Past The Real Estate Market Bottom With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise

Past The Real Estate Market Bottom With Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise

Author: Sam Dogen: Financial Samurai founder, personal finance blogger January 12, 2024 Duration: 31:55

In this episode, I speak to Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise about his change in outlook for the real estate market in 2024 and beyond.

He believes October 2023 was the bottom and we're going up from here. 

In this episode we explore several key topics:

  1. The reasoning behind Ben's belief that October 2023 marked the bottom, and the less obvious indicators supporting this perspective.
  2. The motivation behind selling during this period, just after reaching the presumed bottom.
  3. The possibility of using one fund's cash to support a deal in which another fund is investing.
  4. Ben's insights on investing in office properties at significant discounts.
  5. Drawing parallels between e-commerce and the work-from-home trend, highlighting the potential permanent increase in the value of residential properties.
  6. Emphasizing the importance of investing in alignment with macroeconomic tailwinds, not headwinds.
  7. Discussing the anticipated percentage upside in institutional real estate prices for 2024.
  8. Exploring the methodology for calculating the Net Asset Value (NAV) of specific properties within the fund.
  9. Recognizing the non-linear nature of significant changes and the importance of staying invested to benefit from high catalyst moments.
  10. Reflecting on Ray Dalio's perspective – "I'd rather be approximately right than precisely wrong" – especially in the context of predicting year-end interest rates.
  11. Considering the viewpoint that a recession might be bullish for real estate due to the potential rapid and extensive decline in interest rates.

If you want to dollar-cost-average into a Fundrise fund, you can do so by clicking here. The investment minimum is $10. Financial Samurai is an investor in Fundrise and Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai. 


Money isn't just about numbers on a screen; it's the tool that carves out the life you want to live. On The Financial Samurai Podcast, Sam Dogen digs into that reality with the same direct, experienced perspective that built his influential personal finance blog. You'll hear conversations that go beyond basic tips, focusing instead on the strategic decisions and mental shifts required to build genuine wealth and security. Sam explores the intersection of career, investing, and lifestyle design, drawing from his own journey and insights from various financial trenches. This isn't about get-rich-quick schemes, but about developing a sustainable and intelligent approach to your finances. Each episode feels like a candid discussion with a knowledgeable friend who isn't afraid to tackle the tough questions about risk, opportunity, and what "financial freedom" actually means for different people. Tune in for a podcast that consistently challenges conventional wisdom, offering actionable advice for making your money work harder so you can focus on living better, on your own terms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Financial Samurai Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Maximizing Real Estate Returns In A Multi-Year Rate Cut Environment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:01
I speak to Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise about investing in real estate during a multi-year rate cut environment. With the Federal Reserve finally cutting rates in September 2024 after raising them in 2022, real estate sho…
From Making $2 Million A Year To Quitting His Finance Job With Khe Hy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:52
I speak with Khe Hy, who spent 15 years on Wall Street and became one of the youngest Managing Directors at BlackRock at just 31. He earned up to $2 million a year—then he quit! His journey mirrors mine in many ways, tho…
Most Important Personal Finance Ratio: The Home-To-Car Ratio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:39
I've decided that my Home-To-Car Ratio guide is the most important pesonal finance guide for everyone to fall. After all, everybody needs a place to live, real estate is the best asset to build wealth for the average per…
Your Saver's Mindset Will Naturally Kick In If You Need Money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:50
I spoke to my wife about how my saver's mindset naturally kicked in after purchasing our new house in October 2023. Our liquidity was tight, and we were literally living paycheck to paycheck for six months. This is when…
Property Bidding Wars And The Best Time Of The Year To Buy A House [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:32
Property bidding wars are back, despite persistently high mortgage rates, due to the strength of the economy and the stock market. This episode discusses why people are getting into bidding wars and the best time of the…
The Career Path From VC, To Big Startup, To Creating Your Own Startup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:05
I talk to Emily Luk, Co-Founder and CEO of Plenty, a wealth platform for today's modern couples about her career path from VC, to joining a big startup, to creating her own startup. I wanted to now why she lifted a cushy…
Your Provider's Clock Helps Explain Your Desire To Work And Provide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:39
For the longest time, I've wondered the following about some men: Why claim to be retired while having a working spouse? Why work so many hours after having a newborn? Why leave your family when your children are still y…