30: What happens when there’s no money in real estate markets

People outside of the real estate investment industry may be unaware, but the market is currently navigating a period of turbulence comparable to what it experienced during the 2008 financial crisis, with cap rates and pricing down as much as 50%. In this episode of Onward, co-hosts Ben and Cardiff look at some behind-the-scenes market data that Ben has been analyzing, thanks to his on-the-ground insights through managing the Fundrise portfolio. Of particular concern has been the startling unevenness in the market, with investment property values severely misaligned with the values attached to properties purchased and sold by individual homebuyers. In order to understand these differences, our hosts point out, we need to look at more than just completed transactions and sales prices — we also need to consider the numbers behind offers that are not being completed, to see why sellers are not willing to accept the low prices that current buyers are willing to pay. And in order to see those kinds of bids, you need to be directly involved in the market’s dynamics — a perspective Ben can fortunately share, with a helpful glimpse into a couple properties in Fundrise’s portfolio.

As always, great change opens the door to great opportunity — but what else does the current state of investment real estate mean for the economy, writ large? Will interest rates continue at their present level, despite the rupture in the bond markets and continued challenges for banks? When and how will the impact on the real estate industry make its way to other sectors? Why exactly is the market broken — and what will it take to fix it? 

To read more background information on Ben and Cardiff’s conversation in this episode, visit https://fundrise.com/education/onward-episode-30. 

Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at [email protected].

Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise, and Cardiff Garcia, co-founder of Bazaar Audio and host of the economics-focused podcast The New Bazaar (after spending many years as the co-creator and co-host of NPR's The Indicator podcast).

Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada.

About Fundrise
With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button.  

Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s).

Want to see the specific properties that make up and power Fundrise portfolios, including the ones mentioned in today’s episode? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.