What Google Searches Say About the Real Economy (And Why It Matters)
Let’s take a break from talking about housing for a minute and talk about real life. Not numbers on a spreadsheet or soundbites from the Fed. I mean what people are actually thinking about, stressed about, and searching for online.
Because when you really want to know how the economy is doing, you look at what people are Googling.
Right now, they’re not searching how to build wealth or grow a portfolio. They’re searching “recession,” “credit card help,” “auto loan rescue,” and “cost of living.”
That tells you everything.
These aren’t just search terms. These are warning signs. They’re signals from the people who rent our apartments, go to work every day, and keep the economy running.
And if you’re an investor, landlord, or business owner, you’d better be paying attention.
Consumers Are Pulling Back
We’re seeing a shift. A big one.
Netflix subscriptions, gym memberships, even groceries—people are cutting back. Financing food is now a thing.
In our own portfolio of over 10,000 rental units, we’ve started to see signs. Tenants who have always paid on time are starting to miss a payment here or there. Some have lost jobs. A few were replaced by AI.
The signs are subtle, but they’re real.
This isn’t about a crash. But if your investment strategy depends on rising rents, full occupancy, or strong wage growth, it’s time to take a hard look.
Housing Is Becoming the Great Divide
Affordability has become a joke.
I’ve got two kids in their 20s. Both are renting. Both are trying to save. We recently started running the numbers on buying a home.
Even at $600,000, the mortgage payment is north of $3,500 a month before taxes, insurance, and HOA. And that’s assuming you’ve got the down payment ready to go.
Bankrate did a study that showed it costs an extra $18,000 a year just to own and maintain a home. That doesn’t even include the mortgage.
It’s no wonder young people feel stuck.
Tucker Carlson made a comment recently that hit home. He said he doesn’t care about GDP. He cares that his kid can’t get a decent job and buy a house by 27. Maybe not even by 35.
That’s where a lot of people are right now. And whether you agree with Tucker or not, you can’t deny that feeling. I hear it from both sides of the aisle.
The Mortgage Lock-In Effect
People who bought in 2020 or earlier are sitting on gold. Low-rate loans, huge equity, and no incentive to move.
My wife Danille has a condo with a 2.7% mortgage. It cash flows beautifully. She wants to buy a rental property, but can’t let go of that deal.
That’s happening all over the country. People are frozen in place.
There are trillions of dollars of equity sitting idle. When people aren’t selling, refinancing, or upgrading, the ripple effects spread across the entire economy. Lenders, agents, contractors, retailers—all feel the slowdown.
Credit Cards: The Next Crisis
Credit card debt is exploding.
Rates are hitting 20 to 30 percent. And people are just paying the minimums, if that.
Tucker slammed the credit card companies for gouging people, and frankly, he’s right. But here’s the challenge. If you cap rates, lenders get pickier about who qualifies.
It’s a tough cycle. And the end result is more people living on borrowed money, while their costs keep rising.
Auto Loans and the Payment Trap
Another top Google search right now? “Auto loan rescue.”
Car repossessions are ticking up. Inventory is stacking up. People are holding onto their vehicles longer.
And just like with housing, people are solving for the monthly payment, not the total price.
That’s a sign of real stress.
When consumers start putting off haircuts, esthetician visits, medical appointments, and even grocery trips, it’s clear the belt is getting tighter.
What Investors Should Be Watching
Not all businesses suffer during times like these.
Trades are thriving. People are fixing instead of replacing. Stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s are doing well.
Used car sales are holding up. Some asset classes, like gold and crypto, are surging.
One of my friends moved a chunk of his 401(k) into crypto and doubled it. I’m not saying that’s the move for everyone, but it’s interesting to see how people are hedging.
Last year, gold was around $2,000. This year, it’s over $3,000. That’s a major shift.
If you’re looking at gold, check out Monetary Metals. They let you lease your gold to pre-qualified companies and potentially earn yield without selling it. That’s like earning rent, but in gold.
Lower Rates Will Be the Real Catalyst
There’s enormous pressure on the Fed to lower rates.
Powell may not be swayed politically, but he can’t ignore what’s happening. When people stop spending, stop borrowing, and stop moving, the economy freezes up.
You’ll hear more on this at Limitless Expo next week. George Gammon, Jim Rickards, Robert Kiyosaki, and others will be sharing their take on what’s next.
Some believe unemployment could hit 10 percent. Others think AI will reshape the job market faster than anyone expects.
And most agree rate cuts are coming. The only question is when.
Final Thoughts
The economy isn’t built on GDP reports or unemployment stats. It’s built on people.
And right now, people are stressed.
If you want to stay ahead, stop looking at just the headlines. Start listening to what real people are doing, searching, and spending on.
Because that’s where the real economy lives.
