Author: Brad Beckett

Local Market Monitor (a National REIA preferred vendor) recently released their National Economic Outlook for April, 2017 where they share their thoughts on developments in some of the important subsectors of the U.S. economy. National Economic Outlook – April 2017 April 13, 2017 By: Ingo Winzer Because the government reports such detailed statistics about the economy, we can think of developments in some subsectors as leading indicators of what will happen with the overall economy in the near future. For example, we closely watch the number of jobs in truck transport and temporary help because we think these are quickly…

It is a commonly held belief that a component of the American Dream is homeownership.  As we’ve recently seen, America’s homeownership rate is hovering around 63%.  And, we know that while owning a home is a great investment it also isn’t for everyone.  To that end, the folks over at NerdWallet set out to find out how much more does it cost to own versus rent in all 50 states.  To discover this monthly “homeownership premium” (the additional cost of owning instead of renting, expressed as a percentage), NerdWallet compared 2015 American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau…

According to a new report from FreddieMac, more renters feel better about their finances, like where they are living and view renting favorably.  The report, “Profile of Today’s Renter,” suggests that while finances are better today, renters are comfortable with continuing to rent, with a majority expecting their rent will stay the same in the next 12 months while many are more uncertain about owning.  Millennials say renting is a good choice for now, and are also to stay renting.  Only four in ten Millennial renters indicate a move in the short-term is likely.  Data in the report is from…

Last month we posted some very interesting data showing that the average American household pays $2,149 annually in property taxes.  But what are the actual property tax rates in our 50 states?  That’s a good question that GOBankingRates has set out to answer.  Their numbers reflect the average tax rates for each state.  Keep in mind that the effective tax rate will, of course, vary depending on a host of  factors including value and local political jurisdiction.  The highest states?  New Jersey (2.38%), Illinois (2.32%) and New Hampshire (2.15%) top the list.  The bottom three?  Hawaii (.28%), Alabama (.43%) and…

House Hacking;  the name itself conjures up images of someone with a computer doing something to a house that they probably shouldn’t. However, it’s not that at all.  Basically, it’s as simple as buying a home that you live in while renting part of it out (think duplex) so that a significant portion of your mortgage (if not all) gets paid by someone else.  If you’ve ever wondered what House Hacking is all about, or why it makes sense, this is the episode you don’t want to miss.  RPOA’s expert panel (from their Annual Conference) will talk you through every…

According to the latest Yardi Matrix, multifamily rents posted solid gains in March to an average of $1,312, which is 2.7% higher than one year ago.  The Matrix Monthly is comprised of data gleaned from 121 markets covered by Yardi Matrix. While it is no doubt good to see rents go up again, March’s numbers don’t change our basic view of the market. We have forecast rents to moderate from the unsustainably high levels they reached at times in 2015 and 2016, but at the same time supply/demand fundamentals are healthy in most markets, and rents should rise in the…

Forbes is reporting that Airbnb has asked McKinsey & Company to research the long-term rental business and report back in May about its viability for their possible entry.  They report that it would mark an entry by the firm into arena currently dominated by Craigslist and would put them squarely into one targeting temporary workers relocating across the country.  Obviously, they smell an opportunity…. Click here to read the full story on Forbes.

Spring fever: Tips to tidy up for tenants By Lance Allen, Merchant-Cleaning, The Home Depot Spring is a popular time for tenants to move out of rental homes and the perfect time for owners to upgrade and refresh investment properties. Here are tips and techniques that will help you get your properties ready for the rest of the year. Update cleaning equipment While cleaning supplies may not seem like a market rife with innovation, products like the Rubbermaid Maximizer Looped-End Mop feature new technology to help you move faster. The mop provides 30 percent more coverage and weighs 25 percent…

Have you or your group set aside time to give back to your community?  Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, has announced that the week of April 23-29 as National Volunteer Week.  The annual event was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each year with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week.  National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about in their community. Their stories can serve to inspire others to find ways to…

Let’s face it…cybercrime is a real concern of everyday life here in America.  Whether it’s a thief putting a skimmer on a gas pump or someone hacking into your email because your password was 123456, we all need to be aware and concerned (and if your email password is that simple change it right now).  The folks over at Hotspot Shield put together this useful infographic reminding us about the importance of not only being aware, but understanding any potential vulnerabilities your data may have and some simple steps to protect yourself.  Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to Hotspot Shield.