Episode 39

Date: October 6, 2025

Episode 39 Summary:

• Bud notes
• Elderly living in RV https://youtu.be/J6oOy7LL_Qo?si=ftemEJUm5zdzyP9w&t=793
• Pressure Grows on Real Estate Tech Company Accused of Colluding With Landlords to Jack Up Apartment Rents https://www.propublica.org/article/yieldstar-rent-increase-realpage-lawmakers-collusion
• Undeployed idea: a Youth housing supply dormitory freeze-out
• UNICOR https://www2.fed.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/unicor_about.jsp
• AI Summary
• In this podcast episode, Bud and Mike discuss the escalating housing crisis in the United States, with a particular focus on the complexities surrounding rental housing, the lack of affordable options, and the socio-political factors contributing to these issues. The conversation begins with Bud recounting an NBC report about individuals living in RVs due to skyrocketing rent costs, highlighting a broader societal failure to prioritize affordable housing, particularly for older citizens. Mike, drawing on his expertise, explains that the core issue is a shortage of housing supply, exacerbated by private equity firms monopolizing the market to inflate prices artificially.
• Several interrelated factors amplify the crisis: high tariffs and a crackdown on immigration affecting the construction workforce, rising costs of building materials due to tariffs, and supply chain issues. These factors drive up housing development costs, making it unfeasible for developers to build affordable housing without sufficient return on investment. Consequently, Mike argues for the urgent need for housing stock outside of the private market, advocating for communal, public housing to reduce entry barriers for those most in need.
• The discussion also delves into systemic issues such as unrestricted rent increases due to short-term lease agreements, and the overarching lack of competition in the rental market that leaves tenants with few alternatives. This non-competitive market is further entrenched by allegations of landlords colluding to fix high rent prices via specialized software, thereby manipulating the market to their advantage without offering tenants meaningful options, similar to issues seen in the healthcare sector.
• Bud and Mike also discuss the influence of large corporations that treat housing as a commodity rather than a utility, keeping properties vacant to control market scarcity and inflate values, akin to commodities like gold or diamonds. The conversation draws parallels with the 2008 housing crisis, noting how rental-backed securities create incentives to keep rents high, perpetuating a cycle that benefits investors at the expense of renters.
• Mike highlights the role of political will (€”or lack thereof) €”as pivotal in addressing these issues, pointing out that powerful lobbying groups, like realtors, prioritize maintaining high property values, much to the detriment of public housing initiatives. The hosts suggest that the absence of a legally enshrined right to housing in the U.S., combined with a political landscape resistant to change, perpetuates the housing crisis. They underscore the need for substantial reforms, including developing alternative housing solutions and legislative changes to address the deep-rooted economic interests that hinder progress.
• In conclusion, the conversation sheds light on the intricate web of economic, political, and societal factors contributing to the current housing crisis, calling for a fundamental reevaluation of priorities and practices to improve accessibility to affordable housing for all.

Videos referenced:

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