The Anton Stetner Podcast

Washington State has passed new housing laws designed to increase supply, expand development opportunities, and make homeownership more accessible. But if the rules are changing, why is housing still so expensive?

In this episode, Anton Stettner welcomes back real estate investor and housing advocate Mike Appleby to discuss the challenges facing Washington's housing market—and why changing zoning laws doesn't automatically create affordable homes.

From complicated permitting processes and land use regulations to property rights, ADUs, and hidden development opportunities, Anton and Mike explore the obstacles preventing more homes from being built.

They al...

Could Washington’s Millionaire Tax eventually affect more than just millionaires? And what happens when the Washington Supreme Court overturns an initiative approved by millions of voters?

In this episode, Anton Stetner sits down with Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington, for an in-depth conversation about the future of Washington State politics, taxes, business, and voter rights.

They explore Washington’s new 9.9% Millionaire Tax, the possibility of future changes to the $1 million income threshold, and what Initiative 645 could mean for homeowners, entrepreneurs, investors, and families across the state.

The...

Washington real estate may have officially reached peak fear—but what happens after buyers, sellers, and investors become this uncertain?

In this episode, Anton Stetner breaks down the forces shaping the Washington State housing market, including slowing activity, affordability pressure, changing buyer confidence, limited inventory, and shifting expectations among sellers and builders.

Are current conditions signaling more trouble ahead, or could widespread fear be creating opportunities for prepared buyers and investors? Anton explains the difference between negative market sentiment and the underlying fundamentals that continue to influence real estate across Seattle, WA, and the rest of...

How Many Tech Workers Need to Get Laid Off Before Seattle Home Prices Crash?

Seattle's housing market is facing growing uncertainty. With tech layoffs making headlines, home sales slowing, and buyers becoming increasingly cautious, one big question is emerging: How many tech jobs need to disappear before Seattle home prices actually crash?

In this episode, Anton Stetner takes a closer look at the Seattle housing market in 2026, examining how job losses, economic uncertainty, mortgage rates, and changing buyer behavior are affecting real estate across Washington State.

Seattle's technology industry...

Washington utility bills are already climbing — and the argument in this episode is that Washington homeowners could be facing even more pressure in the years ahead.
Anton Stettner breaks down what’s happening with natural gas, electricity rates, Washington’s energy policies, the Climate Commitment Act, building codes, and the growing demands being placed on the power grid.
The conversation starts with a simple question: Why is my utility bill going up? From there, Anton examines Puget Sound Energy rate increases and proposed increases, the Washington Supreme Court ruling involving the natural-gas initiative, and how electrification could affect...

Should you wait until 2027 to buy a home? Waiting feels safe, but it can cost you more than buying now. In this video, we break down what could change in 2027 with mortgage rates, home prices, and inventory, and how to decide based on your own situation, not headlines.

About the Show

Welcome to the Anton Stetner Podcast, where we break down real estate, economics, investing, housing policy, and the trends shaping the future of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Whether you're a homebuyer, investor, business owner, or simply trying to make sense of...

Why is the Washington housing crisis getting worse when everyone agrees the state needs more homes?
In this episode, Anton sits down with real estate broker and developer Ryan Gillis to break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes of new construction in Washington State. The problem isn’t simply demand. Builders are facing a brutal equation: falling home prices, expensive land, financing costs, lengthy development timelines, rising fees, limited buildable lots, and buyers who increasingly prefer existing homes over new construction.    Pasted text
Ryan walks through a real Redmond project where roughly $360,000 in affordable-housing fees change...

Mortgage rates have hit a 13-month high — but what happens when the rate isn’t the problem? What happens when the bank says the property simply can’t be financed?

In this episode, Anton sits down with Cody, a loan officer with 26 years of experience, to break down what “non-financeable” actually means and what buyers can do when a conventional mortgage isn’t an option.

They walk through the property problems that commonly kill traditional loans, including condition issues, title problems, appraisals, insurance, private roads, septic and well concerns, manufactured homes, condos, rural properties, vacant land, and ho...

Washington State didn't ban AI data centers. Not one city or county has actually banned them — but that's not what the headlines say.

In this episode, we go through the actual ordinances behind the "AI ban" wave sweeping Washington State: Skagit County, Seattle, Snohomish County, Marysville, Federal Way, Burien, and more. Nearly all of it turns out to be temporary moratoriums, not permanent bans — and we explain exactly why that distinction matters if you own property, pay a power bill, or are watching this space for any reason.

