Author: Brad Beckett

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales were down 9.7% in May to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million (26.6% lower than one year ago).  Total housing inventory at the end of May was 1.55 million units, up 6.2% from April and down 18.8% from one year ago. Total unsold inventory was at a 4.8-month supply at the current sales pace with properties remaining on the market for around 27 days. The median existing-home price for all housing types was $284,600, up 2.3% from May, 2019.  However, the Realtors remain optimistic as the economy comes…

According to the latest Yardi Matrix Multifamily Report, the average U.S. rent in May was $1,460, down $5 from April.  In addition, they point out that rents increased 0.8% year-over-year but were down $5 from April and $13 from March.  Yardi says this rapid decline will likely continue through the summer.  Indeed… “…This rapid decline will likely continue through the summer as the nation continues to practice social distancing. As some unemployed slowly return to work in the coming months, the fall could become this year’s rental season.” Click here to read the full report at YardiMatrix.com.

According to a new report from Zillow, nearly 3 million adults have moved back home in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.  Zillow says there over 32 million adults living with a parent or grandparent in April, the highest number on record.  Not surprising, a large majority of those moving home were from Generation Z (ages 18 – 25), representing about 2.2 million individuals. “Roughly 2.7 million U.S. adults moved in with a parent or grandparent in March and April as the coronavirus pandemic spread, potentially costing landlords hundreds of millions of dollars in monthly rent payments and casting doubt…

With all of the craziness going on with the Coronavirus pandemic you’d be forgiven if you forgot that 2020 was a Census year….hopefully you and your family have answered it, but if not expect a visit in the near-future form a Census-taker. Today’s infographic from the National Association of Realtors reminds us about the importance of data collected by the Census and how it impacts housing policy and affordability.  Stay safe….and Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the NAR.

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) announced in mid-June that they were extending their moratorium on foreclosures and evictions through August 31, 2020.  The foreclosure moratorium applies to homeowners with FHA-insured Single Family mortgages. “While the economic recovery is already underway, many American families still need more time and assistance to regain their financial footing,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “Our foreclosure and eviction extension means that these families will not have to worry about losing their home as they work to recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19.” Click here to read the full release at…

The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 974k, which is 4.3% higher than April’s revised number.  May’s rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 291k.  Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,220,000, which was 14.4% higher than April’s revised number.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 434k in May. Click here to read the full report at the U.S. Census Bureau.

Many people are interested in real estate, but don’t really know much about it. They know that it seems that a lot of people have made a lot of money in real estate (or achieved other goals using it), and they wonder if maybe there could be something in it for them, too. National REIA wants to help you understand a little more about the real estate business and real estate investing. We’ve developed this report so you can get an overview of multiple investing strategies and determine whether any of these areas of real estate business or investing sound…

According to ATTOM Data’s latest U.S. Home Flipping Report, home flipping nationwide increased to a 14-year high in Q1 of 2020, while returns dropped to a nine-year low.  ATTOM says there were 53,705 single-family homes & condos flipped in Q1, representing 7.5% of all home sales during the quarter, reaching the highest level since Q2 2006.  In addition, they said the gross profit on the typical flip also increased in Q1, to $62,300, up slightly from $62k in Q4 2019. However with rising home prices, that profit translated into a 36.7% ROI – the lowest level for home flipping since…

The NAHB’s Eye on Housing is reporting that, according to the latest Producer Price Index, the prices of goods used in residential construction increased 0.6% in May.  In addition, they say May marks only the fourth monthly increase in the past 12 months in the price index for residential construction inputs. Click here to read the full report at the NAHB’s Eye on Housing.

For the 7th year in a row, Gallup is reporting that more Americans prefer real estate over other long-term investment vehicles for growing wealth.  When broken down, the numbers show that 35% prefer real estate, 21% prefer the stock market, 17% prefer CDs/bank accounts, and 16% prefer gold. “Americans have become less likely to view stocks or mutual funds as the best long-term investment after U.S. markets dropped by more than a third as the economic implications of the coronavirus outbreak set in last month.” Click here to read the full story at Gallup.com.