Author: Brad Beckett

According to the ADP National Employment Report for November, 2025, private sector employment decreased by 32k jobs and pay was up 4.4% year-over-year.  ADP says November hiring was particularly weak in manufacturing, professional and business services, information, and construction.  The ADP National Employment Report is an independent and high-frequency view of the private-sector labor market based on the aggregated and anonymized payroll data of more than 25 million U.S. employees. “Hiring has been choppy of late as employers weather cautious consumers and an uncertain macroeconomic environment…And while November’s slowdown was broad-based, it was led by a pullback among small businesses.” …

We have had many posts about the growing issue of student debt.  Today’s graphic from Statista cites Federal Reserve data showing that the total federal student loan portfolio has now surpassed $1.8 trillion –  tripling over the past 15 years – making student loans the 2nd largest category of household debt in the U.S., right behind housing debt and auto loans.   That’s about one in six Americans (nearly 43 million) carrying federal student loan debt.  As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to Statista.

This week is the IRS’ 10th Annual National Tax Security Awareness Week where they emphasizes the importance of protecting sensitive financial information from identity theft and tax scams, especially as the Christmas holiday and 2026 tax season approach.  They are offering educational materials and resources available 24/7 on IRS.gov to help taxpayers and tax professionals safeguard personal and financial data. In addition, they advise folks to watch out for bad tax advice on social media.  They warn that social media can mislead you about tax credit or refund eligibility. Mal-informed bad actors and “influencers” may encourage you to falsify forms…

The NAHB’s Eye on Housing says the value of a single-family home is shaped by many factors, but its physical features remain among one of the most influential. Recent data from the latest American Housing Survey show that the overall square footage of the home and the number of bathrooms stand out as especially strong value drivers, while other features such as the number of bedrooms and the presence of amenities also play a role. Home size is one of the strongest value drivers in today’s housing market, as shown in Figure 1. Compared with smaller homes under 1,000 sq.…

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.