LIFE WITH MIKEY

Latest Episodes:

The Truth About Mortgage Rates Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

The Fed isn't the reason your mortgage costs what it costs and buyers may be watching the wrong numbers.

In this episode, Mikey Taylor and Michael Michalov break down why the housing market stalled, what's really driving rates in 2026, and the honest options left for a first-time buyer who feels priced out. No hype, no doom, just how the money actually moves, from the oil pump to the closing table.

They get into why gas prices jump even when the U.S. doesn't buy oil from the conflict zone,

how $6 trillion in printed money still echoes through your grocery bill, and why it feels like nobody with a 2.5% mortgage wants to sell.

In this episode:

• Why your mortgage follows the 10-year Treasury, not the Fed

• How a global oil market hits your local gas station

• The real reason 600,000 more sellers didn't crash prices

• The 3 doors priced-out buyers have

• Is AI about to create more business owners than it replaces?

• Class B & C apartments: the quiet “winner” of 2026

The 5 common behavioral biases that can influence investment decision-making Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

The biggest threat to your portfolio may not be the market. It could be the story your brain is telling you.

In this episode of Life With Mikey, we explore five common behavioral biases that can influence investment decision-making. Using historical examples including investor behavior during periods of heightened interest in cryptocurrencies and real estate markets between 2020 and 2022, we examine how cognitive biases can affect financial decisions. You'll learn practical self-assessment frameworks used in behavioral finance to help evaluate your own decision-making process, including a reflective question that can help you reassess whether certain holdings continue to align with your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and overall strategy.

In this episode:

The story trap that moved money into crypto
Why the people fall for confirmation bias
The coffee mug experiment
The client who couldn't sell his Facebook stock
The three assumptions that broke real estate deals
Cows, sharks, and why headlines may influence your risk radar

Chapters

0:50 - The Story Trap That Moves Money

3:22 - "Real Estate Always Goes Up" — Remember?

6:15 - Is Your Brain Defending Its Own Lies?

9:33 - The Algorithm May Impact Your Research

12:35 - The Coffee Mug That Explains Your Portfolio

14:47 - The Client Who Wouldn't Sell Facebook

17:55 - The Bias That Broke Deals

22:18 - Write the Failure While you Evaluate Your Investment

23:37 - Cows, Sharks, and Your Risk Radar

The Real Reason Homes Got So Expensive Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

For two years, everyone's been watching interest rates. But there's a quieter number shaping home deals right now and many people aren't talking about it.

In this episode, Mikey breaks down how home insurance went from a simple line item to a major factor in what can impact what you can actually afford. You'll learn why California got so expensive (it's not just the fires), how a 1988 law helped set this in motion, and the moves to consider that may help protect you before you remove a contingency.

What we cover:

Why insurance can be as high as ~9% of a typical housing payment — a record high
The 1988 law that may have reshaped the market
Why your roof's age matters
What happened when 7 of 12 big insurers pulled back
The 3 moves to consider before you fall in love with a house

If you're buying in California or anywhere premiums are climbing, this one's worth your time.

Can $100K Survive in California? Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

A viral clip says a family of six can "easily" live on $100,000 a year in California. So we pulled out the calculator and tested it line by line.

Mikey Taylor and Michael Michalov break down the budget behind the clip. They look into mortgage, groceries, gas, health insurance, all of it and find out where it holds up and where it completely falls apart. The truth? The number you bought your house matters more than the number on your paycheck. By the end, we land on what it costs to live here today, and the difficult choice that a growing number of California families are facing.

In this episode:

• Why a $2,000 mortgage is out of reach for many buyers today

• The grocery, gas, and health insurance numbers nobody budgets for

• The income you may need to live in California with kids

• Stay and sacrifice, earn more, or leave the state entirely

• Why it feels like people are living in two different economies

If you've ever felt like you're drowning while making "good money," this one's for you.

