Getting an accurate forecast on the economy can be a little like a weather forecast – full of surprises! But it also depends on who’s doing the forecasting. In this episode, you’ll hear from the head of a team that’s won awards for its forecasting accuracy on the economy, housing, and mortgage market activity.   Doug Duncan is Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Fannie Mae where he is responsible for economic analysis and forecasting. As the head of Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research (ESR) Group, the team earned the 2022 Lawrence R. Klein Award for Blue Chip Forecast Accuracy. It’s an award that covers a four-year period that includes the pandemic. Doug and the ESR group also won the NABE Outlook Award two years in a row, in 2015 and 2016, for the most accurate GDP and Treasury note yield forecasts.    Doug is one of Bloomberg/BusinessWeek's 50 Most Powerful People in Real Estate and Inman News’ 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate and he's here with us on the Real Wealth Show!   If you’d like to learn how to build wealth through real estate, be sure to subscribe to this podcast and become a Real Wealth member. It’s free to join and get full access to our website where you’ll find hundreds of webinars, sample pro-formas, referrals to our highly recommended real estate professionals, and a free session with one of our experienced investment counselors.    Thanks for listening, Kathy Fettke   Follow Kathy on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/ Purchase Kathy’s audiobook on Audible at: https://tinyurl.com/retirerichaudible

RealWealth has been in business for 20 years as of this year and we are celebrating with a special episode featuring three of our earliest employees. Director of Finance Kelley Pecoraro (Director of Finance), Maggie McKinnie (Consultant), and Jill Benes (Digital Editor & Event Support) can share what it was like at Real Wealth back then, before we became a remote company. We worked out of an office in Walnut Creek that felt like home to us all. We don’t have that office anymore because we are a completely remote company now, but there are plenty of memories to share and stories to tell! Please enjoy this lookback at the early days of Real Wealth and come celebrate with us in real time at a live event we’re holding in Los Angeles on October 6th and 7th. We’re planning a cocktail party on Friday night, the 6th, a full day of presentations from our property teams on Saturday, the 7th, and a big celebration party that evening! The event is being held at a hotel near LAX so it will be easy to get to from the airport. You can find out more at realwealthshow.com under the Connect tab. If you haven’t done so already, you should sign up as a RealWealth member. It’s free to join and will give you access to our private investor portal, hundreds of webinars, sample pro-formas, help with the acquisition process, referrals to our highly recommended real estate professionals, and a free session with one of our experienced investment counselors.  And don’t forget to hit the subscribe button for this podcast and leave a review!  Thanks for listening, Kathy Fettke Follow Kathy on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/ Purchase Kathy’s audiobook on Audible at: https://tinyurl.com/retirerichaudible

When it comes to a strategy for real estate investing, one of the most important things you can do is to know about the demographics of a particular market, or simply, the people who live there. Investors need to be asking questions like: How many people live there? Is that number growing or shrinking? Are they mostly singles, families, young people or older people?  How will the generational differences impact the kind of housing that’s needed? And what will the market look like 10 years from now?   In this episode, you’ll get answers to those questions and many more from internationally recognized demographer Ken Gronbach, president of KGC Direct, LLC. He’s able to forecast societal, commercial, economic, cultural, and political phenomena with uncanny accuracy and will talk about an astronomical need for homes in the U.S. over the next decade. He also compares the U.S. to other parts of the world, and according to Ken, strong demand for housing in the U.S. will not be going away.   If you’d like to learn more about demographics, check out his two books: “Upside: Profiting from the Profound Demographic Shifts Ahead” and “The Age Curve: How to Profit from the Coming Demographic Storm.”    And to learn more about real estate investing, please join RealWealth and look through our website. You will find data on some of the strongest rental markets in the country and the teams that can help you buy rental properties in those markets.   It’s also important to subscribe to this podcast. It will help our rankings! And we’d appreciate a positive review!    Thanks for listening! Kathy   You can follow Ken at these social media sites: Twitter: @KenGronbach Facebook: @KGCDirect LinkedIn: Kenneth Gronbach   Ken’s Website: www.KGCDirect.com   Follow Kathy on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/ Purchase Kathy’s audiobook on Audible at: https://tinyurl.com/retirerichaudible

