Author: Brad Beckett

A new report from Rentcafe says the wave of adaptive reuse projects is accelerating at a record pace.  In 2024 the number of apartments resulting from converted buildings came in around 25k – which is 50% more than the units delivered the year before and double the figures from 2022.  In addition they say there are nearly 181,000 apartments now being converted, mostly from office space. Some key takeaways: Chicago replaced Manhattan as the top city for apartments from repurposed buildings, but the New York City borough leads in office conversions. Hotels were, once again, the top category for adaptive…

Rental information site Zumper recently released their latest monthly National Rent Report for October, 2025.  According to their data, median rent for 1-bedroom apartments was $1511 (down 0.4%) and $1888 (down 0.3%) for two-bedrooms. Be sure to check out their list of their top 100 metro areas. “With the rental market now entering the seasonally slower months, a clearer picture of the sector’s trajectory may not emerge until the spring leasing season begins…Until then, the interplay between abundant supply, cautious consumer behavior, and economic uncertainty will continue to define market conditions.”  Said Zumper CEO Anthemos Georgiades. Click here to read…

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales saw no change in September, 2025 but were down 0.9% year over year.  The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) came in at 74.8 in September.  The Realtors say that inventory has risen to a 5-year high, which is something that has been consternation for some time. “Inventory has climbed to a five-year high, giving home buyers more options and room for price negotiation…Looking ahead, mortgage rates are trending toward three-year lows, which should further improve affordability, though the government shutdown could temporarily slow…

Today is Halloween – also known as “All Hallows’ Eve” and tonight will entail scary creatures begging for various candy and other creepy things.  A recent graphic from the still-shuttered U.S. Census Bureau identifies those places across the nation with some SPOOKY-SOUNDING names….  Stay safe, have a Happy Halloween and as always have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the U.S. Census Bureau.

A recent article by Realtor.com says landlords with 1 to 50 properties control 95% of all investor inventory, confirming that rental housing remains largely an entrepreneurial activity rather than a corporate one.  They say even in states with the highest rates of investor ownership, it’s not institutional buyers driving the trend.  In addition, they say over 90% of investor-owned homes in the U.S. belong to small landlords with fewer than 11 properties.  Small landlords in the states of Maine (31.1%), Montana (31%), Alaska (27.2%), and Hawaii (26%) hold the largest share of investor-owned homes in the country with the overwhelming…

Zillow says for some, Halloween is more than just one night of the year – it’s a way of life.  To that end, they have identified 13 “boo-tiful” towns where residents embrace spooky seasonal traditions all year around.  The cities range from cobblestone streets lined with trees draped in Spanish moss to hillside ghost towns with legendary tales, each offering more than just a good scare. In addition, Zillow says they’re wonderful places to call home and shares the typical home value & rent in each location. “Halloween has always been about bringing people together, from trick-or-treating to parades…These towns embrace…

According to the National Apartment Association, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced a delay to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME): Updates & Streamlining Final Rule, which would impose ten new federally-mandated landlord-tenant requirements for covered housing. The initial rule, which was published on January 6, 2025, and set to take effect on February 5, was originally delayed to maintain consistency with President Trump’s memorandum, “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review.” In addition, the NAA says due to the uncertainty surrounding the resolution of the shutdown, the implementation of this rule has been pushed back further to April…

According to the latest Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI), U.S. single-family home rental prices increased 1.4% year over year in August, 2025.  In addition, rent in both high-end and low-end price tiers climbed just slightly year over year. “Annual single-family rent growth fell to its lowest level in more than 15 years this August, highlighting a notable shift in the rental market…We’re seeing slower growth across price tiers and in many major metros. That said, not all areas are following the same pattern…”  Said Molly Boesel, Cotality Senior Principal Economist.  Click here to read the full report at…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3% in September, 2025.  The all items index was up 3% for the 12 months ending in September.  The index for gasoline rose 4.1% in September and was the largest factor in the all items monthly increase.  In addition, the BLS pointed out that September’s CPI data was completed before the current Senate-induced government shutdown. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales were up 1.5% in September, 2025 to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million.  Total housing inventory at the end of September was 1.55 million units, down 1.3% from August but up 14% 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 33 days.  The median existing-home price for all housing types in September was $415,200 – the 27th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.  The NAR says inventory is at a 5-year high…