Podcasts about renters

Some of the best ideas in rental come from people who started on the other side of the counter. In this episode I sat down with Robert LeVar, operations manager and partner at American Rental, to talk about building a drive-thru rental counter, using rerents to test new markets, and why every division of his business runs its own P&L.

Everyone has an opinion on whether being a landlord still pays off. Very few have the data to back it up... Richard Donnell, Zoopla's Executive Director - Research, is back on the show. Rob & Rob put the big question to him straight away, and his answer comes with a condition every landlord should hear. From there, he tests the headlines investors have been worrying about against the evidence. (02:12) Are landlords really heading for the exit, and who's buying the homes they sell? (04:00) Why so many investors now expect to buy a property that needs work (06:44) What the Renters' Rights Act has changed so far, and what it hasn't (08:33) Three quarters of landlords are over 60. So, who owns Britain's rental homes next? (11:43) Why housing will always feature in the wealth tax debate, and the signal that landlords still matter to the government (15:42) Is the average £10,000 EPC upgrade worth it, or is it time to sell? (18:21) The long-run link that still sets property apart from anything else Richard could invest in Links mentioned: Zoopla's rental estimate tool Enjoy the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others find us! Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, Property Pulse Find out more about Property Hub Invest

More renters are struggling to keep up with housing costs, according to a new Urban Institute report. One in five working-age renters reported trouble paying rent, with payment problems rising sharply among middle-income households. Kathy Fettke breaks down the latest affordability data, what's putting pressure on renters, and what it could mean for real estate investors and landlords.  

HEADLINES: Mortgage holders brace for the RBA to lift interest rates to a 15-year high South Australia's measles outbreak has grown to nine cases, the most in 10 years Dozens have died in floods in northern India and Nepal TikTok and Meta allegedly ran hundreds of ads for illegal vapes and tobacco Plus, an OpenAI agent hacked into a Medicare website without being told to, and Bill Gates is warning AI could cause a billion deaths. Technology editor at The Age and Sydney Morning Herald David Swan explains what we should really be worried about, and what's a beat-up. GET IN TOUCHGot a story idea, news tip or feedback?Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au HELPFUL LINKS: Become a Mamamia subscriber and get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts and early listening, subscriber-only articles, monthly giveaways and our home workout app, MOVE. Get access to Very Peri, Mamamia's exclusive perimenopause series, for just $59. 25 world-leading experts, over 20 on-demand sessions, available now. We’ve sorted through the noise so you don't have to. Go to veryperi.com.au today. You hot? Same. CREDITSHosts: Charlotte Mortlock and Tamsin RoseAudio Producer: Scott StronachGroup Executive Producer: Tamsin Rose and Georgie PageBecome a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan Mail#330The Bank of England held its base rate at 3.75% this month, but that didn't stop UK mortgage rates from climbing.Shaz Ahmed of Elan Property Finance joins me for our regular Mortgage Monday update, and the average fixed rate has now crept up to around 5.59%, from 4.9% at the start of the year.If you're assuming a steady base rate means steady borrowing costs, this episode explains why that assumption doesn't hold.Register your Rental Property Service (Landlord Scheme)ExpatPropertyStory.comCheck out our shorts on YouTubeOur WhatsApp  groupProperty Engine discounts (Code: EXPAT)Starter: 30 day trialPro: 30 day trial/3 mths 1/2 price, Ultimate: 1/2 price 3 monthsGoalsettingLeave a review37 Question Due Diligence Checklist / Auction GuideOur Sponsors: Finnigan McNeill Property GroupWe discuss:Why UK Mortgage Rates Are Rising While the Base Rate Stays PutThe base rate vote itself was closer than the headline suggests, coming in at 6 to 3, with three members pushing for a rise to 4%.Inflation moved the wrong way too, up from 2.9% in July to 3.1% in August.Shaz points to SONIA swap rates as the real driver behind higher fixed mortgage pricing, even with the base rate unchanged.Lenders are also layering on substantial arrangement fees, which adds to the overall cost of borrowing.A Sluggish Mortgage MarketEnquiries and completions are still happening, but Shaz describes the pace as noticeably sluggish.Borrowers seem to be holding off, hoping rates fall or a better deal turns up.That hesitation is shaping deal timelines across the market, not just at the edges.The Hidden Cost of RefinancingHomeowners are reportedly paying an average of £840 more a year when they refinance, according to a Financial Times figure discussed on the show.Shaz explains how this can happen even to borrowers who've paid down their balance and seen their property's value rise.A lower loan-to-value and less debt can still mean an extra £200 to £300 a month once a new fixed rate kicks in.Landlord Registration Fees Under the Renters' Rights ActA new landlord registration database is coming, and it's priced per property rather than per landlord.At £65 per property per year, portfolio landlords will feel this far more than owners with a single let.Registration rolls out region by region, starting in the West Midlands in December 2026 and reaching the South West by August 2027.Shaz expects at least some of that cost to be passed on to tenants through rent reviews.The South Wales Affordability GapNational data suggests rents are outpacing house prices, but the picture on the ground in South Wales tells a sharper story.In Newport, a decent three-bedroom property now starts around £350,000, with four-bedroom homes pushing past £500,000.Incomes in the area haven't kept pace, and that gap is only becoming more visible.A £175,000 Property Bought for £12,000Shaz walks through a creative deal built around a reassigned purchase lease option.The original option holder sold her position for £6,000 after deciding to relocate abroad.The new buyers are purchasing at the £105,000 option price against a £175,000 valuation, putting in roughly £12,000 once fees are included.A bridging loan against the uplifted value covers the rest, with a light refurbishment and refinance planned after six months.Key TakeawaysUK mortgage rates can rise even when the Bank of England base rate doesn't move, so watch swap rates rather than headlines alone.Refinancing costs are catching out even well-positioned borrowers, and it's worth budgeting for an increase regardless of your loan-to-value.Landlord registration fees are coming on a per-property basis, so portfolio landlords should plan for this now rather than at rollout.

The regional rollout of the new landlord database, to be introduced under phase two of the Renters' Rights Act, will begin in December this year. Following the announcement, we look at what you will need to do to comply with the rules, as well as the costs involved and financial penalties for getting things wrong. Later in the show we look ahead to the Autumn Budget, which will be announced on October 28th, examining the challenges faced by chancellor John Healey and outlining our calls to Government - positive changes that will encourage landlords to stay in the market and continue to invest. We also talk to our advice team about the calls coming in to the landlord support line this month. Meet the guests Ben and Richard are joined by James Wood, our head of compliance and resident expert on all things renters' rights. He gives us a deep dive into the new database, including what details you will need to provide and who will have access to them. Elsewhere in the show we talk to Maya Wilson Autzen, senior money writer for The Telegraph, and our chief policy officer Chris Norris about what the budget might hold for landlords, with the NRLA's Hannah Keyon joining us to talk about your queries on the database, as well issues with new notice periods introduced under the Renters' Rights Act. How to watch You can listen and watch the podcast via the NRLA website, or your preferred streaming service. To watch the video, you will need to tune in on Spotify or watch on YouTube. If you enjoy the show, please spread the word on your social media channels using the hashtag #listenuplandlords. For all podcast enquiries email press@nrla.org.uk     ACCREDITATION: You can now pick up a CPD point to be used towards NRLA accreditation by listening to the podcast. To log your point, visit the accreditation dashboard in the 'Your Account' section of the NRLA website. Select 'Other' then 'NRLA Podcast' from the dropdown menu. More information For more details on the landlord database here. You can also use our exclusive checker service to find out when you will be affected here. We offer comprehensive training on the Renters' Rights Act, which has been updated to reflect the new rules regarding the database. For more details and to book click here. For more on our calls ahead of the budget – and to read our full submission – click here. Listen Up Landlords is brought to you by the NRLA.     Hosted by: Ben Beadle & Richard Blanco     Produced by: Sally Walmsley     Video Production: Alexandra Southerington       

If you're looking for a house to purchase or a place to rent, you're probably feeling squeezed. Mortgage rates have hit seven percent - and a new study shows that renters across the economic spectrum are having trouble paying rent. What's happening in the housing market?Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show's perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.This episode was produced by Megan Lim, Kai McNamee, and Jason Fuller, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas, Rafael Nam, Justine Kenin, Merrit Kennedy, and Jeanette Woods.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Renters' Rights Act has been live for five months. The changes it's caused aren't the ones anyone was arguing about beforehand... Rob & Rob get into the bidding ban that backfired, the financially secure tenants now struggling to rent at all, and the new fees letting agents are testing on landlords. Then they work out what £100,000 in savings is really earning once tax and inflation have taken their share, and what the same money does over five years in property. (02:05) Inverse bidding wars, and why landlords are advertising rents above what they expect to get (06:54) Is the ban on rent in advance shutting out the tenants who can most afford it? (08:25) The fee one agent quoted Rob B for a £25 a month increase (13:06) Why a 5% savings rate is a trap, and who is walking into it (15:26) What £100,000 in the bank really pays you after tax and inflation (17:18) The same money in property, and the gap after five years of modest growth (21:16) Hub Extra - which side of AI your income lands. Links mentioned: London landlords' latest tactic: inverse bidding wars Enjoy the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others find us! Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, Property Pulse Find out more about Property Hub Invest

The mortgage market has shifted quickly in recent weeks, with rising swap rates, changing lender pricing and wider economic uncertainty creating another challenging environment for HMO investors.In this episode, I sit down with our specialist mortgage broker Ellie Broadhurst to unpack what's happening in the lending market right now, how the Renters' Rights Act is starting to affect some HMO valuations, and what investors need to consider when buying or refinancing in today's market.

Thank you to Bilt for sponsoring this episode! Start earning rewards on rent and mortgage payments when you sign up at https://biltrewards.yt.link/yCaDXT0 Somebody put $1 million on the Lions at Red Rock, and everyone except the bettor seemed to know how that was going to end. We also send our best to Carrot Top, one of the most underrated performers in Vegas, as he recovers. Then it is a very Vegas grab bag: $36 bottomless beer for Monday and Thursday Night Football at Beer Park, a Zoox getting rear-ended on Decatur (you decide who is at fault), Westgate showing off its most over the top bathtubs, and a Sir Mix-A-Lot slot machine that is exactly what you think it is. A new report shows investors own 43% of Las Vegas homes, a share only New York and a handful of California cities top, and we get into why. Plus a look inside an abandoned hotel tower in Jean before it comes down, the EDC team putting real money into Commercial Center, Golden Gate's new high limit room, and Derek Stevens making Circa the A's first founding partner while promising the best ballpark ever built. Would you sit in a dugout suite? Let us know in the comments. Episode Guide: 0:00 A $1 Million Bet on the Lions 0:38 Wishing Carrot Top a Speedy Recovery 2:40 $36 Bottomless Beer at Beer Park 4:11 Bilt: Earn Points on Rent & Mortgage 5:11 A Zoox Gets Rear-Ended on Decatur 6:23 The Bathtubs of Westgate 7:40 The Sir Mix-A-Lot Slot Machine 9:00 Why Investors Own 43% of Vegas Homes 11:48 Inside an Abandoned Hotel in Jean 14:01 EDC Comes to Commercial Center 15:44 Golden Gate's High Limit Room & a Year of Free Play 17:03 Circa Becomes the A's First Founding Partner 18:00 "The Best Ballpark Ever Built" & the Dugout Suite 20:15 Will Derek Stevens Buy Into a Team? Want more MTM Vegas? Get our exclusive weekly aftershow and join the community.

Mayor Brandon Johnson's rental protection ordinance is at the center of a legislative fight at City Hall. Crain's commercial real estate reporter Rachel Herzog joins host Jeanne Sparrow to discuss the ordinance and its counterproposal.Plus: Chicago Fed chair Austan Goolsbee says the road to 2% inflation may not be painless, Canada brings its tariff worries to Chicago, Nike is making a move on the Mag Mile, and Gov. Pritzker opens up about his use of GLP-1s. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the wake of Reform leader in Wales, Dan Thomas standing down after being arrested, UK deputy Leader Richard Tice says there's no reason to suspend him pending the investigation. Welsh, Scottish and northern Irish leaders met in Cardiff this week to say that Westminster's time is over. Conservative and unionist MS Andrew RT Davies and pro-independence Plaid Cymru MS Sera Evans set out their stall. NHS waiting times have crept up again. Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor explains what he plans to do about it. Renters rights were raised in First Minister's questions on Tuesday. The TUC's Joe Allen has looked at how many MSs are landlords and tells us all about it, whilst Katie Dalton outlines the challenges for renters in Wales. After Sarah Cooper-Lesadd's surprising defection from far right Reform to left leaning Plaid Cymru, the Express' David Williamson recalls the various defections seen in Cardiff Bay and Westminster over the years.And in our series meeting politicians of all colours, this week we have Lord Don Touhig in the studio.

The latest PIPA Annual Investor Survey reveals a significant shift in investor sentiment, with more investors considering selling amid changing tax settings, rising holding costs, interest rates and concerns about property values.Chris Bates and buyer's agent Cate Bakos unpack what the survey reveals about investor behaviour and why grandfathering existing tax arrangements may not be enough to keep investors in the market. They explore what happens when established rental properties are sold to owner-occupiers, and why replacing that stock with new investment properties isn't as straightforward as policymakers might assume.The conversation also examines rentvesting, the growing appeal of higher-yielding property, the risks of investors pivoting into commercial property without sufficient expertise, and whether build-to-rent can realistically address the gaps in Australia's rental supply.With investor behaviour changing and rental demand remaining strong, Chris and Cate question whether housing policy is accounting for the full consequences of pushing private investors out of the market.Episode Highlights01:28 – PIPA Survey: The Investor Shift Nobody Can Ignore04:20 – Why Investors Are Selling Despite Being Grandfathered08:38 – Why Investors Aren't Switching to New Builds13:00 – Why Long-Term Investors Are Reconsidering Property18:53 – Where Investors Are Selling and Why20:52 – Who Pays When Investors Leave the Market?22:32 – Why Qualified Property Advice Matters More Than Ever27:09 – Are Property Falls as Bad as the Headlines Suggest?30:58 – The Borrowing Capacity Squeeze on Investors35:12 – Why Build-to-Rent Won't Solve the Rental Shortage38:07 – Chasing Yield: The Risk of Pivoting to Commercial42:19 – PIPA's Push for Better Investor Advice and Standards44:41 – Outro: Submit Your QuestionsAbout the GuestCate Bakos is a former President of the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) and is closely involved with the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA), where she advocates for investor education, consumer awareness and qualified property investment advice.She is also the Owner and Buyer's Agent at Cate Bakos Property, bringing extensive experience working directly with property buyers and investors across the Australian market. Her frontline perspective gives her a practical understanding of how investors respond to changing market conditions, tax settings and property values.In this episode, Cate draws on that experience to unpack the latest PIPA Investor Survey, including why investors are selling, what happens to established rental stock when they exit, and why some investors are looking towards higher-yielding residential and commercial property. She also discusses the importance of qualified advice as investors navigate an increasingly complex property environment.Connect with CateWebsite | Cate Bakos PropertyPhone - 03 7000 6026Mobile - 0422 638 362Email - cate@catebakos.com.auSocials:LinkedIn | Catherine BakosInstagram | Cate BakosFacebook | Cate BakosResourcesVisit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.auIf you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - questions@theelephantintheroom.com.auLooking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.auWork with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.auLooking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.auWork with Chris: chrisbates@alcove.com.auEnjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcastSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3r0nnJrLUu3t1GpO7X3j6EIf you enjoyed today's podcast, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There's more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!See you on the inside,Veronica & Chris

Daniel is a New Orleans firefighter starting a second career as a realtor. Before he even gets his first listing, he discovers that someone has stolen his identity and is setting up dozens of property showings. Meanwhile, hopeful renters are paying the impostor thousands of dollars in application fees and first-month deposits. Daniel is in a race against time to regain control of his identity and save others from becoming victims.  

