Author: Brad Beckett

WalletHub says the average American can expect to move an estimated 12 times in a lifetime.  They say moving can be a sign of opportunity, prompted by a new job or long-term wealth accumulation, but people may also move because of instability such as foreclosure or job loss.  With that in mind, they compared over 180 U.S. cities on 45 key family-friendly metrics (such as the cost of housing, the quality of local school and health-care systems, and the opportunities for fun and recreation) to come up with their list of the best & worst places to raise a family.…

According to the latest ICE Mortgage Monitor (formerly Black Knight), the national delinquency rate eased to 3.09% in April, a 22 basis point improvement over last year.  In addition, they report that delinquencies fell to their lowest level since the record low of March 2023.  The ICE Mortgage Monitor provides a view of the current mortgage market, including loan-level performance, home price trends data, secondary market metrics and public records. “Continued improvement in April led to the fewest serious delinquencies in more than 18 years, while the number of loans in active foreclosure fell to its lowest level in more…

According to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Insights (HPI) report, home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased year over year by 5.3% in April, 2024 – the same as March.  Howevr, CoreLogic prodecits that by Spring 2025, national price gains are projected to slow to 3.4%, with only a few states putting up increases of higher than 6%.  Indeed… “Home price growth continues to slow, as a comparison with a strong 2023 spring is still impacting year-over-year differences…Nevertheless, the April uptick in mortgage rates to this year’s high has cooled some of the typical spring homebuyer demand, which pulled monthly…

Louisiana recently joined the ranks of several states attacking the growing problem of squatters.  According to KALB-TV, the Louisiana Squatter Prevention Act could make the process for adverse possession more difficult. The new law changes the present definition of simple burglary to include squatting, so long as the squatter intends to claim the property.  Under the new law squatters could be charged with simple burglary, which incurs a penalty of up to a $2,500 fine, 12 years in prison or both.  The legislation was signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry and takes effect on August 1, 2024. “This is…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3% in May, 2024 (same as April).  The all items index was up 3.3% for the 12 months ending in May.  The index for shelter rose in May, up 0.4% for the fourth  consecutive month. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This Sunday, June 16th is Father’s Day and what better way to celebrate than to help Dad build the ultimate Man Cave….Today’s infographic from the Home Depot breaks it down for us….As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the Home Depot!

According to the latest Yardi Matrix Multifamily Report, the average U.S. multifamily rent was $1,733 (up $6) in May, 2024.  Year-over-year growth was unchanged at 0.6%.  Yardi says May’s multifamily performance was a mixed bag, reflecting the balance of conditions in the market.  Indeed… “Rents are rising seasonally, but the 1.0% year-to-date increase is about half of the average growth rate for the five years before the pandemic.” Click here to read the full report at Yardi.

On a recent episode of the Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast, Brian Hamrick talks with Ryan Chaw, who became a millionaire at the age of 28 by cracking the code on student housing.  Ryan figured out how to double and triple his rental income with his co-living and student housing investment model while working a full-time job.  Now, after acquiring fifteen properties he has been able to fully replace his pharmacist’s salary with his rental cash flow. Click here to listen online.

According to Apartment List’s National Rent Report for June 2024, national median rent rose 0.5% to $1,404.  They say this is typically the time of year when rent growth is accelerating amid the busy moving season, so sluggish growth this month indicates that the market is headed for another slow summer.  Indeed… “Since the second half of 2022, seasonal declines have been steeper than usual and seasonal increases have been more mild. As a result, apartments are on average slightly cheaper today than they were one year ago. ” Click here to read the full report at Apartment List.

A recent article from the Land Title Association (ALTA) says fraud & forgery claims represent 21% of the total dollars spent by title insurers on claims expense and losses, with an average claim cost of over $143k.  The data comes from an analysis by global consulting and actuarial firm Milliman that also found nearly 30% of title insurers’ losses and claims expenses arose from title problems not discoverable from a public records search. “The evidence is clear: expert title professionals do so much more than just scan public records or push a button to secure property rights…With the cost of…