Yesterday I had Melody Wright back on the podcast to talk about real estate, societal changes, and the financial market mess that could be in store in the back half of 2026. We also talked about private equity and private credit and their impact on the economy, and several cultural issues that come from having a hyperfinancialized economy. If you’re interested in real estate or some of the storm clouds on the horizon for financial markets, you will like this one. You can find Melody and her work on her Substack as well as on Twitter.

Podcast Summary

* Why several different converging factors could lead to a bumpy ride for financial markets, real estate, and private equity and credit in the second half of 2026.

* The multifamily boom that has led to decreasing rents and increasing vacancies.

* How residential real estate is seeing unseasonal weakness, with increasing delinquencies and foreclosures.

* Offshoring vs. AI and what it means for the labor market.

* The different culture war problems, and how social media exaggerates the divide between groups.

* How economic cycles impact families and the root of the culture war agenda.

* COVID as a turning point for more people waking up to what is going on.

* Why regulatory changes are required for real estate and banking.

* How enshittification has impacted various sectors of the economy.

* Why there will probably be an opportunity to buy residential real estate by the end of the decade.

* Her view on rates and where we are in the cycle, and how that feeds into the real estate market.

* Book Recommendation: The Rape of the Mind by Joost A.M. Meerloo.

Kontrarian Korner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kontrariankorner.com/subscribe