In this high-octane episode of The Higher Standard, Chris and Saied officially welcome Rajeil to the show—and initiate him with a healthy dose of sarcasm and button-pushing. They hop right in to Moody’s U.S. credit downgrade. What does it mean when Uncle Sam takes a hit to his credit score? It’s not just a bad look—it signals rising debt, inflation, and interest payments spiraling out of control. With 30-year mortgage rates back above 7%, the crew dives into why your rate acts more like a moody teenager than a constant, and how the 10-year Treasury is the true puppet master behind housing affordability.

➡️ But wait—there’s more. Chris explains why your home isn’t an investment, it's a utility (no, you can’t charge rent to your shower), and why “marry the house, date the rate” is advice best left in 2019. The guys talk taxes and why today’s housing market may be the most unaffordable in U.S. history—yes, even worse than 2006. Whether you’re scraping by on Top Ramen or flexing your broker’s license, this episode delivers a reality check wrapped in a warm tortilla of wit and wisdom.

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🔗 Resources:

Moody's downgraded US credit rating: What does that mean? (Fox Business)

Mortgage rates climb back above 7% after Moody's U.S. debt downgrade (CBS News)

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate today: 7.08% (Lance Lambert via X)

The housing market has never been this unaffordable in U.S. history. (Nick Gerli via X)

Consumer Sentiment Hits Second Lowest Level On Record (Yahoo! Finance via Instagram)

U.S. Tariff Revenue Soars To Record High In April (Yahoo! Finance via Instagram)

Inflation Was Stubborn Ahead Of Tariffs (Investopedia via Instagram)

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