This ALWAYS Happens Before A Housing Market Crash… | Michael Zuber

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**Michael Zuber** (0:52)
2026 is a horrible year for most people in real estate. Buyers, sellers, in fact, I think the only person that wins in 2026 are investors. Real estate, it's so much harder than stocks. The stock market every second of the day, you know what it's worth. Real estate is inefficient. You can if you work long enough and you make enough offers. You can make hundreds of thousands of dollars the day you close. Most people won't do that.

**Graham Stephan** (1:18)
What is your prediction then for home prices over the next five to ten years?

**SPEAKER_1** (1:22)
President Donald Trump posted, the American dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people.

**Michael Zuber** (1:28)
My guess is it will take between eight and ten years to get back to normal.

**Graham Stephan** (1:32)
Do you think people are better off buying a house today than renting?

**Michael Zuber** (1:36)
Hey, everybody, you don't have to buy a home. You don't have to.
It's not written down anywhere in law. But if you want to get wealthy, you have to own assets. And the best way to do that is to find a seller who is motivated.

**Jack Selby** (1:48)
So what's the secret to financial independence?

**Michael Zuber** (1:51)
You know what the three-step process to get wealthy is? It's been 100 years this has been true. You want it?

**Jack Selby** (1:59)
Thank you so much for coming on The Iced Coffee Hour.

**Michael Zuber** (2:01)
I appreciate the opportunity. You guys are great.

**Jack Selby** (2:03)
So how much in real estate do you have?

**Michael Zuber** (2:05)
We have about 167 units because we just sold a duplex last week and about 25 million in total value.

**Jack Selby** (2:11)
And how much debt do you have?

**Michael Zuber** (2:13)
Just over 9 million.

**Jack Selby** (2:14)
And how much do you get in cash flow each month?

**Michael Zuber** (2:16)
The worst month we had last year was $40,000. Our average is about 52 and the best month was 60
But the key is I live on 12

**Graham Stephan** (2:24)
And this is all your money, correct?

**Michael Zuber** (2:26)
It's all my money, no partnerships. I shouldn't say all my money, my wife's money as well. Let's be very clear, Olivia is a big part of this journey. But yeah, we don't take outside capital, never have. We've taken on some debt partners, but just like banks. But I don't want that stress, frankly.

**Graham Stephan** (2:40)
And why should people listen to you specifically?

**Michael Zuber** (2:42)
Well, I'm not here trying to sell anything, right? I'm a guy that's been looking at real estate for 30 years. I'm an economist.
And my goal in life is to simply build something that outlives me by 50 years. That's what's going to be success for me. I'm not here trying to be a billionaire. I'm not even here trying to grow my portfolio anymore. I live on 12 and make 50 I'm good. We just did three weeks in Australia, came back for a week, did a week in Canada. My life is good. I'm not trying to be this big guru. I'm just trying to look at the news. I've been doing it every day since college, and I'm trying to help people. That's all I'm trying to do.

**Graham Stephan** (3:18)
Yeah, I have to say, when we were planning for this podcast, you sent me your research, this incredible spreadsheet. I'm going to put it up on the screen here for everyone to see. The level of detail that you put into that, to me, is incredible. So what is that telling you about the housing market?

**Michael Zuber** (3:34)
Well, I think it's important to understand why I created it and why I give it away.