CommuneCapital

The Housing Market Is Broken Into 3 Parts The housing market is not one market. It's three. And most people can't tell which one they live in. In this episode, we give commentary on what's happening in 2026. Forty percent of U.S. cities are seeing prices drop. Other areas are still going up. The national news won't tell you which side your city is on. Your local data will. Chapters: 0:00 - The Great Housing Reset? 00:01:21 - National data for us is meaningless 00:02:23 - Months of supply 101 00:04:40 - Who's a forced seller? 00:06:09 - The broker cap rate trick 00:08:29 - Permits and what's coming next 00:13:31 - Use AI to stress test your deal? 00:16:15 - Rents under market = opportunity 00:25:17 - Don't follow "top 5 markets" lists 00:31:55 - The three markets right now #RealEstate #Multifamily #Investing

Why America's Biggest Landlord Is Dumping In this episode, we break down the seismic shifts happening in US housing right now: the  $17,000 tariff cost now baked into every new home, why building permits just hit their lowest level since 2019, and why fix-and-flip ROI has collapsed back to 2008 levels. Then they turn the conversation toward the group nobody is defending Gen Z. With 46 million US households now renting (an all-time high), and three out of four Gen Z renters saying renting is the smarter move, the hosts debate whether the homeownership ladder is actually broken, or whether this is the biggest generational reframe in fifty years. Along the way: why BRRR is quietly replacing flips, the difference between seller financing and subject-to deals (and which one Michael thinks is “dirty”), the 40x net worth gap between homeowners and renters, and the one question you should consider asking before you buy a house which, according to Michael, almost nobody asks. Chapters - 0:00 Homes Hitting The Market 0:44 - Trump's Executive Order On Corporate Landlords 01:37 - The Build-To-Rent Monopoly Problem 03:23 - Why 3% Returns Let Corporations Outbid Families 06:09 - Tariffs Are Adding $17,000 Per New Home 11:04 - "Buying A House Is Not An Investment Call" 13:04 - Rags To Riches Back To Rags 16:01 - "You're Chasing Smoke If You're Waiting For A Crash" 22:18 - Subject-To Deals And The Line Between Creative And Dirty 26:05 - 46 Million Renters And The 40x Net Worth Gap #housingmarket2026 #realestatecrash #realestate

Everyone is telling you the housing market is about to crash worse than 2008. They’re wrong but the truth might be harder to hear. In this episode, I break down the numbers behind today’s housing market and compare them to the factors that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. Topics include subprime mortgages, equity positions, supply dynamics, insurance costs, the lock-in effect. The data says this is not 2008. The structural foundations are different. But that doesn’t mean everything’s fine. The affordability gap is real. The low end is fracturing. Insurance is repricing risk across the country. And millions of homeowners are locked into sub-4% rates creating a “zombie market” where people are not moving. I share my own experience buying a home in 2005 on an adjustable-rate mortgage, watching the value drop, and what I learned about making financial decisions under pressure. I also walk through what I’m seeing in the data right now as someone who owns and buys real estate. 0:00 The 2008 Crash Fear Is Everywhere 01:13 Markets That Feel Like 2008 03:31 Who Is Predicting the Crash and Why 04:39 What Actually Caused the 2008 Collapse 06:28 The Financial Crisis Numbers 08:15 Mikey’s Personal 2008 Story 09:59 Today’s Market vs 2008 by the Numbers 14:07 The Real Fractures Nobody Is Showing You 17:08 The Zombie Market 23:14 Fear vs Greed The Investor Trap #realestate #housingmarket #investing

