Rob Hahn

Managing Partner of 7DS Associates, and the grand poobah of this here blog. Once called "a revolutionary in a really nice suit", people often wonder what I do for a living because I have the temerity to not talk about my clients and my work for clients. Suffice to say that I do strategy work for some of the largest organizations and companies in real estate, as well as some of the smallest startups and agent teams, but usually only on projects that interest me with big implications for reforming this wonderful, crazy, lovable yet frustrating real estate industry of ours.

Please Don’t Help Me, Government

by

One of my favorite economic and finance analysts is a green chicken. Yes, I’m referring to Doomberg, a team with strong backgrounds in energy and heavy industry, who started writing in May of 2021. They’re funny, super insightful, and filled with insider knowledge about commodities, energy, manufacturing, and finance. Their newsletter was free until recently, … Read more

Desperately Seeking Housing Collapse

by

Over the past few weeks, there has been a flurry of posts, articles, tweets, and other expressions of… what to call them… predictions? opinions? studies? that all drive to the idea that the US housing market is either collapsing already, or about to collapse. Because the Fed, you know? Raise rates on fiat dollars, and … Read more

Last Time Housing Was Affordable

by

I’ve been writing the long Four Horsemen series, and one of the biggest issues I had to tackle was housing affordability. The federal guidelines from HUD says housing is affordable when gross costs are no more than 30% of the gross income of the residents. Since gross costs include things like utilities, property taxes, mortgage … Read more

Four Horsemen of the Housing Apocalypse, Part 6: New Jerusalem

by

I had originally planned on the Four Horsemen series to be five parts: the four Horsemen, plus a wrap-up laying out the consequences for the real estate industry. But as I mentioned in part 5, a couple of you have asked for a slightly medium-to-longer term post-apocalypse outlook on the industry. Once the dust settles, … Read more

Four Horsemen of the Housing Apocalypse, Part 5: What It All Might Mean

by

At last, we come to the end of this dismal series. While it has been dismal, some of your emails and private messages have been very kind and encouraging. Dark these thoughts may be, but some of you share them and there is a comfort in knowing we’re not alone. (Update: but see below in … Read more

Four Horsemen of the Housing Apocalypse, Part 4: On a Pale Horse – Political Turmoil

by

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, … Read more