By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® The map and data referenced in this article were compiled and visualized by Visual Capitalist , using housing affordability data from the Globe and Mail . The Metric That Explains Housing Affordability Rather than focusing on headline home prices, this analysis relies on a simple but powerful measure: Price-to-Income Ratio The Price-to-Income Ratio  compares the median home price in a metro area to the gross median house

Three-bedroom apartment rents in major city centers vary widely across the world, raising important questions about affordability, ownership costs, and real investment performance. By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® Perspective matters   when we talk about rent —especially for people who live in, invest in, or advise clients in major U.S. housing markets. A recently published chart by Visual Capitalist  maps monthly rents for three-bedroom apartments in c

Both retirement savings and homeownership can support long-term financial independence, but only when the right questions are addressed first. Timing, balance, and execution—not impulse—ultimately shape the outcome. By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® President Trump has floated the idea of allowing 401(k) savers to use a portion of their retirement contributions toward a down payment on a home. While the details are still emerging, the proposal raises an

Low interest rates are hard to catch. Smart planning is easier to hold onto. by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® Financial Planning Interest rates touch almost every area of personal financial planning and rental property ownership. They influence cash flow, borrowing decisions, and ultimately the sustainability of a long-term plan. Used thoughtfully, debt can support good outcomes. Over-relied upon—or misunderstood—it can quietly introduce risk into an ot

Markets don’t make decisions—investors do. The location of the market you invest in is one of the few levers you control. by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® Financial Planning With rental properties, there are things you control—and things you don’t. You can choose a fixed interest rate . You can model conservative rent and expense assumptions. You can decide how much leverage you’re willing to carry. What you can’t  control is when interest rates re

A data-driven analysis of the U.S. housing market, mortgage rates, and residential real estate investment performance based on National Association of REALTORS® economic research. by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® Financial Planning Most #realestate investors feel like the market has gone quiet—maybe even stalled. Values seem flat, transactions feel slower, and confidence is mixed. But when you step back and look at the data professionals are using behin

by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® Financial Planning Question: How should two people split rent when one earns significantly more than the other? Answer: Start by choosing the proper framework: Will your arrangement take a business or an emotional approach? This single decision shapes everything that follows. 1. Emotional Approach This is where many couples, friends, or partners  begin—especially when one person earns more than the other. Income differen

Why investors need to hear the whole story—not just the success stories . by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® Financial Planning Real estate investors naturally gravitate toward posts, videos, and conversations that celebrate winning deals and financial success. In behavioral finance terms, this is classic confirmation bias —the tendency to seek out and prioritize information that supports what we already believe, while discounting or avoiding anything tha

A financial planner explains when a 50-year mortgage could make sense, how it affects equity, and why it’s more about flexibility than risk. by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® Financial Planning Recently, a reporter asked this question: “President Trump has floated the idea of introducing a 50-year mortgage. While it would lower monthly payments at a time when housing affordability is near all-time lows, that trade-off of course means building equity woul

Press query response submitted to HerMoney.com , November 2025 by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ® Financial Planning I was recently asked by a financial journalist to weigh in on a reader question: “Reverse mortgage versus home equity loan — which works better for retirees?”   It’s a great question, because although both tools tap into home equity, they are fundamentally different in how they function, how they are regulated, and how much risk they tran

Patience and perspective drive real estate success. What starts as a small investment, carefully nurtured, can develop into something lasting — not due to timing, but because of vision. by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning This article by Jonathan Lansner , business columnist for the Southern California News Group, explores the evolving California apartment market. Beyond the tactical moves and creative development strategies he highlig

by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning (A response to Venessa Wong’s MarketWatch article, “ People pay a lot for insurance. Sometimes it’s not enough to protect them from disaster.  ”) I’ve been following #venessawong’s MarketWatch series on the rising costs and declining reliability of personal insurance with both great interest—and growing professional frustration. The latest installment (linked above) captures what so many families are

How should someone decide between contributing to a Roth 401(k) and a Roth IRA? by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning One of the unique aspects of my work is that I occasionally get to respond to questions from national financial and business reporters preparing stories for prominent outlets like CNBC, MarketWatch, and AARP. These reporters are trying to make sense of complex financial planning issues for a broad audience — and they ofte

Home affordability and monthly mortgage payments, taxes, and insurance, ranked by UC cities. By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning In May 1972, my parents bought their 4-bedroom, 2-bath home for $29,900. It probably felt like a financial stretch at the time. But today, that same kind of stretch looks very different.   Fast forward to 2025: According to Visual Capitalist, the median home price in San Jose, CA tops $2 million, requiring an

What’s New with Qualified Opportunity Zones and Funds By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) introduced Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) as a way to incentivize long-term investment in underserved communities. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), investors and advisors should take note of several important enhancements and permanent changes that elevate the utility and accessi

Urgent Highlights for 2025 and Beyond Tax Planning ¹ By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning The table below outlines key provisions impacting investment real estate under the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), compared to the prior 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The focus is on 2025 action items that may require timely attention from real estate investors and their advisory teams. Understanding these updates can inform p

Potential tools to reduce interest rate risk and cash flow, let's take a few minutes to compare the Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) and Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) (also known as reverse mortgages). by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning Managing debt is a frequent concern for many clients, particularly those seeking to consolidate credit card debt or reduce/eliminate mortgage payments. When it comes to accessing home e

NewPark Mall, Newark, CA conceptual rendering. By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning When I first shared the initial article in this series on Zombie Malls, I didn’t anticipate it evolving into a miniseries. Yet here we are, exploring one of the most compelling examples of revitalizing a declining property type: transforming dead shopping malls into vibrant multifamily developments. This trend addresses a critical housing shortage and ad

By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer® Financial Planning As a landlord, you understand that your role goes beyond collecting rent and maintaining the property. You handle everything from repairs and late payments to tenant disputes and evictions. However, one situation that many landlords may not prepare for is a tenant's death. While this may be an unfortunate and challenging experience, knowing how to navigate this sensitive issue legally and emotionally i

By Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM , The Real Estate Whisperer ®  Financial Planning I received the question below, which is growing in frequency. The question can apply to individuals or families with a lower net worth and or those who simply need financial advice or prefer to manage their own investments. I hope this reply can help someone you know. Question “I’m curious if you have any recommendations for financial planners working with folks with a lower net worth. I want to star