US Real Estate Cycles: Dubious Speculation with Jason Pizzino
US Real Estate Cycles: Dubious Speculation with Jason Pizzino
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Monitor leading homebuilder D.R. Horton (DHI) at key $130 support to gauge market tops, while continuing to dollar-cost average into broad S&P 500 index funds ahead of an anticipated equity peak between 2026 and 2027. Focus crypto allocations on Bitcoin (BTC) over speculative altcoins, accumulating on pullbacks and setting profit-taking targets between $100,000 and $120,000 for the 2025–2026 window. Hold Gold (XAU) through early 2027 to capture late-cycle commodity strength, but wait for Silver (XAG) to break major overhead resistance before adding new positions. Anticipate rallies in the US Dollar Index (DXY) toward 104–105 to face selling pressure as it drifts lower toward the 96.00 to 97.50 range, creating tailwinds for hard and risk assets. Finally, preserve borrowing power and cash reserves in real estate to capitalize on the next major cyclical buying window projected around 2029–2030.

Detailed Analysis

US Real Estate & The 18-Year Cycle

  • Historical data over 220 years points to an 18-year real estate and economic cycle, which began its current iteration around 2011–2012.
  • The market appears to be near the cycle peak, with a broad economic and property price trough projected around 2029–2030 (roughly four years post-peak).
  • Real estate typically peaks first in the macroeconomic sequence, followed by equities, and finally commodities.
  • The US housing market may experience a milder slowdown compared to 2008 because homebuilders have maintained less land inventory and lower leverage.
  • Australia's property market has shown sharper localized pullbacks (high-end properties in Sydney and Melbourne are down 20% to 25%) due to aggressive interest rate hikes.
  • Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) were noted as historically underperforming the broader market due to management fees eating into investor returns, making direct property investment preferred when entering real estate.

Takeaways

  • Prepare for Buying Opportunities (2029–2030): Expect the best entry points for physical real estate during the cyclical low around 2029–2030; ensure financing and credit profiles are ready beforehand since lending tightens severely at cycle bottoms.
  • Look for Undervalued Local Markets: Focus on unloved, deeply discounted regional areas selling below replacement/build costs rather than broad national averages or overextended high-end segments.

D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI)

  • D.R. Horton (DHI) and homebuilder stocks historically act as leading indicators for the broader stock market top and bottom.
    • In the 2008 cycle, DHI peaked in 2005 (dropping ~70%) roughly 27 months before the S&P 500 reached its ultimate top in late 2007.
    • DHI also bottomed well before the broader market bottomed in March 2009.
  • If DHI breaks below key support at $130, it will likely signal a deeper retracement toward its 50% retracement level.
  • A homebuilder peak in late 2024 would historically project a potential broader stock market peak around the first half of 2027.

Takeaways

  • Monitor Homebuilders as an Early Warning Signal: Track DHI price action around key levels like $130 to gauge early signs of broader equity market exhaustion or recovery.

US Equities & Index Funds (S&P 500)

  • Broader equities generally lag the real estate peak by 12 to 36 months before rolling over.
  • Based on the cycle timeline, an equity market peak could materialize around 2026 to early 2027, followed by potential pressure during the 7-year "Shemitah" reset window around 2028–2029.
  • While rate hikes and macro slowdowns can trigger interim 20% to 35% corrections, long-term systematic investing into broad index funds remains resilient across multi-year horizons.

Takeaways

  • Maintain Long-Term DCA Strategies: Continue dollar-cost averaging (DCA) monthly into broad index funds, using significant pullbacks (e.g., 8%+ drops) to add capital rather than attempting to time the exact top.
  • Keep Strategic Cash Reserves: Maintain a cash buffer to capitalize on larger, late-cycle market drawdowns without panic-selling core long-term holdings.

Bitcoin (BTC)

  • Bitcoin is experiencing diminishing returns as the asset class matures, making multi-hundred percent gains less likely in future runs.
    • A bounce from potential cycle lows around $57,000 could target $100,000 to $120,000 (a ~100% gain) or stretch up to $180,000 (a ~200% gain).
  • There is a rising probability of a left-translated cycle, where Bitcoin reaches its bull market peak earlier in the 4-year cycle (e.g., 2025–2026 rather than late in the post-halving period).
    • Bitcoin previously showed early relative strength tops against gold and other fiat currencies ahead of its US dollar peak.
  • Altcoins continue to face a long-term tendency to bleed value against Bitcoin over the full macro cycle.

Takeaways

  • Accumulate via Midterm DCA: Dollar-cost average into BTC during the second half of midterm election years to establish favorable cost bases.
  • Adjust Return Expectations: Plan for realistic 100% to 200% upside targets and consider taking profits earlier than traditional cycle models suggest.
  • Prioritize Bitcoin over Altcoins: Keep the majority of crypto exposure in BTC rather than speculating on high-risk micro-caps.