Kate found herself having to make one of the most awkward phone calls imaginable, and the conversation quickly became a story worth sharing. We find out who was on the other end, why Kate had to make the call and how she managed to get through one seriously uncomfortable situation. Plus, It sounds impossible, but some kids have apparently grown up without ever trying one of Australia's favourite foods: hot chips. How far does your love of fast food go? One family has taken their KFC obsession to an entirely new level with a very unusual name for their child. Renters are apparently finding a new way to keep their landlords on their toes, and we play a round of RIDDLE TIME! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renters are apparently finding a new way to keep their landlords on their toes and it involves a very unexpected gesture. We look at the things tenants are doing for their landlords, why the trend is catching on and what might happen if you do this!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whatever the national rent headline says this month, there's a good chance it isn't describing everything... Rob & Rob are joined by Richard Donnell, Executive Director of Research at Zoopla, who tracks what 9 million monthly users do on the site and how landlords and agents set rents in real time. He takes them through what's driving the gap between one town and the next, and why the case for owning rental property looks nothing like it did 10 years ago. There's also a free tool to check what your own property should be letting for. (02:30) The number that took everyone by surprise, and why it has completely reversed (04:47) Where rents are climbing fastest right now, and what those markets have in common (10:01) Does the data prove the Renters' Rights Act has pushed advertised rents up? (14:49) Why huge demand for rented homes in London still isn't pushing rents up much (17:51) Why the reason for owning rental property has flipped since the tax changes (22:56) Richard's call on rents over the next 12 months (24:58) Hub Extra Links mentioned: Zoopla's rental estimate calculator Enjoy the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others find us! Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, Property Pulse Find out more about Property Hub Invest

Sept. 16, 2026- New York State Animal Protection Federation Executive Director Libby Post makes the case for legislation prohibiting any differences in renters' insurance costs based on the breed of dogs people own.

Chair: Jess Harold, Legal & professional editor, Estates Gazette Speaker: Annabelle Redman, real estate partner, Clyde & Co and Marc Eden, investment director, Arada London Recorded at the London Real Estate Forum in partnership with Clyde & Co, this episode examines how policy is shaping housing delivery, from the draft London Plan, the new National Planning Policy Framework and the implications of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and wider leasehold reform, to the practical issues facing developers that affect viability and affordable housing provision.

Acknowledgement of country// News headlines: Yemen displacementGaza building collapseWest bank raids by Israeli settlers and militaryAnti-death penalty activists face trial in SingaporeDesignated area declared at Northland Shopping centre today (Thursday), providing for extra police powers//  CW: This episode contains mention of colonial violence including genocide, ecoside and the names of First Nations people who have died. If you need support, you can call mob only helplines 13 YARN on 13 92 76 and Yarning Safe'n'Strong on 1800 959 563, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 which is open to anyone. We listened back to a new regular segment from 3CR's Kill Your Lawn and Kick Your Fence called Suburban Hellscapes that examines how cities have been organised by drawing on Henri Lefebvre's Right to The City and anti-colonial critique. In the second part of this series Amy Ciara brings you a case study on the issues facing the Armstrong Creek Urban Development Zone in Greater Geelong. You can hear part one by going to 3cr.org.au/killyourlawn, or tune in to future episodes live on 3CR - fortnightly at 9am on Fridays.// Mhamad Babai, documentary producer and activist from Jaffa, Palestine, joined us to speak about the Australian premiere of the film Human Animals, produced by David Wachsmann. Juxtaposing catastrophic scenes from Gaza with denial, normalisation and enthusiasm for the genocide expressed by Israelis only a few kilometres away, this documentary exposes the history and ideology underpinning the systemic dehumanisation of Palestinians. The film premieres at Kino Cinemas tonight, accompanied by a Q&A with Mhamad Babai and Jewish Council of Australia Community Engagement Director, Ohad Kozminsky. Get your tickets here.//  In August we were joined by Bendigo renter and housing advocate, Kristie Hoskins, to talk to us about a petition she launched in the Victorian Parliament to ban continuous video surveillance throughout routine rental inspections. This week, we were fortunate to have Kristie on the show again to learn more about a federal petition she put forward to make it easier for renters to obtain their first home loan, and hear about a recent win she had in her campaign.// We were joined by Jorgen Doyle, an activist who was involved in blockading the access road to the Pine Gap military intelligence facility on October 9, 2025, in protest of Australia's signals intelligence complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza, whose case in the Alice Springs Magistrates Court ultimately concluded with the judge deciding not to record a conviction. We were also joined by criminal defence lawyer Nicholas Hanna, who represented the defendants - Jorgen Doyle and Yul Scarf - in this case. We heard about evidence presented to the court that confirmed Israel's conduct in Gaza constitutes a genocide, and that Pine Gap is sending intelligence to the Israeli military enabling this genocide.//

Send us Fan MailRenting or owning? For many consumers, the conversation never gets beyond the monthly payment—but there's a much bigger conversation agents should be having.In this episode, the RFT Realty team explores how agents can help renters understand the potential benefits and possibilities of real estate ownership. We discuss the conflicting messages consumers hear about whether buying a home is a good investment, why homeownership can be a long-term wealth-building tool, and how owning a home may help reduce housing expenses in retirement.We also dive into the practical conversations agents can have with renters, including:• Why you don't necessarily need 20% down to buy a home• Down payment and closing-cost assistance• Seller credits and financing options• How a first home can be a stepping stone rather than a forever home• Using additional space or rental income to help make ownership work• Multigenerational housing and partnering with family• Comparing the long-term cost of renting versus owning• Questions that help renters explore their options without feeling pressuredThe biggest takeaway? Agents don't need to convince every renter to buy. They need to become confident enough to ask better questions, understand the options available, and help people discover whether homeownership could be possible for them.If you work with renters—or have renters in your sphere—this conversation is worth listening to. It may change the way you approach your next homeownership conversation.Watch the full team meeting and access the slides here. Support the show

In this essential update on the Renters' Rights Act,Simon breaks down the UK government's newly announced rollout of the Register Your Rental Property database, which will be introduced on a region-by-region basis across England starting December 2026.  From the £65-per-property fee and strict three-month compliance windows to the exhaustive list of safety records and tenancy details you must supply, this episode reveals what every property investor must know before they can legally market their homes. With local councils holding the power to issue civil penalties reaching up to £40,000 for non-compliance, you'll learn why letting agents cannot take full control of the process, how to prepare early across multiple regions, and how to protect your portfolio from severe enforcement action. KEY TAKEAWAYS Landlords in England must register themselves and their rental properties on a region-by-region timeline, kicking off in the West Midlands in December 2026 and wrapping up across the country by November 2027. Registration costs £65 per property, and active entries must be updated yearly or whenever tenancy, property, or safety certification details change. Failure to register or keep records up to date can trigger civil penalties from local councils starting at £7,000 and escalating to £40,000 for false statements or ongoing breaches. You cannot delegate the full process to a letting agent; property owners must initiate and complete the registration themselves before they can legally market any property. BEST MOMENTS "Once the database is in force, landlords and letting agents will not be able to market or advertise a residential property unless there's a valid landlord registration number and a property registration number." "I know of a landlord who just yesterday decided, 'Right, that's it, this is the final straw, I'm selling my properties because of this.' So this will be another thing that will push a lot of landlords over the edge." "Civil penalties can increase up to £40,000 where a landlord gives database false or misleading information, or for continuing breach of the obligations..." "Don't leave it to the end, because there might be certain bits of information you need to collect and gather; you don't want to be doing it on the last day." VALUABLE RESOURCES To find your local pin meeting visit: ⁠www.PinMeeting.co.uk⁠ and use voucher code PODCAST to attend you first meeting as Simon's guest (instead of paying the normal £20). Contact and follow Simon here: Facebook: ⁠http://www.facebook.com/OfficialSimonZutshi⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonzutshi/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/SimonZutshiOfficial⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/simonzutshi⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/simonzutshi/⁠ Simon Zutshi, experienced investor, successful entrepreneur and best-selling author, is widely recognised as one of the top wealth creation strategists in the UK. Having started to invest in property in 1995 and went on to become financially independent by the age of 32. Passionate about sharing his experience, Simon founded the property investor's network (pin) in 2003 ⁠www.pinmeeting.co.uk⁠   pin has since grown to become the largest property networking organisation in the UK, with monthly meetings in 50 cities, designed specifically to provide a supportive, educational and inspirational environment for people like you to network with and learn from other successful investors. Since 2003, Simon has taught thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners how to successfully invest in a tax-efficient way.  How to create additional streams of income, give them more time to do the things they want to do and build their long-term wealth. Simon's book “Property Magic” which is now in its sixth edition, became an instant hit when first released in 2008 and remains an Amazon No 1 best-selling property book. Simon launched his latest business, ⁠www.CrowdProperty.com⁠, in 2014, which is an FCA Regulated peer to peer lending platform to facilitate loans between private individuals and property professionals. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Canada's housing market is becoming more affordable, but just as buyers are getting some relief, a new set of risks is emerging.The latest RBC affordability data shows condo affordability nationally has improved all the way back to late-2019 levels, reversing much of the deterioration that followed the pandemic. Toronto and Victoria are now even more affordable than they were in 2019, while Vancouver is only a few percentage points away.Renters are also gaining ground. Average Canadian rents have fallen 4.8% year-over-year to $2,035, marking the 23rd consecutive month of annual declines. Vancouver rents are down 2.4% to $2,729, while record levels of purpose-built rental construction continue adding competition for tenants.But affordability is only one side of the equation.Canada unexpectedly lost 41,700 jobs in August, compared with expectations for a 15,000 gain. Unemployment remained at 6.4%, but wage growth slowed to just 2%, its weakest pace since 2017. The question now is whether this was simply one weak month or the beginning of tariffs and slowing growth showing up in employment.Meanwhile, mortgage borrowers face a very different problem.Canada's five-year government bond yield reached 3.63%, a 27-month high, as bond yields surge globally amid inflation concerns, enormous government borrowing and geopolitical instability. Because five-year Canadian bond yields heavily influence fixed mortgage pricing, mortgage rates can rise even while the Bank of Canada keeps its overnight rate unchanged.Markets are also increasingly contemplating Bank of Canada rate hikes. At the time of recording, market pricing implied a 42% probability of an October hike and 78% by December, with additional increases being priced into 2027. Those probabilities can change rapidly, but the dramatic shift illustrates how quickly the interest-rate narrative has reversed.Development is providing equally dramatic examples of the market reset.CURV, the proposed 60-storey luxury Vancouver tower once marketed as the world's tallest Passive House and famous for offering a Porsche promotion, entered receivership after selling only 41 units. Presale contracts have now been terminated, and the 1075 Nelson Street development site is back on the market. The land had reportedly been appraised between $169 million and $183 million in 2024, illustrating just how dramatically development economics have changed.And even completed projects aren't immune to problems. Owners at Coquitlam's 567 Clarke + Como have filed a lawsuit alleging defects involving waterproofing, windows, HVAC, concrete, balconies and elevators. None of the allegations have been proven in court, and the developer disputes the claim, but the case provides an important reminder for condo buyers: new does not automatically mean risk-free.Finally, Vancouver's fall market is beginning under a cloud of uncertainty. Only 447 homes sold during the first nine days of September, compared with 539 during the same period last year, a roughly 20% decline. It's far too early to call the month, but the initial numbers point toward an unusually slow start.The contradiction is becoming impossible to ignore: housing and rents are becoming more affordable, but employment is weakening and borrowing costs threaten to rise again.For Vancouver real estate, the next phase may be determined by which of those forces wins._________________________________ Contact Us To Book Your Private Consultation:

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has staked a lot of her political project on the fact that Seattle is majority renters: she’s trying to make life more affordable for them. She’s promised to build a lot of housing over her term, and to set Seattle up for a better-housed future. We’re going to check in on that… and to do that, we’re going to the one-bedroom apartment she still rents. Join Sound Politics on Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30pm at The Collective Seattle for "Voters Guide Live." This event is a collaboration between KUOW and Seattle City Club featuring KUOW's Cat Smith, Scott Greenstone, and Sarah Mizes-Tan. We'll talk about all the issues and races that will dominate your ballot this fall and answer your questions.Find tickets and more information here.Ask questions we could answer at that event by filling out this survey. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/politics Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Jason Pagano. Our producer is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Paige Browning and Scott Greenstone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retiring early, making your time your own and sticking it to the man is something many of us will have dreamed of.But what would it take you to get there and how much would you need to start investing now depending on your age and when you want to kick back?On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at the early retirement dream. Is it realistic, what do you gain and what do you give up, and why is it vitally important for some to use an Isa as well as a pension?One thing hampering many of our saving efforts is the cost of living and now inflation warnings are coming thick and fast again. How dire are the predictions, how likely are they to come true, what does it mean for the rest of your finances – and what's the cost of a weekly shop got to do with things?Plus, the Renters' Rights Act is about to deliver a landlord register but is that a good idea or more red tape.And finally, trading cards are worth big money and catching the attention at the moment, so how did Lee become an accidental collector?Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us hello@dmgmedia.co.ukText us 020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rents are shooting through the roof in San Francisco as the AI boom creates yet another new class of wealthy people. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the city is now $4,600, according to Apartment List, up more than 25% from last year. Some landlords are looking to cash in by clearing out tenants from rent-controlled homes, so renters say they're being offered massive buyouts – some above six figures – to leave their apartments or else face no-fault eviction. We'll talk about wild times in San Francisco's rental market and how landlords, renters and those in search for a place to live are adjusting. Guests: Kami Rieck, contributing writer, New York Times Tuesday Thornton, staff attorney, Eviction Defense Collaborative Joshua Howard, executive vice president of local government affairs, California Apartment Association J.K. Dineen, Bay Area housing reporter, San Francisco Chronicle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rory McGowan catches up with Eddie Hooker, the CEO of mydesposits, to talk about how the Renters Rights Act's most basic terms are still not being followed, four months after its introduction. Knowing your rights under this act is vital at this time of year, because August is the most popular time for moving house. For those tenants now settling into their new place, how many know what the new rules are?

Inflation is making renters poorer—and not just because your rent keeps going up. Every month, more of your paycheck is being transferred into housing costs, leaving you with less money to save, invest, or ever become an owner. You don't benefit from equity or appreciation; you simply have to come up with more money to remain in the same place with little to no upgrades. On today's show, let's get brutally honest here about why inflation is making renters poorer, why this problem continues even when inflation supposedly cools down, and what renters can actually do to stop falling further behind. You're going to learn why rent inflation can be so damaging to your bottom line, how ownership of assets can help you get ahead, and much more!

An apartment complex in Germantown illegally operated for two years without a license, leading to pushback from tenants when they found out. Host Trenae Nuri and senior creative producer Abby Fritz talk about how this happened, as well as the record-setting number of flood warnings the Philly area has been getting this year. Plus, in our final segment just for City Cast Philly Neighbors, we dive into the Labor Day events you should have on your radar if you'll be staying in the city for the long weekend. Our Friday news roundups are powered by great local journalism:  Confrontation ensues as Germantown HS apartments found to be operating without license Philly tenant unions have quadrupled since the pandemic — and their political power is growing Philadelphia proactive rental-inspection plan takes shape ahead of Council vote West Oak Lane renters could receive cash refunds under new class-action settlement Common Landlord-Tenant Issues The Philly region has been a national hot spot this year — for flood warnings Renters' Rights 101 This Broad Street baked potato costs $88 Philadelphia region's Labor Day travel predictions  Our newsletter has Philly news & events in your inbox every weekday morning. Call or text us: 215-259-8170 Instagram: @citycastphilly Support our show and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor. Sign up here.  Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about the sponsor of this Friday, September 4th episode: CraftNation

In this week's Data Debrief, Kyle Winterbottom and Catherine Dowden-King unpack a ChatGPT-powered "smart learning" teddy bear aimed at three-year-olds, and use it as a way into a bigger question: when we let technology deliver the output, what happens to the learning journey that used to produce it? That thread runs from toddlers and university degrees all the way into the enterprise.They also discuss Tuesday's main episode with Chris Pearce, Chief Data Officer at Ageas UK, why AI use cases are finally moving from the sandbox into production, and why the value of that work is still invisible to most customers.They also discuss:Why an AI companion that validates a child's every feeling removes the friction that teaches them how to share, wait and apologise.Why "screen-free" is a weak selling point when the device still talks back, listens and adapts.How closed-circuit toys like a Toniebox or Yoto player carry a fundamentally different risk profile to a Wi-Fi-connected, always-listening teddy.What happens when parental controls protect one side of the conversation but not what the child says.Why universities banned AI not to stop augmentation, but to stop replacement — and why that distinction matters everywhere else too.How one Strava user overlaid running-route data with rent and income data to find up-and-coming New York neighbourhoods before prices caught up.Why personal, intuitive data use cases like that one are a better route into data literacy than heavy-handed formal training.Why psychological safety keeps surfacing as the precondition for genuine experimentation with AI.How the AI hype cycle has bought data leaders more freedom to test and fail than the analytics era ever did.Why podcast guests are suddenly willing to name specific, productionised use cases when a year ago they wouldn't talk on the record.What the shift from internally-focused efficiency gains to customer-facing AI means for how organisations talk about their investment.Why a business can cut processing times from 100 days to five and still have customers asking what changed for them.How the gap between the AI narrative and the actual customer experience is becoming a reputational problem, not just a comms one.Why Kyle still had to request a paper form by post to update his details with a pension provider in 2026.How Octopus Energy empowering agents to send flowers or waive costs resets customer expectations for every other provider.Why data teams need a feedback loop with customers without becoming a ticket office that builds whatever the last complaint asked for.What Chris Pearce's point about hallucinations — that nobody ever measured how often tired, stressed humans got it wrong — says about the standard we hold AI to.Why the structural and operating model problems inside organisations, not the technology, are what keep use cases stuck in the sandbox.How the AI risk conversation has finally given data governance, quality and management their moment of investment.Why CDOs should take that funding while it's on the table, whatever vehicle got it there.

