31. Financial Literacy and the Housing Affordability Challenge with Steve Kautz of FAME

In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot sits down with Steve Kautz, Accredited Financial Counselor and Financial Education Programs Specialist at the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), for an honest conversation about the psychology of money, the real forces behind Maine's housing affordability crisis, and what individuals can actually do about it.

Steve has spent over 20 years working on financial literacy in Maine. He studied economics at Southern Connecticut State University, earned an MBA from the University of Hartford, served in the Peace Corps in the Czech Republic, and has taught personal finance in classrooms from Portland to Spain. At FAME, he creates content for the Money Matters for ME blog and delivers financial education to Mainers of all ages.

In this conversation, Matt and Steve cover why financial literacy education is so difficult and why spending psychology matters more than math, the real market forces driving housing costs in Maine including demographic shifts and supply constraints, practical strategies real people are using right now to save for a down payment, the power of compound interest and the danger of compound debt, how the monthly payment mentality quietly drains wealth, why Steve says "Take a part of capitalism, or it'll take a part of you," the Maine Opportunity Tax Credit and student loan strategies most people do not know about, budgeting and emergency fund foundations that actually build long term wealth, and the generational shift happening in classrooms that gives Steve hope for the future.

Whether you are a first time homebuyer, a renter weighing your options, or someone looking to reset your financial habits, this episode is packed with real talk and actionable advice.

Learn more about FAME and the Money Matters for ME blog at famemaine.com. Learn more about Housing Matters and Pouliot Real Estate at pouliotrealestate.com.