The Government Loan Owners May Not Know About Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

On July 4th, 2026, a rule will change that lets you do something you literally could not do before: borrow to buy your business AND the building it operates in, with the government standing behind both loans.

In this episode, Mikey Taylor and Michael Michalov break down the two SBA programs. Every business owner should understand the 7(a) and the 504 in plain English, without the lending jargon. They cover why the $5M cap just decoupled (giving you twice the borrowing power), how the 504 lets you put just 10% down on owner-occupied real estate, and the new Made in America Loan Guarantee that takes 90% of the risk off your bank's table if you make a physical product.

This is the Commune lens on leverage: the same programs the biggest builders use are sitting in front of the small business owner who simply never knew they existed.

What we cover: • The two SBA programs and what each one is actually for • Why the July 4th decoupling doubles your real borrowing power • The 10% down structure most people get wrong on the 504 • Owning vs. renting the building you operate in • The Made in America guarantee and who qualifies • How to underwrite a deal as if the government backing didn't exist

The Truth About the $1,000 Trump Account Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

The government is proposing a $1,000 contribution into an investment account for eligible children born between 2025 and 2028. Many parents may overlook it because of one thing: the name.In this episode, Mikey Taylor and Michael break down what the new "Trump Account" is, how it is designed to work, and the questions families may want to consider when evaluating it. They walk through the math behind hypothetical growth scenarios, including how $1,000 could potentially grow to roughly $81,000 by retirement under certain assumptions, how maximum contributions could affect account value over time, and the key considerations surrounding the program.What we cover: • The free $1,000 seed and who qualifies • How the account is built (and the penalty rules at 18) • Trump Account vs. a 529 plan • Who can contribute — parents, grandparents, even employers • The math: $1,000 today vs. millions at retirement • What happens if the rules change laterIf you've got kids or you know someone who doesn't, don't be the one left out.This content is for informational purposes only, is not offered as investment advice and should not be deemed as investment advice, and reflects the opinions and projections of COMMUNE as of the date of publication, which are subject to change without notice at any time subsequent to the date of issue. COMMUNE does not represent or warrant that the information presented in this message is accurate, current, or complete or that the estimates, opinions, projections or assumptions made in the message will prove to be accurate or realized.Certain statements reflect projections or expectations of future financial or economic performance of the project. Such “forward-looking” statements are based on various assumptions, which assumptions may not prove to be correct. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such assumptions and statements will accurately predict future events or the project’s actual performance. Past performance is not an indication of future results.This content does not constitute an offer to invest and such offer will only be made by means of an offering document that should be carefully reviewed before determining whether to invest. As with any investment there is a risk of loss, including up to the amount of investment.Neither this message nor its contents should be construed as legal, tax, investment, or other advice. Individuals are urged to consult with their own tax, legal, and investment advisers before making any investment decision.

Mikey Taylor: The Truth About Selling Your Business Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

In this solo episode, I break down the six pillars I use to run Commune Capital today, the operating system I wish I had when we were building Saint Archer, and walk through the three things you have to fight for at the closing table if you’re considering selling a business. I also share a 90 day test that will tell you whether you’ve built a real company or just a high paying job with a brand attached to it.

Vision Pillar Questionnaire - https://we.tl/t-0GbXHpaRCcKydRHb

This episode is for founders who are 3 to 5 years in and starting to feel the cracks, founders quietly talking to buyers, and founders who want to stop being the bottleneck in their own business.

Inside this episode:• The Saint Archer moment that changed how I build companies• The 6 pillars that may turn a startup into a sellable business• The 8 questions every team should answer the same way• Why “right person, wrong seat” kills businesses• The 3 clauses that matter more than price• The earn out trap that makes founders quit• The 90 day test for real ownership

This content is for informational purposes only, is not offered as investment advice and should not be deemed as investment advice, and reflects the opinions and projections of COMMUNE as of the date of publication, which are subject to change without notice at any time subsequent to the date of issue. COMMUNE does not represent or warrant that the information presented in this message is accurate, current, or complete or that the estimates, opinions, projections or assumptions made in the message will prove to be accurate or realized.