The housing market is shifting as affordability remains strained and buyers gain more negotiating power. Steven Thomas and Brennen Thomas examine mortgage rates, home prices, Gen Z's hopes for a housing crash, and whether America is becoming a nation of renters. The episode also looks at what buyers and sellers can expect through the remainder of 2026.Got questions? Drop them in the comments or email us at brennen@reportsonhousing.com for a chance to have them featured in a future episode!Time Stamps:00:00-Introduction01:54-Housing Supply, Demand, and the Fall Market04:44-Inflation, Mortgage Rates, and the Federal Reserve08:06-Is This Really the Worst Time to Sell?10:24-Why Buyers Have More Negotiating Power11:56-Why Gen Z Wants a Housing Crash15:19-Is America Becoming a Nation of Renters?18:02-What to Expect for the Rest of 202619:41-Final Thoughts

Four months into the Renters' Rights Act, I sat down with Suzanne Smith to explore how letting agents can navigate enforcement changes, court challenges and compliance risks. We discuss practical steps to stay fair, informed and protected.

You probably have a pretty specific picture in your head when you hear the words “home break-in.” Maybe it involves someone kicking down the front door in the middle of the night. But according to our guest, that’s not usually how it works. And that might change the way you think about home security. In this episode of Grown-Up Stuff, Matt and Lea talk with Aaron Miller, Vice President at ADT and Head of ADT Blu, about the things that actually make your home vulnerable, from leaving obvious signs that no one’s home to relying on a camera notification without anyone there to respond. They also get into smart-home technology, DIY security systems, and the difference between simply knowing something is happening and actually having help when it does. And because life has a funny way of creating new reasons to think about security, like moving, having a baby, and going on vacation, Aaron shares some practical things you can do to protect your home without turning it into a fortress. Because being a grown-up means realizing that home security is probably one of those things you should think about before you need it. And, apparently, listening for someone breaking in at 2 a.m. isn't much of a strategy. This episode is sponsored by ADT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data came out saying Florida renters need about $77,500 a year to afford a modest two-bedroom rental.That sounds like bad news for Florida real estate investors. But is it really? Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and South Florida all tell very different stories when you compare rents, prices, and investment economics.After signaling a potential rate increase in September, rates dropped in August. Should investors wait, or act now while options like JWB's 3.9% financing are still available?These are the topics that JWB's cofounder, Gregg Cohen, and host, Pablo Gonzalez will tackle on this week's edition of the Not Your Average Investor Show.They'll break down:✅ What the $77,500 Florida renter number is really signaling✅ Why Jacksonville may not move like Miami, Tampa, Orlando, or South Florida✅ Why rates dropped when a possible September rate hike was what was predicted✅ How JWB's limited 3.9% financing offer could change the math on a rental property todayWhat does it all actually mean for investors right now? And is waiting the smarter move… or the riskier one? Listen NOW!Chapters:00:00 Florida Rent Shock02:04 Renters Boost Credit03:34 How Rent Reporting Works05:26 Affordable Housing Groundbreaking05:51 LIHTC Explained08:00 Why This Deal Matters11:02 JWB Cares Fundraising Update12:05 Is Florida Unaffordable?14:16 Florida Markets Compared17:09 Jacksonville Rent Advantage18:39 Income vs Rent Burden24:53 Home Prices and Cost of Living26:22 Miami Cost Shock26:44 Population Growth Runway30:21 Jacksonville Bubble Explained31:55 Separating Headlines From Data34:14 Why Big Markets Only36:00 Fed Dot Plot Reset38:52 Rate Probabilities Whiplash41:43 Stop Sitting On Sidelines43:58 Boring Buy And Hold Wins46:16 Deal Breakdown Ottawa Avenue50:54 Wrap Up Community Q And AStay connected to us! Join our real estate investor community LIVE: https://jwbrealestatecapital.com/nyai/Schedule a Turnkey strategy call: https://jwbrealestatecapital.com/turnkey/ *Get social with us:*Subscribe to our channel  @notyouraverageinvestor  Subscribe to  @JWBRealEstateCompanies  

Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Sunday 19 October at Church House, Westminster. ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner made housing a central pillar of their domestic agenda when they were elected. Yet from two disgraced housing ministers to younger generations' desperation about astronomical rents and unaffordable property prices, housing controversies are rarely far from the headlines. The government's rhetoric remains impressive. Rayner, the former housing secretary, put forward the Social and Affordable Homes plan, to deliver 300,000 new homes, with ‘180,000 earmarked for social rent' and claims Labour will ‘build, build, build' – even on the sacred green belt. But despite the promise to deliver 1.5million new homes in England over the five-year parliamentary term, evidence suggests a disappointing failure to get even close to meeting their own housing targets – just like previous governments. So, we seem, yet again, to be stuck in a rut of not enough homes for those who need them. UK housing has been in crisis for a long time. For years, demand has overwhelmed supply, and both rents and mortgages continue to climb. The Office for National Statistics' private rents index shows that renting in England is now 50 per cent more expensive than 14 years ago. London's 2.7million private tenants saw their rents rise by 11.5 per cent in 2024 alone. Some still blame Margaret Thatcher's 1980s housing reforms: the right to buy was sold as a pathway to homeownership and social mobility, but instead led to a decline in social housing and made private landlords rich. One think tank has claimed the policy cost taxpayers £200 billion. However, in Bricking it: The UK Housing Crisis and the Failure of Policy, Charlie Winstanley argues that while the significant economic and social changes under Thatcher shaped the housing landscape today, there are much wider demographic, social policy, financial and industrial shifts that have accumulated to create such an unstable housing situation. A huge increase in migration has also become part of the debate. Is the problem more about too many people rather than too few houses? Meanwhile, shadowy plans to turn residential properties into homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs) to replace asylum hotels add to a sense of grievance, shifting the problem to residential areas without consulting locals. Other factors have created an escalating sense of crisis: eye-watering service charges and ground rent for leaseholders; landlords complaining that Renters' Rights legislation will mean taking properties off the market; politicians pandering to NIMBY voters; labyrinthine planning laws. Is the government going about its housing strategy in the wrong way? How can we solve the housing crisis? SPEAKERS James Heartfield lecturer and writer; author, Britain's Empires 1600-2020 and Let's Build! Helen MacNeil consultant architect, shedkm; founder, Honest Architecture (HA!) free-speech dinners Matthew Torbitt political commentator and writer; senior fellow, The Centre for Social Justice Charlie Winstanley author, Bricking it: The UK Housing Crisis and the Failure of Policy; public affairs & social policy development professional CHAIR Sheila Lewis retired consultant; former housing association chair

In our August 30, Sunday gathering we wrap up our Once and Future King series in the book of Matthew for 2026, by looking at a parable of Jesus in Matthew 21. We'll pick back up in Matthew in Summer 2027.

Thank you EG, Cary Grace ∆, Greg Owens, Richard Hogan, MD, PhD(2), DBA, Tamar Kranick, and many others for tuning into my live video!* Federal judge again halts Trump's executive order limiting mail voting in midterms: President's directive stalls for a second time about a week before the first postal ballots are due to be sent out. [More]* ‘We'd Really Prefer Affordable Healthcare': Trump ‘Lake America' Order Ridiculed as Inane Distraction: “The American people don't want to rename Lake Ontario Lake America,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders. “They want affordable healthcare, childcare, housing, education, nutrition assistance—all of which you have massively cut.” [More]* Florida grand jury finds DeSantis administration ‘misappropriated' funds from Medicaid settlement: Grand jury declined to indict anyone but said there was a ‘sophisticated scheme' to use funds for political activity. [More]* Private Equity Turned Apartments Into Profit Widgets—Then Tenants Paid the Price: The Nob Hill disaster exposes what happens when housing becomes a financial asset: private equity extracts profits, defers maintenance, and leaves apartment dwellers trapped inside someone else's investment strategy. [More][WP-ROUTING]Site: PoliticsDoneRight.comCategory: KPFT ShowsTags: Donald Trump, Trump Administration, Mail Voting, Mail-In Voting, Mail Ballots, Voting Rights, 2026 Midterms, Election Integrity, Indira Talwani, U.S. Postal Service, Lake America, Lake Ontario, Bernie Sanders, Affordable Healthcare, Healthcare Costs, Cost of Living, Ron DeSantis, Casey DeSantis, Hope Florida, Florida Politics, Medicaid, Medicaid Settlement, Political Corruption, Public Funds, Private Equity, Housing Crisis, Corporate Landlords, Financialization of Housing, Apartment Tenants, Renters, Tenant Rights, Nob Hill Apartments, Syracuse, Housing Affordability, Capitalism, Economic Justice, Democracy, Progressive Politics, Politics Done Right, KPFT 90.1 FM To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

A program known as the Housing Eviction Law Project, has struggled to meet the high demand for legal representation and fallen far short of the goals set for it by city legislators several years ago. But a new injection of funds could make a massive difference for renters in the city.

Rob Whiting is the co-founder and CEO of Boom, a proptech company building the future of rental financial services for residential property managers across single-family rental, manufactured housing and multifamily. Boom's three products — Boom Report for rent reporting, Boom Screen for applicant underwriting, and Boom CRM for agentic leasing and self-showing — serve hundreds of thousands of doors and count American Homes 4 Rent and Manage America among their key partners. Before Boom, Rob founded ventures in healthcare and education, including Haystack Health, a telemedicine company, and a financial aid organization focused on FAFSA access. Rob is based in Austin, Texas.(02:55) Why Rob built Boom(05:44) The ROAD to Housing Act, explained(07:11) The 350-home cap & how institutions keep buying(14:01) Rent reporting as a compliance path(16:09) What Boom does & who it serves(17:44) Is screening a commodity? Data quality & hit logic(21:51) How to evaluate a tenant screening vendor(25:47) How the ManageAmerica partnership came together(30:00) Lessons from partnering with AMH Homes(32:48) Closing the leasing stack gap with Boom CRM(35:52) Coexisting with Yardi, RealPage, & AppFolio(37:40) Collaboration Superpower: Daniel Ek

