Local Market Monitor recently released their monthly National Economic Outlook where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy. “…the numbers strongly suggest that job growth during the rest of this year and into 2027 will be zero or negative…Part of the reason is the slashing of the federal workforce, where 300,000 jobs have been eliminated, the accelerated effort to deport illegal immigrants, and policies that discourage legal immigration.” Click here to read more at Local Market Monitor.
Author: Brad Beckett
Brad Beckett
Director of Education & Outreach, National Real Estate Investors Association
According to ATTOM Data’s January 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report there were 40,534 residential properties with foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions) down 11% from December and up 32% from a year ago. ATTOM says, nationwide, one in every 3,547 housing units had a foreclosure filing in January 2026. States with the worst foreclosure rates were Delaware (one in every 1,612 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Nevada (one in every 1,983 housing units); Florida (one in every 2,067 housing units); South Carolina (one in every 2,351 housing units); and Maryland (one in every 2,430 housing units).…
On a recent episode of the AZREIA Show, Marcus Maloney & Michael Del Prete sit down with the dynamic real estate duo, Janet and Gabby Avila, famously known as “The Flipping Sisters,” to dive into their journey from traditional house flips to stunning luxury properties in the Arizona market. Janet & Gabby share how they’ve turned their passion for design and strategy into a highly profitable real estate business, revealing the secrets behind sourcing the right deals, funding projects, and managing every step of the flipping process. “…how to define your “buy box,” and the importance of knowing your numbers…balance…
According to the Winter 2026 Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Luxury Housing Market Ranking, Detroit hangs on to the top spot followed by St. Louis. They say this quarter’s luxury housing market leaderboard reinforces a theme that the top-performing luxury markets are not defined by price alone – they are defined by balance. Markets that pair livability and economic durability with workable supply and demand conditions continue to rise, while some traditionally expensive locations are still competitive but face more friction on affordability and risk. Indeed… “We score 60 different luxury housing markets across the country in categories that include supply and…
According to the latest ICE Mortgage Monitor, the national delinquency rate dropped 16 basis points (bps) in December 2025, landing at 3.68% after November’s calendar-related spike. They say while early-stage delinquencies improved, 90-day+-delinquencies rose by 30k and are at their highest point in nearly three years – and 19K more than last year. In addition, December alone saw 40k foreclosure starts, the 3rd highest monthly tally of the year, with activity picking up noticeably in the final months of 2025. Click here to read the full report at ICE Mortgage Technology (formerly Black Knight).
The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales were down 0.8% in January and were down 0.4% year over year. The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) came in at 70.9 in January. They say inventory continues to be an issue but there are positive signs on the horizon: “Unless housing supply increases, these additional potential buyers becoming active in the market could simply push up home prices. This will put increasing pressure on affordability, which is why it is critical to increase supply by building more homes. Fortunately, the House…
The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in December, 2025 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,404,000, which is 6.2% higher than November’s revised number but is 7.3% lower than one year ago. December’s rate for buildings with five units or more was 402k. Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,448,000, which is 4.3% above than November’s revised number and is 2.2% lower than one year ago. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 515k in December.…
What are the most reliable car brands as we head into 2026? Today’s graphic from the Visual Capitalist ranks the most reliable new & used car brands using data from the venerable Consumer Reports. Be sure to check out their entire list. As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! “The reliability of car brands can vary widely, and those differences—especially between new and used models—can cost owners thousands in repairs and upgrades over a vehicle’s lifetime.” Hat tip to the Visual Capitalist.
A new report from the Census Bureau says U.S. population growth slowed sharply between July 2024 and July 2025, rising by just 1.8 million people, or 0.5%. This marks the slowest growth since the early COVID-19 years and follows a strong rebound in 2024, when population increased by 3.2 million, or 1%, the fastest rate since 2006. They say the primary cause was a steep drop in net international migration, which fell from 2.7 million to 1.3 million. Births and deaths remained relatively stable. In addition, they point out that slower population growth was felt across the country with all…
According to ATTOM’s Year-End 2025 U.S. Home Sales Report 3.9 million homes were sold in 2025, with a record national median price of $360k,- up 2.6% from 2024 and 39% from 2020. They say despite rising prices, seller profits declined with the typical home generating $118,710 in gross profit and a 49% return, down from 55% in 2024. Institutional investors accounted for 6.6% of sales, steady from 2024 but below pandemic peaks. Prices rose in 80.5% of major metros, led by Birmingham, Syracuse, Toledo, Rochester, and Dayton. In addition, sales of foreclosed homes to lenders (REOs) accounted for 1.3% of…