We trace the whole thing back to Olym...

In this episode, Anton sits down to unpack one of the strangest land fights happening in Washington State right now: a $260 million power line slicing through 32 miles of Quincy farmland to feed the AI data center boom.

It starts with a number that's hard to shake — $2,415. That's what one family in Quincy was offered for a permanent easement across a third of an acre in their front lawn, to make room for a 230,000-volt transmission tower. Multiply that story across 112 parcels, 34 homes, and 449 acres of working farmland, and you start to see the shape of what's really go...

Congress Says It Fixed Housing. It Didn't (What Washington Homeowners Need to Know):
Congress just passed the 21st Century Road to Housing Act with a stunning 85-5 Senate vote and bipartisan applause. Every headline said the same thing: Washington finally did something about housing. But here's what nobody is telling you — this bill will do almost nothing for home prices in Washington State, and the reason isn't politics. It's math.
In this episode, real estate insider Anton Stettner (investing in Washington State real estate since 2003) breaks down exactly why the federal government can only offer "carrots," not "st...

This week we're reacting to a viral Instagram post claiming U.S. homebuyers have fallen to their lowest level ever — supposedly worse than 1929 and worse than 2008. We dig into where that headline actually came from (Redfin, now owned by Rocket Mortgage), what the real numbers say, and why comparing today's market to the Great Depression or the Great Financial Crisis doesn't hold up once you look at population growth, lending standards, and foreclosure rates.

From there we get into what's actually happening on the ground in Washington State: falling prices in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, wages ou...

Seattle is punishing the exact people it needs to survive — housing providers, small business owners, builders, and workers — and this week we follow the money to show exactly how.

We break down the JumpStart payroll tax from the inside: what it promised back in 2020, what it actually raised, and the uncomfortable fact that roughly 70% of its revenue now comes from just ten companies — companies that can quietly relocate jobs across the lake to Bellevue without ever holding a press conference.

The numbers: downtown office vacancy at 35.6%, a net loss of 13,000 jobs last year, assessed office values...

Feel like everything in Washington is getting more expensive? You're not imagining it. In this episode, real estate broker and small business owner Anton Stetner reveals the hidden force driving up your cost of living: the Washington State Supreme Court.

This November, 5 of the 9 seats on the Washington State Supreme Court are up for election — the biggest judicial election in a generation. Anton breaks down how the Court already ruled that capital gains are NOT your income, why Washington has the 3rd-highest gas prices in the nation, how one gun-rights case could reshape the 2nd Amendment here, an...

Washington just passed something voters rejected for nearly a century — a 9.9% income tax on households earning over $1 million. And here's the part almost nobody caught: you can't overturn it by referendum. The legislature wrote a clause into the law that blocks that path, and the state Supreme Court backed it up.

In this episode, Anton and Benji follow the money from the State Capitol all the way down to your neighborhood listing. They dig into the $77.8 billion state operating budget (up from $33 billion just 13 years ago), the millionaire tax's real mechanics, and who's actually funding both sides of...

What does it take to leave a thriving business, a loving family, and every modern comfort behind to row 2,700 nautical miles across the open Pacific Ocean — with no chase boat, no safety net, and no way home but forward?

Former Army Ranger, jiu-jitsu academy owner, and author Greg Anderson joins the show to unpack his 54-day ocean rowing expedition from La Push, Washington to Maui, Hawaii. Greg walks us through the moment he found the exact boat he needed available at a 20% discount, the brutal 9-day storm that nearly broke his team, and the equipment failure that le...

Is the era of cheap money finally over?

In this episode of the Anton Center Podcast, Anton Stettner breaks down what the appointment of a new Federal Reserve Chair could mean for the U.S. economy, mortgage rates, inflation, and the future of real estate. If the Federal Reserve is moving away from decades of easy-money policies, homebuyers, investors, and business owners should be paying attention.

Anton explains how low interest rates reshaped the housing market, why mortgage rates may stay higher for longer, and what today's economic environment means for anyone looking to buy...

Everyone's watching the headlines and assuming Washington State real estate is in freefall. In this episode, we sit down with Anton — land developer, investor, and content creator with 29 active development projects — to break down why the data tells a very different story.

Anton walks us through the real signals of a market bottom: the Seattle bank building that just sold 50% below replacement cost, permits down nearly 80% from their peak, and a state facing a 250,000-unit housing shortfall. We dig into the Federal Reserve's outdated data models, what the new Fed chair's comments actually mean for mortgage rates, and...

Washington politicians broke the economy… or did they?

In this episode, we examine one of the biggest debates in Washington State today: rising taxes, government spending, housing affordability, and whether lawmakers are making the economy stronger—or passing the cost on to taxpayers.

We break down the data behind Washington's growing budget challenges, increasing property taxes, and the policies impacting homeowners, renters, investors, and businesses across the state. Is the housing crisis really being solved? Why are taxes continuing to rise? And what does it all mean for the average Washington resident?

Ra...

Most people believe Wall Street and corporate investors are the reason housing has become unaffordable. But is that actually true?

In this episode of the Anton Stetner Podcast, we break down one of the biggest housing bills passed by Congress in decades and separate the headlines from the facts. We examine what the legislation actually does, why President Trump delayed signing it, and whether limiting institutional investors will make homes more affordable.

More importantly, we explore the issues that rarely make the news: the nationwide housing shortage, restrictive zoning laws, lengthy permitting processes, and the...

Washington is facing a massive budget crisis — and property owners may be the next target.

In this episode, Anton Stetner breaks down why Washington is going broke, how state spending exploded, and why property taxes could become the easiest way for the government to fill the gap. From King County’s property tax spike to Sound Transit’s taxing power, House Bill 1334, the millionaire tax, and the pressure on homeowners, investors, and small businesses, this episode exposes the financial squeeze happening across Washington State.

Anton and Benji also explain how rising property taxes can directly impact...

Everyone is blaming landlords, interest rates, and remote workers for Washington's housing crisis — but what if the real villain is new construction itself?

Washington State is building thousands of new units, politicians are celebrating permit numbers, and yet affordability keeps getting worse. Rents aren't dropping. First-time buyers are still locked out. Working families are leaving for Idaho, Arizona, and Montana.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on why the way Washington is building new housing is actively making the crisis worse — luxury-first development that skips the middle, zoning rules that strangle density, construction cost...

Blackstone just took a $332 million loss on a Seattle, Washington, skyscraper — and it's one of the loudest signals the smart money has sent in years.

The world's largest real estate investor sold the US Bank Center for 54% less than they paid. Seattle, Washington, now carries the worst office vacancy rate in America — worse than San Francisco, worse than Los Angeles. A doom loop is quietly gutting the city's tax base, and most people don't even see it coming.

But here's the twist nobody is talking about: the money isn't leaving Seattle, Washington. It's moving 10 miles east...

Washington State has proudly stood as one of the few states with no income tax — until now. Initiative Petition 26-645 threatens to change everything with a proposed 9.9% income tax on millionaires. But here's what they're NOT telling you: once a state income tax is introduced, it almost never stays contained to the wealthy.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on IP26-645 — who's behind it, what it really means for Washington's economy, and why every resident should be paying attention, regardless of their income level. We break down the hist...

Should you buy a home now or wait for mortgage rates to come down?

In this episode, Anton sits down with veteran mortgage expert Cody Touchette, who brings more than 26 years of lending experience to answer one of the biggest questions facing homebuyers today.

They dive into what's really driving mortgage rates, how inflation and oil prices affect housing affordability, why many buyers may be making a costly mistake by waiting, and what experienced investors are doing in today's market. The conversation also explores Federal Reserve policy, AI-driven job displacement, consumer spending trends...

Mortgage rates are surging again — but what if this chaos is actually creating one of the biggest buying opportunities in today’s housing market?

In this episode of the Anton Stettner Podcast, Anton breaks down how war, oil prices, inflation, bond markets, and Federal Reserve policy are directly impacting mortgage rates, real estate, and affordability across Washington State and the Seattle metro.

The conversation dives deep into:

In this episode, we uncover why so many Washington real estate projects are failing long before construction even begins. While most people blame interest rates or the economy, the real problems are happening inside city halls, planning departments, and local permitting systems.

We break down the growing gap between pro-housing political messaging and the harsh reality developers, builders, and investors face when trying to get projects approved in places like King County and Snohomish County. From permit delays and bureaucracy to rising costs and public data exposure, the process is becoming increasingly difficult—and now even dangerous.