Certain statements reflect projections or expectations of future financial or economic performance of the project. Such “forward-looking” statements are based on various assumptions, which assumptions may not prove to be correct. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such assumptions and statements will accurately predict future events or the project’s actual performance. Past performance is not an indication of future results.

This content does not constitute an offer to invest and such offer will only be made by means of an offering document that should be carefully reviewed before determining whether to invest. As with any investment there is a risk of loss, including up to the amount of investment.

Neither this message nor its contents should be construed as legal, tax, investment, or other advice. Individuals are urged to consult with their own tax, legal, and investment advisers before making any investment decision.

I Almost Believed Graham Stephan May 18, 2026

Show notes

Graham Stephan told millions of people why he shifted away from real estate and is moving over to investments like stocks, bonds, and ETFs. The math may sound straightforward. The psychology behind decisions like this often isn’t.

In this episode, Mikey Taylor and Michael Michalov break down the 5 behavioral finance biases that can influence major investing decisions. This isn't a takedown. It's the discussion about how even experienced, successful investors can be influenced by cognitive biases, market narratives, and emotional decision-making.

What you'll learn:

How loss aversion can shape financial decisions in unexpected ways
Why short historical windows can distort long-term expectations
How herd behavior shows up even when you think you're going against the crowd
The overconfidence trap that hits after a winning streak, not before
When walking away is wisdom and when it's just sunk-cost overcorrection

This content is for informational purposes only, is not offered as investment advice and should not be deemed as investment advice, and reflects the opinions and projections of COMMUNE as of the date of publication, which are subject to change without notice at any time subsequent to the date of issue. COMMUNE does not represent or warrant that the information presented in this message is accurate, current, or complete or that the estimates, opinions, projections or assumptions made in the message will prove to be accurate or realized.
Certain statements reflect projections or expectations of future financial or economic performance of the project. Such “forward-looking” statements are based on various assumptions, which assumptions may not prove to be correct. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such assumptions and statements will accurately predict future events or the project’s actual performance. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
This content does not constitute an offer to invest and such offer will only be made by means of an offering document that should be carefully reviewed before determining whether to invest. As with any investment there is a risk of loss, including up to the amount of investment.
Neither this message nor its contents should be construed as legal, tax, investment, or other advice. Individuals are urged to consult with their own tax, legal, and investment advisers before making any investment decision.

Why $500,000 Per Door Is Breaking LA Housing May 12, 2026

Show notes

This week, LA land use attorney and California State Senate candidate Sara Hernandez sits down to break down Executive Directive 1, why banks have stopped lending on multifamily projects, and the math behind why rent doesn’t seem to be dropping anytime soon. Mikey and Michael lay out the 3 milestones most real estate development projects must navigate.

If you’re trying to understand LA real estate, the housing crisis, or why some capital is leaving California, this conversation is the breakdown.

What you’ll learn

Why LA feels “redlined” for new multifamily development
The 3-milestone framework every developer should know
Why 1 in 5 LA community college students are “homeless”
The 26th District State Senate race and what’s at stake

This content is for informational purposes only, is not offered as investment advice and should not

Why This Housing Market Is Not 2008 May 05, 2026

Show notes

Mortgage rates just hit around 5.99%. Existing home sales hit a nine-month low. A lot of people see those two numbers and assume the market is dead, but that may not tell the full story.

Mikey and Michael break down what some are calling the biggest buying window in years, the hidden cost of waiting, and why today’s market may look very different from 2008.. They unpack the shifting trends between Sun Belt and Rust Belt markets,, a $68M Chicago office building that just sold for $4 million, and the wild loop where pension funds are funding the rent hikes on their own apartments.

Plus: why AI-staged listing photos are turning into bait-and-switch, and what real estate agents may need to do to maintain buyer trust.

If you’ve been waiting to buy, this episode explores the pros and cons of timing the market.

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