Forget the Data. Listen to the Workers. If you’re a young adult trying to start your career right now, you’re facing one of the toughest job markets in years. On paper, government data claims the U.S. unemployment rate is low. But anyone paying attention to the real economy knows that’s not the full story. Behind...
Ken McElroy’s Real Estate Edge
Direct from the desk of Ken McElroy! Your trusted source for up-to-date real estate insights, financial literacy, and actionable investing solutions.
The Most Dangerous Money Lie Wall Street Sells You
October 7, 20250
There is a money lie that keeps people broke. You have heard it from well-dressed advisors, glossy brochures, and even family members who mean well. The lie is simple: “Hand your money to smarter people and they will take care of it.” It sounds comforting. It also keeps you from ever learning how money really...
For decades, Detroit was written off as a city of abandoned homes and shrinking opportunity. Then, investors showed up. They saw what others didn’t — low prices, rising rents, and an economy slowly rebuilding from the inside out. Today, Detroit is once again in the headlines, but this time for a very different reason. City...
Why New Construction Is Outperforming Fixer-Uppers
October 3, 20250
For decades, the “ugly house” strategy was the go-to move for real estate investors. Buy cheap, renovate, and force appreciation. But in today’s market, the numbers don’t pencil how they used to. Renovation costs have skyrocketed. Contractors are in short supply. And the so-called distressed property discount is slimmer than ever. Many investors who cling...
Dead Money vs. Living Money Millions of Americans are sitting on record amounts of home equity right now. The problem? Equity looks great on paper, but by itself it does not pay the bills. That is why I call it dead money. The good news is that there are safe, strategic ways to put that...
Why Americans Feel Poor in a “Strong” Economy
October 1, 20250
On paper, the U.S. economy looks strong. Unemployment is low, inflation has cooled from its 2022 peak, and GDP continues to expand. But if you ask the average American how they feel, the answer is very different. Consumer sentiment today is nearly as pessimistic as it was during the 2008 financial crisis or the stagflation...
Google Data May Be Signaling a Foreclosure Tipping Point
September 30, 20250
Foreclosure Fears Grow as Google Searches for Mortgage Help When you’ve been through as many market cycles as I have, you learn to pay attention to the quiet signals before the headlines hit. And right now, one of those early signals is starting to make noise. Google Trends recently showed a sharp increase in searches...
2025 Feels Like 1969: Will We Repeat the 1970s Economy?
September 26, 20250
Are We Heading for a 1970s-Style Economy? When you’ve been investing as long as I have, you start to see patterns. Right now, I feel like I’m standing in a stadium, watching the warm-up before the big game, and it feels an awful lot like the late 1960s. Back then, the U.S. economy was running...
The Hidden STR Markets Near National Parks With Huge Upside
September 25, 20250
The Next Airbnb Gold Rush? Investing Near These National Parks When most people think about investing in short-term rentals (STRs), they picture trendy city lofts or beachfront condos. But some of the savviest investors I know are heading in a different direction, toward the breathtaking landscapes surrounding America’s national parks. These markets have a unique...
100 Years of Recessions: What We Can Learn From History
September 23, 20250
What History Teaches Us About Recessions (And How to Prepare for the Next One) Recessions aren’t new, and they aren’t going away. Whether we are in one right now or heading toward one, what matters most is not the cause of a downturn but how governments and central banks respond to it. After 30+ years...
