Author: Brad Beckett

Local Market Monitor (a National REIA preferred vendor) recently released their National Economic Outlook for October, 2017 where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy. National Economic Outlook – November 2017 November 14, 2017 By: Ingo Winzer Local data for October aren’t available yet, but the overall effect of the hurricanes in Texas and Florida on jobs will probably be transient. Overall, jobs in the US in October were up 1.4 percent from last year, up from 1.2 percent in September and in line with previous months. This doesn’t mean the affected local markets will…

You may have heard about Vinyl records making a big comeback, but did you know that according to recent data from the Census Bureau vinyl is the most widely used primary exterior on new homes?  Indeed,  the NAHB’s Eye on Housing blog says that vinyl (including vinyl-covered aluminum) was the most common primary exterior wall material on new single-family homes started in 2016, followed by stucco, brick or brick veneer, fiber cement siding (like Hardiplank or Hardiboard) and then at the bottom with wood, stone, rock or other stone materials. Click here to read the full story.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (and posted on Realtor.com) says Rising homeownership among millennials is affecting the rental market, which has declined after a long run over the past 7 years.  In fact, they cite Homeownership rising to its highest levels since 2014 which is causing analysts & investors to wonder whether the good times might be over for the rental market. “For most of the current economic expansion, declining ownership rates have enabled landlords of apartments and single-family homes to raise rents far faster than the pace of inflation. Demand has been fueled by…

Legitimate service animals can be an incredible game-changer for people with disabilities and a serious issue for landlords, however a recent article from USA Today discusses the growing problem of people using fake service animals  to get preferential treatment or some other self-centered desire.  According to the report, 19 states (so far) have enacted laws cracking down on people who attempt to pass off their regular pets as service animals. “People who pass off their dogs as service animals in order to take them into stores, restaurants, libraries, sporting events and offices are a real problem, he said, for the…

A recent National Public Radio (NPR) story discussed the flooding damage caused to homes by Hurricane Harvey and how many frustrated homeowners are eager to sell for various reasons including lack of flood insurance and overwhelming mortgages.  They point out, too, that and real estate agents and investors from around the country are purchasing these homes and making the necessary repairs & improvements that are helping to rebuild these communities.  The story features members of Houston’s RICH Club, the local chapter of National REIA.  It’s a good little piece and a reminder that real estate investors are often in the…

What are the best 10 cities in America for infrastructure?  Leave it to the folks at Realtor.com to put pen to paper to find out.  They looked at the largest 150 metros across the country and rated them such items as; Percentage of roads in “good” or “fair” condition (who doesn’t hate potholes?), percentage of bridges that are “structurally deficient,” public transit, airports, bike friendliness, and per capita government spending on various forms of infrastructure. “…How the heck are you going to get to work, or to the grocery store? Is the water drinkable? Are potholes turning into sinkholes, prompting…

November 11th is Veterans Day… Here’s a little history about this important day;  In 1918, the armistice of the First World War officially took effect on the 11th day, of the 11th month, at the 11th hour.  The following year President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th as Armistice Day.   It would later become a holiday to honor veterans of World War I and then not to long after World War II, all American Veterans.  Finally, in 1954, it was renamed “Veterans Day” to honor all American veterans who served in times of war and peace.  Click here for some statistics…

ATTOM Data Solutions recently released its Q3 2017 Single Family Rental Market report identifying the top 25 U.S. zip codes for buying single family rental homes based on potential rental yields, cash flow, vacancy rates, appreciation, population growth, neighborhood quality, and average property age.  The report analyzed SFR market data from nearly 5k zip codes and over 400 counties where they found, among other things, that the top zip codes for buying single family rentals in were in Atlanta, Houston, Central Florida, and Dallas.  See interactive chart below to zero-in. “This top 25 list includes zip codes that not only…

We recently posted about a new report saying that more people are choosing to rent rather than buy.  With that in mind, in Trulia’s latest Rent vs. Buy Report they have an interesting twist;  They examined the discount of renting with a roommate and what that means in terms whether or not buying a starter home is a better financial decision.  Their answer?  It depends on where you live. “Since we started keeping track in 2012, it’s been a better deal to buy than rent in America’s largest housing markets – and for much of that time it hasn’t been…

Are Lower Bids better than Higher Bids? by Larry Goins Every investor knows that you need to get a good price on something if you want to make a profit.  This is such common knowledge it seems strange that so many investors are afraid of making low offers.  In my experience, low offers are always the best.  They might not be accepted every time but they are the source of my best deals.  I’ll tell you why. One of the things that I have learned is that the lower the price of the property the lower percentage of list price…