Join our upcoming live event at GREwebinars.com. It's called "The Seven Figure Solution" on August 27th at 8 PM Eastern. After listening to me for 12 years, learn how to finally put it all together for a coordinated, tax-efficient retirement and wealth plan.  Keith debunks alarmist predictions of an 80–95% housing crash and explains why inflation, constrained supply, and strong demand continue to put upward pressure on home prices.  He breaks down key trends in renter mobility, highlights how the AI boom is driving record-breaking rents in San Francisco, and contrasts "dopamine culture" and money maxing with GRE's philosophy of growing one's means through income property and leverage.  Keith also discusses how the Seven-Figure Solution framework helps real estate investors more effectively integrate properties, taxes, insurance, and retirement planning.  Episode Page: GetRichEducation.com/620 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREinvestmentcoach.com Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  For predictable 10-12% quarterly returns, visit FreedomFamilyInvestments.com/GRE or text  FAMILY to 66866  Join Mid South Home Buyers' one-time, free live webinar featuring Keith Weinhold on September 30 at GetRichEducation.com/MidSouth to learn how Memphis' economic expansion could create new real estate investment opportunities, and have your questions answered in real time. Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search "how to leave an Apple Podcasts review"  For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— GREletter.com  Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Complete episode transcript:   Keith Weinhold  0:01   Welcome to GRE. I'm your host Keith Weinhold. An alarmist calls for a housing price crash of 80 to 95 percent. We'll listen to it. This city's rents are up 26 percent annually. The rise of dopamine culture and money maxing has made its way into personal finance. Then an invitation to join us for a special event today on Get Rich Education.   Keith Weinhold  0:29   What if I told you that one of America's strongest cash flow real estate markets is also becoming the new brains and brawn behind AI? That city is Memphis, believe it or not. In September 30th, we're going to show you why the smart money is paying attention now, along with an investing opportunity you won't want to miss. Join me, Terry Kerr and Matthew Van Horn of Mid South Homebuyers, the largest turnkey company in Memphis with more than 6,000 homes under management, for a free live webinar, the likes of which I've never done before. We're going to look at what billions in new investment could mean for jobs, housing demand, neighborhood appreciation, and your portfolio. Everyone who attends live will also get exclusive access to the best deal terms MidSeal has ever offered. Reserve your free seat at getricheducation.com/midsouth. Again, that september 30. Don't say we didn't tell you. Save your spot at getricheducation.com/midsouth.   Speaker 1  1:35   You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is Get Rich Education.   Keith Weinhold  1:51   Welcome to GRE from Naples, Italy, to Naples, Florida, and across 188 nations worldwide. You're listening to one of America's longest-running and most listened-to shows in the real estate world. This is Get Rich Education, and I'm Keith Weinhold. Yes, the very founder of this snaggle-toothed operation right here. I'm a longtime real estate investor myself, erstwhile writer for both Forbes and the Rich Dad Advisors, serving on the Forbes Real Estate Council, you can also see my work in the USA Today and Business Insider. I'm the creator of Real Estate Pays Five Ways and the Inflation Triple Crown. Oh, after all that, really, I'm just a shaved mammal with slack jaw, a highly leveraged hominid of the landed gentry, right before I discuss the housing price crash of 80 to 95% you know, keep in mind that most people think that if you're in real estate, then you've got to be either a realtor or a landlord. I am neither a realtor nor a landlord. People also think that it takes tons of money. It does not. Now you could pursue no money down strategies, but that takes some time to learn and skill to develop. Now I was a landlord in the early years of my real estate investing, but after about six years of that, I hired a property manager and never looked back. Therefore, keeping this mostly passive, a 20 to 25 percent down payment on a carefully selected residential rental property includes ones that today can still have purchase prices below 200k. That's purchased in a geographically investor advantaged market. Okay, that is the center of what we do here because when you own property this way, now you've got the margin where you can pay a property manager to enjoy the five ways that you're paid mostly passively. Be a savvy borrower.   Keith Weinhold  4:02   Now, when you're between deals and accumulating capital to add the next piece of property to your rental portfolio, that's where you can flip and do the opposite in the short term and be a real estate lender for perhaps an eight to 10% stable return. That's what I do, rather than getting three and a half percent, which is the going rate today in a high yield savings account. So be a lender between deals in the short term, or you're a savvy borrower long term. Now the late analyst at Housing Wire, and he was also a past guest here on the show, Logan Modashami, he brought this 80 to 95% housing price crash media piece to my attention. It's in the form of a meta reel that got a lot of attention. Let's play it. I mean, this type of nonsense circulates out. It's not founded on anything substantive, and this just absolutely does not serve anybody. You've got to take this type of thing as entertainment, but it's being presented in a serious, informative way, and just listen to the basis for the claim.    Hayden Weston  5:19   The United States housing market is about to collapse 80 to 95 percent, which means that homes that were worth 1.5 million are going to be worth 300,000. The reason is simple: the U.S. housing market has reached its most unaffordable level in history. People cannot afford to buy homes, and if people cannot buy homes, the market must correct. The question is how hard the market is going to crash, not if it will. According to CPI and price history data, this is predicted to be worse than the 2008 housing bubble. We are going to see prices drop 80 to 95 percent.   Keith Weinhold  6:02   A housing price collapse of 80 to 95 percent. This is from a platform called Hayden Trades. It has got to be the worst example of trying to steal attention rather than serving people. Gosh, don't even make 20% or 50% crash predictions anymore go for far higher, I guess. He says it is according to the CPI and price history data. This doesn't even make sense. Now the low affordability mentioned that part is true, and this is what's slowed home price appreciation. But here in the late 2020s, there was more upward pressure on home prices, not downward inflationary pressure, which is rampant. That is poised to raise replacement cost because a home is a bundle of land, labor, lumber, concrete, copper, and energy. America's best job markets face land and regulatory constraints that pressures prices upward, and regulations are not easily repealed either. There's a large reservoir of sideline buyers that still want to own, and single-family home construction is woefully insufficient, keeping the supply down. Indeed, there is more upward pressure on home prices, not downward. This coming inflation wave, that's exacerbated by war, is unfortunately, or fortunately, if you're positioned, it's poised to widen the K-shaped economy where winners win bigger and losers lose more. The boat is leaving the dock. Are you on it?   Keith Weinhold  7:54   The distance between the boat and the dock just keeps increasing, and eventually you won't be able to make the leap, the jump from the boat to the dock. Now, in the near term, because we're approaching the fall season, when you hear stats about median home prices, note that prices are lower in autumn and winter than they are in spring and summer. It happens pretty much every year. Now, why is this? Well, one reason is that a lot of people don't think about is simply the fact that smaller houses get sold in the winter compared to the summer. And why would this be? This is because families with school-age children who need larger homes get their deals done in summer months before school starts. That is one reason why median home prices are higher in the summer than they are in the winter. When you look at a long-term price chart of homes, this is why you see peaks each summer and dips each winter. Now, investors like us. Now we're not buying so much for school-age children considerations, but this phenomenon affects the median prices that you see quoted in most any market. That is how that works, and why homes present better in the summer too. Green lawns, Leaves, flowers, and natural light improve curb appeal. Some say buy when the snow is flying, sell when the flowers are blooming.   Keith Weinhold  9:32   Shortly, I want to tell you about the city with rents that are up 26% year over year, and there's no end in sight to those rent increases, either. But first, there's a significant national real estate trend. Now, a lot of times, the discussion about the rental market centers around the level of rents or the vacancy rate, and those metrics sure do matter. But what about tenant retention? That is. Renter mobility rate. How long do residents stay? Well, renter mobility is down, down, down. They are not moving around. That's the big trend. Tenants are staying longer. Renters are waiting longer to buy homes than prior generations did. I mean a lot of people are beginning to wonder if their starter home will arrive before their first social security check does? The share of renters planning to move within three years that has plunged since 2019 from 57% then down to just 37% now. This is according to a national survey from the New York Fed. 57 down to 37% that plan to move within three years. Yes, this means that even after the pandemic waned, renters plan to stay in place longer. Everyone is staying put longer, and what exactly is keeping all of those moving boxes in storage? You guessed it. Buying their own home is more difficult to afford. It's kind of like an obstacle course where the down payment is waiting at the finish line, which is a long ways away. It's like an ultra marathon. This decline in renter mobility. This is obviously good news for income property owners and landlords because vacancy and turnover are our greatest expenses. People are paying more.   Keith Weinhold  11:39   You know, it's interesting that many are staying and put because a lot of renters often pay three to 5% annual renewal increases, especially in single-family rentals. Among apartment dwellers, there are currently more move-ups than move downs. People willing to spend a little more, and part of this is because a lot of people have just simply given up, completely given up on buying a home, choosing instead to fritter away their money on DraftKings parlays, couchie predictions, meme coins, burritos whose delivery fees cost more than the burrito, and a dozen forgotten subscriptions quietly feeding on their checking account. Yeah, a lot of people have just given in. Besides falling renter mobility, there is also falling homeowner mobility. One reason it has fallen is due to the well-documented mortgage rate lock-in effect. But mobility is down among both groups, among renters and homeowners, for a few different reasons. Like I've mentioned in previous shows, America is aging, and older people move less. Remote work means people don't have to move for a job, and housing inventory remains limited. This means that there are few attractive alternatives to move into, whether you're a homeowner or a renter. Those are some reasons as to why mobility is down for both groups. And the New York Fed analysis shows that renter mobility it is especially weak among that subgroup that believes that they will never own a home. I mean, this group of people really isn't moving. They are staying in place even longer. This group that believes that they will never own a home, and this is a skew toward lower income renters for sure, but even upper income renters are staying longer. You know, I own a lot of single family rental homes myself, and I'm just thinking now, I can't even remember the last time someone's moved out. It might be over a year since anyone has moved. The average renter's perceived chance of ever owning a home that has fallen, and this is significant for investors. Okay, that percent of renters that ever hope to own a home has fallen from 52% back in 2015 down to just 35% last year. 52% down to 35% The amount of renters that think they'll ever own a home. Both single-family rental and apartment renters are staying longer. This is both types, and it's not because these renters stop wanting homes. About two-thirds say that they would prefer to own if they had the money to do so. This is substantial. The drop in American mobility rate. I mean, that part is actually decades long, and this seems to catch people off guard. A lot of people falsely believe that people are moving more often, and that's something I've touched on before. This deeply hurts.   Keith Weinhold  15:00   Certain industries like moving companies, furniture stores, and yes, real estate agents—all these groups of people have got to be wondering where did everybody go? The answer is nowhere. Apparently, they are not going anywhere. So the bottom line here, with this lack of mobility, is that renters feel locked out, owners feel locked in, and landlords feel locked up with their tenants staying longer. Although this is good news for landlords and investment property owners, you know there is one thing to be careful of amidst these longer tenant stays, and that is, well, say you buy a rental property with an existing tenant in place that's been there for a while, it's more likely then that that tenant is paying below market rent, and why would that be? Well, because generally, the longer a tenant stays, the more likely it is that the previous landlord gave them a break on the rent. Now, why does that happen? Well, landlords can get lazy about bumping up the rent, and see what's really going on is that the previous landlord, perhaps the person you bought the property from, they themselves bought the property at a much lower price years ago than you did today, and therefore their mortgage payment is lower, and therefore the lower rent was able to cover their mortgage payment. So they weren't too worried about it. But if you're buying at today's prices, well, then you cannot stand for yesterday's rent amount, and that's why it's more likely that you need to bump up the rent to market rent. Although national rent growth is pretty flat, San Francisco continues to rewrite its record book per Zumper's national rent report.San Francisco's one-bedroom rent is up 23% year-over-year to 4,180 bucks, and two-bedroom rent is up 26% to over 6K, 6,020 dollars for the median rent in a two-bedroom San Francisco apartment-the first time they've ever topped 6K there. Yes, the city continues to lead the nation in annual rent growth, and even ahead of New York City for two bedrooms. That's because this is where the growth of the AI industry has collided with a supply-constrained housing market, high demand over low supply. I mean, you might remember that San Francisco was hit especially hard by the pandemic, but its bounce back has been amazing. Even beleaguered San Francisco office buildings are filling up again amidst the AI boom. Now, the Bay Area's previous tech boom back a while ago that was led by tech giants like Facebook, Apple, and Google. All right, that boom was largely concentrated in these sprawling suburban office parks in Silicon Valley. Now Silicon Valley is not in San Francisco. It is depending on just where you're going, perhaps 60 minutes south of San Francisco proper. But see, this time the city limits San Francisco finds itself as the epicenter because a lot of the newest, biggest names in tech like Anthropic and OpenAI, they are headquartered in the very same city neighborhoods that were struggling with occupancy just a few years ago, and see a big part of what's going on, and there's a lesson in this for you as when a lot of other cities built like Phoenix and Austin did, San Francisco did not, and what's interesting is that the publication, the San Francisco Standard, it reported that get this last November a two-bedroom apartment overlooking Alamo Square was advertised for $5,000 per month. That was already 30% above San Fran's median two-bedroom rent at the time, but despite that fact, so many people attended the open house that the property manager had to divide them into two touring groups. Qualified applicants were then emailed and told to submit their best offer of rent. Okay, basically an invitation to a bidding war here. One tech worker and her roommate bid $5,100. Management responded that they had reached the second round and invited them to increase their bid again, and they declined to increase their bid and they lost the apartment. Those. Same article reported that an even more extreme marina neighborhood example, the winning renter offered substantially above asking price, six months upfront rent, and twice monthly professional cleaning. What kind of prospective tenant offers their landlord professional cleaning? I've surely never had it happen. That and bidding wars are now taking place for San Francisco rentals. Could an AI surge and a lack of supply make anything like that happen in your rental market? That remains to be seen, and probably not to that extent. I've got more for you straight ahead, including the trend of money maxing. I'm Keith Weinhold. You're listening to episode 620 of Get Rich Education. What if you got your mortgage loans the same place I get mine? You sure can at Ridge Lending Group NMLS 42056. They provided GRE listeners with more loans than anyone because Ridge specializes in investment property. They'll help you build a long-term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. Start your prequal and even chat directly with President Chaley Ridge while it's on your mind. Start at RidgeLendingGroup.com. That's ridgelendinggroup.com. Let me ask you something: If you've worked hard to build wealth, is your money positioned to actually support your goals? A lot of accredited investors leave capital sitting in cash because it feels safe, but inflation and missed income opportunities can quietly erode its value. Freedom Family Investments offers freedom notes for investors seeking structured income backed by real estate. It's a straightforward approach built on real assets, not speculation. In full disclosure, I'm an investor myself. What I like is that their team walks you through how it all works, so you can decide if it aligns with your portfolio and income goals. Every investment carries risk, and nothing is guaranteed. But with a track record of consistent, on-time investor payouts, they built real credibility. Go to freedomfamilyinvestments.com to book a clarity call, or text family to 66866. That's family 266866.   Keith Weinhold  17:22   Although national rent growth is pretty flat, San Francisco continues to rewrite its record book per Zumper's national rent report. San Francisco's one-bedroom rent is up 23% year-over-year to 4,180 bucks, and two-bedroom rent is up 26% to over 6K, $6,020 for the median rent in a two-bedroom San Francisco apartment-the first time they've ever topped 6K there. Yes, the city continues to lead the nation in annual rent growth, and even ahead of New York City for two bedrooms. That's because this is where the growth of the AI industry has collided with a supply-constrained housing market, high demand over low supply. I mean, you might remember that San Francisco was hit especially hard by the pandemic, but its bounce back has been amazing. Even beleaguered San Francisco office buildings are filling up again amidst the AI boom. Now, the Bay Area's previous tech boom back a while ago that was led by tech giants like Facebook, Apple, and Google. All right, that boom was largely concentrated in these sprawling suburban office parks in Silicon Valley. Now Silicon Valley is not in San Francisco. It is depending on just where you're going, perhaps 60 minutes south of San Francisco proper. But see, this time the city limits San Francisco finds itself as the epicenter because a lot of the newest, biggest names in tech like Anthropic and OpenAI, they are headquartered in the very same city neighborhoods that were struggling with occupancy just a few years ago, and see a big part of what's going on, and there's a lesson in this for you as when a lot of other cities built like Phoenix and Austin did, San Francisco did not, and what's interesting is that the publication, the San Francisco Standard, it reported that get this last November a two-bedroom apartment overlooking Alamo Square was advertised for $5,000 per month. That was already 30% above San Fran's median two-bedroom rent at the time, but despite that fact, so many people attended the open house that the property manager had to divide them into two touring groups. Qualified applicants were then emailed and told to submit their best offer of rent. Okay, basically an invitation to a bidding war here. One tech worker and her roommate bid $5,100. Management responded that they had reached the second round and invited them to increase their bid again, and they declined to increase their bid and they lost the apartment. Those. Same article reported that an even more extreme marina neighborhood example, the winning renter offered substantially above asking price, six months upfront rent, and twice monthly professional cleaning. What kind of prospective tenant offers their landlord professional cleaning? I've surely never had it happen. That and bidding wars are now taking place for San Francisco rentals. Could an AI surge and a lack of supply make anything like that happen in your rental market? That remains to be seen, and probably not to that extent. I've got more for you straight ahead, including the trend of money maxing.   Keith Weinhold  20:46   I'm Keith Weinhold. You're listening to episode 620 of Get Rich Education. What if you got your mortgage loans the same place I get mine? You sure can at Ridge Lending Group NMLS 42056. They provided GRE listeners with more loans than anyone because Ridge specializes in investment property. They'll help you build a long-term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. Start your prequal and even chat directly with President Caeli Ridge while it's on your mind. Start at ridgelendinggroup.com. That's ridgelendinggroup.com.   Keith Weinhold  21:23   Let me ask you something: If you've worked hard to build wealth, is your money positioned to actually support your goals? A lot of accredited investors leave capital sitting in cash because it feels safe, but inflation and missed income opportunities can quietly erode its value. Freedom Family Investments offers freedom notes for investors seeking structured income backed by real estate. It's a straightforward approach built on real assets, not speculation. In full disclosure, I'm an investor myself. What I like is that their team walks you through how it all works, so you can decide if it aligns with your portfolio and income goals. Every investment carries risk, and nothing is guaranteed. But with a track record of consistent, on-time investor payouts, they built real credibility. Go to freedomfamilyinvestments.com to book a clarity call, or text family to 66866. That's family 266866.   Robert Kiyosaki  22:26   This is our rich dad, poor dad author Robert Kiyosaki. Listen to Get Rich Education with Keith Weinhold, and there is I respect Keith. He's a very strong, smart, bright young man.   Keith Weinhold  22:47   Welcome back to Get Rich Education. I'm your host Keith Weinhold. The rise of quick hit dopamine culture has definitely hit the personal finance world, and this is not a good trend for a lot of Gen Zers, who are those age 14 to 29, sports gambling is increasingly a part of what they think is financial planning. A recent survey from the wealth management platform Betterment shows that 26% of Gen Zers, more than one in four, then consider sports gambling as part of a deliberate long-term financial strategy. If you think that's bad, more than half of Gen Zers, 52% say they've rerouted funds from investment over to sports betting in the past year, and that's versus just 24% of all Americans. Yes, the rapid legalization of sports gambling means it's never been easier to bet your whole paycheck that the Mets are going to lose 100 games this season. When a prediction market or a sports book starts to feel like a retirement strategy, we have a problem, and this is congruent with the rise of dopamine culture across all of society, where we've gone from playing sports, then to watching sports, and now to gambling on sports. In the kitchen, it's where we've gone from home cooking to leaving and getting fast food, to ordering Uber Eats, it's where media has gone from film and TV to streaming shows, and now with dopamine culture, it is watching reels. It's how shopping has gone from first high street shopping, then to Amazon and now to the TikTok shop. It's how communicating with people. It's gone from handwritten letters to sending emails to Snapchats. It's how we've gone from newspapers to breaking news to rage bait. As far as what we listen to for music, this rise of dopamine culture-it used to be vinyl records, and then Spotify playlists, and now it's trending sounds.   Keith Weinhold  25:11   It's gone from finding love to casual dating to infinite swiping. How about the way we look at and share photos? It's gone from photo albums to camera rolls to Instagram stories, and how about the way we access information with this rise of dopamine culture? It's gone from libraries to Google to Chat GPT, and that brings us to money maxing. Okay, yes, here in our finance world, the rise of dopamine culture has led to this. Yes, that is apparently a word now. Money maxing-it's all one word with 2x's. It sounds like something invented by a 22-year-old who's got three credit cards, three hoodies, and one fork. Okay, but money maxing-that is one of the newest personal finance trends spreading across social media. Now, the maxing stuff in that whole suffix that first became popular through terms like looks maxing, which means trying to maximize your physical appearance, whether you're male or female, and now people are sleep maxing, health maxing, career maxing, and I guess it was just inevitable until they were money maxing. And what it really means is optimizing your financial life so that every dollar works harder for you. That could include using a high yield savings account, earning credit card points and rewards, automating your investments, negotiating bills, and eliminating wasteful spending-eh, in other words, it's just another internet reinvention of financial responsibility. I mean, your grandparents just called it being sensible.   Keith Weinhold  26:58   Now, I do like the fact that young people are talking about money. I mean, as we've covered before, financial education is desperately needed. Schools will teach you about the parts of a biological cell, but surely not how to read a mortgage statement. So you can graduate knowing that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, while believing that a tax refund is free money from the government. So you know, directionally, money maxing is good, but see, it usually only focuses on one side of the equation. That's the problem with money maxing. It only focuses on spending less. And here at GRE we take a different approach. The old financial advice is live below your means, and GRE's philosophy is grow your means. You should only live below your means earlier in your financial life when you sort of have to and you need to form capital for investments. But grow your means so that you can have the means to do things. I mean, that is the point of financial betterment.   Keith Weinhold  28:09   Long term, financial betterment is certainly not sustainable by saving money by getting a haircut at home, only watching men's fast pitch softball at the Moose Lodge because it's free instead of going to a Major League Baseball game, saving $120 on air tickets by adding an extra layover on your trip itinerary, or a buy one get one free deal on Hillshire Farm Bacon. Now, of course, you shouldn't waste money if you're paying for six streaming services and you're only watching one. Well, cancel the others. If you carry a credit card balance at 24% surely extinguish that financial dumpster fire. But you cannot shrink your way to an extraordinary life. There is a floor beneath how little you can spend, there is no ceiling above how much value you can create for others. You can cancel your coffee, you can stop eating out, you can turn down the thermostat until your living room feels like a meat locker, but eventually there is nothing meaningful left to cut. That is the weakness in traditional money advice. It treats personal finance like a sinking ship, and it just hands you a bucket. Growing your means is building a bigger ship. The most powerful form of money maxing is not squeezing another 2% off your grocery bill. It is increasing your income. It is acquiring productive assets and creating systems that pay you repeatedly. I mean, saving 20 bucks is fine. Creating another income stream can continue for. Years. This is the difference between subtraction and multiplication. Most money-maxing advice really isn't different than that conventional advice. It's living in the world of subtraction. Cut this. Cancel that. Buy the generic cereal. Drive across town to save 12 cents per gallon. Hey, congratulations! You just spent 40 minutes of your finite life to save $2.80. Real wealth is built through multiplication. Multiply your income, multiply your skills, multiply your relationships, learn a new system, multiply the number of people you serve with rental property, and then multiply your money through productive assets. Now, this does not mean to spend recklessly. Growing means is not permission to inflate your lifestyle every single time your income rises, but it means directing more attention toward expansion than deprivation.   Keith Weinhold  30:59   Ask yourself a better question. Instead of asking how can I save another $100 this month, ask how can I create another $1,000 of monthly income. That very question activates a completely different part of your brain. Now maybe you develop a valuable skill. Maybe you negotiate your compensation. Maybe you start a business. Maybe you acquire an income property. Maybe you turn knowledge, intellectual property, or an audience into a recurring revenue stream. You start looking for leverage rather than looking for coupons and leverage, that is the real engine of what money maxing ought to be. Leverage means accomplishing more with less of your personal effort, and there sure are a lot of forms you can leverage other people's time. You can leverage systems and technology. We're going to talk about a system later here. You can leverage media where one message reaches 1000s or millions of people, and in real estate, you can leverage other people's money. You can scale. A few weeks ago, here I discussed four different types of scale. Real estate investors can get them all at the same time. If you remember, they are financial leverage, like with the five ways. There's operational leverage, there's geographic leverage, and finally replication. You use a relatively small down payment to control a much larger asset while your tenant pays you rent, that income helps cover the property's expenses and mortgage, and over time, inflation tends to lift rents and property values. While your fixed rate debt becomes easier to repay with diminished dollars, I mean that is real money maxing right there. In fact, GRE's real estate pays five ways framework might be the ultimate money maxing system. One property can produce cash flow; it can appreciate. Your tenant can gradually amortize your loan for you. You get the tax benefits, and inflation can transfer wealth from the lender to you through your fixed rate debt, five simultaneous financial benefits attached to one asset. Oh, and we're going to take that and compare that with saving 50 cents on toothpaste. Now, both things technically do improve your finances, but they don't even belong in the same zip code.   Keith Weinhold  33:41   Now, none of this means that every leveraged property is a good investment. In fact, leverage amplifies outcomes. A well-selected, properly financed property is going to accelerate your wealth creation. But a bad deal with thin reserves-hey, that can accelerate your introduction to an attorney. Money maxing still requires judgment. You want durable income, adequate liquidity, responsible underwriting, and you want to have enough reserves to withstand the inevitable surprise. Because every rental property eventually introduces you to something that is leaking, squeaking, or perhaps refusing to pay. The goal is not to optimize every dollar so aggressively that your financial life becomes fragile. And really, that is an important warning about all forms of maxing. Optimization can go too far. Someone might transfer money among five banks to chase these tiny promotional yields, and open 12 credit cards for bonus points, and then monitor every purchase with the intensity of airport security. Okay, I mean technically they're optimization. Their money, but they're also turning their life into like an unpaid accounting internship. Your money should create freedom, not become another demanding employer. Effective money maxing focuses on the big levers first. Get some big wins. Increase your earned income. Own those productive assets. Use good debt prudently. Reduce taxes legally. Protect yourself against catastrophic losses. Maintain liquidity, and then optimize the smaller expenses. Do not spend three hours clipping coupons while ignoring a poorly structured $400,000 mortgage. You do not congratulate yourself on saving $9 on lunch while leaving 50k idle in an account that earns almost nothing. So we don't obsess over credit card points while carrying a balance because paying 24% interest to earn 2% cash back is not money maxing. That is like arithmetic getting mugged in an alley. And there's also an important difference between looking rich and becoming wealthy. Social media rewards visible consumption on things like cars, watches, first-class seats, rooftop dinners, actual wealth-that's something that's often invisible. It is the rental property quietly producing income. It is the ownership stake compounding in the background. It is the tax strategy that's never going to appear in a photograph, and it is the growing gap between what you earn and what you need to live.   Keith Weinhold  36:46   The person displaying the most wealth can have the least. The person saying very little might own the building. So yes, embrace money maxing. Know where your money goes. Eliminate the waste. Negotiate recurring expenses, automate your good decisions, and make your dollar purposeful. Each dollar, but don't stop with living below your means because that is only financial defense. Growing your means is financial offense. Saving money can make you more secure. Owning productive assets-that's what can make you free. The highest form of money maxing is not becoming the world's most efficient consumer. It is making the transition from consumer to owner. Own businesses, own equities, own real estate, own assets that produce value while you sleep, travel, or spend time with the people that matter to you. Because your time is limited, and yet your appetite for generic cereal is also limited. But your ability to create value, acquire assets, and grow your means. That is far less limited. Live below your means if you must, but don't stay there. Grow your means. That is true money maxing. And the number one reason that people don't acquire wealth. Do you know what it is? It's that it simply does not occur to them that they can.    Keith Weinhold  38:24   That is what Brian Tracy said. That is so incredibly simple, and it's true. If you want a money max, you need to have a great system. Let me tell you about a system called the Seven Figure Solution. Now you've been listening to me weekly for almost 12 years here, which I'm immensely grateful for. You've been earning money, investing well, and here with the seven-figure solution, you're going to be able to finally see how it all goes together. It's about making sure that your real estate and other assets appropriately fund your retirement in a way that gives you protection against market downturns, a tax advantage pool of liquidity, the death benefit of a life insurance policy, and actually introduces you to a new form of leverage all at the same time, the liquidity is key because this is where a 401(k) or IRA limit you. Those vehicles have taxes and penalties if you want to use those funds early, and this does not.   Keith Weinhold  39:34   But the seven-figure solution-it's not just for retirees. In fact, our own in-house investment coach here, Naresh uses something like this, and he's in his 30s. It also gives you a significant tailwind during your investing career. Integrate the seven-figure solution the GRE way, where we have a conscientiousness about leverage in cash flow, and in this case, part of it is how to prove. Leverage a life insurance policy. When it's time to tap that policy's cash value, you take what is a policy loan, not a withdrawal, because you're borrowing against your cash value, and therefore you're using the funds in more than one place. That's the leverage, and then the IRS does not tax loan proceeds, and this reminds me of a billionaire borrowing against the value of their stock rather than having to sell any of those assets. And yet, this can be done tax-free. It's similar to what you can do with the seven-figure solution, even for non-billionaires, it is buy, borrow, die. This leverages an indexed universal life policy, and there is the right way to do this and the wrong way to do it. Part of the seven-figure solution is that your cash value can have an upside ceiling and loss protection on the downside. That's really something that you only care about more as you're closer to retirement. And there are some mistakes to avoid here. You don't just want to set up the seven-figure solution off of a website, and it's based on products that you might have heard of from companies like Nationwide and mass mutual. I strongly encourage you to learn more, see how it all goes together, and learn how the seven-figure solution compares to other vehicles like a Roth IRA, 401k, and even a 721 and 1031 exchange. This is very much about you being able to picture your future, you've been building your real estate portfolio either from your investment coach or on your own. This is how the puzzle pieces finally are all going to go together. I am cordially inviting you to join us for a special live event, the Seven Figure Solution. It is co-hosted by our own GRE investment coach Naresh and Haven Bridges Jared, who you heard from on the show with me last week. By attending live from the comfort of your own home or from anywhere, you can have your questions answered in real time. It is this Thursday, the 27th, at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific.   Keith Weinhold  42:23   Most people spend decades building wealth, and then they lose far too much of it because the retirement pieces were never designed to work with each other. So you're going to see how real estate, taxes, insurance, and retirement income can fit into one coordinated strategy, helping you grow and protect your wealth, access capital without immediately selling your assets, and potentially avoid losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to taxes unnecessarily. So it's not just another collection of disconnected financial tips. Really, it's your opportunity to finally see the entire retirement picture and understand what might be missing from yours. It's complimentary to attend. The longer you wait, the fewer options you could have. Decisions made today can affect your wealth for decades. Don't wait until retirement day to discover that your plan had expensive holes in it. There are some moving pieces here, so it's especially helpful that you attend this one live, and that way you can have any questions answered in real time, so that you really understand. And you might have been one of thousands of listeners that have attended our property webinars before, and they are important to building your portfolio. But this one could very well be more important in seeing your big picture, seeing your retirement, and seeing that your heirs aren't left with a giant tax bill too. You can reserve your seat now for the seven-figure solution at grewebinars.com again. That's grewebinars.com. Until next week, I'm your host Keith Weinhold. Don't quit your daydream.   Speaker 2  44:14   Nothing on this show should be considered specific, personal, or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial, or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of Get Rich Education LLC exclusively.   Keith Weinhold  44:42   The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth building. getricheducation.com.

