'Govies, Plutes & Gangsters’ dives into Latino homeownership
The new podcast series, launched and hosted by NAHREP CEO Gary Acosta, explores the Hispanic wealth gap and other topics important to a growing demographic.
Key points:
- The podcast looks at the role of venture capitalists, industry leaders and government in advancing homeownership and affordability for Hispanic consumers.
- Strategies to close the wealth gap and empower the Latino community are among the topics Acosta plans to explore.
- More than eight million Latinos ages 45 and under are “mortgage-ready” but not homeowners, according to NAHREP.
A real estate-themed podcast has been launched by Gary Acosta, co-founder and CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP).
The new podcast series hosted by Acosta — "Govies, Plutes & Gangsters" — "explores the critical role government policy, capital deployment, and entrepreneurship play in closing the Hispanic wealth gap in America," NAHREP said in an emailed statement to Real Estate News.
"Gary and the guests will share their personal stories about how they found success in their respective fields. These include discussions about sustainable homeownership, small business development, and financial education with leaders in real estate, finance, entertainment and government," a NAHREP spokesperson said.
"Latinos drive the U.S. economy and enrich the workforce with their skills, but their full potential is yet to be fully leveraged," said Acosta. "This podcast will dive into the strategies and actions that can be taken to close the wealth gap, create economic opportunities, and empower the Latino community for the good of our nation."
Among the guests on "Govies, Plutes & Gangsters" are author Anand Giridharadas, who discusses homeownership and wealth-building opportunities for Latinos in the current economic climate. Giridharadas' books include "The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds and Democracy"; and "India Calling: An Intimate Portrait of a Nation's Remaking." Giridharadas is a former reporter and columnist for the New York Times.
Other podcast episodes feature Emilio Estefan, the Cuban-American music producer and winner of 19 Grammy Awards; and real estate investor Oralia Herrera, who discusses the importance of building generational wealth through homeownership.
"I am excited to launch this podcast and bring important conversations about the Latino community's economic empowerment to the forefront," said Acosta. "I believe that working together, we can create real change and close the wealth gap."
Housing affordability is also a theme at "Regional Connect: Southwest," a real estate conference that opens Friday evening in Los Angeles and is hosted by NAHREP.
Conference organizers are highlighting the role of Hispanic consumers in driving the real estate marketplace. The association projects that between 2020 and 2040, 70% of the "net new homeowner households" will be Hispanic.
"Notwithstanding the recent increase in mortgage rates and other economic headwinds, 8.3 million Latinos 45 and under are mortgage-ready but aren't homeowners. The market opportunities to house Latino families are vast."
In 2021, more than 62 million people of Hispanic descent lived and worked in the U.S., making up 19% of the nation's population, the U.S. Census reports.
And about 11% of licensed real estate agents are Hispanic, according to NAR's 2022 member profile.
At NAHREP, Acosta leads an organization with more than 40,000 members and 100 local chapters. "Govies, Plutes, & Gangsters" is now available on Acosta's website and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.