When most people hear “tariffs on China,” they think of higher prices on electronics or cheap imports. But for those of us in real estate, tariffs do something far more serious. They ripple through construction costs, housing supply, mortgage rates, and affordability. The timing couldn’t be worse, with the Federal Reserve meeting later this month...
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Ken McElroy’s Real Estate Edge
Every year, I watch business owners and real estate investors make the same costly mistake: they wait until tax season to start thinking about taxes. By then, it’s too late. If you want to truly minimize your tax burden, you can’t wait until April. The key is to plan before December 31st because that’s when...
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...
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...
Would You Trust AI to Pick Your Next Real Estate Deal?
September 22, 20250
The Future of Real Estate: Humans + AI (Not Humans vs. AI) By Ken McElroy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries and real estate is no exception. Today, algorithms can scan thousands of data points in seconds, from rent growth and job creation to construction pipelines and demographic shifts. For many investors, that sounds like...
The Fed Finally Cut Rates, What It Means for Real Estate
September 18, 20250
The Fed Cuts Rates. What It Means for Real Estate Investors The Federal Reserve finally made its move: a 0.25% rate cut announced on September 17, 2025. For the first time since last December, borrowing just got cheaper, which has everyone in real estate wondering what happens next. Lower rates sound like great news for...
