In episode 12 of the Groundfloor Market Trends podcast, Damon Riehl of Investment Property Loan Exchange (IPLE) discusses his 40 years of experience in lending across various asset classes including commercial and residential mortgages, small business, and construction lending. He explains why he chose to remain an intermediary rather than become a lender. Riehl highlights the benefits IPLE provides through its platform, including leveraging strong relationships with private lenders to get favorable terms for real estate investors. The discussion also covers the current interest rate environment, market trends, and predictions for 2025, emphasizing stability and geographic diversification in loan origination.

In this episode, Patrick discusses the housing market's position as we head into 2025. He covers inflation’s grip on the economy, elevated mortgage rates, and the opportunities emerging from modest inventory growth. He also highlights how Groundfloor’s award-winning platform and Flywheel Portfolio are designed to thrive in uncertain markets, offering stability and innovation for both investors and borrowers. Let’s dive in!

Host Patrick Donoghue explores the resurgence of urban living, with city home purchases now comprising 16% of the market. He discusses the impact of recent Federal Reserve rate cuts on mortgage rates and examines regional home price trends, highlighting the Midwest's strong performance. Patrick also addresses challenges in housing supply and construction costs, noting the increase in new home sizes and rising material prices. For investors, he emphasizes the importance of diversification and introduces Groundfloor's Flywheel Portfolio, which offers exposure to 200–400 short-term real estate loans with projected returns of 10.5% to 11%. The episode concludes with a look ahead to 2025, focusing on factors that could influence the housing market and investment strategies.