I’m thrilled to see my Forbes article on real estate striking a chord with so many readers—15,000 and counting!

The topic of aging home inventory seems to be resonating deeply, and as I reflect on the theme this week, I’m reminded of a photo I took at Berlin’s Gedächtniskirche, above.

Amidst the new, the old remains.

It’s a powerful visual that connects to the tensions we’re seeing in real estate today—where the past and present are in a complicated dance, much like the church itself, which stands in stark contrast to its modern surroundings.

While the history is more complex, it felt like a fitting symbol for this week’s conversation on how the housing market is evolving, and how we navigate the legacy of homeownership in the face of change.

New episodes of Money Memories are on the way, but in the meantime, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite conversations from this year:

🎙 From Nigeria to Wall Street: A Journey of Resilience and Financial Freedom with Ehis Akhetuamhen
🎙 A Student Loan "Sherpa" Breaks Down What Borrowers Need to Know with Michael Lux
🎙 Caja de Zapatos and Operation HOPE (thank you to my new IG follower who mentioned that this episode was her personal favorite!)

Thank you for listening and supporting the show. Stay tuned for more fresh episodes!

Homeownership has long been a cornerstone of wealth-building in America. But today, that $36 trillion in housing wealth feels increasingly fragile—not just for would-be buyers, but for current owners, too. This chart from Redfin is pretty wild: nearly 40% of U.S. homes are now over 50 years old.

I wrote about this growing paradox in my latest Forbes article, and clearly, it struck a nerve. In just five days, it has become my highest performing article —and even drew a comment from a Boomer pushing back on the trends I described.

Here are three key reasons why the math and mindset around housing is changing:

1️⃣ It Costs More to Stay Put
The average annual maintenance cost for older homes has climbed above $6,000, driven by aging infrastructure, rising labor costs, and extreme weather damage. Homeowners are increasingly stretched just to maintain habitability.