You have undoubtedly seen the horrible destruction recently taking place in California. With that in mind, Statista says states with significant chunks of housing stock are located in areas prone to wildfires. These areas are often wooded & mountainous and attract people because of their natural beauty. But they also come with inherent dangers to life & property. Today’s infographic spells out the states where properties are most at risk from wildfires. Indeed…stay safe and have a Happy Friday. Hat tip to Statista.
Author: Brad Beckett
Brad Beckett
Director of Education & Outreach, National Real Estate Investors Association
HousingWire is reporting that a new law in Georgia aims to protect residents from title theft. According to the report, House Bill 1292, which became effective on January 1st, requires anyone filing a deed or mortgage to present proper ID as well as being submitted via electronic filing. “Title theft occurs when a criminal impersonates a property owner and sells or takes out a second mortgage on the owner’s property. In the worst-case scenario, the home goes into foreclosure and/or is deeded to a new purchaser. It is a complicated and expensive process to rectify, if it can be rectified…
We’ve recently seen a lot moving data for 2024. In that vein, here is some more; The Tax Foundation is reporting that Americans were on the move in 2024 and they continue to choose low-tax states over high-tax ones – go figure? To come up with their findings they crunched data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s interstate migration data, as well as commercial data from U-Haul and United Van Lines. “These interstate moving data shed light on an ongoing trend: Americans are continuing to leave high-tax, high-cost-of-living states in favor of lower-tax, lower-cost alternatives. Of the 26 states whose overall…
We recently posted the 2024 U-Haul numbers revealing the migration patterns based on their one-way truck rentals. Now we’re looking at United Van Lines’ 48th Annual National Movers Study. Not surprisingly, United says movers are seeking economic relief without sacrificing quality of life, reflecting a growing presence for less dense, more affordable regions – like the sunbelt. Indeed… “Recent migration data from United Van Lines continues to reveal the lingering influences of the global pandemic…As housing costs continue to rise, Americans are moving to lower density, more affordable regions between expensive, economic-driving states…” said Michael A. Stoll, Economist and Professor…
On a recent episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke explores the housing market challenges awaiting President Donald Trump as he begins his new term. With mortgage rates nearing 7%, home prices up 37% since 2021, and affordability at record lows, she says Trump’s proposed policies (like reducing regulations and opening federal land) are under the spotlight. Click here to listen.
According to the latest Yardi Matrix Multifamily Report, 2024 multifamily finished the year on the downswing, with the average U.S. advertised rent falling $4 nationally in December to $1,742. Year-over-year rent growth, which remains positive albeit weak, was down 10 basis points to 0.6%. However, Yardi says the trends that shaped 2024 remained in place to the end, with demand staying robust throughout the year in most regions. “The market enters 2025 walking a tightrope, with heavy supply growth balanced by equally strong demand. Clearly, 2025 promises change. Starts have dropped, and completions will wane soon. On the demand side,…
A new report from Zillow reveals their top housing markets for 2025. And, at the top of that list is Buffalo, NY. Zillow says relative affordability and few homes for sale are common threads among what should be the most competitive markets for buyers this year. Be sure to check out the complete list which includes the top 50 cities. “Construction that keeps pace with an area’s growth remains a crucial piece of keeping homes available and accessible. In chilly Buffalo, competition among buyers will remain hot, with employment growing far faster than builders are adding homes…Shoppers nationwide should see…
The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in December, 2024 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,499,000, which is 15.8% higher than November’s revised number and is 4.4% lower than one year ago. December’s rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 418k. Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,493,000, which is 0.7% lower than November’s revised number and is 3.1% lower than one year ago. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 437k…
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% in December, 2024. The all items index was up 2.9% for the 12 months ending in December. The index for shelter rose 0.3% in December, accounting for nearly forty percent of the monthly all items increase. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Visual Capitalist says gas prices vary across state lines due to factors such as local taxes, environmental regulations, reliance on local production or imports, and proximity to refineries. Not surprising, Hawaii, California, Washington Oregon and Nevada lead the U.S. in gas prices. Indeed…Stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the Visual Capitalist.
