Money isn’t as cheap as it used to be. When the cost of borrowing changes, every asset class has to adjust – whether it wants to or not. In this 14th episode of Markets and Leaders, host Lyndsay Malchuk sits down with Michael Succurro – CEO of Fluent Capital Inc., president of Spark Financial Group, and principal broker / president of Spark Mortgages Canada Inc. – for a ground‑level look at what rising bond yields actually do to real estate, consumer spending, and your financial options. Michael breaks down why the market is stuck between the reality of 2020/2021 and the reality of now, how “smart money” is quietly moving into cash‑flowing properties, and why today’s mortgage rates are not “crazy” – they’re just back to normal. He also explains why consumer spending cracks first, what the World Cup means for struggling restaurants, and one simple signal anyone can check on realtor.ca to see whether the market is stabilizing or still under pressure. If you’ve felt like everything got harder financially but couldn’t explain why, this conversation gives you the language and the signals to understand what’s actually happening.