This Month In Real Estate Investing February 2025 (Chaos and Abductions!)

The Market Is on Fire—And Not in a Good Way

This month’s episode of This Month in Real Estate Investing (TMIREI) is nothing short of shocking.

With a housing market in turmoil, criminals running rampant, and luxury investors swooping in while everyone else struggles, the stakes have never been higher. 

Host James A. Brown is joined by Nathan Turner, Claude Diamond J.D., and Michael Stohler to break down the latest real estate headlines and uncover what it all means for investors like you.

Is the market collapsing, or is this just another shake-up before the next big opportunity?

Let’s dive in.

U.S. Housing in Freefall—Is This 2008 All Over Again?

The numbers don’t lie—home delistings surged 64% as desperate sellers pulled their properties off the market, unable to find buyers in an era of skyrocketing mortgage rates.

Pending sales are at their lowest in months, with even massive price cuts failing to lure in buyers.

Meanwhile, construction hiring hit a five-year low, leaving thousands of industry workers in limbo.

Are we staring down another real estate crash, or is this just a painful market correction? 

Crime & Corruption: The Dark Side of Real Estate

If plummeting sales weren’t enough, crime is sweeping through the industry.

• Huntsville Realtor Abducted – Authorities confirm that Ronald Leslie Dumas Jr. was taken under mysterious circumstances, with five suspects now facing charges.
• Ponzi Scheme Scandal – Herbert “Bert” Whalen was sentenced for running a multi-million-dollar fraud, selling rundown properties with fake promises of rental income.
• Title Theft Nightmare – One woman’s family home was stolen in an international identity theft scheme, proving that no property is truly safe.

This isn’t just an issue for a few unlucky victims—it’s a growing epidemic. 

Billionaires Feast While Everyday Investors Starve

While the middle-class struggles, the ultra-rich are snapping up luxury properties at a record pace.

• Sales of $10M+ homes skyrocketed 350%, totaling $31.39 billion in transactions last year.
• Emerging luxury hotspots, like Colorado Springs and Durham-Chapel Hill, are attracting high-net-worth investors.
• Homebuilders are slashing prices by 10-15%, but only the wealthiest buyers can afford the financing.

Could this be the perfect time to pivot to fix-and-flip or short-term rentals?

What’s Next? Predictions & Power Moves for Investors

With federal policies shifting, price-setting algorithms under fire, and distressed properties piling up, this is a time of risk and reward.

The Bottom Line: The housing market is undergoing a seismic shift, but that doesn’t mean you should sit on the sidelines. 

Smart investors adapt, pivot, and seize opportunities before the masses catch on.

You Can’t Afford to Ignore This

The latest TMIREI episode is packed with insights, shocking developments, and critical strategies to survive and thrive in this volatile market.

If you’re in the game—or thinking about jumping in—this episode is a must-watch.

This isn’t just another market cycle. 

This is real estate warfare—are you ready to fight for your piece?