Is Washington State heading toward a recession—and most people just don’t see it yet?

In this episode, we break down the real forces quietly impacting the economy, from rising energy costs to what many are calling a “hidden tax” affecting everyday residents. While national headlines dominate the conversation, the truth is happening locally—and Washington State is facing unique pressures that could hit harder and faster than expected.

We connect the dots between gas prices, policy decisions, and inflation, showing how these factors are already impacting homeowners, investors, and anyone trying to navigate today’s ma...

On April 29, the Federal Reserve is making a decision that could directly impact your home value—and most people aren’t paying attention.

In this episode, we break down what’s really happening behind the headlines and why the Fed is almost certain to hold interest rates in 2026. From geopolitical tension and oil shocks to leadership changes inside the Federal Reserve, this is the full picture of what’s driving uncertainty in today’s housing market.

But here’s the part most people miss…

This isn’t just about rates. It’s about how fear, volatili...

TJ Contact Info:
https://www.thecentersquare.com/users/profile/tj%20martinell/
https://x.com/TJMartinell1

Articles by TJ about the Millionaire Tax aka The Everyone Income Tax:
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_784a7dcd-4aee-4514-97e0-ff8643ececd2.html
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_bec62758-ce0d-42c5-85af-7119e1e4a39a.html
https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ab2490d5-234f-4d5d-b8dd-5cbc23507847.html


The Millionaire Tax is being sold as a simple solution: tax the wealthy, fix the system...

Washington State just crossed a line voters have defended for nearly a century. On March 30, 2026, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6346 into law, creating a 9.9% tax on personal income above $1 million per household, effective in 2028 with payments starting in 2029. This video breaks down exactly how it happened, why it matters, and what comes next.
Voters have rejected a state income tax eleven times since 1934. Yet in 2024, Initiative 2111—which banned income taxes—was passed by the legislature as a statute, allowing it to be reversed two years later. That reversal is SB 6346. Lawmakers openly acknowledged this shift, with leadership stat...

The Washington State housing market didn’t just change… it exploded.

What used to be $90,000 homes are now selling for $850,000—and for most people, that shift feels impossible to keep up with. So what actually caused this?

In this episode, we break down why the Washington State housing market skyrocketed and what it means for buyers, sellers, and investors right now. From supply shortages and population growth to policy decisions and long-term economic pressure, this isn’t just a price increase—it’s a complete transformation of the market.

But here’s the part most peop...

What happens when you refuse to stay silent in the face of government overreach?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Greg Anderson—former U.S. Marshal, Army Ranger, and entrepreneur—who went viral in 2020 after speaking out against mandates he believed violated constitutional rights. What followed was a life-changing moment: losing his job, gaining national attention, and stepping into a mission rooted in integrity, self-reliance, and truth.

This conversation goes far beyond headlines. We break down how government overreach impacts everyday Americans—from law enforcement to small business owners—and why...

Is the market actually crashing… or is this the moment smart buyers have been waiting for?

In this episode, we break down what’s really happening in the housing market right now—and why Washington State is feeling the pressure more than most. From rising interest rates to surging oil prices and new tax policies, multiple forces are colliding at once… and the ripple effects are hitting buyers, sellers, and investors fast.

But here’s where it gets interesting: what looks like a slowdown on the surface may actually be one of the biggest opportunities we’ve seen...

What if everything you’ve been told about money… is wrong?

In this episode, we break down the mindset shift behind the controversial idea that “money grows on trees”—and why Jerremy Newsome believes it’s not just possible… it’s practical.

From scarcity thinking to strategic wealth-building, Jerremy shares how he went from uncertainty to creating real, repeatable income—without fear, controlling his decisions. This isn’t about hype or overnight success. It’s about understanding how money actually flows, how opportunities are created, and why most people stay stuck.

We dive into:

Gas prices in Washington State are pushing $6 a gallon—and this episode breaks down exactly why it’s happening and what it means for you.

In this conversation, we go beyond headlines and unpack the real drivers behind rising gas prices in Washington State. From state-level policies and fuel taxes to supply constraints and regulatory pressure, we connect the dots so you can actually understand what’s going on.

But here’s the bigger issue—this isn’t just about gas. These rising costs are impacting housing affordability, commuting, and overall cost of living ac...