Episode 530: How $100M in Private Funds Is Navigating Today's Economy

In this episode of The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Lon Welsh, founder and CEO of Your Castle Real Estate and Ironton Capital, to unpack how investors can navigate today's economic climate with data, discipline, and diversification.   Lon brings more than two decades of experience in commercial and residential real estate and now manages nearly $100 million in private funds through Ironton Capital. We talk about how market trends are shifting across regions, how private income funds compare to active investing, and why investor sentiment is near decade lows despite strong fundamentals.   Lon also shares how his team is using AI and data analytics to gain an edge in decision-making, plus what investors should expect heading into 2025 and beyond.    If you're ready to sharpen your macro understanding and learn how to balance active vs. passive investing, this episode will help you make smarter, calmer financial decisions in any market cycle.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:20 Who is Lon Welsh? 02:45 National housing slowdown: why the West and Southeast are softening faster 04:05 Comparing private funds vs. individual investing: pros, cons, and liquidity 05:17 Why investor sentiment is at a decade low and how media fear feeds it 06:35 Explaining Ironton's Short-Term and Medium-Term funds 08:26 The ideal investor profile: active landlords, busy professionals, and developers 09:29 How developers use Ironton's funds to earn while waiting on permits 13:16 The National Diversified Fund: balancing new builds with value-add multifamily 14:20 Using AI for analytics, underwriting, and even writing Lon's 14th book 15:32 How Lon tracks national real estate trends quarterly and why it matters 17:30 The regional outlook for 2025: where growth and appreciation are heading 18:56 How to get in touch with Lon and his team 19:54 Alternatives & diversification: making institutional-grade investing accessible 20:45 How the JOBS Act opened opportunities for accredited investors   Quotables   "Consumer sentiment right now is the lowest it's been in a decade, even though the economy is healthier than people think."   "Don't panic. The media thrives on fear but markets reward patience and perspective."   "At each phase of the market cycle, there's a different strategy that works best. Listen to the market, don't fight it."   Links   Ironton Capital https://irontoncapital.com   FREE Guide to Passive Diversified Real Estate Investing https://irontoncapital.com/smartrecoach   Lon Welsh lonwelsh@irontoncapital.com   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   Wicked Smart Books https://wickedsmartbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources