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Q&A: Her Brother Owns 3 Houses — Is That Why We Have a ’Housing Shortage’?

2026-07-21

#734: Depending on which source you ask, the U.S. is short somewhere between 1.2 million and 10 million homes — and the reason for that wild range says as much about who's counting as it does about the shortage itself. 👉 Free cheat sheet: which investments belong in which account: https://affordanything.com/assetlocation This week, Paula and Joe tackle three listener questions: whether the housing shortage is real or a wealth-concentration problem, whether a 26-year-old should pay off his mortgage or keep investing towa...

👉 Free cheat sheet: which investments belong in which account: https://affordanything.com/assetlocation

This week, Paula and Joe tackle three listener questions: whether the housing shortage is real or a wealth-concentration problem, whether a 26-year-old should pay off his mortgage or keep investing toward financial independence, and how to simplify a portfolio spread across 13 funds.

We discuss:

Whether the housing shortage is real — or just wealthy people buying vacation homes
Why entry-level starter homes are in shorter supply than luxury homes - A simple way to add housing supply in your area while increasing your own rental income
How to simplify a $1.5 million portfolio spread across 13 funds without losing tax efficiency
Which investments belong in a Roth account vs. a 401(k) vs. a taxable account
Why taking a 30-year mortgage (and paying it off fast) can beat a 15-year mortgage
How to decide whether to pay off a mortgage early or invest the difference instead

Whether you're trying to make sense of housing headlines, tidy up a portfolio that's grown out of control, or figure out what to do with extra cash each month, this episode will help you think more clearly about the trade-offs.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements.

(01:41) Is America's housing shortage actually real?

(06:29) The real numbers behind the housing shortage

(14:29) A stunning stat on building permits vs. new jobs

(24:32) A simple way to add housing and earn more

(28:23) A caller's plan to retire in 15 years

(33:01) Which accounts should hold which investments

(40:22) Why more funds can beat fewer funds

(52:19) A costly bias that skews money decisions

(58:46) Should a 26-year-old rush to pay off his mortgage?

(1:09:04) A gut-check for choosing between two paths