Send us Fan MailMoving abroad after 30 is not the reckless, blow-up-your-whole-life fantasy everyone assumes it is. Done right, it might be one of the smartest money moves you ever make.In this episode, we have Cepee Tabibian. At the age of 35, Cepee upended her entire life by selling her belongings and moving to Europe and since then, has never looked back. Now, she teaches other women how to do it too, through her community-based business, She Hit Refresh: a global community of over 100,000 women age 30+ who want to move abroad.  She has even turned her overseas expertise into the digital book “I'm Outta Here! An American's Ultimate Visa Guide to Living in Europe” which was featured in Forbes (spoiler alert: it's easier than you think). She's the proud daughter of Colombian and Iranian immigrants and grew up in Houston, Texas before becoming an immigrant herself in Spain. We get into the real financials of moving abroad: the savings cushion you need before you go, the taxes nobody warns you about, the hidden costs, and the surprising expenses that actually disappear. Cepee also gets honest about safety as a woman living abroad alone, how to pick your country, why a scouting trip matters, and what financial freedom looks like once you finally build the life you want.How much money do I need saved before I move abroad?Minimum six to twelve months of your actual cost of living there, not what you spend in the US. Use Numbeo or Expatistan to get real numbers for the city you are considering before you set a savings goal.What do women forget to plan for financially?Taxes. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income no matter where they live. Get an expat tax professional before you go, not after. Health insurance is also required for most visas and runs roughly $80 to $500 a month depending on the country.What costs actually go away?Your car and everything that comes with it. Renters insurance is largely not a thing in Europe. And your overall cost of living often drops significantly, which is exactly why knowing your real numbers changes everything.How do you pick where to move?Take a scouting trip, not a vacation. Walk neighborhoods, meet a real estate agent, go to local meetups. Then filter through three things: is there a viable visa for you, does the culture match how you live, and does this place support your long-term goals.What is the first step in moving abroad if it feels overwhelming?Know your number. Research the real cost of living where you want to go and find the gap between that and your current income. That one number makes the whole thing feel like a plan. Then find community. Talking to women who have already done it changes everything.Cepee's closing line says it all: "you're never too old and it's never too late to hit refresh or to change your life."  The dream is real. The logistics are where most people get stuck. We're breaking down the actual financial moves you need to make before you relocate, so you land ready instead of scrambling. Join us for the next Money Talks “Your Move Abroad Financial Checklist: What to Do Before You Go”. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!  Ready to turn “someday” into an actual plan? Start with our financial checklist for moving abroad to think through your budget, healthcare, banking, Social Security, taxes, and the other financial decisions that come with the move.Already getting serious about the numbers? Read our U.S. taxes abroad guide for a deeper look at cross-border taxes, FBAR and foreign account reporting.Follow & connect with Cepee:Website Instagram @shehitrefreshCost of living research tools: Numbeo and ExpatistanI'm Outta Here! An American's Ultimate Visa Guide to Living in Europe Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we'll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us!Website Facebook PageFacebook groupInstagramTikTokLinkedInYouTubeReddit ResourcesHave questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financial concerns. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive financial tips delivered weekly here!...

Neil Aquino discusses Houston's renter A/C victory and Plummer, as critics blast Bessent's bond-market move and a judge blocks Trump-RFK changes to teen pregnancy prevention.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

Thank you Ms.Yuse, Darlene, and many others for tuning into my live video!* Neil Aquino, founder of The Houston Democracy Project discusses local and national issue: Today Neil Aquino discusses Passing of mandatory air conditioning for renters ordinance in Houston & need to elect Plummer.* ‘Bessent Is a Political Actor': Treasury Move on Bond Mark… To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

