Author: Brad Beckett

The latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has reported a 1.9% annual increase for June, 2025.  Their 10-City Composite posted 2.6% increase year-over-year and their 20-City Composite posted a 2.1% year-over-year increase.  They say there there is currently a decisive shift in the housing market: “June’s results mark the continuation of a decisive shift in the housing market, with national home prices rising just 1.9% year-over-year—the slowest pace since the summer of 2023…What makes this deceleration particularly noteworthy is the underlying pattern: The modest 1.9% annual gain masks significant volatility, with the first half of the…

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales dropped 0.4% in July, 2025 but were up 0.7% year over year.  The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) came in at 71.7 in July.  However, the NAR says buyers still remain hesitant: “Even with modest improvements in mortgage rates, housing affordability, and inventory, buyers still remain hesitant…Buying a home is often the most expensive purchase people will make in their lives. This means that going under contract is not a decision home buyers make quickly. Instead, people take their time to ensure…

The U.S. Government is reporting that sales of new single-family houses in July, 2025 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 656k, which is 0.6% lower than June’s revised rate and is 8.2% lower than one year ago.  The median sales price of new houses sold in July was $403,800 with an average sales price of $487,300.  There were an estimated 499k new houses for sale at the end of July representing an 9.2-month supply at the current sales rate. Click here to read the full report at the U.S. Census Bureau.

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of Summer so here’s a quick infographic from WalletHub with some interesting & updated facts about the holiday.  As always, have a Happy Friday…..and, of course, Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day Weekend!!! Source: WalletHub Hat tip to WalletHub.

According to recent NAHB analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction , 73% of all new single-family homes started in 2024 were built on slab foundations, followed by 17% with a full/partial basement and 9.2% with a crawl space.   Interestingly, the NAHB says these data show the upward trend in slab adoption, widening the gap between slabs and other foundation types.  Now you know… Click here to read the full report at the NAHB’s Eye on Housing.

On a recent episode of Omaha REIA’s “REIA Radio, hosts Owen Dashner and Ted Kaasch let it rip on the all-too-real challenges of property management – from $70K boilers and $50K sewer line descaling quotes to tenants leaving behind disaster zones and thousand-dollar make-ready bills. Sound familiar?  They don’t just vent, they offer up smart, scrappy solutions like buying an excavator to DIY a sewer line replacement and how deposit insurance helped offset major tenant damage. Click here to listen.

Do you need to own a house? A recent story in the Wall Street Journal (reposted on Realtor.com) says many older Americans have decided that they do not.  They say rising property taxes, insurance and home-repair costs (like HVAC) are prompting many people 55 and older to consider renting.  In addition they say renting offers flexibility that allows people to move if they want a change of scenery or to be closer to family.  Indeed… “I’m at a different stage in life,” says Kerr, who lives in Dogwood Commons, a rental community for people 55 and older in the Dayton,…

According to ATTOM Data’s July 2025 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, there were 26,128 residential properties with foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions) up 11% from June and up 13% from a year ago.  ATTOM says, nationwide, one in every 3,939 housing units had a foreclosure filing in July.  States with the worst foreclosure rates were Nevada (one in every 2,326 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Florida (one in every 2,420 units); Maryland (one in every 2,566 units); South Carolina (one in every 2,588 units); and Illinois (one in every 2,727 units). “July’s foreclosure activity continues to…

Once again we’re hearing it….and it doesn’t get old;  For the 12th year in a row, Gallup is reporting that more Americans prefer real estate over other long-term investment vehicles for growing wealth.  Overall, when the numbers are broken down, the numbers show that 37% prefer real estate, 23% prefer gold, 16% prefer stocks & bonds, 13% prefer CDs/bank accounts, and 5% prefer bonds and 4% prefer crypto. Click here to read the full story at Gallup.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales were up 2% in July, 2025 to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.01 million.  Total housing inventory at the end of July was 1.55 million units, up 0.6% from June and up 15.7% from one year ago.  Unsold inventory sits at a 4.6-month supply at the current sales rate with properties remaining on the market for around 28 days.  The median existing-home price for all housing types in July was $422,400 – the 25th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.  The NAR says buyers are in their best position…