For the past two decades, we have been helping investors across the country to simplify real estate investing and achieve their financial goals. We’ve gone from an idea on a cafe napkin to a network of more than 70,000 members. We’ve helped regular folks create financial security with more than 6,000 rental properties worth more than $1.2 billion dollars. And we’ve donated to charity along the way.   In this episode, my husband, partner, and RealWealth Co-CEO Rich Fettke joins me to talk about our amazing 20-year journey and how we are celebrating this huge milestone with a live event in Los Angeles on October 6th and 7th. It will take place very close to the LAX airport if you are flying into the area, and will feature 10 of our property teams, food, drink, and lots of networking and fun!    If you are an investor who’d like to meet like-minded individuals, learn how they’ve made real estate work for them, and talk to the property teams that can help you create the wealth you’ve dreamed of, please sign up under the Connect tab on the RealWealth website. If you haven’t joined yet, please hit the Join for Free tab, and remember to subscribe to this podcast!    We are thrilled to be hosting this event, and hope to see you all there! Kathy Follow Kathy on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/ Purchase Kathy's book on Audible here: https://tinyurl.com/retirerichaudible   Purchase Rich's book on Audible here: https://tinyurl.com/richfettkewiseinvestor

When inspecting a home before purchasing, it's obviously very important to check the foundation's integrity. That's why we hire inspectors. But should you rely on your home inspection report to correctly identify the issues? Our guest today says, no, it's not enough. You need to know the tell-tale signs of foundation damage that would signal the need for further inspection, and then you need to know who to call. But how do you make sure you can get it all done within the homebuyers short inspection window of time?   In this episode, you’ll hear from foundation repair expert RK Bob Brown whose mission it is to shed light on what he describes as an “opaque industry.” He joins me on The Real Wealth Show as part of his effort to teach home buyers how to recognize the red flags for foundation problems. He talks about what homeowners should look for, when and who to call for a more accurate and in-depth evaluation, and why you need to pay attention to soil conditions. He earned the nickname “The Dirt Whisperer” because he knows a lot about “dirt.” He is also a real estate investor who shares his rags to riches story with me in this interview.   Bob has more than 35 years of experience. He’s a certified Foundation Repair Specialist by NFRA and is LEED accredited, among other accreditations. He founded Arizona Foundation Solutions in 1989 which he says was one of the only foundation repair companies to use licensed professional engineers. He sold the company last year to focus on speaking and writing, and is publishing a book this fall called Foundation Repair Secrets: Learn How to Protect Yourself and Save Thousands. He has also developed software that helps streamline home foundation investigations. You can learn more at his website: https://www.RKbobBrown.com   To learn more about all the things you need to know about real estate investing, sign up as a RealWealth member. It’s free to join. You can also find out more about the North Dallas Single-Family Rental Fund I mentioned in the podcast at growdevelopments.com.   And don’t forget to hit the subscribe button for this podcast and leave a review!    Thanks for listening, Kathy Fettke   Follow Kathy on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/ Purchase Kathy’s audiobook on Audible at: https://tinyurl.com/retirerichaudible

Be prepared for an eye-opening interview! In this episode, you’ll hear from a remarkable Gen Z entrepreneur who has an impressive real estate portfolio and is well on his way to early retirement. He has an incredible story for a 23-year-old that will inspire and motivate you to take your next step toward financial freedom.   For Donato Callahan, it all began during the pandemic while he was still in college. He was studying biology but had extra time on his hands and discovered real estate as a way to build wealth. He started off as a house hacker with the purchase of a four-unit building. From there, he leveraged every kind of resource you can imagine to help him with his journey. As he explains in the interview, when you get advice from 10 people who each have 10 years of experience, you are getting insights from 100 years of experience.    He’s now offering to help other investors as the CEO and founder of Bright Investor, which provides data to help you make smart real estate investing decisions. The way it works: Users pay a monthly membership fee for access to tons of data feeds that can help you analyze a deal.    Transparency matters: We've established an affiliate agreement with Bright Investor, offering users exclusive discounts through our referral link. Signing up through our link helps support the show too!   Referral link: https://brightinvestor.com/?ref=owy3mwf Code: REALWEALTH   To learn more about real estate, sign up as a RealWealth member. It’s free to join. You can also find out more about the North Dallas Single-Family Rental Fund I mentioned in the podcast at growdevelopments.com.   And don’t forget to hit the subscribe button for this podcast and leave a review!    Thanks for listening, Kathy Fettke   Follow Kathy on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/ Purchase Kathy’s audiobook on Audible at: https://tinyurl.com/retirerichaudible

