Roubini Redux

Roubini Redux

Author: Rob Hahn and Greg Robertson September 16, 2026 Duration: 49:50

The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player!

Overview

Rob and Greg riff on Greg's stalled car search, then dig into real estate and macro conditions — new industry efforts to boost housing supply, mounting federal debt and mortgage rate pressure, AI's threat to service jobs, and whether multi-generational living could ease the affordability crisis.

Key Takeaways

  • Realtor.com and 13 housing advocacy groups launched LetAmericaBuild.org to educate on zoning, permitting, and housing supply.
  • Realtor.com data puts the housing supply gap at roughly 4 million homes.
  • Rob argues the federal government's interest payments now exceed defense spending, constraining any real rate hikes.
  • Mortgage rates are tied to the 10-year Treasury yield, which is rising as foreign buyers (China, Gulf states) pull back from US bonds.
  • Saudi Arabia's oil export disruptions mean less Gulf money flowing into US mortgage-backed securities.
  • Rob's view: neither political party will touch Social Security or Medicare cuts, so structural fiscal problems go unresolved regardless of who's in power.
  • AI poses a bigger threat to US service-based jobs (coding, law, banking, podcasting) than to manufacturing-heavy economies like China's.
  • Rob's affordability math: either home prices need to fall ~40% or real incomes need to roughly double.
  • Landlords currently own about 40% of US housing stock, which both hosts flag as a long-term political issue.
  • Discussion of multi-generational living models (Korean, Japanese generational mortgages) as a possible adaptation, though both agree the US housing stock isn't built for it.
  • Rob traces the "traditional" American homeownership path: condo → starter home → forever home → passed down or sold in retirement — calling it increasingly out of reach.
  • Both hosts close by noting real estate and podcasting are themselves AI-exposed industries and stress the need for resilience.

Connect with Rob and Greg

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Greg's Website 

 

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Industry Relations is a weekly conversation hosted by Rob Hahn, also known as The Notorious ROB, and Greg Robertson. It operates at a unique crossroads, examining where the business of real estate collides with and is reshaped by new technology. This isn't a surface-level tech review; the discussion comes from an insider's perspective, built on years of direct experience within the field. Each episode delves into the practical implications of software platforms, shifting market data, and emerging business models that are actively changing how properties are bought, sold, and managed. The hosts analyze trends, debate strategies, and often challenge conventional wisdom, providing a nuanced look at the forces driving change. Listening to this podcast offers a deeper understanding of the operational and entrepreneurial challenges faced by professionals navigating this evolving landscape. You'll hear specific case studies, evaluations of new tools, and forward-looking predictions about what's next for the industry. The tone is direct and informed, reflecting the hosts' deep background, making it essential for anyone invested in the future of real estate as a business. Tune in for thoughtful, weekly analysis that goes beyond the headlines.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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