American Monetary Association

Jason talks about the importance of understanding the relationship between household real estate value, mortgage debt, and GDP. The presented chart indicates increased equity and decreased mortgage debt as a percentage of GDP, highlighting a more stable housing market. He touches on the benefits of leveraging properties and he analyzes a chart on median sold prices based on bedroom count, revealing significant appreciation in lower-priced properties. Jason welcomes Len Kiefer, Deputy Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, as they discuss the current state of the real estate market. Despite concerns about rising interest rates, Kiefer highlighted the resilience of the U.S. economy, emphasizing the stability of the housing market throughout 2023. While acknowledging a potential slowdown in consumer spending due to higher rates, Kiefer pointed out that the housing market has seen low transaction volumes and reduced refinance activity, impacting affordability. He also discussed the unique situation of homeowners with ul