Author: Brad Beckett

A new report from WalletHub says certain states make it easier than others to raise a family.  They say the ideal state is one that’s affordable to live in that also offers a high degree of safety and good job prospects, quality education, healthcare and entertainment.  To that end, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states using 50 key indicators of family-friendliness (factors included median annual family income, housing affordability, health care quality, crime rate, and school quality) find the best & worst states to raise a family in 2025. “Raising a family has become significantly more expensive in recent years as…

A recent story in the Wall Street Journal (reposted on Realtor.com) says the U.S. government has an in-house landlord, and President Trump is no fan.  In fact, they say the new administration is considering selling two-thirds of the federal government’s office stock – many of which has been poorly maintained and are sitting empty or underused, according to the GSA (Government Services Administration).  Interestingly, the GSA manages a huge portfolio of federal buildings nationwide that consists of nearly 370 million square feet.  Indeed… A GSA spokeswoman said: “GSA continues to work to right-size the federal portfolio, and is committed to…

According to ATTOM Data’s Year-End 2024 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, there were 322,103 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions) – representing 0.23% of all U.S. housing units, down slightly from 2023 and down from a peak of 2.23% in 2010.  In addition, lenders started the foreclosure process on 253,306 properties in 2024, down 6% from 2023, up 174% from 2021, but down 25% form 2019 and down 88% from a peak of 2,139,005 in 2009. The continued decline in foreclosure activity throughout 2024 suggests a housing market that may be stabilizing, even as economic…

Local Market Monitor, a National REIA preferred vendor, recently released their monthly National Economic Outlook where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy. Click here for more information about Local Market Monitor.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales were up 2.2% in December to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.24 million – up 9.3% year over year.  Total housing inventory at the end of December was 1.15 million units, down 13.5% from November and up 16.2% from one year ago.  Unsold inventory sits at a 3.3-month supply at the current sales rate with properties remaining on the market for around 35 days.  The median existing-home price for all housing types in December was $404,400. “Home sales in the final months of the year showed solid recovery despite…

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.

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.