Author: Brad Beckett

Director of Education & Outreach, National Real Estate Investors Association

How much debt do Americans have?  The folks over at howmuch.net recently put together an eye-catching map showing the average debt-load of Americans ranked by their respective state.  They utilized survey data after asking Americans how much debt they had – which included items such as a mortgage, credit cards, student loans, car notes and even medical bills.  Not surprisingly Hawaiians topped the list with an average debt load of $869,250. “There really isn’t a clear pattern on the map: there are low-debt states sitting right next to high-debt states.” Top 10 States Where People Have the Most Debt: Hawaii: $869,250…

Read More

Black Knight is reporting that the overall delinquency rate (representing loans 30 or more days past due, but not yet in active foreclosure) rose 3.47%  to its highest level since early 2016.  In addition, hurricane-related delinquencies represented 142,700 severely delinquent loans (20 percent of all such delinquencies nationwide). Click here to read the full report on BKFS.com.

Read More

Recently, National Apartment Expert Anthony Chara sat down with the RPOA Podcast to discuss how to increase your wealth exponentially with apartments & multi-family properties.  Chara has invested in over 1,700 units worth over $45 Million in value.  On this episode, he shares with Brian Hamrick how his apartment investments weathered the great recession, how he finds and funds his opportunities, the types of due diligence he does on the property and the market, and why its so important to know whether the city & state is tenant or landlord friendly.  He also shares the challenges he’s faced when taking…

Read More

We love top-10 lists and we love finding bargains.  In that vein, the folks over at Realtor.com recently put pen to paper to come with the most 10 most affordable U.S. metros.  To get there, they looked at the 500 largest metros in the country and then whittled it down to the top 10 with the lowest median home prices. “There are a lot of people in that first-time home-buyer group looking for starter homes, and they can’t afford it in many top metros,” says Robert Silverman, professor of urban planning at the University of Buffalo in New York. “If…

Read More

In their most recent Rent Affordability Report, ATTOM Data Solutions reported that buying a median-priced home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in 240 (54%) of the 447 U.S. counties analyzed.  Interestingly, in 2017, this number was 66%.   The report looked at 50th percentile average rental data for three-bedroom properties in 2018 from HUD, along with Q2 2017 average weekly wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (most recent available) and Q4 2017 home price data from ATTOM Data Solutions publicly recorded sales deed data in 540 counties nationwide. “Although buying is still more affordable than renting…

Read More

Real estate data powerhouse HouseCanary recently said that the Mortgage Deduction is “Not A Big Deal … Except Where It Is.”  Okay…..so they took a look at  2017 loans (originated by MSA) that fell between $750k and $1 million to see how many would be impacted by the new tax reform laws. Among other things, they estimated that since buyers won’t be able to deduct at least part of their mortgage interest paid on a new home, this will lower overall affordability on homes priced between $750k and $1 million – which are considered luxury in most markets.   They also…

Read More

If you’re looking to invest in a property that is “da kine” look no further than a recent article in Honolulu Magazine about investing in the Aloha state.  As anyone who has ever been there knows, it is truly paradise….but the prices can be downright scary.  However, when you look at the appreciation potential it might be very lucrative, with the right property(s). One of the best options can be to start with a small condominium. The key is to find something that will create a positive cash flow so that your investment pays for itself. There are a lot…

Read More

The U.S. Government is reporting that privately owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,192,000.   This is 8.2% below the November’s estimate of 1,299,000 and is 6.0% lower than December 2016.  Single-family housing starts in December were at a rate of 836k, which is 11.8% lower than November.  December’s rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 352k.  Overall for 2017, there were an estimated 1,202,100 housing units started which is 2.4% higher than 2016’s figure of 1,173,800. Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally…

Read More

Everyone has their favorite way to add value to their investment and get a great return.  The folks at Keeping Current Matters recently illustrated HouseLogic’s top four home renovations for maximum ROI.  Always remember to know your market!  Happy Friday!!! “While big projects like adding a bathroom or a complete remodel of a kitchen are popular ways to increase a home’s value, something as simple as updating landscaping and curb appeal can have a quick impact on a home’s value.” Hat tip to Keeping Current Matters.

Read More

Local Market Monitor (a National REIA preferred vendor) recently released their National Economic Outlook for January, 2018 where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy. National Economic Outlook – January 2018 January 16, 2018 By: Ingo Winzer One of the bright spots of the economy is the financial sector. For the last several years jobs in finance increased at a steady pace of almost 2 percent per year; there are now almost a million more than in 2010. These are mainly well-paid jobs – over $70,000 per year – that boost the real estate market.…

Read More