Most Americans aren’t failing financially. They’re freezing.

In this episode of The Mortgage 101 Podcast, Manley Haines and Anthony Valentino break down a quiet but dangerous trend shaping the economy: people are protecting their comfort today while unintentionally sabotaging their future selves.

We unpack:

Why instant gratification is beating long-term planning
How the “dopamine dependency loop” is reshaping financial behavior
Why the average first-time homebuyer is now nearly 40 years old
What the real data says about home prices, rates, and affordability in 2026
Why waiting for “perfect conditions” is how people become statistics

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