Ep87 - Financing Your Build w/ Cory Nichols

Ep87 - Financing Your Build w/ Cory Nichols

From Builder vs. Buyer by birnamdesignco

January 15, 2026 · 48 min · Season 1 · Episode 87

About this episode

Adam and financial advisor Cory Nichols discuss the intersection of money, mortgages, and mindset in the real estate market.

In this episode, Adam sits down with financial advisor Cory Nichols — a self-described “non-bro” voice in the finance world — to break down one of the biggest questions facing today’s home buyers: how do money, mortgages, and mindset collide in the real estate market? Adam and Cory kick things off by unpacking recent interest rate shifts and what they actually mean for buyers, sellers, and builders. Cory explains why chasing low rates can backfire, how affordability should really be measured, and why “what the bank approves” and “what you should buy” are very different numbers. From there, the conversation moves into the realities of today’s housing market — low inventory, rising prices, cash buyers, and why Adam hasn’t designed a “starter home” in years. They explore building versus buying, the emotional side of home decisions, and how long you should really plan to stay in a house. Then things get fun. Cory breaks down real estate investing, land ownership, short-term rentals, and the tax strategies high-income earners are using — including depreciation, cost segregation, and why some real estate “losses” exist only on paper. Adam shares his own thoughts on buying land for…

People in this episode

Host: Adam

Guest: Cory Nichols

Topics covered

  • financing
  • real estate
  • mortgages
  • housing market
  • investing
  • home buying
  • interest rates

Keywords

  • financing
  • real estate investing
  • interest rates
  • housing market
  • mortgages
  • cash buyers
  • starter home
  • tax strategies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Birnam Design Co

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