Author: Brad Beckett

A recent HousingWire “Chart of the Day” illustrates the national single family housing inventory over the last 5 years. Their data show housing inventory is currently up 4.41% year over year, as of October 2026.

We love posting about where people are moving.  And, to that end, a new report from LendingTree says nearly 11 million Gen Z adults in the U.S. (roughly 1 in 4) moved to another state (or DC) in 2024.  By analyzing the most recent Census data, they found that 23.9% of Gen Z adults moved across state lines in 2024 – a far higher share than for any other age group.  South Carolina led the nation with the largest net gain while California had the largest net loss.  Indeed… Click here to read the full report at LendingTree.

Local Market Monitor recently released their monthly National Economic Outlook where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy and the real estate market. Click here to read more at Local Market Monitor.

The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in September, 2026 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,221,000, which is 5.2% lower than August’s revised number and is 7.4% lower than one year ago.  September’s rate for buildings with five units or more was 349k.  Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,400,000, which is 0.2% lower than August’s revised number and is 3% higher than one year ago.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 503k in September.…

According to the latest Cotality Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI), U.S. single-family home rental prices increased 2% year over year in July, 2026.  This figure is a slight decrease from last year’s annual increase of 2.1% and marks the sixth consecutive month of faster rent growth. “August marks an important milestone for the rental market. Annual single-family rent growth returned to its long-run range, albeit at the lower end, for the first time since August 2025, and the number of markets experiencing rent declines fell to its lowest level since September 2023. Together, these trends suggest that rental market conditions are…

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales were down 7.3% in September and were down 11.3% year over year.  The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) came in at 66 in September.  They report that both month-over-month and year-over-year pending home sales declined in all four major U.S. regions. “Market conditions weakened in September due to fast-rising mortgage rates…Although job growth and income gains can support home purchases, housing affordability is more affected by changes in mortgage rates.”  Said the NAR’s Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun. Click here to read the…

The Visual Capitalist says American households are worth a combined $185.7 trillion and more than half of that wealth belongs to a single generation. Citing data from the Federal Reserve, today’s graphic compares each generation’s share of U.S. households with its share of household net worth as of Q2 2026.  As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! “Net worth is assets such as homes, stocks, and pensions minus debts like mortgages and credit cards.” Hat tip to the Visual Capitalist.

A recent report from StorageCafe says millions of retirees and remote workers in colder northern states may consider becoming snowbirds, with a potential pool of more than 40 million people. Beyond escaping cold weather and seasonal depression, spending winter in the South offers more sunshine and opportunities for outdoor activities. Choosing a destination for an extended stay requires weighing not just climate, but also living costs, healthcare access, internet service and storage needs.  To that end, they crunched the numbers came up with America’s best snowbird locations for the 2026-27 Winter season.  Be sure to check out the entire list…

According to Apartment List’s National Rent Report for October, 2026, national median rent decreased 0.1% in September to $1,388.  They say rents are down 0.4% compared to one year ago, but year-over-year rent growth has been steadily inching up and the vacancy rate is moving down, which they say signals a gradual tightening of rental market conditions. Click here to read the full report at Apartment List.

On a recent episode of the Rent Perfect podcast David Pickron and Scot Aubrey talk about the changing rental market and what landlords are experiencing in 2026.  From fewer rental inquiries and declining rents in some markets to rising repair costs, increasing HOA fees, and a less predictable applicant pool, landlords are being forced to adjust their expectations. David shares what he is seeing in the Phoenix rental market, including properties sitting longer, rents pulling back, and the importance of staying patient during the screening process. “…don’t rush into approving the wrong tenant just to fill a vacancy. Even when…