Author: Brad Beckett

Where is America’s “Center of Population?”  Well, according to data from the 2020 Census, the current center of the population is near Hartville, Missouri.  The town of about 600 people, in Central Missouri will have the honor for the next 10 years at which time a new census will be conducted.  Currently there are 331.4 million people in the United States, around 600 of whom reside in Hartville. An event in the spring of 2022 will recognize Hartville as the center of population and will include an on-site unveiling of a commemorative survey monument.  The nation’s center of population represents…

Rental information site Zumper recently released their latest monthly National Rent Report showing that their median national rent for 1-bedroom apartments in November, 2021 was up 12.1% and the median two-bedroom rent was up 13.2%, since the beginning of the year.  Be sure to check out their list of the top 100 metro areas. Click here to read the full report at Zumper.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales were up 7.5% in October, 2021.  The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) rose to 125.2.  The NAR says the market is expected to remain robust with home prices rising at a gentler pace over the next several months.  Indeed… “The notable gain in October assures that total existing-home sales in 2021 will exceed 6 million, which will shape up to be the best performance in 15 years.”  Said Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist. Click here to read the full report at…

On a recent episode of the Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast, Brian Hamrick talked with the Mad Scientist of Multifamily, Neal Bawa about some incredibly powerful information on disruptive forces and trends that will be dramatically altering the course of real estate investing for the next ten years.  Brian says Neal takes data science, statistics, and technological advancements and in an amazing and exciting way forecasts trends that very few investors are paying attention to. In addition, they discussed Tokenization and Smart Contracts, and how these will allow investors to buy & sell real estate much like…

According to Apartment List’s latest Migration Report, renters who are looking to move are not only dealing with an affordability crunch, but also navigating a tight market with historically low vacancy rates. They also say that at the same time, migration patterns are being impacted by one of the most significant societal shifts brought about by the pandemic – remote work.  Their data show that in Q3 2021, 40% of Apartment List users were searching to move to a new metropolitan area, and 26% were searching in a different state altogether.  Indeed… “2021 is poised to be a historic year…

The U.S. Government is reporting that sales of new single-family houses in October, 2021 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 745k, which is 0.4% higher than September’s revised rate but is 23.1% lower than one year ago.  The median sales price of new houses sold in October was $407,700 with an average sales price of $477,800.  There were an estimated 389k new houses for sale at the end of October representing a 6.3-month supply at the current sales rate. Click here to read the full report at the U.S. Census Bureau.

We certainly hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. And, if you’re like many Americans you may have not only eaten more than your fill, you might also have oodles of leftovers that will be calling your name in the days and weeks to come. Today’s infographic from craftminute.com reminds us to not “spoil Thanksgiving” and properly put away those leftovers so there will be plenty to eat and/or snack on in the days and months ahead (yes, it even suggests how long they will last when properly stored). Stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat…

Tarek El Moussa and his new wife Heather Rae YoungAs everyone knows, the reality TV shows make it all look so easy with every flip being a potential Vegas jackpot. However, there are some good lessons that can be gleaned every now and then from these programs. On a recent episode of Flipping 101, Tarek El Moussa (without Christina) works with one flipping couple who made what may be the biggest renovation mistake of all – they forgot the dishwasher…..a fact that was pointed out by a potential buyer. Realtor.com says it brings up an important lesson: Buyers won’t care…

According to recent data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2020 personal income increased in 3,040 counties, decreased in 69, and was unchanged in 3. In metropolitan areas, personal income increased 6.4% and on non-metro areas it increased 7.6%.  The BEA says personal income estimates were impacted by the response to the spread of COVID-19, as governments issued and lifted “stay-at-home” orders. Click here to read the full report at the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

CoreLogic says rent growth across all tiers remains at record highs, with high-end rentals leading the charge.  In addition their latest Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI) also says strong demand & labor market are fueling single-family rent price increases.  Their data shows data shows national rents increased 10.2% year over year.  On year ago that number was 2.6%.  CoreLogic predicts a continued increase in rents especially across high-end rentals as renters seek more space.  Indeed… “Consumers continue to feel the push and pull between the purchase and rental markets. While desire for home ownership remains high…the competitive purchase market conditions are…