The Homeless Industry, Lawfare, and Housing Affordability

On Friday, December 22, 2023, Kim Monson examines the migrant crisis hitting Denver as 10 buses arrive at the Zuni and Speer encampment, tackles the Colorado Supreme Court’s controversial Trump ballot ruling with policy analyst Rick Turnquist, and explores housing affordability challenges with real estate expert Karen Levine and mortgage specialist Lorne Levy.

Democrats and the Homelessness Crisis

Start listening at 29:53 – Hour 1

Rick Turnquist, author and policy analyst from Advance Freedom, dissects Democrat approaches to homelessness that consistently produce the opposite of their stated intentions. His latest essay, “Exactly Wrong: Democrats and Homelessness,” argues that progressive policies designed to help homeless populations instead perpetuate dependency and worsen conditions. Turnquist points to Denver’s current migrant crisis as evidence, noting that 10 buses delivered 341 migrants to the city in a single day, with December on track to exceed 100 buses total.

The conversation shifts to the Colorado Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling removing Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot. Turnquist connects the lawsuit to CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington), a progressive legal organization he has researched extensively. He explains how lawfare, the weaponization of legal systems for political purposes, represents a key tool in progressive strategy to circumvent democratic processes.

“Regardless of how you feel about Donald Trump, he should absolutely be on the ballot so we can have our Democratic choice to vote for him or against him.”

Rick Turnquist, Policy Analyst

Real Estate Market Realities

Start listening at 58:00 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, award-winning REMAX Alliance realtor, reveals the structural forces reshaping American homeownership. She cites a striking statistic: 40 percent of residential real estate nationwide is now owned by hedge funds, a development she suggests was enabled by artificially low interest rates that allowed institutional investors to outbid individual buyers. The result has been a fundamental shift away from the traditional American dream of homeownership toward a rental-dominated housing landscape.

Levine traces Colorado’s housing supply crisis to deliberate policy choices, including construction defect legislation that discouraged condominium development while government subsidies incentivized apartment construction. The conversation exposes how taxpayer money flows to developers building subsidized rental units even as working Coloradans struggle to afford homes.

“40 percent of real estate in our nation is owned by hedge funds, and we’ll just leave that out there for a discussion next year.”

Karen Levine, REMAX Alliance Realtor

Mortgage Market Opportunities

Start listening at 68:00 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy, mortgage specialist serving 49 states, brings good news for homeowners: interest rates have dropped significantly from recent highs near 8 percent to the mid-sixes. He encourages anyone who purchased a home in the past 12-18 months to explore refinancing options, particularly those with VA or FHA loans who may qualify for streamlined processes requiring minimal documentation.

Levy highlights how reverse mortgages offer seniors struggling with inflation and rising property taxes a strategy to access home equity without selling. He shares a client story of a woman whose mortgage payoff will allow her to remain in the home where her children and grandchildren know her, rather than being forced to relocate.

“At least look into it, especially if you have mortgage insurance or things like that that can be removed as well. That would make a big difference.”

Lorne Levy, Mortgage Specialist