Buy vs. Build: The Decision Behind Growing Wealth Most people think real estate development is just construction. It’s not. The real game starts years before a shovel hits the ground and that’s where fortunes are made or lost. In this episode, we break down the complete development cycle from raw land to stabilized asset. They cover how to assess whether buying or building makes sense for your situation, the entitlement process that can take years and cost hundreds of thousands before you build anything, how to work with cities to avoid expensive dead ends, the capital stack breakdown on a real development deal, and why they believe Southern California’s difficulty is potentially an investment advantage. They also get into a heated debate about when value is actually “realized” in development and share the real numbers on a North Hollywood project tracking from a targeted $9.5M cost to $17M projected stabilized value. Whether you’re considering your first development deal or deciding between buying stabilized assets and building from scratch, this episode gives you the operator-level framework. Timestamps: 0:00 — Buy vs. Build: Two completely different paths 01:47 — When buying beats building (and vice versa) 03:35 — The biggest mistake beginner developers make? 06:08 — How to gauge city appetite before you could risk capital 08:12 — Tying up property under contract during entitlements 10:45 — Architects, engineers, and the entitlement process 14:26 — Capital stack breakdown: the $10M example 17:06 — The “realized value” debate (heated) 21:11 — Why Southern California may be one of the hardest markets 25:14 — The single greatest risk in real estate development? #RealEstateDevelopment #WealthBuilding #RealEstateInvesting

How We're Analyzing a $18M Multifamily Building (Step by Step) Most people will never buy a piece of real estate not because they don't have the money, but because nobody ever sat them down and walked them through every single step of the process. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on a real deal: a 37-unit multifamily building in North Hollywood, California. From the first back-of-the-napkin math to the moment the title transfers, we break down the entire acquisition step by step, number by number, decision by decision. We cover the pre-offer analysis, how to build credibility with brokers when new to investing, the four pillars of due diligence often overlooked, two real financing scenarios comparing the trade-off between leverage and margin, and why operating the asset rather than only finding it can influence potential returns. Whether you're evaluating your first deal or refining your process on your tenth, this episode provides an educational perspective. #realestateinvesting #realestate #Investing

$0 to $25M Using Other People’s Money (Legally) Michael Mnatsakanian grew up in poverty as a first-generation American raised by a single mom. He got an engineering degree from UCSD, commissioned as a U.S. Army officer, and started investing in real estate from a barracks in Fairbanks, Alaska with little money. Five years later, he’s built a $25M+ real estate portfolio, raised over $10M in capital, and completely abandoned the Airbnb model for something many investors may not be familiar with: co-living. Chapters: 0:15 - VA loans and military investing 04:14 - Childhood poverty and the fear of financial mistakes 4:52 - The ultimatum that broke analysis paralysis 06:42 - Why real estate is a cheat code for wealth 12:42 - Buying 20 rental cabins with zero money down 17:00 - Co-living strategy explained 25:36 - Why $200/month rentals trap investors 31:34 - Affordable housing and why the government fails 42:11- Raising capital with your back against the wall 48:17 - Balancing wealth building with family time #realestate #affordablehousing #investing

Why Your Salary Might Not Build Long-Term Wealth If all your income stopped tomorrow, how long would you last? Many people can't answer that question and that's part of the problem. In this episode, we discuss why society often prioritizes income titles, salaries, and promotions, while ownership remains an underexplored strategy for building long-term financial security. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 If all your income stopped tomorrow, how long do you have? 1:08 The difference between being rich and being wealthy 2:53 "What do you want to be when you grow up?" How the programming starts 4:32 Michael's story: conditioned to “follow the rules” until his wife said “quit” 7:51 The achievement loop: grades, titles, promotions, repeat - this this cycle might not lead to long-term wealth 11:12 Dopamine and income: why earning feels good but doesn’t compound over time. 14:59 How ownership changes the math: working the same hours, unlimited potential upside 17:03 C suite salary vs. equity owner: same stress, vastly different outcome 22:10 Michael’s story of walking away from banking at 31 and making $0 for 18 months 31:34 How W2 employees can start building ownership today, without quitting their job #investing #FinancialFreedom #OwnershipMindset

In today's market, access to capital has become more restricted, with banks lending less than in previous years. The real estate market may feel stagnant, and stock prices appear high relative to historical norms. However, periods of market uncertainty can often create opportunities for those who are well-positioned to act strategically. In this episode, we examine six investment strategies that some investors are exploring in the current environment along with two strategies that we, as long-term investors, are considering. #PersonalFinance #Investing #Airbnb

