Author: Brad Beckett

Director of Education & Outreach, National Real Estate Investors Association

According to the latest Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Home Price Insights (HPI) report, price growth in July dipped to 1.4%, which is well below the 2.7% rate of inflation recorded in the CPI during that same period.  They say the 2025 spring homebuyers season ended softly, with slower price growth dominating the narrative and potentially opening the door to more buyers. Some key points: Year-over-year price growth dipped to 1.4% in July 2025 – almost half the rate of inflation. Monthly price increases have been nominal this year. “While housing market expectations remain influenced by the availability of for-sale inventory and…

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The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in August, 2025 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,307,000, which is 8.5% lower than July’s revised number but and is 6% lower than one year ago.  August’s rate for buildings with five units or more was 403k.  Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,312,000, which is 3.7% below than July’s revised number and is 11.1% lower than one year ago.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 403k in…

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The first day of Fall is this Monday, September 22nd.  That means it’s time to start thinking about lawn-care for the upcoming cooler months and prepping for a great lawn next Spring. Today’s infographic from The Home Depot lays out exactly what needs to be done to prepare your yard for the winter months ahead so it’s in tip-top shape for the Spring….and it starts “around” labor Day.   As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!!!Hat tip to The Home Depot.

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A new report from Metropolitan Insight (MetroSight) says housing laws might be hurting the very population they aim to help.  The report addresses a critical question: Do rental housing regulations lead to higher rents?  Their analysis finds that, on average, they do, particularly for lower-income renters and residents of small multifamily properties.  There’s a lot of detailed data in here so grab some coffee beforehand. This study comes amid an affordability crisis that is being felt nationwide, one driven by an insufficient supply of new housing and exacerbated by restrictive zoning and permitting policies. We examined four categories of regulation:…

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When most people think of a crawlspace, they usually think of a dark place with lots of spiders and creepy things moving about.  However, residents of a condo building in Oregon saw & heard some strange activity coming from theirs.  According to a report on FOX News, a squatter had taken up residence in the crawl space going so far as to set up a bed, tv, a little fridge, lighting and of course, drugs.  The police were called and the man was arrested – after apparently living there for an extended period of time. “When deputies arrived, they noticed…

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Recent analysis from ATTOM Data took a look housing markets across the U.S. to identify those most and least susceptible to downturns.  Based on factors like home affordability, equity levels, foreclosure activity, and unemployment rates they reveal the top 10 most vulnerable U.S. housing markets by county in Q2, 2025. The housing markets are: Charlotte County, Florida Humboldt County, California Shasta County, California Butte County, California Cumberland County, New Jersey Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana Madera County, California El Dorado County, California Riverside County, California Livingston Parish, Louisiana Click here to read the full report at ATTOM.

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According to the latest ICE Mortgage Monitor, the national delinquency rate fell 8 basis points (bps) in July to 3.27%.  Cures rose by 17% in the month, but remained 9% below last year’s levels.  In addition, ICE says FHA loans remain the primary driver of stress in the market.   In July, FHA delinquencies ticked down by 5 bps, however they are still 15 bps above a year ago and now account for the majority (52%) of serious delinquencies nationwide. Click here to read the full report at ICE Mortgage Technology (formerly Black Knight).

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The Tax Foundation says states tax fuel in several ways, including sales taxes, per-gallon excise taxes collected at the pump, taxes imposed on wholesalers (which are passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices), and a variety of operational taxes, such as underground storage tank fees, that are often charged to the retailer.   To that end, they added up all different taxes & fees to calculate a total tax rate on gas for each state – see interactive map below. The gas tax is meant to function as a user fee charging drivers to fund the construction and maintenance…

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% in August, 2025.  The all items index was up 2.9% for the 12 months ending in August.  The shelter index increased 0.4% and was the primary factor in the all items monthly increase.  The index for energy rose 0.7% in August as the index for gasoline increased 1.9% over the month. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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What are the most common job types in every state?  You might take a wild guess, but there’s a good chance you’d be wrong and surprised – especially you compare it with 1998.  Today’s graphic from the folks over at the Visual Capitalist took at the most common job types in 1998 and compared them to 2024.  As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the Visual Capitalist.

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