Author: Brad Beckett

A recent story on Realtor.com has HGTV star Chip Gaines reflecting on aging and his evolving lifestyle. The 51-year-old shared that his early mornings at his Texas farmhouse now require more “coffee” and “grace” as he gets older. In a recent essay in the Summer issue of Magnolia Journal, “A Note From Chip on Adventure,” Gaines criticized society’s obsession with staying young, calling anti-aging culture a marketing gimmick. He argued the phrase “anti-aging” is backwards and suggested aging should be embraced rather than feared. “The temptation to let the back half of life lull me into dormancy. To be too set…

The latest S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has reported a 0.7% annual increase for March, 2026.  Their 10-City Composite posted 1.2% increase year-over-year and their 20-City Composite posted a 1% year-over-year increase.  They say for the 10th consecutive month, inflation outpaced national home price appreciation, with March CPI running 2.6 percentage points above the 0.7% annual gain, extending the streak of negative real home price returns. “More than half of the 20 major U.S. housing markets recorded year-over-year price declines in March, reflecting a broadening and deepening housing slowdown,”  Said Nicholas Godec, CFA, CAIA, CIPM, Head…

On a recent episode of the Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast,  Brian Hamrick talks with Joel Kraut, a real estate investor with over 30 years of experience who has flipped more than 100 homes, built rental portfolios across multiple states, operated through the 2008 crash, and rebuilt after losing $4.2M during the financial crisis.  You’ll hear how Joel accidentally discovered the BRRRR method in the 1990s and why new investors should focus on simple, structured deals instead of risky, high-leverage bets— and how discipline beats hype every time. Click here to listen.

The U.S. Government is reporting that sales of new single-family houses in April, 2026 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 622k, which is 6.2% lower than March’s revised rate and is 11.3% lower than one year ago.  The median sales price of new houses sold in April was $422,500 with an average sales price of $508,800.  There were an estimated 489k new houses for sale at the end of April representing an 8-month supply at the current sales rate. Click here to read the full report at the U.S. Census Bureau.

Rental information site Zumper recently released their latest monthly National Rent Report for May, 2026.  According to their data, median rent for 1-bedroom apartments was $1,519 (up 0.7%) and $1,903 (up 0.4%) for two-bedrooms.  Be sure to check out their list of the 100 top metros. “National averages are masking two very different housing markets right now…In supply-constrained coastal cities, pricing power has returned quickly. Across much of the Sun Belt, operators are still working through the inventory wave delivered over the last several years. Demand is there, but supply still needs time to normalize.”  Said Zumper CEO Shawn Mullahy. …

According to ATTOM Data’s latest Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure report, there were nearly 1.4 million U.S. homes sitting vacant in Q2 2026, unchanged from a year earlier. Of the 245,376 homes in foreclosure, 8,312 were abandoned “zombie” properties. Zombie foreclosures increased in most states, with the largest jumps in Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana, Iowa, and South Carolina.  Only two states with at least 50 zombies saw their numbers drop: Washington (down 13.1%) and New York (down 2.2%).  Click here for a 50-state list of Zombie foreclosures. “The increase in zombie foreclosures across most states may reflect a foreclosure market…

According to Zillow’s top 10 Hottest Rental Markets for Summer 2026, Providence ranked as top city, surpassing New York and San Francisco as demand outpaces housing supply. They say limited new construction in the Northeast and coastal California has intensified competition, driving up rents and lowering vacancies. Meanwhile, “Sun Belt” cities like Austin, Tampa, and Phoenix have added enough rental housing to moderate rent growth.  In addition they point out that markets that aren’t as competitive still see strong demand, but they’ve been more effective at adding new housing supply. Zillow’s top 10 hottest rental markets for summer 2026: Providence…

The Visual Capitalist reminds us that life expectancy varies widely across the U.S., however there are clear regional patterns emerging with the latest data.  Citing data form the CDC, today’s graphic illustrates life expectancy by state.  Interestingly, the Northeast and West Coast tend to have higher life expectancy, while the South and Appalachia rank lower.  Stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the Visual Capitalist.

A recent article on Realtor.com says a new luxury rental development in Miami Beach is attracting wealthy renters who prefer flexibility over homeownership. Many affluent newcomers are from high-tax states New York and California and are renting to preserve liquidity, avoid high HOA fees and insurance costs, and test Miami before buying. Developers say demand reflects shifting priorities toward mobility, tax advantages, and hassle-free luxury living.  Indeed… “Both L.A. and New York are having a very hard time getting their act together,” Lynn tells Realtor.com. “People talk about taxes a lot, but people don’t mind paying taxes. They hate not…

Real Estate Cruises Are My Favorite Way of Networking by Pete Youngs Most any serious real estate investor will agree that one of your most valuable tools in being successful is the art of networking. In many cases the first thing I would advise is to join your local real estate investment club. This gives you access to many like-minded people who like you want to buy, sell trade and rent properties. I look forward to the annual National REIA cruise and have been aboard for this networking cruise for almost two decades now. As a faithful follower of National…