How to Build Wealth in Uncertain Times: Rates, Tariffs & the Road to Financial Resilience

financial wisdomreal estate insightslegacy building
Written By Christian Stone

Wrecked and Refined real estate guide to success during high mortgage interest rates. A professional woman counts money at her desk, surrounded by imagery of financial growth, savings jars, and luxury lifestyle, symbolizing smart investment strategies in uncertain economic times.

In times like these, it’s easy to feel unsure—about where the market is going, what to do with your money, and whether now is the time to invest or pull back. But uncertainty doesn’t have to mean fear. In fact, it can be the birthplace of opportunity.

Let me take you back.

A pregnant woman, months along, sits on the edge of a queen bed layered in blankets inside an unfinished garage. A small space heater sits near a wood bench beside her while snow leaks in through the door. An office desk and printer nearby reflect her determination to build a business during financial hardship. Her expression is focused and hopeful, capturing resilience in the midst of uncertainty.

💥 Our Story: How It All Began in the Eye of the Storm

My husband Jordan and I began our real estate journey in 2007, wide-eyed and full of faith. Just one year later, the housing market crashed—and it crashed hard. Banks folded, lending dried up, and most people told us to wait it out. But we couldn’t. We had a dream in our hearts and grit in our bones.

It wasn’t the big banks that saw us—it was the small-town banks with staff who knew your name when you walked through the door. They took a risk on us in our early 20s when no one else would.

When the market fell, we owned a home we had purchased for $72,000 in a great area and had begun demoing it. But then the banks shut down lending. I was newly pregnant with our first child, and we had nowhere to live. Our home was being rented by Helga, a wonderful German woman, and her military husband Nathan. We couldn’t kick them out.

So, we moved into an unfinished, unheated garage in the middle of winter. My printer ink froze while I was developing my first business plan. We had a gym membership—not for working out—but to shower. Times were tough. Really tough. But the grind was worth it.

That decision—to keep going when most would quit—changed everything.


📉 What's Happening Now (And Why It's Not 2008 Again)

Today’s headlines are filled with similar fear: rising rates, market uncertainty, and new tariffs shaking the economy.

But here's the truth most people don’t know:
👉 Rates are NOT historically high.

Let’s look back:

  • In 1981, the average 30-year mortgage hit a staggering 18.63%.

  • In the 1970s, double-digit mortgage rates were common, peaking over 12%.
    (Source: Freddie Mac Historical Data)

Compared to that? Today’s rates are still incredibly manageable—especially when paired with the right strategy and mindset.

Want a deeper dive into this topic? Don’t miss our blog post:
📖 Surviving the Top 7 Highest Mortgage Rates Ever


🕐 History Is Whispering: A Tale of Two Families—Then and Now


Let me tell you a story about two families, living decades apart… but facing eerily similar realities.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family 1: 1981 – The Johnsons

It’s the early 80s. Inflation is sky-high. Groceries, gas, and basic goods are eating up every dollar. Mortgage rates have hit 18.63%.

The Johnson family has saved up for a modest house, but friends keep telling them, “It’s a terrible time to buy. Wait until things calm down.”

But the Johnsons can’t afford to wait—they're outgrowing their apartment, and they believe in building wealth through ownership. So they buy. They struggle at first, but they lock in, work hard, and a few years later, rates fall—and their home skyrockets in value.

Today, that same home is worth ten times what they paid. And they built generational wealth because they moved when others paused.


👩‍👦 Family 2: 2025 – The Parkers

Now fast forward to today. The Parkers are hearing familiar advice:
“Rates are too high. Don’t buy.”
“Tariffs are driving up costs. Just wait.”
“The market’s uncertain. It might crash.”

And it’s true—mortgage rates are around 6.5%, and the economy just shrank slightly in Q1 2025. Tariffs are making imported goods more expensive. Big companies are pulling earnings forecasts. And headlines are full of fear.

But here’s what the Parkers don’t see on the news:

  • The cost of renting has quietly surpassed mortgage payments in many areas.

  • Inflation is still nibbling away at savings.

  • And opportunity still lives—hidden in fixer-uppers, undervalued properties, and bold, creative moves.

So the Parkers do something different: They buy smart, invest wisely, and don’t wait for perfect.

In 10 years, they’ll be telling the same story the Johnsons told—about the time they bought during the “uncertain” season… and built something lasting.


🧐 Wisdom That Builds: Timeless Strategies to Win

Here are five powerful principles we’ve lived by since 2007—rooted in experience, financial intelligence, and quiet spiritual discernment:

  1. Play the Long Game
    Forget hype. Focus on long-term returns, not overnight wins. Patience pays in real estate, investing, and life.

  2. Invest in What You Understand
    Don’t gamble. Know your market. Know your numbers. Invest in what you can touch, see, and improve.

  3. Relationships Over Transactions
    Just like those small-town bankers knew our names, the greatest value often comes from connection and character.

  4. Let Your Money Work for You
    Stop trading time for dollars. Build streams of income—rentals, dividends, digital assets—that grow even while you sleep.

  5. Stay Ready
    Always keep liquidity so you can move when others freeze. Those who are prepared don’t miss the window of opportunity.


🙌🏼 Why This Season Is for the Builders

Don’t let fear paralyze you.
Let it refine you.

Whether you're just starting or you’re decades in—now is a time to reevaluate, reposition, and rebuild on a firmer foundation. The economy may be shaking, but the principles that create wealth and freedom haven’t changed.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need the wisdom to start and the courage to keep going.


🔥 Ready to Step Forward?

Your future is waiting. And we’d love to help you build it.

🏡 Explore properties, tools, and inspiration at
👉 www.wreckedrefined.com

Want more insights from our journey through high-interest rates, market crashes, and real estate wins?
📖 Read our blog:
👉 Surviving the Top 7 Highest Mortgage Rates Ever


📚 Sources:

Christian Stone
Next

Moen vs Delta vs Kohler: Which Faucet Brand Truly Comes Out on Top?