JF 4105: Slowing Hiring, Capital Costs and the Hidden Advantages for Today’s Investors with John Chang

John Chang shares why commercial real estate data has become less reliable following the DOJ’s settlement with RealPage, and how losing access to more precise rent and vacancy feeds weakens investor decision-making. He walks through the market’s wildly shifting expectations for a potential December 10 Fed rate cut and argues that political pressure and policy uncertainty—not the cost of capital—are what’s really slowing hiring and expansion. John then looks at how tariffs, tight immigration policies, and a softer job market could temporarily dampen household formation and apartment absorption in 2026 across apartments, retail, and industrial, while creating pent-up demand that returns later in the cycle. Finally, he explains why investors who can secure positive leverage today—higher cap rates against moderating debt costs—may be better positioned for the next upswing if they buy before sentiment and competition turn. Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices