Welcome back to Raising the Flipping Bar.

In this episode, I wanted to slow things down and talk about something dominating headlines — institutional buyers, hedge funds, and Wall Street “owning all the homes.”

There’s a lot of noise, fear, and political rhetoric around this topic. So instead of reacting emotionally, I wanted to look at the actual data and break down what’s really happening — nationally and here in Metro Denver.

I’m not here to get political. I am here to be factual.

Drawing from our direct experience working with institutional buyers on both the buy side and sell side — and backed by data from the GAO, CoreLogic, Urban Land Institute, and more — this episode separates myth from reality and explains what this really means for affordability, investors, agents, and buyers heading into 2026.

If you’re worried about housing affordability, trying to buy your first home, or investing in real estate, this is an episode you’ll want to hear.

In this episode, I cover:

🏘️ How many homes institutions actually own nationwide
📊 The real breakdown of Wall Street vs. Main Street investors
🧱 Why the 2008 crash created a new rental asset class
📉 What happened when institutions stopped buying in 2022
📍 Why Metro Denver isn’t impacted the way headlines suggest
🌎 The top U.S. markets where institutional ownership is concentrated
⚖️ Who wins and loses if institutional buyers are restricted
🏗️ The real drivers of affordability (hint: it’s not hedge funds)
🔍 Potential unintended consequences no one is talking about
📈 How investors should think strategically about 2026

If you’re a real estate investor, agent, homeowner, or someone trying to understand where the housing market is actually headed — this episode will help you replace emotion with data and build a smarter strategy.

🔗 Connect with me and ELEVATION

LinkedIn (Derek): /derekmarlin
ELEVATION Website: https://elevationinvest.com

LinkedIn (ELEVATION): /elevationinvestmentproperties
Instagram (ELEVATION): /elevationinvest
Facebook (ELEVATION): /elevationinvestmentproperties

🎧 Subscribe to Raising the Flipping Bar

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ByYmxv

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3WbUCeQ

YouTube: /@elevationrealestateinvesting

📌 Hashtags

#RaisingTheFlippingBar #RealEstateInvesting #HousingMarket
#InstitutionalBuyers #WallStreetRealEstate
#HousingAffordability #DenverRealEstate
#RealEstateData #ElevationInvesting #2026Investing
#RentalHousing #PrivateCapital #MainStreetVsWallStreet

Welcome back to Raising the Flipping Bar.

In this episode, I wanted to slow things down and talk about something that’s coming up more and more in my day-to-day conversations — private money lending.

As we head into 2026, deal flow isn’t the problem. The real challenge is being properly capitalized and structuring deals in a way that protects downside while still creating strong returns. That’s where private money comes in.

I break down exactly what private money lending is, how it’s different from hard money, and why it’s becoming such an important piece of the puzzle for both operators and investors. We talk real numbers, real structures, real risks — and how to do this the right way.

Whether you’re flipping houses, wholesaling, lending capital, or sitting on cash wondering how to put it to work, this episode is meant to give you clarity and a framework you can actually use.

In this episode, I cover:

💰 What private money lending really is — and what it isn’t
🏦 The difference between private money and hard money
📊 Typical interest rates, deal structures, and timelines
🧱 How private money is secured and why asset-backed lending matters
⚠️ The real risks involved and how to mitigate them
📉 Why distressed opportunities are starting to show up again
🔑 First position vs. second position lending explained
🔄 Exit strategies every private money lender should understand
📈 Why velocity of money matters just as much as yield
🏗️ How operators and private lenders can win together long-term
🧠 Who private money lending makes sense for heading into 2026

If you’re a real estate investor, business owner, high-income professional, or someone looking to diversify outside of traditional stocks and bonds, this episode will help you think more clearly about risk, structure, and opportunity.

Connect with me and ELEVATION

LinkedIn (Derek): /derekmarlin
ELEVATION Website: https://elevationinvest.com

LinkedIn (ELEVATION): /elevationinvestmentproperties
Instagram (ELEVATION): /elevationinvest
Facebook (ELEVATION): /elevationinvestmentproperties

🎧 Subscribe to Raising the Flipping Bar

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ByYmxv

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3WbUCeQ

YouTube: /@elevationrealestateinvesting

Hashtags

#PrivateMoneyLending #RealEstateInvesting #HardMoney #LeveragedInvesting
#FixAndFlip #RealEstateFinance #WealthBuilding
#DenverRealEstate #ElevationInvesting #RaisingTheFlippingBar
#PrivateCapital #DistressedProperties #2026Investing

Welcome back to Raising the Flipping Bar!
In this episode, Derek Marlin breaks down the exact goal-setting framework he uses to dominate each year — especially in tougher markets like we’re facing going into 2026.

Instead of vague resolutions or soft targets, Derek dives into the “More, Better, New” system, how to build a real buy box, why most goals fail, and how to create a plan you can actually execute on with discipline, clarity, and extreme ownership.

This episode blends personal story, practical systems, and investor-level strategy to help you level up your business, your mindset, and your results — whether you're flipping, wholesaling, lending, or building long-term wealth.

In this episode we cover:

🔥 Why 2026 requires higher standards, not more wishes
📦 How to build a Buy Box that removes emotion from investing
📈 Derek’s “More, Better, New” framework for setting smarter goals
🧠 Why vague goals fail — and how to avoid “new year burnout”
💼 The importance of discipline, cadence, and external accountability
❤️ Derek’s personal 2026 goals: family, health, business, and legacy
🔍 How to break big ambitions into weekly, executable actions
🏆 What it really takes to build a year you can win consistently

If you’re a real estate investor, business owner, agent, creator, or anyone who wants 2026 to be intentional and productive — this episode will help you build a plan worth following and a mindset capable of executing it.

Connect with Derek Marlin and ELEVATION!

LinkedIn (Derek): /derekmarlin
ELEVATION Website: https://elevationinvest.com

LinkedIn (ELEVATION): /elevationinvestmentproperties
Instagram (ELEVATION): /elevationinvest
Facebook (ELEVATION): /elevationinvestmentproperties

🎧 Subscribe to “Raising the Flipping Bar”

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ByYmxv

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3WbUCeQ

YouTube: /@elevationrealestateinvesting

#RealEstateInvesting #GoalSetting2026 #RealEstateBusiness #InvestorMindset #MoreBetterNew #BuyBox #Discipline #FixAndFlip #BusinessPlanning #EntrepreneurLife #DenverRealEstate #ElevationInvesting #RaisingTheFlippingBar #WealthBuilding #SuccessHabits #MindsetMatters