Author: Brad Beckett

On a recent episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke says the U.S. housing shortage has reached a staggering 10 million homes, according to a new White House report.  She breaks down what’s driving the supply gap, from post-2008 underbuilding to rising regulatory costs, and why affordability continues to worsen. “…the biggest culprits behind the shortage is what’s called bureaucratic Tax.  According to the report, regulations tied to zoning, building codes and permitting can add more than $100k to the cost of a home….cutting those regulatory costs could lead to as many 13 million new homes…” Click here…

A recent report from StorageCafe says America’s pandemic-era relocation boom is officially cooling with interstate migration falling to its lowest level in 2024.  They say 7.15 million Americans moved across state lines that year – just over 1 million fewer than the 2022 peak, representing a 13% drop in two years.  Texas and Florida are still gaining residents, albeit at half of last year’s pace, and the Midwest is seeing a comeback.  Interestingly they say Gen Z has quietly become the most mobile generation in America. Some key takeaways: Texas & Florida remain the top states for net domestic migration.…

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis is reporting that personal income increased $18.2 billion (0.1% at a monthly rate) in February, 2026.  Disposable personal income (DPI – personal income less personal current taxes) decreased 18.3 billion (0.1%), and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $103.2 billion (0.5%).  Personal outlays (the sum of PCE, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments) increased $106.5 billion in February.  Personal saving was $931.5 billion in February, and the personal saving rate (personal saving as a percentage of DPI) was 4 %. Click here to read the full report at the Bureau of Economic Analysis.…

Local Market Monitor recently released their monthly National Economic Outlook where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy. “Even if we escape a real recession, stagnant job growth will slowly pull the economy down. There’s little reason to expect an improvement this year as interest rates and energy costs remain high, food prices continue to rise, and artificial intelligence gets better at replacing workers.” – Ingo Winzer

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis in March.  Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.3% before seasonal adjustment. The index for energy rose 10.9% in March, led by a 21.2% increase in the index for gasoline which accounted for nearly three quarters of the monthly all items increase. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales were dropped 3.6% in March, 2026 to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million.  Total housing inventory at the end of March was 1.36 million units, up 3% from February and up 2.3% from one year ago.  Unsold inventory sits at a 4.1-month supply at the current sales rate.  The median existing-home price for all housing types in March was $408,800 – the 33rd consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.  The NAR says inventory remains a major constraint on the market: “Because inventory remains limited, the median home price…

A recent graphic from Statista illustrates that cars still dominate the American commute, unlike their European cousins.  They say the car is the king of the American commute….Indeed…Let freedom ring!  As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to Statista.

Realtor.com says most homeowners appreciate having a nearby grocery store – but the store’s true value may depend on the brand.  They analyzed research from data site Home Economics and found that in neighborhoods where a Trader Joe’s opens, home prices outperform the national average by 5.6% over the following three years.  However, those neighborhoods where a new Walmart opens, home prices under-perform the national average by 3.8%.  Hmmm… Click here to read the full story on Realtor.com.

According to the latest Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI), home prices rose 0.1% in January, 2026.  In addition, prices were up 1.6% year-over-year  The FHFA HPI is the nation’s only collection of public, freely available house price indexes that measure changes in single-family home values based on data from all 50 states and over 400 American cities that extend back to the mid-1970s. Click here to read the full report at the FHFA.

Citing data from the most recent American Community Survey, the NAHB’s Eye on Housing says the median age of owner-occupied homes in the U.S. is 42 years.  They point out that the age of housing stock is an important remodeling market indicator.  They say older homes tend to be less energy-efficient than newly built homes and are more likely to require repairs, upgrades, and renovations in the future.  Indeed… “…as people increasingly use their homes for multiple purposes and demand additional space, older housing represents an investment opportunity for homeowners.” Click here to read the full report at the NAHB’s…