I'm very excited about today's interview with Gary Beasley, CEO & Co-Founder of Roofstock. He was just a regular guy when I met him years ago. Today, he’s a leader in the institutional investment space and a true disrupter within the single-family rental asset class.   In this episode, you’ll hear his thoughts on how the housing market has evolved since the 2008 meltdown, how he has transitioned his own real estate investing strategy over the years, and why he thinks that the single-family rental space is an asset class that will remain in high demand.   Before Roofstock, Gary was CFO of ZipRealty and Co-CEO of Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust which is now part of Invitation Homes, leading both through successful IPOs. In addition, he’s been instrumental in acquiring and integrating more than $800 million in resort properties for KSL Resorts and has served as CEO for boutique hotel management company Joie De Vivre Hospitality.   Gary earned his BA in Economics from Northwestern and holds an MBA from Stanford. He now leads Roofstock with a valuable perspective on the use of technology in the real estate industry and challenges the way things have been done with the question: “What’s next?”   You can follow him at these social media sites: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/gary-beasley-956647 Twitter - @garybeas2013   To find out more about how you can benefit from real estate, sign up as a RealWealth member. It’s free to join and will give you access to our private investor portal, hundreds of webinars, sample pro-formas, help with the acquisition process, referrals to our highly recommended real estate professionals, and a free session with one of our experienced investment counselors.    And don’t forget to hit the subscribe button for this podcast and leave a review!    Thanks for listening, Kathy Fettke   Follow Kathy on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/ Purchase Kathy’s audiobook on Audible at: https://tinyurl.com/retirerichaudible

Have you ever listened to fellow investors brag about how many doors they have as a measure of success? But do the number of doors you have really matter when it comes to how well your portfolio is performing? Honestly, I don’t think so. What really matters is how well those doors are performing. Are they providing enough cash flow so you can live the life of your dreams? Are they appreciating in value to help meet your financial goals? Those are the questions at the top of my list! In this episode, you’ll hear from someone who’s living proof that you don't have to own 5000 units to be successful. Vince Rodriquez is an engineer who began his real estate adventure just four years ago. As a Southern California resident, he started investing in California but is now transitioning to out-of-state rental properties. He’s currently focused on furnished duplexes in the mid-term space and has some great ideas for choosing markets and raising investment capital in a way that also helps family and friends. To find out more about real estate investing in a way that suits your goals, sign up as a RealWealth member. It’s free to join and will give you access to access to hundreds of webinars and other educational material, along with our market data and investment counselors who help get you going. And don’t forget to hit the subscribe button for this podcast! Thanks for listening, Kathy Fettke You can find our guest today on social media at these handles: @anviinvest @vince.capital Follow Kathy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/ Purchase Kathy's book on Audible: https://tinyurl.com/retirerichaudible

Does it still make sense to buy rental property today when mortgage rates are at the 7% level? Should you buy your rate down with points or wait a few months to see if rates come down as many experts are predicting? And what about getting approved for a loan? Is it any harder now to get a loan in this tough credit environment?   In this episode, you’ll hear from one of RealWealth’s preferred lenders, Graham Parham and his business partner Aaron Stelly of Highlands Mortgage. They join me to provide some insights on the lending world as it stands today, along with some good news about inflation and how that is impacting mortgage rates.   Graham W. Parham has been a Mortgage Loan Officer for over 25 years. He has experience in the residential real estate market and has developed a significant following among homebuyers and investors. He currently owns 45 investment properties and is still buying.   Aaron Stelly helps guide clients through the lending process from start to finish. He’s an active investor and recognizes the goals that investors are hoping to achieve as they grow their real estate portfolio.   You can get a hold of Graham at graham@theparhamteam.com. You’ll also find contact information for Graham and his Highland Mortgage team on our website. You need to be a RealWealth member but it’s free to sign up. Once you’ve done that, log in to the portal and look under the Resources tab for Lenders.    If you’d like to find out more about the North Dallas Rental Fund I mentioned during this episode, go to https://growdevelopments.com.   As always, I ask that you subscribe to the Real Wealth Show podcast, and leave a starry-eyed review! Thank you!   And thanks for listening! Kathy Fettke

Will we see home prices go any lower? Will we see a rise in foreclosures? When will mortgage rates come back down to earth? Is it best to keep a bunch of cash on the sidelines so we can scoop up all the good deals when we are hit by recession? Where does it make sense to buy rental property in this economy? In this episode, you’ll hear from someone who can answer those questions and more to help you as an investor make better decisions during these uncertain times. Rick Sharga has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate and mortgage industries and is the Founder & CEO of market intelligence and advisory firm CJ Patrick Company. He has also served as the Executive Vice President of Market Intelligence for ATTOM Data, Carrington Mortgage Holdings, and RealtyTrac’s Marketing Department, as well as Chief Marketing Officer for Ten-X and Auction.com. Over his long and distinguished career, he’s become one of the most frequently quoted experts on real estate, mortgage and foreclosure trends. If you want to expand your real estate investing horizon, and would like a referral to one of our proven property teams in places like Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas, please hit the “Join for Free” button. Once you are a member, you will have access to our investment counselors, and trusted real estate professionals that can help you reach your investment goals. To find out more about our North Dallas Rental Fund, mentioned during this interview, please go to growdevelopments.com.  And please don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast!  Thanks for listening! Kathy Fettke