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Jing Pan
Updated Oct 1, 2025
Meredith Whitney earned her “Oracle of Wall Street” nickname by calling the 2008 financial crisis before it hit. Now, nearly two decades later, she sees fresh trouble brewing in the U.S. housing market.
“Existing home sales are tracking under 4 million on an annualized basis and that’s the worst in over 25 years. Buyers are looking for steep discounts and sellers are not willing to make those discounts,” Whitney said in a recent interview with MarketWatch [1].
The problem, she explained, has to do with demographics. Roughly 60% of homes are owned by people over 55 and for many of them, downsizing isn’t realistic. Lower-cost alternatives are scarce and the financial hurdles of moving are steep.
She’s not the only one raising red flags. Last September, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell admitted the housing market is “in part frozen,” with many homeowners reluctant to sell because they’re locked in at lower mortgage rates [3].
The consequence? Persistently high prices on inventory that does exist. Combined with elevated interest rates, that makes homeownership harder than ever to achieve.
Getting on the real estate ladder — starting with $100
At the end of the day, the rise in home prices also reflects the steady march of inflation over time. When inflation goes up, property values often climb as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. Meanwhile, rental income tends to rise, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts with inflation.
That’s why real estate has long been considered a go-to investment for those looking to hedge against inflation.
While purchasing an entire home may feel out of reach due to elevated prices and mortgage rates, it’s now easier than ever to start investing in real estate thanks to crowdfunding platforms like Arrived.
Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.
The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential.
100% Funded
The Vanzant
Single Family Residential
$415K
Invested
1,294
Investors
100% Funded
The Smokey
Vacation Rental
$983K
Invested
1,748
Investors
100% Funded
The SuiteSpot
Vacation Rental
$1.2M
Invested
1,672
Investors
These are a few examples of properties from Arrived. Check out the full list of single family residential homes and vacation rentals currently available.
Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
Another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities.
Featured
Gadd Crossing
Hixson, TN
Featured
Crowe's Crossing
Stone Mountain, GA
Featured
Bishops Corner
West Hardford, CT
These are a few examples of past properties or acquisitions from FNRP. For a full list of currently available properties, visit the FNRP deal room.
Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.
Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.
A golden hedge for ‘bad times’
Real estate isn’t the only asset investors lean on to guard against inflation. Gold has served as a store of value for centuries — and its appeal remains as strong as ever.
Unlike fiat currencies, the yellow metal can’t be printed at will by central banks. It’s also not tied to the fortunes of any single country or economy, making it the go-to safe haven when economic or geopolitical storms hit.
Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly highlighted gold’s importance in a resilient portfolio.
“People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC in February. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
Over the past 12 months, the price of the precious metal has surged by more than 35%.
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.
Article sources
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[1]. MarketWatch. “Meredith Whitney famously called the 2008 financial crisis. Here’s the new problem with the U.S. economy, she says”
[2]. IRS. “Topic no. 701, Sale of your home”
[3]. Federal Reserve. “Transcript of Chair Powell’s Press Conference September 18, 2024”
[4]. Realtor.com. “How Much You Need To Earn in Every State To Buy a Home”
Jing Pan
Investment Reporter
Jing is an investment reporter for MoneyWise. He is an avid advocate of investing for passive income. Despite the ups and downs he’s been through with the markets, Jing believes that you can generate a steadily increasing income stream by investing in high quality companies.
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