Finding an affordable rental was hard enough, but now landlords are taking a cue from hotels and airlines by hitting tenants with hidden junk fees. From mandatory charges for bundled trash pickup and overpriced cable to outrageous $200 monthly add-ons just for working from home, these unexpected fees inflate the cost of living. When apartment hunting, Clark urges us to check for this specific list before committing to a lease. Meanwhile, tap-to-pay remains one of the safest ways to shop using digital tokenization, but scammers have found a clever way to exploit your generosity. Fraudsters posing as street solicitors for fake charities are asking people to tap their phones to donate, only to take the device and quietly alter a $20 donation into a $200 charge. Clark shares what you need to know to protect your wallet. Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the August 17, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your opinions or questions: Ask Clark. Renter Junk Fees: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Phone Tap-To-Pay Alert: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: The rent was already high. Then came the $200 work-from-home fee -USA TODAY  Clark Deals: Today's Top Travel Deals How To Use Priceline To Save on Travel - Clark Howard Military and Veterans Guide: Free Resources for Your Finances Cheapest Way to Rent a Car: Expert Tips - Clark Howard Costco Travel: 5 Things To Know Before You Book - Clark Howard USA TODAY: Tap to pay is convenient. These 6 steps can protect your money Empower Review: How It Works, Pros & Cons - Clark Howard Best Budgeting Apps in 2026: Our Top 7 - Clark Howard Clark.com Calculators Clark.com resources: Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com  /  Ask Clark Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read More:Inside The So-Called "Commie Corridor": The Neighborhoods Changing New York City Politics The Democratic Socialists of America are gaining political power in New York City, and much of that support is concentrated in a string of neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens. WNYC Senior Politics Reporter Brigid Bergin brings us along on her tour of the so-called “Commie Corridor” to understand who's driving the movement, and why issues of affordability, identity and community are shaping their priorities. Photo: Rhe Civitello/Gothamist illustration Read More:   A people's guide to the ‘Commie Corridor' of Brooklyn and Queens (https://gothamist.com/news/a-peoples-guide-to-the-commie-corridor-of-brooklyn-and-queens) Michael Lange's Substack (https://www.michaellange.nyc/) -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Tags: New York City politics, Democratic Socialists of America, DSA, Zohran Mamdani, NYC politics, WNYC, Brigid Bergin, Janae Pierre, Michael Lange, housing, renters, affordability, gentrification, tenant rights, progressive politics, left-wing politics, Brooklyn, Queens, Astoria, Bushwick, Greenpoint, Ridgewood, Bed-Stuy, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, political movements Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cheryl Taylor Anderson. Podcast: Money Making Conversations MasterclassHost: Rushion McDonaldGuest: Cheryl Taylor Anderson, Real Estate Broker (Metro Atlanta) 1. Purpose of the Interview The core purpose of this interview is to educate, empower, and motivate listeners—particularly first‑time homebuyers, renters, veterans, and people of color—to pursue homeownership as a wealth‑building strategy. Specifically, the conversation aims to: Demystify the homebuying process Combat fear and misinformation around mortgages Highlight low‑ and zero‑down payment opportunities Explain how homeowners can build equity faster Emphasize real estate as a key tool for generational wealth Encourage disciplined financial decisions rooted in ownership rather than renting Rushion positions the discussion as a knowledge‑sharing opportunity to help listeners move from renting to owning, especially in communities historically excluded from homeownership. 2. Interview Overview Cheryl Taylor Anderson brings more than 20 years of real estate experience and over $400 million in sales in Metro Atlanta. She works with: First‑time homebuyers VA and military families Move‑up buyers Luxury clients and institutional sellers Throughout the interview, Cheryl provides practical, real‑world examples—including her own story as a former single mother and homeowner—to ease fear, explain financing, and correct misconceptions about buying a home. 3. Key Takeaways A. Many Renters Can Already Afford to Own One of the central points is that many renters are paying as much—or more—than mortgage payments without building equity. Rent payments offer no tax benefits Mortgage payments build ownership and wealth Homeowners can deduct mortgage interest (unlike rent) Key idea: Many people qualify for ownership but are held back by misinformation and fear. B. First‑Time Homebuyers Have More Options Than They Realize Cheryl explains that many buyers are unaware of: Zero‑down payment programs Builder incentives covering closing costs Opportunities to move into homes with minimal out‑of‑pocket costs In some cases, buyers are only required to bring earnest money, making homeownership far more accessible than expected. C. VA and Veteran Benefits Are Underused Cheryl strongly emphasizes VA loans as one of the most powerful tools for homeownership: 100% financing (zero down payment) Ability to ask sellers for up to 6% in closing cost contributions Certain veterans may be exempt from property taxes Lower monthly payments overall Veterans are encouraged to use their benefits, even years after leaving military service. D. A 30‑Year Mortgage Does Not Mean 30 Years of Debt Cheryl reframes mortgage timelines by teaching strategic repayment: Paying bi‑weekly instead of monthly Adding small extra payments ($50–$100/month) Reducing both interest and principal faster She uses her personal example of being close to paying off her home early despite starting with a traditional 30‑year loan. E. Homeownership Builds Stability and Community The interview contrasts renting versus owning: Ownership benefits include: Equity growth Customization and upgrades Neighborhood relationships Security and long‑term stability A tangible asset to pass to children Even HOA‑managed communities—while sometimes frustrating—protect property values and neighborhood standards. F. Home Warranties Reduce Fear of Maintenance To address anxiety about repairs, Cheryl recommends home warranties: Cover major systems (HVAC, water heaters, appliances) Low service fees when repairs are needed Can be negotiated into purchase contracts Provide peace of mind similar to apartment maintenance This is especially helpful for first‑time buyers. G. Social Media Builds Trust and Visibility Cheryl explains how social media strengthens her business: Buyers see real closings, celebrations, and testimonials Creates emotional connection and trust Inspires others to picture themselves as homeowners Visibility drives confidence and referrals. H. Education and Adaptability Drive Longevity Cheryl credits her success through: The 2008 housing crisis COVID‑19 Market shifts to constant learning, flexibility, and strategy pivots (e.g., foreclosures, BPOs, builder incentives). 4. Notable Quotes On Renting vs. Owning “Never be willing to pay somebody more than you’re willing to pay yourself.” On First‑Time Buyer Fear “Don’t let the longevity scare you. In an apartment, you’re building nothing.” On VA Benefits “Veterans can come to the table with zero down—and sometimes no property taxes.” On Mortgage Strategy “Pay every two weeks and it knocks down your interest and principal faster.” On Equity “Rent doesn’t give you anything to leave your children. Homeownership does.” On Homeownership Mindset “People are willing to pay their landlord more than they’ll pay themselves.” 5. Overall Takeaway This interview reinforces homeownership as one of the most powerful, attainable tools for building long‑term wealth—when buyers are properly educated, supported, and encouraged to move past fear and misinformation. Cheryl Taylor Anderson demonstrates that: Buying a home is often more accessible than people believe Strategic mortgage management can drastically shorten debt timelines Ownership builds equity, stability, and generational opportunity #SHMS #BEST #STRAW Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcast #BEST #SHMS #STRAWSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cheryl Taylor Anderson. Podcast: Money Making Conversations MasterclassHost: Rushion McDonaldGuest: Cheryl Taylor Anderson, Real Estate Broker (Metro Atlanta) 1. Purpose of the Interview The core purpose of this interview is to educate, empower, and motivate listeners—particularly first‑time homebuyers, renters, veterans, and people of color—to pursue homeownership as a wealth‑building strategy. Specifically, the conversation aims to: Demystify the homebuying process Combat fear and misinformation around mortgages Highlight low‑ and zero‑down payment opportunities Explain how homeowners can build equity faster Emphasize real estate as a key tool for generational wealth Encourage disciplined financial decisions rooted in ownership rather than renting Rushion positions the discussion as a knowledge‑sharing opportunity to help listeners move from renting to owning, especially in communities historically excluded from homeownership. 2. Interview Overview Cheryl Taylor Anderson brings more than 20 years of real estate experience and over $400 million in sales in Metro Atlanta. She works with: First‑time homebuyers VA and military families Move‑up buyers Luxury clients and institutional sellers Throughout the interview, Cheryl provides practical, real‑world examples—including her own story as a former single mother and homeowner—to ease fear, explain financing, and correct misconceptions about buying a home. 3. Key Takeaways A. Many Renters Can Already Afford to Own One of the central points is that many renters are paying as much—or more—than mortgage payments without building equity. Rent payments offer no tax benefits Mortgage payments build ownership and wealth Homeowners can deduct mortgage interest (unlike rent) Key idea: Many people qualify for ownership but are held back by misinformation and fear. B. First‑Time Homebuyers Have More Options Than They Realize Cheryl explains that many buyers are unaware of: Zero‑down payment programs Builder incentives covering closing costs Opportunities to move into homes with minimal out‑of‑pocket costs In some cases, buyers are only required to bring earnest money, making homeownership far more accessible than expected. C. VA and Veteran Benefits Are Underused Cheryl strongly emphasizes VA loans as one of the most powerful tools for homeownership: 100% financing (zero down payment) Ability to ask sellers for up to 6% in closing cost contributions Certain veterans may be exempt from property taxes Lower monthly payments overall Veterans are encouraged to use their benefits, even years after leaving military service. D. A 30‑Year Mortgage Does Not Mean 30 Years of Debt Cheryl reframes mortgage timelines by teaching strategic repayment: Paying bi‑weekly instead of monthly Adding small extra payments ($50–$100/month) Reducing both interest and principal faster She uses her personal example of being close to paying off her home early despite starting with a traditional 30‑year loan. E. Homeownership Builds Stability and Community The interview contrasts renting versus owning: Ownership benefits include: Equity growth Customization and upgrades Neighborhood relationships Security and long‑term stability A tangible asset to pass to children Even HOA‑managed communities—while sometimes frustrating—protect property values and neighborhood standards. F. Home Warranties Reduce Fear of Maintenance To address anxiety about repairs, Cheryl recommends home warranties: Cover major systems (HVAC, water heaters, appliances) Low service fees when repairs are needed Can be negotiated into purchase contracts Provide peace of mind similar to apartment maintenance This is especially helpful for first‑time buyers. G. Social Media Builds Trust and Visibility Cheryl explains how social media strengthens her business: Buyers see real closings, celebrations, and testimonials Creates emotional connection and trust Inspires others to picture themselves as homeowners Visibility drives confidence and referrals. H. Education and Adaptability Drive Longevity Cheryl credits her success through: The 2008 housing crisis COVID‑19 Market shifts to constant learning, flexibility, and strategy pivots (e.g., foreclosures, BPOs, builder incentives). 4. Notable Quotes On Renting vs. Owning “Never be willing to pay somebody more than you’re willing to pay yourself.” On First‑Time Buyer Fear “Don’t let the longevity scare you. In an apartment, you’re building nothing.” On VA Benefits “Veterans can come to the table with zero down—and sometimes no property taxes.” On Mortgage Strategy “Pay every two weeks and it knocks down your interest and principal faster.” On Equity “Rent doesn’t give you anything to leave your children. Homeownership does.” On Homeownership Mindset “People are willing to pay their landlord more than they’ll pay themselves.” 5. Overall Takeaway This interview reinforces homeownership as one of the most powerful, attainable tools for building long‑term wealth—when buyers are properly educated, supported, and encouraged to move past fear and misinformation. Cheryl Taylor Anderson demonstrates that: Buying a home is often more accessible than people believe Strategic mortgage management can drastically shorten debt timelines Ownership builds equity, stability, and generational opportunity #SHMS #BEST #STRAW Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcast #BEST #SHMS #STRAWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cheryl Taylor Anderson. Podcast: Money Making Conversations MasterclassHost: Rushion McDonaldGuest: Cheryl Taylor Anderson, Real Estate Broker (Metro Atlanta) 1. Purpose of the Interview The core purpose of this interview is to educate, empower, and motivate listeners—particularly first‑time homebuyers, renters, veterans, and people of color—to pursue homeownership as a wealth‑building strategy. Specifically, the conversation aims to: Demystify the homebuying process Combat fear and misinformation around mortgages Highlight low‑ and zero‑down payment opportunities Explain how homeowners can build equity faster Emphasize real estate as a key tool for generational wealth Encourage disciplined financial decisions rooted in ownership rather than renting Rushion positions the discussion as a knowledge‑sharing opportunity to help listeners move from renting to owning, especially in communities historically excluded from homeownership. 2. Interview Overview Cheryl Taylor Anderson brings more than 20 years of real estate experience and over $400 million in sales in Metro Atlanta. She works with: First‑time homebuyers VA and military families Move‑up buyers Luxury clients and institutional sellers Throughout the interview, Cheryl provides practical, real‑world examples—including her own story as a former single mother and homeowner—to ease fear, explain financing, and correct misconceptions about buying a home. 3. Key Takeaways A. Many Renters Can Already Afford to Own One of the central points is that many renters are paying as much—or more—than mortgage payments without building equity. Rent payments offer no tax benefits Mortgage payments build ownership and wealth Homeowners can deduct mortgage interest (unlike rent) Key idea: Many people qualify for ownership but are held back by misinformation and fear. B. First‑Time Homebuyers Have More Options Than They Realize Cheryl explains that many buyers are unaware of: Zero‑down payment programs Builder incentives covering closing costs Opportunities to move into homes with minimal out‑of‑pocket costs In some cases, buyers are only required to bring earnest money, making homeownership far more accessible than expected. C. VA and Veteran Benefits Are Underused Cheryl strongly emphasizes VA loans as one of the most powerful tools for homeownership: 100% financing (zero down payment) Ability to ask sellers for up to 6% in closing cost contributions Certain veterans may be exempt from property taxes Lower monthly payments overall Veterans are encouraged to use their benefits, even years after leaving military service. D. A 30‑Year Mortgage Does Not Mean 30 Years of Debt Cheryl reframes mortgage timelines by teaching strategic repayment: Paying bi‑weekly instead of monthly Adding small extra payments ($50–$100/month) Reducing both interest and principal faster She uses her personal example of being close to paying off her home early despite starting with a traditional 30‑year loan. E. Homeownership Builds Stability and Community The interview contrasts renting versus owning: Ownership benefits include: Equity growth Customization and upgrades Neighborhood relationships Security and long‑term stability A tangible asset to pass to children Even HOA‑managed communities—while sometimes frustrating—protect property values and neighborhood standards. F. Home Warranties Reduce Fear of Maintenance To address anxiety about repairs, Cheryl recommends home warranties: Cover major systems (HVAC, water heaters, appliances) Low service fees when repairs are needed Can be negotiated into purchase contracts Provide peace of mind similar to apartment maintenance This is especially helpful for first‑time buyers. G. Social Media Builds Trust and Visibility Cheryl explains how social media strengthens her business: Buyers see real closings, celebrations, and testimonials Creates emotional connection and trust Inspires others to picture themselves as homeowners Visibility drives confidence and referrals. H. Education and Adaptability Drive Longevity Cheryl credits her success through: The 2008 housing crisis COVID‑19 Market shifts to constant learning, flexibility, and strategy pivots (e.g., foreclosures, BPOs, builder incentives). 4. Notable Quotes On Renting vs. Owning “Never be willing to pay somebody more than you’re willing to pay yourself.” On First‑Time Buyer Fear “Don’t let the longevity scare you. In an apartment, you’re building nothing.” On VA Benefits “Veterans can come to the table with zero down—and sometimes no property taxes.” On Mortgage Strategy “Pay every two weeks and it knocks down your interest and principal faster.” On Equity “Rent doesn’t give you anything to leave your children. Homeownership does.” On Homeownership Mindset “People are willing to pay their landlord more than they’ll pay themselves.” 5. Overall Takeaway This interview reinforces homeownership as one of the most powerful, attainable tools for building long‑term wealth—when buyers are properly educated, supported, and encouraged to move past fear and misinformation. Cheryl Taylor Anderson demonstrates that: Buying a home is often more accessible than people believe Strategic mortgage management can drastically shorten debt timelines Ownership builds equity, stability, and generational opportunity #SHMS #BEST #STRAW Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcast #BEST #SHMS #STRAWSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can content marketing in a tight niche build the audience that launches your book? And how do you decide whether to hand your self-published bestseller to a traditional publisher. Suzanne Smith shares what she learned in four years of going from blog to book deal. In the intro, how to stand out as a writer in the age of AI [Nathan Barry Show; Interview with Nathan Barry]; thoughts on asset maintenance; Goodreads giveaway on Bones of the Deep (Aug 5-20, 2026) This episode is sponsored by Publisher Rocket, which will help you get your book in front of more Amazon readers so you can spend less time marketing and more time writing. I use Publisher Rocket for researching book titles, categories, and keywords — for new books and for updating my backlist. Check it out at www.PublisherRocket.com This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Suzanne Smith is the founder of The Independent Landlord, and the bestselling author of The Good Landlord Handbook. