Author: Brad Beckett

A new policy from Airbnb has banned indoor surveillance cameras in their listings.  According to a media release, Airbnb is banning the use of indoor security cameras as part of their efforts to simplify policies on security cameras and other devices and to continue to prioritize the privacy of their community.  However, devices such as doorbell cameras and noise decibel monitors will still be permitted.  Airbnb says these can be an effective, privacy-protective way for hosts to monitor security issues like unauthorized parties.  The new policy will take effect on April 30, 2024. “Our goal was to create new, clear…

According to the latest Yardi Matrix Multifamily Report, the average U.S. multifamily rent was $1,713 in February, 2024.  Interestingly, Yardi says demand has remained healthy throughout the period that rents have been flat.  Indeed… “Multifamily rents rose by $1 nationally in February and are basically at the same level as 18 months ago. The stability on the surface belies a host of changing trends that are keys to determining the direction the market takes from here.” Click here to read the full report at Yardi.

We’ve been covering this issue over the past few years…now comes a major development:  Various news outlets are reporting that the National Association of Realtors announced that a settlement has been reached ending litigation claims brought on behalf of home sellers related to broker commissions.  Under the terms of the settlement, the NAR agreed to pay $418 million and it resolves claims against NAR, over one million NAR members, all state/territorial and local REALTOR associations, all association-owned MLSs, and all brokerages with an NAR member as principal that had a residential transaction volume in 2022 of $2 billion or below. …

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% in February, 2024.  The all items index was up 3.2% for the 12 months ending in February.  Interestingly, the index for shelter & gasoline both rose and, when combined, contribute over 60% of the monthly increase in the index for all items. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This Tuesday, March 19th, is the first day of Spring!  That means now is a great time to start thinking about your property’s landscaping.  Whether it’s a rental or a new flip, a good-looking lawn will always add value and improve curb appeal!  The folks over at The Home Depot put together this handy infographic with some Spring fertilization tips to help make your lawn look great…..As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Did you know….Members of National REIA receive a 2% biannual rebate, 20% off interior & exterior paints & primers, volume pricing, access to an exclusive…

Recent analysis from the NAHB’s Eye on Housing reveals young adults living with their parents, by state and percentage.  Interestingly, they do point out that young adults ages 25-34 continued their post-pandemic trend of moving out of parental homes with the share of those living with parents or parents-in-law dropping to 19.1% in 2022.  However as the chart below shows, the South & coastal areas seem to have the highest share of young adults living at home. “…data reveals substantial differences across states, with the Southern and Northeastern states registering some of the highest shares of young adults remaining in parental…

On a recent episode of the Rent Perfect podcast David Pickron says there are few things that landlords hate more than having to process and eviction – the headache and cost of these unfortunate incidents always affect their bottom line. Rent Perfect President David Pickron and Legal Counsel Denny Dobbins share their insights on what causes evictions and how to avoid them. Click here to listen on Spotify.

According to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Insights (HPI) report, home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased year over year by 5.8% in January 2024, which they say might be the highest rate of appreciation expected this year.  CoreLogic says annual home price growth is projected to slow to 2.6% by January, 2025.  The states of Rhode Island, New Jersey and Connecticut took the top three spots for annual home price gains for the fourth consecutive month. “U.S. annual home price growth strengthened to 5.8% in January 2024…And while the acceleration continues to reflect the residual impact of strong appreciation…

According to recent data from the Tax Foundation individual income taxes are a major source of state government revenue, and account for roughly 38% of state tax collections with forty-three states (and D.C.) levying individual income taxes.  As you can imagine, there is no one size fits all when it comes to how each state levies taxes: “States’ approaches to income taxes vary in other details as well. Some states double their single-filer bracket widths for married filers to avoid imposing a “marriage penalty.” Some states index tax brackets, exemptions, and deductions for inflation, while many others do not. Some…

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 275k, in February 2024.  The unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.9% in February, with the number of unemployed people increasing by 334k,to 6.5 million.  Once again, employment in the government sector continued its rise adding 52k jobs in February. Click here to read the full report at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.