Precious Metals: Gold (XAU) & Silver (XAG)

  • Commodities and precious metals generally stage their strongest relative runs near the tail end of the real estate and economic cycle.
  • Gold remains in a macro uptrend without definitive topping signals; historical consolidation patterns suggest a decisive breakout or breakdown confirmation around the first half of 2027 (roughly 16 to 19 months from major technical pivots).
    • Gold must maintain monthly closes above its 50% retracement level to confirm continued upside continuation.
  • Silver has experienced sharper pullbacks, requiring patience until it clears major overhead resistance and consolidates before offering high-probability momentum entries.
  • Once the commodity cycle concludes late in this decade, metals may enter a prolonged period of consolidation.

Takeaways

  • Hold Gold for Late-Cycle Exposure: Maintain gold allocations while it holds above its critical 50% retracement support zone heading into 2027.
  • Wait for Silver Confirmation: Exercise patience on silver until price clears key resistance levels and builds a stable base before adding aggressive exposure.

US Dollar Index (DXY)

  • Historically within the 18-year cycle, the US Dollar tends to strengthen during the first half and soften during the second half.
  • The dollar is expected to form a lower high around the 104–105 zone before continuing lower to test key support near 96.00 to 97.50.
  • A failure to break below multi-year support would keep the dollar bound within its long-term secular trading range rather than entering a structural collapse.

Takeaways

  • Expect Mid-Term Dollar Softness: Anticipate dollar rallies into the 104–105 resistance zone to face selling pressure, which could provide tailwinds for risk assets and commodities.
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Video Description
0:00 - The Collaboration Series Continues with Jason Pizzino 1:56 The 18-year real estate cycle 3:21 First half, mid-cycle slowdown, and final peak 4:53 Why the current cycle looks mature 6:44 Real estate peak timing and potential declines 8:14 Could the next downturn be milder than 2008? 11:17 How real estate leads stocks, metals, and commodities 12:32 When housing prices could reach a trough 13:07 Homebuilders as an early market signal 15:21 DHI points to a possible 2027 stock-market peak 16:25 Key downside level for homebuilders 16:48 Bitcoin’s outlook during a real estate rollover 18:08 Diminishing Bitcoin returns and possible price targets 19:36 Real estate tops before the stock market 21:10 Mid-cycle recessions versus land-price collapses 22:19 Business cycles, investing patience, and Fed policy 25:05 The risk of a lost decade 26:35 Could the Fed raise rates again? 29:07 Dollar weakness and bond-yield pressures 30:39 US dollar cycle and precious metals outlook 31:20 Dollar lower high versus a longer-term breakout 34:46 Gold’s key levels and 2027 decision point 37:24 Silver uncertainty and late-cycle commodity moves 40:24 Real estate investing strategy and Australian markets 40:40 Preparing to buy near a real estate-cycle low 41:55 Rental yields versus stocks and Treasury bills 43:57 Finding undervalued Australian property markets 45:34 Sydney, Melbourne, and the REIT question 47:53 Bitcoin cycle timing and long-term allocation 48:04 DCA strategy through the midterm year 49:48 A possible left-translated Bitcoin cycle 50:15 The seven-year Schmita reset cycle 53:25 Adjusting Bitcoin return expectations 55:36 Index-fund discipline, cash, and closing thoughts 56:02 Buying more during stock-market corrections 57:38 Holding cash without going all-in 57:49 - OUTRO Come to the 1st ITC Conference: https://www.benjamincowen.com/conference Into The Cryptoverse Premium SALE: https://intothecryptoverse.com For inquiries and to subscribe to the monthly newsletter (free): https://www.benjamincowen.com/ Into The Cryptoverse Newsletter: https://newsletter.intothecryptoverse.com/ Alternative Option: https://www.patreon.com/intothecryptoverse Merch: https://store.intothecryptoverse.com/ Disclaimer: The information presented within this video is NOT financial advice. Telegram: https://t.me/intocryptoverse Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamincowen TikTok: tiktok.com/@benjamincowencrypto Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjcowen/ Discord: https://discord.gg/UGwc6eR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/intothecryptoverse Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/intothecryptoverse/ Website: https://intothecryptoverse.com/
About Benjamin Cowen
Benjamin Cowen

Benjamin Cowen

By @benjaminjcowen

Former NASA researcher, PhD in Engineering, post-doc in high energy density physics at Sandia National Laboratories, turned quantitative macro researcher. Founder of Into The Cryptoverse, providing data-driven analysis of Bitcoin, crypto, commodities, and stocks through the lens of macroeconomics, liquidity, and market cycles.