Author: Brad Beckett

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales were up 0.3% in August but were down 4.7% year over year.  The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) came in at 71.2 in August. Month-over-month sales increased in the South and West but declined in the Northeast and Midwest. Year-over-year sales declined in all four major U.S. regions. “Buyers steadily entered into contracts in August even though mortgage rates increased…However, the housing market is still sluggish, with contract signings below last year. This is due to higher mortgage rates offsetting the increased…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in August.  Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.4% before seasonal adjustment.  The index for gasoline rose 3.9% in August, accounting for over one third of the monthly all items  increase.  The shelter index rose 0.3%. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The first day of Fall is Tuesday, September 22nd.  That means it’s time to start thinking about lawn-care for the upcoming cooler months and prepping for a great lawn next Spring. Today’s infographic from The Home Depot lays out exactly what needs to be done to prepare your yard for the winter months ahead so it’s in tip-top shape for the Spring….and it starts “around” labor Day.   As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!!! Hat tip to The Home Depot.

Denver Colorado TV Station KMGH (Denver7) is reporting that a serial squatter, that records show was evicted dozens of times in Colorado and Texas over last 25 years, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Dallas following a fraud conviction last month. According to the report, Heather Ruybal, aka Heather Schwab, was convicted of using her father’s identity to rent a home without paying while the landlord who rented to her later lost the property due to the resulting financial hardship.  The squatter was reportedly so familiar with the eviction process that it took months to remove her.  Be…

A recent HousingWire Chart of the Day illustrates the national single family housing inventory over the last 5 years.  Their data show inventory is currently up 2.21% year over year.

According to the latest Yardi Matrix Multifamily Report, average multifamily advertised rents rose $2 to $1,773 in August, with year-over-year growth increasing 0.4%.  The national occupancy rate was unchanged at 94.2%, a 0.5% decline year-over year.  In addition, Yardi says August also marked the first monthly increase in several years, although the gain was still below those achieved before the pandemic. Economic uncertainty remains the primary risk to this improving outlook. U.S.–Canada trade tensions escalated in August, with new tariffs and retaliatory measures set to affect billions of dollars of cross-border goods. Meanwhile, the U.S. expanded sanctions against Iran’s oil,…

The NAHB’s Eye on Housing says that in Q2 2026 consumer credit growth slowed and was lower than one year ago.  Citing data from the Federal Reserve, they report that total outstanding U.S. consumer credit reached $5.17 trillion in the second quarter – marking a 2.6% increase from Q1 2026.  In addition they say total outstanding credit is 2.43% higher than one year ago. Click here to read the full report at the NAHB’s Eye on Housing.

The Tax Foundation says states tax fuel in several ways, including sales taxes, per-gallon excise taxes collected at the pump, taxes imposed on wholesalers (which are passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices), and a variety of operational taxes, such as underground storage tank fees, that are often charged to the retailer.   To that end, they added up all different taxes & fees to calculate a total tax rate on gas for each state – see interactive map below. The gas tax is meant to function as a user fee charging drivers to fund the construction and maintenance…

According to Apartment List’s National Rent Report for September, 2026, national median rent increased 0.1% in July to $1,390 – marking the 7th consecutive monthly increase.  They say this month’s increase is notable because it’s the first time they’ve observed positive rent growth in August since 2022. In addition, they say this month’s data offer another sign that the rental market is turning the corner. Click here to read the full report at Apartment List.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales dropped 1.7% in August, 2026 to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million.  Total housing inventory at the end of August was 1.62 million units, up 3.2% from July and up 5.9% from one year ago.  Unsold inventory sits at a 4.9-month supply at the current sales rate.  The median existing-home price for all housing types in August was $429,100 – the 38th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.  The NAR says rising inventory levels are a boon for buyers: “The number of months it would take to exhaust…