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How a free blog in a tight niche built the audience for the book Rewriting the book from scratch when the law changed Why speed made self-publishing the only option Building a paid membership after one audience member asked for it Negotiating a Penguin Random House deal with no agent Using AI as a business sidekick, with a control room and an engine room You can find Suzanne at TheIndependentLandlord.com. Transcript of the interview with Suzanne Smith Jo: Suzanne Smith is the founder of The Independent Landlord, and the bestselling author of The Good Landlord Handbook. So welcome to the show, Suzanne. Suzanne: Thank you. Jo: Oh, there's so much to talk about today. But first up— Tell us a bit more about you and your background, and how you got into property and writing after a legal career. Suzanne: Well, I've always loved reading books. In fact, I recently did a French literature degree as a mature student. Being an author was never in the game plan at all. It's not something that I even thought about. I was brought up in New Zealand, so shout out to all the Kiwis and those across the pond in Australia. The thing about it is, Jo, you've lived there yourself. Kiwis are independent, self-reliant and have this great sense of fair play. So that was a very formative experience for me. We moved back to England when I was 16, and I have become thoroughly anglicised since then, but a Kiwi at heart. I always wanted to become a lawyer. New Zealand in some ways on television is quite American, and there was this American programme called The Paper Chase. It was about all of these students at Harvard studying law, and the professor said, “You come here with a skull full of mush and you leave thinking like a lawyer.” I thought, “Oh, I like the sound of that.” I didn't really know what a lawyer was, but everyone seemed to be very happy that I wanted to become one, and then that was it. Jo: So you went into law, and then how did you get into property? Suzanne: So I worked for 25 years as a solicitor. That's like an attorney if you're American. Started off in a law firm, and then I went into pharmaceuticals and I worked for big companies like what is now GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, and small companies as well. When I started out, it was before the internet, before Google. When you're in house, you're very much a generalist. You do a bit of everything. So you help companies grow their business. You're not business prevention, but you're still bound by the code of conduct for solicitors. You've got this role of keeping the company on the right side of the law. Then I had twins, who were born about five years after I became a lawyer, and I decided to work part-time for a while and did an MBA when they were little, part-time through the Open University. I know Jonathan is doing one at the moment. Jo: Yes. He's finished, so that's exciting. Suzanne: That was transformational for me, because I had probably been thinking a bit too much as a lawyer, and it helped me to broaden my view of the world and understand all sorts of things. Sso I continued going up the greasy pole, and then for my last job, in 2015, I joined a biotech company in Cambridge, England, as general counsel and company secretary. It was a long way from home, about two, three hours' drive from home. So I decided to buy a flat, an apartment, and to stay there in the week. I thought to myself, “Well, when I leave this company, I can let it out as a buy-to-let,” but actually as a landlord. So I stayed there for five years, and then when I left, I let out the property. The reason why I decided to leave law after 25 years, I had what I call a sliding doors moment, like in the film. I was 50. I was on holiday with my husband, and we'd probably had one too many rum cocktails. And he said to me, “Well, what do you want to be doing with your life? What would you do if you could do anything?” I was thinking, “Well, I've done law. I want to do something else now.” I didn't really know what that was, and I'd always been thinking about studying French properly, and that's when I left. So I decided, 18 months later, I left to do a French degree at King's College London, full-time. I was the only old person there with lots of 18-year-olds. When I did that, I was able to cash in my share options because I was a good leaver. I retired, and so I started buying properties to let out and became a landlord, without really thinking too much about it, and I used letting agents. They were fine to begin with, but I didn't really have a game plan or anything like that. What I realised is that when I tried to research things online, I couldn't really find anything that was terribly helpful. It was either quite general or it was very legal. So after a while… I became a landlord in 2019. I had the idea, why don't I set up a blog? And this is August 2022, so just four years ago. My husband came up with the idea of the name, The Independent Landlord, because it's that Kiwi spirit, being very independent. I thought, “Right, I'm not going to charge anyone for it. It's a hobby. It's not a business. I'm going to pay it forward and help, use my legal training, practical legal approach, and practical common sense, by doing this blog.” Almost exactly four years ago, I sent my first newsletter to 13 people. Jo: Woo-hoo. Suzanne: And I sent one last week to over 18,000. So it's been quite a journey. Jo: Wow, this is so great. I love this. There's so much in there. The turning 50 and then doing a degree. My master's in death is a little different to your French literature, but I like it. So I love this, and buying properties, starting it on the side, not a business at first, and growing the audience, and obviously you've put so much work in. Then you decide to write a book. So talk about that, because an online blog, although I'm sure your articles and everything were super useful, it's very different to write a blog than a book. So talk about your challenges in writing. Why did you decide to do a book in the first place? Suzanne: Again, I was an accidental landlord, is what they call it when you let a property when you didn't intend to buy it as a buy-to-let, which I did with my Cambridge flat. And I became, in many respects, an accidental author. So I was having a conversation with my husband again and I was saying I'd done this lead magnet to get people to sign up to my newsletter, and a big new law was going through Parliament at the time, called the Renters Reform Bill, that was going to completely transform the way landlords operate. I was saying to my husband, “Oh, I need to update my lead magnet, a little ebook, to explain the new law.” He looked at me and said, “Well, why don't you do a proper book? Write a book.” This was on the 29th of September, 2023. The reason why I mention that is that I thought, “Wow, what a great idea,” and my head was bursting. I went onto Google, and guess what I downloaded on the 1st of October? Jo: My blueprint? Suzanne: Exactly. I found you immediately, the Author Blueprint, and I downloaded it. I checked: on the 1st of October, 2023. Then I listened to almost… well, I think I went back several years on your podcast, just trying to understand. I'm like that. When I try and do something, I just try and learn everything that there is to know about it. So I started writing the book, and I guess the first challenge was I write quickly, and I'm used to writing for people who aren't lawyers, being in-house. So I thought I needed to have a structure. The structure was easy in many respects because, a bit of business at the end, and then you can go through a tenancy. I thought it was important to have a narrative thread all the way through it, just to bring it together. This is the literature degree coming in here. I thought that the mission for everything I do, the reason why I started doing this, is to help landlords, but also to help the experience of renting that people have in England. It's very specific for English law. And to help improve the private rented sector. So that's why I originally set up my blog for free, and I wanted, when people went onto Google, they could find something sensible and very detailed from me. My blog posts were… Well, I've now got over 400,000 words on my blog, so it's a substantial piece of work that is out there free of charge. So what I decided to do was to bring this narrative thread, I call it the good landlord ethos, to the book. Then I wrote very quickly, and I had a pretty good draft by April 2024, because we were all thinking that the law was going to change very soon. But then there was an election, and in the end the government changed and the legislation changed completely, so I had to rewrite the book and start again. So I think that my biggest challenge was that my subject matter, the new law, changed. Because I wanted to publish this book that explained to people practically what they have to do, and make it really straightforward, keeping out of politics, because it is a very politically charged area. I wanted to write it so it's a manual, somebody could literally follow it. So I used an editor, and I did write the book twice. I had a beta reader who is another lawyer, and a landlord as well. Then I got to the get-the-damn-thing-done stage. The really tedious bit of all the typos at the end. Jo: Yes, the finishing energy to get it out there. So at that point, obviously you'd found my blueprint, so you were learning about the indie way of doing things. Did you always decide to self-publish? How did you think about publishing? What were your challenges in publishing? Suzanne: It never occurred to me not to self-publish, because the new law came into effect on the 1st of May, 2026. The law and the details that I needed for the book were finalised in January, and I published on Amazon on the 5th of March, so I had to go so quickly. Even though I'd got a lot of it written, the last bit came in January, and so I needed speed. I knew that for landlords to be able to have something that they can use straightaway to help get them ready for it, and then use as a manual afterwards, I had to be first. Jo: Sorry, just on the year. Was it '24? You said '26. You meant May— Suzanne: 2024? No, no, because I actually published it this year. What happened in 2024, I had the first draft ready, but then I had to do another draft because the law changed when the Labour government came in. Jo: Right. Suzanne: The Renters Reform Bill turned into the Renters' Rights Bill. So I had to rewrite the book. So I finished however many drafts at the end of January 2026. Then it went to an editor, et cetera, et cetera, and I managed to get the book ready for a proof, to get the proof printed, towards the end of February. So it was really quick to go from the law being sufficiently finalised for me to write a book in January, and then having it ready in just over a month. There is no way that I could have done that if I'd gone to a traditional publisher. It didn't even occur to me to go, because I didn't want to be going touting around my book and, “Please publish me,” et cetera. It's just not me. I'm the independent landlord, and that moved very easily to being the independent publisher. So I learnt how to do all the publishing. And a huge thanks: I joined your Patreon and I was a very good student. I went through everything systematically and followed your playbook, and used Vellum and BookFunnel and all the other tools. So I decided to go on Amazon as well as have my own Shopify store, which just about killed me. Jo: I was going to say, you are an excellent student. You really like learning, but you also put this into practice, which is why I also wanted to talk to you. You haven't just talked about all this. You've literally done everything. Suzanne: Sometimes it was like my head was going to burst. Luckily, Claude upped his game earlier this year when we got the Opus 4.5. I didn't use AI really until this year. I decided I need to do exercise all the time, and have that as a have-to-do, because my head was spinning all the time with all these different things. So I would go to the gym, go to a spin class, and then I would walk out with my phone on, with the Claude app, and dictate a stream of consciousness into it. “Oh, I need to do this, or what about that? Oh, I just remembered about this. Oh, I've had this idea, blah.” And then said, “Make sense of it for me, Claude.” So it was very much as a thinking partner, because when you're writing your first book, it's bad enough, but when you're learning how to publish… Even, like, when I got the first proof of the book back from BookVault, I realised that all the footnotes—I have 114 footnotes in my book, and that, again, is the recent degree there—and the formatting had gone skew-whiff. Apparently it was an issue with Vellum, and they were really lovely and they sorted it straight out for me. So it shows: always get a proof of the book. They were able to sort that out very quickly, and BookVault were very quick in getting me another proof, because you can shortcut it and just pay to get a very quick delivery. Amazon, on the other hand, was really slow. It took a week. So I actually published earlier on my Shopify store for my members, of my membership, and I gave them a discount. Then I finally got it onto Amazon on the 5th of March. There are all these different skills you're having to learn. The Shopify store I found very hard, and there was all the tax, because I'm VAT registered. So I think I'm still recovering. Jo: You're still recovering. I wouldn't normally recommend a Shopify store for someone with their first book, doing first of everything. But, as you say, you're someone who learns a lot, puts it into practice, and— I think you were pretty determined to do that because you had a community as well, right? Suzanne: Exactly, yes. The big subscriber list. I think that's why the book did so well. So in the first week, because I met you at the Indie Author Lab put on by— Jo: Yes, London Book Fair, yes. Suzanne: Yes, the Alliance of Independent Authors. I met you there, and it was just my first week, and I had 1,000 sales in the first week. That was because of my audience. I'd been going on about the fact that I'm writing this book for two and a half years, because that's how long it took me to do. So I had a wait list for it, and I had a thing on my website, a landing page on my website, saying how good the book was and why it's the best thing for the Renters' Rights Act. Then I went onto Google, and I think I sent you a screenshot of this at the time. I put into Google, “What's the best book for the Renters' Rights Act for landlords in England?” And it came up with me as a featured snippet, and I hadn't even published it at that time. It was just about there. So the blog really helped, because I'd become an authority on the Renters' Rights Act. Even though I'm not a practising solicitor any more, I spent all my time reading the damn thing, and it is a very complicated bit of legislation. Funnily enough, I have ruffled a lot of feathers. People have even said about me behind my back, “What does she know? She's only got four properties.” But I just took no notice. I thought, “I'm going to try and use my legal brain and my understanding of what it's like being a landlord, there with the rubber gloves cleaning an oven when people have moved out, and try and write something that's not trying to sell anything else, and to help people.” And then it got picked up. Jo: Yes. Wait, let's just slow down. Slow down, because we will get onto that in a minute. But let's just come back to that launch. So as we talked about, you've had a blog for five years— Suzanne: It was three and a half by then. Jo: Three and a half years you've been blogging, but hundreds of thousands of words of useful information. So you've essentially done content marketing. You've attracted people. You had a lead magnet. You got them on your email list. You told them that you were writing a book. You got a sort of pre-sales list up. So that's an email list. You've got a blog. Did you do anything else in terms of marketing? Suzanne: I had YouTube, a big YouTube channel. I'd only set it up at the end of 2024, and I'd had half a million views. And again, just very straightforward advice, and without all the scaremongering and politics. I deliberately keep out of it all. A lot of people joined my newsletter as a result of that. Also a year ago, exactly today, I was running a Facebook group, which was a lot of hard work. There were a few thousand people in it, but there are often a lot of people going in there trying to sell things: insurance, eviction specialists and things. And there was also a lot of people just being unpleasant to other people. I was getting fed up with it. It was taking me a lot of time, and I was doing a lot of speaking events and trying to explain what this new law was doing, and wearing myself out. I'm an extrovert, but even I find speaking events absolutely exhausting, because it's like everything gets sucked out of you. It's strange. Then somebody came up to me in July last year and said, “Suzanne, can you set up a membership?” I said, “Well, landlords aren't going to pay for that.” And they said, “Yes, they will. You build it and they will come.” I asked ChatGPT and thought about it. I asked ChatGPT, who I was dating at the time, now exclusively with Claude, but I know Claude has other people in his life. But I'm very much set with Claude Fable at the moment. So I asked ChatGPT, how can I go about setting up a membership? And I mentioned your one and said, “Should I do it on Patreon?” And then he came back with: go for Circle. So I set up a membership on Circle, exactly a year ago. In fact, it's the anniversary of my first member yesterday. hTe rules I had were, no selling. So I don't sell, no affiliate links, no one else can sell anything, and we have to be supportive. No negativity, no politics. So what it's become, it's like the senior common room of the private rented sector, with landlords, lawyers, letting agents. There's a fantastic forum in there. It's not me doing it, it's peer-to-peer. I have twice-monthly live streams where people can ask me questions. I wonder where I got that from. No, I very much modelled it on your Patreon, but on a different platform. I have courses in there as well. So that has really grown. I launched it in July, and by September, October, I'd gone past the VAT threshold, which has complicated everything, but it means my business now is this membership. I really enjoy doing it, and there hasn't been all the negativity that you have in a Facebook group. So I had them as… talk about your thousand fans. There are about 1,500 in the membership, and their support really helped the launch of my book, as well as the wider people who get my free newsletter. Jo: Yes. Suzanne: So it's all different types of content marketing. Jo: Y, but I do love this. And of course, if people are wondering, I joined Patreon back in 2014, I think it might have even been before that, and there weren't too many places back then to run communities. It wasn't even really a community at the time, it was a sort of, almost a “give me a bit of support for the podcast.” So things have changed a lot in terms of communities, and obviously you went with Circle, which is great. Patreon is slightly different now, and some people are using Substack for something similar. So that's just on the platform, but on the business: early on in our conversation you said, “I wasn't going to have a business. It wasn't a business. It was just putting stuff out there, helping other people,” and then your audience asked for this membership. And so now it is a business, right? Suzanne: Yes, it is. Jo: And you've got a book and all of this. So are you happy with the change to a business? Because obviously you have to treat it quite differently. Suzanne: Yes, I am, because I think to begin with, I was just doing it one or two days a week. I was actually studying a master's in French literature part-time, and I then found that I was enjoying the blog more than the master's, so I dumped the master's after the first year. But after getting 88% for one of my dissertations, which interestingly was on the translation of a Simone de Beauvoir book into English, and the publisher who's got that now is Random House, but that's another thing. Anyway, so I decided to give up my master's and double down and work full-time on the blog. People were paying to help me with all the big fees and things, the big tech stack, Buy Me a Coffee. I was doing a little bit of consulting and things. I was working six, seven days a week. I was treating it like a business in terms of quality and my effort, but it wasn't a business in terms of revenue. Then it just all came together, and this person said, “Set up a membership,” and I thought, “That's what I'm going to do. I'm now going to put it on a business setting.” I've got an MBA, I know how to do it, and people thought I planned it, but I didn't. It just happened. So now I do very much treat it as a business, but I still don't advertise. I don't allow people to advertise with me, because I want to be independent. If I recommend something, I want people to believe it's me recommending it, not just because someone's paying me, which can be a big issue in the landlord area. Jo: Oh, in any industry. I get pitched every day with loads of random things that people are like, “Oh, a dollar a click or whatever, if you send this to your list.” And it's like, seriously? Just stop it already. I did just want to add there: somebody asked you, they said, “You should have a community,” and that sparked that idea. I just wanted to acknowledge that my Patreon came from Jim Kukral. Some of you will remember, who've been around a long time. Jim Kukral came on my blog around sort of 2013. Amanda Palmer had just put out a book called The Art of Asking, and I was doing a lot of unpaid work on the podcast at the time, and I was either going to give it up or I had to fund it somehow. Jim said, “You should do a Patreon.” And I was like, “Oh, no, I hate asking for money.” So at the time I just felt, oh, weird. Then I was like, “No, I do all this work,” as you were saying. Now the Patreon has changed so much in terms of what it is, but it is the backbone of my business, too. So I love that you listened to one of your fans who said what they wanted, and I love that I've listened as well. Sometimes we just have to listen to those urges, don't we, to take things on? Suzanne: Yes, absolutely. In some ways I didn't really back myself before. I thought, “No one's going to pay for this.” Then the more you give, the more they want. Jo: Yes. Suzanne: What