The American Dream NOW Costs Over $5 Million in 2025 🤯

Alright everyone! It's Christmas week! And if you’re anything like me, you’re running around trying to wrap up those last-minute gifts. It’s been a wild year, and I’m here to put the finishing bow on this real estate Christmas tree.

Let’s gooo!

We are posting regular content to Instagram (Nick | Kreg) and Facebook (Nick | Kreg) to help you and your buyers stay informed. Be sure to follow us!

Read time: ~5 minutes

Rates ended LOWER compared to last week, and volatility was MODERATE. Rates remain in the low 6% range for most loan types without paying discount points. Paying discount points can get you in the high 5's.

Fed to Buy $40B in Treasury Bills = Savers 'bout to Get Crushed

In September of 2022, I put $10,000 into U.S. Treasury bonds. Last week, I took a look at that investment and quickly sold it for $11,496. On the surface, it sounds like I made a decent return on my investment. But in reality, those returns are absolute trash. Over that same time, inflation did what it always does. It quietly made everything more expensive. Homes, insurance, groceries, everyday expenses all cost a lot more today than they did in 2022. So while the bond paid me back more dollars, those dollars don’t buy nearly as much anymore.

What really bothers me is what that money could have done. If I had invested that same $10,000 into the S&P 500 stock market instead, it would be worth about $18,000 today. That’s not bad luck or bad timing. That’s simply how the system works. Bonds and bills get crushed by inflation. While stocks, real estate, and hard assets soar. Needless to say, I cashed out the Treasury bond right away and have no plans to buy Treasury bonds or bills again anytime soon.

Now take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The United States owes almost $38 trillion in debt. China owes roughly $19 trillion. Around the world, total debt is now over $346 trillion. That leads to an obvious question most people don’t ask: who do governments owe all this money to? It’s not a hidden country or some mystery company. It’s regular people like you and I through pension funds, retirement accounts, insurance companies, banks, and mutual funds.

When governments issue Treasury bonds and bills, the public buys them through pensions, 401(k)s, banks, and even the Federal Reserve. So when people ask, “Who’s going to pay all this debt back?” the answer is simple: savers will. Not through huge tax increases or paying down debt. But slowly over time, through inflation. It's impossible for Governments to realistically pay this debt back. Raising taxes to pay off the debt would hurt the economy, and cutting spending would cause absolute chaos. So the government chooses the only option left. Print more money, buy back their own debt, and continue to lower the value of the currency.

That’s not corruption. That’s policy. And this is why two people operating in the same economy can have very different financial outcomes. One holds cash and bonds and feels “safe” but slowly falls behind. The other owns hard assets and benefits as prices and inflation rise. Same system. Same rules. Completely different results. All depending on where your money is sitting.

Put your Money Where your Mouth Is and Buy Assets!

Over my 16 years in business, I’ve had the chance to talk with a lot of very successful people. I know I'm probably the annoying one who asks a lot of questions, always about the same things: How did you get here? Do you have regrets? And most importantly, what’s the one piece of financial advice you’d give me?

One thing I’ve noticed over time is a common trait among the wealthy: they make decisions and act on them quickly. They don’t overthink. They commit and move. It's taken me awhile, but I’ve made it a point in my financial career to do the same.

That’s why Nick and I don’t just talk about how the real estate market can create lasting wealth. We put our money where our mouth is.

Open any news source and you’ll hear this is the worst year for real estate since 2008. Everyone says we’re at the top of a bubble, on the edge of a crash. And yet, Nick and I are still building. In 2025 alone, we’ve purchased over $1 million worth of real estate.

I’m not sharing this to boast. I’m sharing it to make a point: if you truly believe real estate builds wealth, you need to walk the walk. Stop waiting for the “perfect time.” Buy real assets, let them work for you, and let cash flow and inflation do what they’re designed to do. Build lasting wealth.

Because here’s the truth: talking about wealth won’t make you rich. Acting on it will.

P.S. There’s no better way to show a potential homebuyer the power of real estate than by demonstrating how it’s changed your own financial blueprint.

The American Dream NOW Costs Over $5 Million in 2025 🤯

At the end of every year, Investopedia releases its annual look at what it really takes to live the American Dream. It's honestly one of our favorite visuals of the year. Last year, you may recall Nick's newsletter, the American Dream in 2024 cost about $4.4 million. In 2025, that number has jumped to $5 million! Yep, you can blame inflation 🫠

The biggest cost by far is retirement. Planning for a 20-year retirement now requires $1.6 million in savings. Buying a home isn’t cheap either. The average lifetime cost comes in around $958,000, assuming a median home price of $415,000, 20% down, and a 30-year mortgage at 6.70% (not counting maintenance or HOA fees).

Other big expenses add up fast such as healthcare over a lifetime runs about $414,000, raising two kids plus a four-year public college is around $876,000, and buying two new cars every decade can cost $900,000. Throw in vacations, pets, and weddings, and the total easily tops $5 million.

The lesson is still simple. Saving alone isn’t enough. With costs this high, you need smart planning, investing, and building assets that grow over time. Knowing the real price of the life you want is the first step. And taking action is the only way to actually afford it.

Rebel 2026 - Stop Chasing Clients. Start Attracting the Right Ones.

On the Rebel stage, Tarah Santos is breaking down how to identify your ideal client in a way that actually changes your business. Not an exercise on paper - but real clarity around the people you actually want to work with.

Growth doesn’t come from doing more,
it comes from knowing exactly who you’re building for.

When you know exactly who you’re talking to, your marketing gets simpler, your decisions get easier, and the right people start showing up.

This session isn’t about trends or tactics that won’t stick. It’s about building a focused foundation you can grow on, year after year.

Mark Your Calendars 📅 The big event will be on Thursday February 5th, 2026

Two Ways We Can Help

1. Let’s collaborate – schedule a zoom meeting

2. Tough deal?  Let us help!

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything at all. Have a wonderful week!