Investing can feel complicated for a reason. In this episode, we breaks down how "big words" and Wall Street jargon may cause confusion, leading to decisions that aren't fully understood. We discuss common concepts like options trading, using a simple analogy to real estate contracts, and why complexity in investing may lead to middlemen who benefit from your uncertainty. Chapters 0:00 - Why is investing so confusing? 0:48 - The options trap: Why many investors might want to avoid it 2:10 - A simple analogy to understand options trading 7:26 - Control vs. speculation: What’s the real difference? 8:04 - Who benefits when investing feels complicated? 9:18 - The Covid story: taxes, fear, and panic selling 15:40 - Understanding asset types: stocks, bonds, and index funds 20:05 - Wall Street jargon translated into simple terms 27:29 - What actually matters in investing: Allocation and liquidity 32:21 - Finding a good advisor: What questions to ask

Everyone Says “Wait.” Here’s Why That Could Cost You Seven Figures Are current conditions in the self-storage market creating opportunities that resemble past cycles? AJ Osborne shares how he evaluates today’s self-storage environment, including comparisons to post-2009 pricing, differences in asset quality, and factors that may influence supply and demand over time. The conversation explores concepts such as replacement cost, barriers to entry, interest rate dynamics, and how oversupply has affected certain markets historically. 0:00 Why today’s storage market may be relative to prior cycles 3:10 Price vs. value and the small-market considerations 7:25 The “rate runway” that may keep new supply out 10:40 Barriers to entry and their role in market stability 15:20 Multifamily maturities, defaults, and what it could imply for storage 29:15 Markets AJ is buying now, including Dallas Fort Worth below replacement 43:05 Why regulation can raise costs and could skew supply long term #selfstorage #multifamily #investing

High earners are not broke… they’re exposed. In this episode, We break down why so many millennials and Gen Z feel trapped despite making good money and the exact playbook to escape the income treadmill. We cover the difference between income and ownership, why “spending is visible and wealth is silent,” how to buy back freedom with cash flow, and whether you should go DIY or passive in real estate. If you’re making money but feel stuck, this is your pivot point. Timestamps 0:00 The millennial career crisis is real 2:55 High income vs real wealth 8:23 Lifestyle creep and the trap 13:39 Two levers: cut or earn 17:56 Status pressure and perception 23:56 Gen Z’s advantage and the roadmap 33:08 Saving will not set you free 34:04 Passive vs active real estate 41:36 Is now a good time to build #investing #cashflow #FinancialFreedom

Watch Before You Buy Life Insurance Buying life insurance the wrong way can cost you six figures and leave your family exposed. Russell Boring breaks down term vs whole, indexed universal life, infinite banking, and “tax free retirement” inside a policy. We cover caps, floors, surrender charges, loans, and the incentives that could push bad products. Watch if you’ve been pitched: whole life, IUL, VUL, guaranteed UL, or infinite banking. Timestamps 0:00 Don’t buy before you hear this 3:12 Term vs whole explained simply 10:45 What “indexed” really credits 16:20 The illustration trap and tax bomb risk 24:30 Caps, floors, moving parts that change 31:50 Who infinite banking truly fits 39:25 Fees, structure, and surrender charges 46:10 Why insurance isn’t your financial quarterback 53:30 Action plan: protect first, then consider permanent #LifeInsurance #FinancialLiteracy #investing

.@Brandon_Novak went from homeless heroin addict to building sober housing and opening treatment centers without losing his skater DNA or humility. What you’ll learn - The obsession that powers skating can destroy you or save you (and how to aim it). - Why Novak says his breakthrough came on rehab #13 and what finally “took.” - “Money is a byproduct of solving real problems”—how purpose first led him to build recovery housing and programs. - “No human power can lift the obsession” on surrender and finally getting honest. - “The better my life gets, the higher the relapse risk” (and how he counters it). 0:00 Intro – From Jackass to Redemption 2:30 The Obsession That Started It All 5:45 Fame, Fortune, and the Fall 9:20 Rock Bottom & Jail Cell Realizations 13:15 The Shift – From Ego to Surrender 17:00 Starting Novak’s House – Helping the Next One Up 21:45 How to Really Help an Addict 25:00 Life Lessons – Skateboarding, Faith & Discipline 28:45 The Ripple Effect – Changing One Life at a Time 32:20 Closing Thoughts – Gratitude Over Guilt #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #Skateboarding

