talks to Jason about the housing market and the potential for a housing crash. Jason provides insights into why a housing crash hasn’t occurred so far, emphasizing the need for millions of distressed sellers as a key ingredient for a crash. He also mentions that people who predict crashes often lack a comprehensive understanding of economic cycles and are influenced by past traumatic events like the 2007-2008 housing crash.
Additionally, the conversation touches on unemployment...
Published 11/27/23
Jason joins Robert Helms and Russell Gray of The Real Estate Guys as they discuss the investment opportunities in single family housing in the real estate market, highlighting its flexibility, universality, and government backing. Jason suggested that investors should follow the US government’s business plan, and emphasized the resilience of the real estate market despite economic challenges. The group also talks about the advantages of negotiating the price and financing of properties, and...
Published 10/28/23
Jason welcomes back to the show Joseph Brown of Heresy financial as they discuss the global conflicts, the emotional detachment of Americans from these events, and the potential dangers of policymakers’ decisions. They highlighted the role of profit in perpetuating war and concluded with a cautionary note about the potential for ongoing conflict if war remains profitable. They also discussed the philosophy of ‘packaged commodities’ investment, arguing that investing in real estate with...
Published 09/25/23