Author: Brad Beckett

On a recent episode of the Idaho Real Estate Investor Show, Jonna Weber breaks down exactly when using a HELOC to buy a rental property makes sense, when it doesn’t, and how new investors can safely leverage their home equity to build long-term wealth. “Thinking about using your home equity to invest in real estate? You’re not alone. For many high-income earners, a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) is the fastest and smartest way to get started in real estate investing — if you use it strategically.” Click here to listen.

StorageCafe says with costs at half the value of a standard home, manufactured housing remains a cornerstone of affordability in the U.S.  However, while generally widespread across the country, their footprint is uneven, with some areas much better equipped than others to respond to the need for these types of homes.   In addition, in 2024 the average new manufactured home sold for about $123,300 – less than half the national median home price, not including the land-cost.  They say it makes manufactured homes one of the few reliable paths to ownership, especially in an era of rising home prices.  Indeed……

According to the latest Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI), U.S. single-family home rental prices increased 1% year over year in September, 2025 – lowest growth rate in 15 years. In addition they report that while growth slowed nationally, rent still has still increased 29% over the last five years, which means renters are paying an average of $610 a month or $7,300 a year in rent. “The story of the single-family rental market is one of deceleration at the national level, but with significant local nuances. Annual single-family rent growth in September hit its lowest point in over…

The latest S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has reported a 1.3% annual increase for September, 2025.  Their 10-City Composite posted 2% increase year-over-year and their 20-City Composite posted a 1.4% year-over-year increase.  They say with inflation outpaced home prices for a 4th straight month the housing market’s deceleration accelerated in September. “The housing market’s deceleration accelerated in September, with the National Composite posting just a 1.3% annual gain—the weakest performance since mid-2023…This marks a continued slide from August’s 1.4% increase and represents a stark contrast to the double-digit gains that characterized the early post-pandemic era. National…

Rental information site Zumper recently released their latest monthly National Rent Report for November, 2025.  According to their data, median rent for 1-bedroom apartments was $1501 (down 0.7%) and $1880 (down 0.4%) for two-bedrooms. Be sure to check out their list of the 100 top metros. “Our National Rent Index shows one-bedroom rent down more than 2% year-over-year, the steepest decline we’ve recorded since we started tracking national rent data…It’s a clear signal that the cooling we’re seeing isn’t just seasonal.”  Said Zumper CEO Anthemos Georgiades. Click here to read the full report at Zumper.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales were up 4% in October, 2025 and were down 0.4% year over year.  The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) came in at 76.3 in October. “The Midwest shined above other regions due to better affordability, while contract signings retreated in the more expensive West region…Days on the market typically lengthen from November through February, providing better negotiating power to buyers during the holiday season.”  Said the NAR’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. Click here to read the full report at the NAR.

The Visual Capitalist says that the Baby Boomer generation is arguably the richest in history, averaging $1 million in wealth per person in America.  In fact, as you can see below, this generation holds more than half of all of the country’s wealth but they make up only a fifth of the population.  As for Gen X, they account for $42.6 trillion – more than the combined $37.2 trillion held by the Silent Generation, Millennials, and Gen Z!  Indeed….As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the Visual Capitalist.

A recent article on Realtor.com says small-scale landlords continue to crowd out larger players when it comes to scouring affordable metros in search of bargains they can rent out at a healthy profit margin.  They say the investment landscape is becoming more divided between high-priced Western and coastal states and more affordable heartland states. …in more affordable Heartland states such as Michigan, Maryland, and Wisconsin, investors are zeroing in on the lower end of the housing market, sometimes paying less than half of what a typical homebuyer would. “Even as investors pull back from [COVID-19] pandemic-era activity, they’re facing fewer…

The WSJ is reporting (reposted on Realtor.com) that consumers’ moods dropped further in November, according to a monthly survey from the University of Michigan, continuing a slide that has worsened amid persistent price increases and an extended government shutdown (which ended in mid-November).  In addition, they say the survey reading is slightly above levels that sentiment sank to amid historic inflation that hit in 2022. Americans are facing down an economy with multiple pressure points. Inflation has dropped from the highs that it reached three years ago, but at 3% in September, it has now remained elevated for almost half…

In a recent editorial entitled “Seattle’s Coming Socialist Experiment,” the Washington Post says with much of the country fixated on New York City’s decision to elect as mayor a socialist with little experience, it was easy to miss that Seattle has done the same. They say that voters across the country will now get to witness two real-time experiments in radical governance.  They’re referring to Katie Wilson, who was elected Mayor of Seattle earlier this month.  The Post says that Ms. Wilson is an activist with even less experience than New York’s Zohran Mamdani and was a first-time candidate with…