I've been really working on now is having boundaries, because there were two big kind of mottos that I picked up when I was working in pharmaceuticals. One was from a head of the business. He was Canadian, and he was always saying, “You've got to skate to where the puck is heading.” Jo: That's Wayne Gretzky, is it? Suzanne: Exactly. Yes. He would always say it, and so that's what I've done with my blog and my book. When I write things, I don't pay for any tools. I don't do keyword searches and all that. I just think, I do one blog post per topic, and I'm going to guess what people are going to be searching for soon, and I build up all this content around it. That's why most of my blog pages are top five. I've had no advertising. I haven't asked for any backlinks. I don't do it. People backlink to it because it's useful. So that was the first thing, is skate to where the puck is heading, and that was my approach with the book. I knew people would need this book from around May, and they'll need it forever, because it is so complicated and regulated, the rules for being a landlord in England. So that was the first one. The second thing was: when you take something on, you've got to let something go. One in, one out. I found that I was taking on so many different things, and I've just been cutting back, because I can't be doing all the speaking, I can't be answering people's emails. So I now don't do emails. If people want my advice on something, they ask me in the hub, at the twice-monthly live streams. Sometimes I answer in the forums, but I don't have time. When there are 2.4 million landlords in the UK, and even with our 18,000 on my newsletter, I could spend, and I did, I used to spend all my time replying to emails. So anyway, there are the things. Oh, and there was a third one, which is: attract, don't chase. One of my friends gave me that advice and that's exactly what my approach has been. I just don't chase for anything. I just put the stuff there and then build it and they will come. Jo: Yes, and I think another thing is the power of the niche. It's so clear that what you write about, the people you are aiming at, you have an extremely tight target market. That is both a strength and obviously a weakness, because they're the only people. But as you say, there's more than enough of those people for a community, for the book you have. From my own perspective, that's the same for me, the power of the niche. That's how I have a successful podcast, for example, because of that reason. I think you're like a poster child of what a non-fiction author should do. What I like is that you didn't go, “Oh, where's a niche where I could make money?” and then jump in. You've gone about this in a kind of slightly accidental way, but now you're leaning in and this uses all your skills. So this really is a great example of the power of the niche and then making the most of it. But let's move on to what then happened, and— What happened with the book deal? Suzanne: Wow. So you and I met each other on whatever day that was in March at the Indie Author Lab, and the following day I got an email, via my website on a contact form, from Penguin Random House saying, “We love the book. We love the mission, its values,” all this kind of thing. And I was thinking, “Oh, it's another one of those. Must be an—” Jo: AI spam bot, right? Suzanne: Yes, and I remember I sent you a screenshot of it, and then I checked her out on LinkedIn and thought, “Okay, there is somebody with that name there.” You're always saying, and Orna Ross and everyone are always saying, “Watch out for scams.” And in fact, Penguin Random House even this weekend on Instagram put out something saying, “There are lots of people impersonating us.” So I didn't take it too seriously, and it was something like, “Oh, would you be interested in us publishing your book?” And I thought, and I laughed. It was like, no, this is too good to be true. So I replied and said… Oh, I said, “Well, thank you so much. The Renters' Rights Act…” And so this is like the second week in March. “The Renters' Rights Act comes into effect on the 1st of May. If you want to publish it, you're going to need to get your skates on.” I literally did say that. Then she arranged a meeting with me the next day, on the Friday. I still was very dubious about it, and I had a think about it. What helped me, and I have the little booklet here: at the Author Lab, we did some work at the beginning, and Orna said, “Put your phones away.” And it was like, “What? Put my phone away?” Then we had to do this definition of success, and our passion, and our mission, and our purpose. I wrote down things like, I want to help landlords, and in so doing, help improve the private rented sector. I get pleasure from helping people. I want to improve standards and use my legal and practical skills, et cetera. So I thought, “Okay, what is my purpose of doing this book?” It isn't really to make money, because going with Penguin, you wouldn't do that for financial reasons, because you'd make very little money. So I thought, what is my why? My why is I want as many people to read this book as possible. And I've managed to sell a few thousand copies, but there are 2.4 million landlords, and they all need to understand this book, and the only way that I can get it out there, apart from doing ads, is to get it out in bookstores. So I thought about it, and then said, “Yes, I will do it, because I want to get the book out there.” So it's distribution. It's going to be published on the 6th of August, which is really quick, bearing in mind they contacted me in the middle of March. It's exactly the same book, it's just got different copyright wording and different blurb, different paper. Same cover, because I managed to find a fantastic cover person to do it. So they've kept everything the same. So we negotiated that book. I have no agent. They came to me. It's the attract, don't chase. I just put my lawyer hat on, and because one licence is very much like another one… I did turn down their first offer. Jo: Well done. Good negotiation. Suzanne: My daughter said to me, who's an adult daughter, she said, “But it's Penguin.” And I said, “Well, no, but it doesn't work for me.” So I had a call with them, and then they came up with something that worked for me a bit more. I did have to concede on a few things, like I can't sell it in my Shopify store. But in some ways, that was a blessing in disguise, because it means I don't get any more “Where's my book?” emails. Jo: Yes, exactly. Pros and cons of everything, basically. Suzanne: I have very clear rights to get it back. If I want it back, I can get it back and I don't have to give a reason. They're lovely. They have been really very wonderful. When I went up there a month or so ago, they gave me this book bag, and it's got on it, “I'm published by Penguin,” and I burst into tears. Jo: Aw. That's nice. Suzanne: I don't know, it just seemed like such a big deal. Because up until then I was just being all very lawyerly and task-orientated. Then I thought, “Oh my goodness,” and then it dawned on me. So I'm now in this interim period where I've taken it off Amazon and off my Shopify store, and I feel very maternalistic towards the book because, you know, it took me two and a half years, which is longer than a pregnancy. Obviously it's not a child, but it's like my book child. I've sent it off with a backpack and a drink and some snacks, and I hope that they look after him, my book. The day I took it off Amazon it was still number one. And a big shout-out to Publisher Rocket, by the way. Jo: Yes. Very, very useful for niche publishing. Suzanne: Very. It helped me choose the right niche categories. So it was number one on at least one category, often six, all the way through. I thought, “Well, it's over to them now.” They're very lovely people. They've given me some marketing assets, as they call it, some swanky graphics and things to use. We'll have to see what we do in terms of marketing. I don't mind doing marketing. I'm on LinkedIn quite a bit, and my whole blog is marketing. What I've been doing is updating my blog to include one of these graphics and to mention the book, and I got Claude to help me draft the code so it looked right. So I've been going through all of my blog posts and sending people to Amazon rather than to my Shopify store. It is mixed feelings, because I care about my book. I put a lot of effort, a lot of love, a lot of tears. No, not tears, but I put a lot of effort into it, and it's out of my control now. Jo: Yes, you said it's over to them, but obviously you will still be creating content around this topic, so you'll probably still be the biggest driver of book sales. Suzanne: Yes. Jo: Are they also suggesting, for example, a podcast tour, like pitching for podcasts? Are they going to assign you some PR? Because, also if people don't know, as we are recording this, we have a new prime minister who wants to do various things. You said no politics, but this is obviously a political thing. So you have the potential to go on a lot of different podcasts, media, talking about this, becoming almost a talking head in this kind of area. So are you angling for all that, and is that in your contract, or is it literally just going to be whatever you want to do? Suzanne: That's not in the contract. What's in the contract is very minimal. I think I've already done what I'm supposed to do. They are pitching for me to go on podcasts and things. I'll tell you a really funny coincidence. So we now have a new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and when he was Mayor of Greater Manchester, he set up something called the Good Landlord Charter. I actually talk about it in the book, and I quote him in my book saying that good landlords mean people trying to do the right thing, or something like that. And I coincidentally came up with the same name, The Good Landlord Handbook. I'd already had the book title for a long time. So this idea of good and landlord coming together, the adjective good as opposed to criminal or rogue, and the cover being green. I'm wanting to change the narrative so it's the norm to have a good landlord, and to help people become good landlords. Or if they're good landlords, help them to understand the new rules, because the new rules are very complicated. So what I don't get involved in is this right or wrong. Is it right that landlords can't do this or have to do this? Because as an in-house lawyer, it doesn't really matter what I think about the law. GDPR, goodness me. Jo: Oh, dear. Let's not start on GDPR. Suzanne: No, exactly. Because we've just got to suck it up. I liken it to the grief cycle, that people have been going through so much change and you have the anger, the depression— Jo: Denial. Suzanne: Bargaining, the denial, and then you get to acceptance. For some people, the acceptance means they want to stop doing it. If you want to accept it and stay, you need to understand the rules. So I've deliberately just kept very practical and have kept out of all the politics of it. I have, funnily enough, become involved because I'm now seen as an expert on the Renters' Rights Act. I've worked behind the scenes with the government to help, and give comment on government guidance for landlords. I was even invited to a reception to mark the passing of the Renters' Rights Act at Downing Street with the previous prime minister, all whilst staying apolitical. I won't let anyone make me be a mouthpiece for their political view. It's more, we just have to do this if we want to continue doing it. I've been very clear on that. Jo: It's interesting you mention the grief cycle there, and you've also mentioned Claude and ChatGPT. I wonder if you might also just comment on use of AI for authors and for marketing and all this. Also with legal stuff, because for me now, if I'm looking at a particular legal thing, I tend to ask Claude. I'm like, “Can you just explain this?” or upload a contract or whatever. Although it is not legal advice, it can be quite useful. So give us your thoughts on using AI as a sidekick in your author business and also for wider life. Suzanne: I now struggle to think what life would be like without Claude. I don't use Claude to write, at all, because I have a very particular voice and a turn of phrase, and if ever Claude writes something for me, it doesn't sound like me. It flattens me, and it makes me sound a bit American. So I don't do that. I've used it in the back end of the business. For instance, my blog was down, and there was something called a recursive bot, which I don't even know what it was, and Claude helped me fix it for free. I went through, I did screenshots. When I did an ElevenLabs audiobook and did it all myself, I was literally, for every screenshot, showing it to Claude. Claude said, “Do this, press this, press that.” So I have all these different projects set up. One is the control room, where it's for my strategic thinking. If I have an idea, I want to think about something, I put it in there. I have the engine room, which is for everything techy. Like when I had the recursive bot, or if I'm wanting to have some code on the website to make it look a particular way. Then I have other things for different subjects, and I put all the resources in there, and I use it a lot as a thinking partner. I've noticed that Fable doesn't hallucinate as much, but the Opus used to. There's something called rental discrimination, and it was proofreading and said, “No, it's not rental discrimination, it's rental income discrimination,” and that was just a load of rubbish. So I would never let it go and change things without me looking at it. I went on one of your webinars a month or so ago about MCPs and all the connectors, which is fantastic. It can go into my community and pull out all the questions for one of my live streams and put it into a document in order, by theme, for instance. It can look at my MailerLite, because that's where my newsletter is with, and analyse the different open rates and click rates and things. It's so good for analysing everything, all the book sales. It helped me with my negotiation with Penguin, and it is pretty good on law. It has sometimes hallucinated things, but not so much now. I think with anything, you've always got to go back to the primary source, and this is what we learn in academia: you have to check the primary source yourself. I have a bit of a magpie brain. I'm very much a discovery writer, like you, and things occur to me as I'm doing it. I think that Claude, at the moment, is incredible. I've been quite open about it on social media that I have Claude as a business partner. I'm a solopreneur, or whatever the word is. I have quite a big business now, and lots of different things, and it's just me doing it, because I can ask Claude how to do this, and how to do that. Claude can go and check my emails and tell me, is there somebody I've not replied to, which helps a lot. Jo: Yes. I think it's empowering as a solopreneur as such. You talk there about the fixing the tech stuff. I have my web host come to me and say, “Look, you're getting so much traffic and bot stuff, and we need to put this thing in, and it's going to be $120 extra a month.” I was like, “Can you just give me an hour? I'll get back to you.” And then I just had Claude code up, and I was like, “Analyse this and tell me what we can do.” It was like, “No, you just need to flip this switch and do that.” And I'm like, “Okay, fair enough.” Then the guy said, “Oh, no, okay, actually you don't need it.” Just stuff like that. As a solopreneur, you're either going to pay somebody technically quite a lot of money, or you can get Claude or ChatGPT. We should say, the ChatGPT Sol is very good, like the Claude Fable, for example. So, yes, using it as a sidekick. I love your control room and your engine room projects as well. That's a great way of doing it. Suzanne: I wouldn't be without it now, and I would have published the book a lot later without Claude, because Claude was helping me with the Shopify store and all the many steps of things. It saved me real time. It is just fantastic. I think, like now when I'm updating my blog, I have a connection between Claude and my blog. Claude can go in, I can give it my Google Search Console results for the page: what should I change, are the headings right? All this kind of thing. And it will give me a view on every single page, which is incredible. Jo: And YouTube, and just everything. Just super useful for that business sidekick. That's what I want authors to think. I feel like authors get so obsessed with the creative side with AI, whereas actually, people like you and me, we're using it as that engine room for the solo business, which is what I love. So we're out of time. I did want to ask one more thing, which is, one of the biggest issues with a specific book like yours is when they change the law again. So do you have a plan in place for if, say, a new government changes the law again? Will you just be updating the book over time? Suzanne: I think that there'll need to be a new edition of the book in three years' time, and I've spoken to Penguin about it. Not all of this new law has been implemented, and there's going to be case law and things. So I expect that I will update the book every few years. I have some other ideas for books as well, but for the moment, I'm just taking a bit of a break. You always say we've got to refill our creative well. I really feel like that at the moment. Recently I've just got myself a personal mobile phone so that I can turn off my work one when I'm on holiday and actually take time off. Because for all the time that I was doing the book, basically from Christmas until May, I didn't have one day off. That is not good. So I'm just trying to be a bit more balanced. I had an idea to write another book for summer, but I've just decided not to, and I'm going to leave it until I feel the urge again. Jo: Oh, well done. Suzanne: Which will come. Jo: Yes, well done. Suzanne: I think there's nothing wrong with that. We just need to think what's right for us. I'm 58. So I want to be able to have time to enjoy things and not be working all the time. Jo: No, that's great. It's a sustainable business. So where can people find you and the book and your community online? Suzanne: The easiest way to find me is theindependentlandlord.com. Or if you put Suzanne Smith and landlord into Google, you'll find me as well, and there's a link on there to the book, The Good Landlord Handbook. In the community, there's a link to that on my website as well. Jo: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, Suzanne. That was great. Suzanne: Thank you.The post From Blog To Community To Book: A Non-Fiction Author's Journey With Suzanne Smith first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Stop waiting for a market crash or government rescue; this episode reveals why the housing market has fundamentally changed and how first-time homebuyers must adapt with a "replacement strategy" to build wealth now. SynopsisFeeling left behind by the 2026 housing market? This episode delivers a crucial reality check: the affordability crisis is a permanent structural shift, not a temporary cycle. Discover why waiting for a market crash or government bailout is a losing strategy, and learn the essential "replacement strategy" to leverage low down payment options and find hidden opportunities, especially with new home builders. We'll also expose common scams and debunk foreclosure fears so you can take control and buy your first home now. Quote"America's affordability crisis isn't cyclical, it's structural. So here we go. The cycles not coming back."— David Sidoni, Nationwide First Time Homebuying Coach HighlightsWhy waiting for a housing market crash is a permanent trap, not a smart strategy for building wealth?What is the "replacement strategy" and how can it help you redirect high rent payments into home equity?Why the new federal "21st Century Road to Housing Act" offers no real relief for first-time buyers?How did the required income for a median home jump from $66,000 to $120,000, and what does the 5:1 price-to-income ratio mean for your buying power?Where are new home builders offering massive incentives (averaging 10.9% of the home price!) and how can you find these deals?What's the dangerous scam involving builder-owned lenders, and how can you protect yourself from hidden costs and payment shock?Is the recent rise in foreclosures truly a sign of an impending market collapse like 2008, or is it statistically insignificant noise?Referenced Episodes & Resources513 – First-Time Homebuyer Headlines & Scams - PART 2 - Summer 2026 Housing Market Update500 – What to Know Before Buying Your First Home in 2026426 – Lowering Your Down Payment – Financially Prepare to Buy Your First Home – Pt. 7460 – Rent vs Buy in 2026: Are First Time Homebuyers Crazy?457 – First Time Homebuyers: Buy or Wait in 2026? (March Housing Market Update)490 – First Time Homebuyer Pros & Cons: New Build vs. Resale489 – 2026 Housing Affordability Tips for Renters and First Time HomebuyersHowtoBuyaHome.com/Guide - Over 100 of our BEST Episodes of Detailed Homebuying Knowledge, Interviews, and MORE! Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHomeInstagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcastTik Tok @HowToBuyAHomeVisit our Resource Center to to get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer. Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!