Let’s Get Real | Week of August 19, 2025

Strap Up — It’s Football Season!

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Former Zillow exec targets $1.3T

The top companies target big markets. Like Nvidia growing ~200% in 2024 on AI’s $214B tailwind. That’s why the same VCs behind Uber and Venmo also backed Pacaso. Created by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech transforms a $1.3 trillion market. With $110M+ in gross profit to date, Pacaso just reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

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The weather might not say fall yet…
But the energy?
It’s football season, baby. WOOOO!!

Today marks the first tackle practice for Lincoln — and as the Head Coach, I’m vibrating with excitement. I’ve got decades of experience from way too many badass coaches in my life, and now it’s time to pass that fire on.

These boys are about to get a crash course in grit, teamwork, and real football IQ.

And look — I’m not saying I’m trying to suit up.
But if someone taped me up and gave me three plays, I might just make a little magic.
(Or tear my hamstring. But worth it either way.)

Friday = first padded practice. The hype is unreal. I can already hear the helmets cracking and the kids getting locked in.
Let’s goooo.

Current Events

What Actually Matters to You

Let’s talk about the real sh*t — not the headlines they want you to focus on, but the stuff that actually shows up in your day-to-day life.

Inflation Is Sneaking Back Up

The Fed says it’s cooling. The markets pretend to believe it.
But go grocery shopping, hit the gas station, or try to book a damn plumber — and tell me things are getting cheaper.

Spoiler alert:
They’re not.
Prices are sticky. And even when raw goods come down, companies aren’t rushing to pass that savings back to you. Why? Because you already paid the higher price. They know you’ll keep doing it. This is profit inflation.

Lumber Took a Dive

Lumber prices just got whacked — dropping significantly in the last few weeks. That’s not just a construction headline. It could signal two things:

  1. Housing slowdowns are real — builders are pulling back.

  2. Or there’s a lag coming in commercial demand that means recession vibes are still simmering under the surface.

Either way, if you’re thinking of home renos or investing in property — now’s the time to monitor costs like a hawk.

The Ukraine Conflict Might… Actually Be Slowing?

There are whispers of a potential pivot or ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict — and while we’ve seen this movie before, if real, it could ripple into energy markets, food supply chains, and even market volatility.

Don’t hold your breath yet — but watch how oil and grain prices move in the next two weeks. That’ll tell you more than any press release will.

DC Wants Control From the Fed

There’s new chatter about the U.S. government trying to pull more monetary power away from the Fed. This is a big deal — even if it sounds boring.

Translation:
More centralized control over how rates are set, who gets bailed out, and how economic pain gets distributed.

This is power consolidation at the top. Watch closely.

Iowa’s Water Crisis (Yes, It’s Real)

If you're in the Midwest like me — pay attention to Iowa’s water situation.
Nitrates from ag runoff are skyrocketing in local drinking water.
And cities are struggling to filter it out fast enough. Long-term exposure is tied to cancer, developmental issues, and fertility problems.

This isn't just an "environmental" issue. It's a personal health and finance issue — because if you're paying for water that might poison your family, you're getting screwed.

Start asking:

  • Where is your water sourced?

  • What are your city’s nitrate levels?

  • And why the hell isn’t anyone making noise about this?

This Week’s Drops

LGR:
Running late this week. Life’s a little wild. Thanks for the grace — we’ll bring the heat as always when it drops.

NoBS Wealth:
September is about to flip everything on its head.

This week’s Nugget:
We’re going deep on hyper-specific, high-impact content. If there’s something you’ve always wanted explained (tax hacks, wealth strategy, pricing, mindset, legacy planning) — hit reply and ask. We’ll build with you.

Also — shoutout to the 22 BADASSES in the NoBS Wealth circle.
Fun fact: 22 was my high school football number. Coincidence? Nah. Energy always finds its people.

Invest in What?

How to Find Land Deals and Market Them Smart

Let’s get tactical.

Land investing isn’t just for rich retirees and backwoods ranchers.
It’s one of the cleanest paths to passive income and generational wealth — and here’s where to start:

1. Where to Look

  • Facebook Marketplace: Yes, really. Use filters by price and location. People offload land dirt cheap.

  • Landwatch.com + Land.com: Real listings. No fluff. Filter by state, acreage, price.

  • Tax Lien Auctions: Look up your county treasurer's office. You can buy land for PENNIES when owners stop paying taxes.

2. How to Market It

  • Lease it: Hunters, farmers, campers, solar companies — all want land.

  • Flip it: Buy low, mark up, seller finance it.

  • Hold and rent: Offer land as camping, event space, tiny home locations — low maintenance, high margins.

Rule of Thumb:
The money isn’t in what you see.
It’s in what someone else sees it for.

Be the middleman of vision.
Own the dirt. Rent the dream.

Soul-Check In

Let’s just appreciate each other this week.

Because here’s the truth:

Yeah, there’s a lot of crappy people out there.
But there are so many more GOOD ones — the ones that show up, support, give grace, keep you grounded.

So give someone the benefit of the doubt.
Say the thing. Send the text. Tell your people you love them.

Because we’re all out here struggling in some way. We’re all trying to figure this whole “adulting” thing out.

And if you’re the kind of person who tries to take advantage of that softness?
Be careful. We’re not all turning the other cheek. Some of us are very much still in FAFO mode.

That’s it for this week.
Next week we’ll bring more heat, more strategy, and a deeper dive into turning chaos into capital.

Until then,
Stoy

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