Author: Brad Beckett

A recent report from Redfin says over 40k U.S. home-purchase agreements were canceled in December, representing 16.3% of homes under contract – the highest December cancellation rate since 2017, up from 14.9% a year earlier.  Cancellations were most common in Atlanta (22.5%), Jacksonville (20.6%), and San Antonio (20.6%), and least common in Nassau County (3.8%), San Francisco (4.2%), and San Jose (8.9%). “High housing costs and rising inventory have made homebuyers more selective…Home sellers outnumber buyers by a record margin, meaning the buyers who are in the market have options and may walk away if they believe they can find…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis in January.  Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.4% before seasonal adjustment.  The index for shelter rose 0.2% in January and was the largest factor in the all items monthly increase.  The increases were partially offset by the index for energy, which fell 1.5% in January. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Rental Housing Journal is reporting that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking for authority to set rules and regulate fees in the rental housing market.  According to the report, the FTC is planning a “significant regulatory action” and must undergo review before the FTC can issue it, according to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget.  In a prepared statement, FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said: “To that end, we will be soliciting public comment on the need for a new rule to prevent the imposition of deceptive or unfair fees…

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales were down 8.4% in January, 2026 to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million.  Total housing inventory at the end of January was 1.22 million units, down 0.8.% from December but up 3.4% from one year ago.  Unsold inventory sits at a 3.7-month supply at the current sales rate.  The median existing-home price for all housing types in January was $396,800 – the 31st consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.  The NAR says inventory continues to be an issue: “Due to low supply, the median home price reached a…

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 130,000 in January, 2026 with the unemployment rate coming in at 4.3%.  In addition, the report says Job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, and construction.  The federal government continued to lose jobs – since reaching a peak in October 2024, federal government employment is down by 327k, or 10.9%. Click here to read the full report at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Saturday, February 14th is Valentine’s day and with that in mind is WalletHub reminding folks that finding love can be challenging.  They say while everyone values different things when it comes to dating, some places naturally make it easier to meet and connect with others.  To that end, WalletHub looked at all 50 states across 29 key indicators of dating-friendliness to come up with their list of the best & worst states for singles…Stay Safe and have a Happy Friday and Valentine’s Day!!! According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just over 49% of the U.S. population aged 15 and older…

Once again the Tax Foundation has published their annual list of sales taxes in each state.  Sales taxes are a form of taxation that truly affects every person…it’s the classic consumption tax. The Tax Foundation says these type of taxes are generally considered more pro-growth than income taxes because they introduce fewer economic distortions. Keep in mind, too, that some states like Tennessee have high sales taxes but no individual income tax.  However, Oregon has no sales tax but levies high income taxes. State and local governments should be cautious about raising rates too high relative to their neighbors because…

According to the latest Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI), home prices rose 0.6% in November, 2025.  In addition, prices were up 1.9% from November 2024 to November 2025.  The FHFA HPI is the nation’s only collection of public, freely available house price indexes that measure changes in single-family home values based on data from all 50 states and over 400 American cities that extend back to the mid-1970s. Click here to read the full report at the FHFA.

On a recent episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke says rising home prices, affordability challenges, and limited inventory are pushing many would-be buyers to the sidelines, while confidence in the real estate market continues to weaken.  She discusses a new survey that reveals a growing pessimism among Americans about the future of homeownership. According to data from IPX1031, 62% of Americans say buying a home in 2026 feels unrealistic, up sharply from last year. Kathy Fettke breaks down what’s driving the affordability crisis, why demand for rental housing remains strong, and why responsible landlords play a critical…

Rental information site Zumper recently released their latest monthly National Rent Report for January, 2026.  According to their data, median rent for 1-bedroom apartments was $1503 (down 0.1%) and $1879 (up 0.2%) for two-bedrooms. Be sure to check out their list of the 100 top metros. “The U.S. rental market is largely frozen right now, caught between elevated economic uncertainty and the normal seasonal slowdown we see in the winter months…While new supply deliveries are set to ease in 2026, any rebound in rents is unlikely to be uniform. Markets that have already worked through excess inventory may see a…