Is the American Dream officially dead? Sat down with Taylor Avakian and unpack the brutal truth about today’s housing market and why Gen Z may never own a home unless something changes. 0:00 – Is There Blood in the Streets of Real Estate? 3:00 – Why 2025 Isn’t 2008 (But Could Be Worse) 7:00 – The Interest Rate Game: How 1% Changes Everything 12:00 – California Housing Crisis & NIMBY Problem 18:00 – Gen Z vs Millennials: Can Young People Ever Afford Homes? 24:00 – Renting vs Buying in 2025: What Actually Makes Sense 30:00 – The Smartest Long-Term Play: Buy & Hold Forever 38:00 – AI Landlords & Tokenized Real Estate Explained 46:00 – Will Investors Trust AI With Million-Dollar Deals? 55:00 – The Future of Real Estate: Speed, Data & Disruption #HousingMarket2025 #RealEstate #FinancialFreedom

Is the Real Estate Market Crashing... or Just Changing?Buyers are backing out. Sellers are in denial. What the heck is going on with the real estate market in 2025? Timestamps 0:00 – Housing market is shifting… or is it? 01:00 – Buyer fatigue, seller stubbornness & national stats 03:00 – Why some sellers have to sell (life events, job moves, family) 05:00 – Investors are dumping properties 06:00 – Builders vs. Resale: The competition heats up 07:00 – Is this really a buyer’s market? 08:30 – Are sellers out of touch? The buyer/seller blame game 10:00 – Pricing mistakes & the 2021 delusion 12:00 – What today’s buyers really want 13:30 – Buyer leverage ≠ Affordability 14:00 – Buyer tactics: cash offers, ARMs, old listings & new builds 16:00 – Market differences by city (Austin vs. Boston vs. SoCal) 17:00 – Why home prices may not crash — and what Gen Z might do about it 19:00 – Stop treating your home like an investment (homeowner mindset shift) 21:00 – Buyer action plan (pre-approval, negotiation, builder incentives) 22:00 – Seller checklist (pricing, staging, flexibility) 23:00 – Final outlook + Mikey’s advice for both sides #realestateinvesting #economy #interestrates

Nine years ago, I started working on what would become @communecapital It took about a year and a half of planning, sleepless nights, and second-guessing before officially launching. At the time, I was no longer a pro skateboarder. We had already sold St. Archer. And suddenly, I had to reinvent myself to figure out who I was without skateboarding as my profession. It was one of the hardest and most pivotal seasons of my life. I’m forever grateful to the people who believed in me from day one… our original investors, many of whom were friends and family. Fast forward to today: •700+ investors •23 properties under management •$352M in real estate value And an incredible community who’s followed this journey here on social. I’m thankful for you. I’m blessed by you. Thank you!!

The hottest market in California… and homes are under $300k 🤯🤯

This is the opposite of “parking your money” in real estate. This is design meetings, raising money, sleepless nights, and 2 years of pushing forward. Almost done. And worth every hour!

What will happen to home prices if interest rates stay high? I’ve heard people say that home prices will come down and I’ve also heard people say that rate drops will also result in lower housing prices. Which one will it be? 🤯 New episode of Life With Mikey Ft @kathyfettke @richfettke is now live!

If you make $75K annually, you can only afford 20% of the homes on the market.... Here's everything you need to know about the housing market. (00:00) - Intro (03:06) - 1.4M homes are on the market (08:28) - Home flipping is dead (14:39) - How to solve the housing crisis (24:10) - Investors are flocking to long term SFR (29:55) - Regulation is coming @CommuneCapital