Author: Brad Beckett

A recent article in the Washington Post poses an interesting question that they say, traditionally, has had an easy answer;  Do single-family detached homes appreciate faster than condominiums?  Using new data provided by Trulia, they suggest that old assumptions might be giving way to changing market trends.  According to the data, between February 2012 and February 2017, median condo values rose 38.4% while single family detached homes only rose 27.9%. In other words, condos are (or seem to be) appreciating faster.  Predictably, the Post also reports that the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders disagree…

According to new data released by the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales in March were at their highest pace in a decade, with the average price coming in at $236,400 – up 6.8% from one year ago!  March’s gains also mark the 61st consecutive month of year-over-year increases.  Total existing-home sales (completed transactions of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops), climbed 4.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.71 million in March. March’s sales pace was 5.9% above a year ago.  March also saw the strongest month of sales since February, 2007.  Total housing inventory at the…

If you’ve read anything about short-term rentals and New York City you’ve discovered that the Big Apple is probably not the friendliest place (regulatory-wise) to begin your Airbnb foray.  However, a recent New York Times article digs deeper into this growing segment of the sharing-economy to show how, for some hosts, it has been profitable enough to replace their income. “Airbnb helps thousands of New Yorkers get by in an increasingly expensive city,” he said. “Unfortunately, the current law groups responsible New Yorkers, who occasionally share their own home, with illegal hotels that remove permanent housing from the market.”  Said…

We’ve said it before; Drones are hot…and they’re not the radio-controlled toys you might remember from your childhood.  A recent item on FOX News says that drones are taking the real estate industry to new heights.   What investor hasn’t used Google Earth or Maps to check out the nuances from above? Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com “Whether you’re buying or selling, drones provide not only a unique view of the property, but they also allow the buyer to view the surrounding area and gain a bit of perspective on how the property fits into the landscape,”  said Tom England,…

So, earlier this week we posted that vacation home sales were down 21% in 2016.  Today’s infographic from the National Association of Realtors takes a look at just who is buying those investment & vacation homes, their location, and what size & how much.  Happy Friday! Click here to read more.

A dilapidated house in Oakland, CA dating from 1905, with rotting wood, peeling paint and, oh by the way, just happens to be located in an up-and-coming trendy neighborhood, just sold for $755k – over a quarter million dollars over its asking price!  According to the SFGate, people were lined up out the door during the open house for this one-bedroom, two-bath bungalow.  Apparently the owner purchased the home in the 70’s but hasn’t lived there in decades.  Investors, take note…. “At least 200 people came through,” Juskys said. “There was a little boy down the street who opened up…

Apartment data provider Axiometrics predicts that annual effective rent growth in 2017 will match the long-term average, however they say performance will strengthen in 2018 & 2019.  Their latest forecast estimates an average rent growth of 2.3% this year, equaling the average rate from 1995-2016 and actually 10 basis points (bps) higher than their previous forecast.  This slight increase also comes in the wake of a predicted fall in the job-growth rate to 1.4%, with 2.01 million jobs added to the workforce in 2017. Their key takeaways: While average effective rent growth will hit a recent low of 2.3% this…

Is a lack of having a down payment holding back renters from buying a home?  A new survey from Zillow found that nearly 70% of renters in 20 U.S. metros said that was the case.  When you consider that the U.S. homeownership rate hovering near an all-time low, rents at record highs, and mortgage payments cheaper than rent in all but two of the 35 largest U.S. metros, the findings certainly seem to make sense.  Zillow’s Housing Aspirations Report (ZHAR) also found that: Millennial renters are more confident than any other generation that they will be able to afford a…

The U.S. Government is reporting that housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,215,000. This number is 6.8% below February’s  estimate but is 9.2% higher than March 2016.  Single-family housing starts in March were at a rate of 821,000, which 6.2% lower than  February.  The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 385k.  Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,260,000. This is 3.6% higher than February and is 17.0% higher than one year ago.  Single-family authorizations in March were…

The student housing market can be one of the most lucrative markets an investor can enter, if they know how to identify the right opportunities.  Recently, on her Real Estate News for Investors podcast, Kathy Fettke discussed those opportunities and why real estate investors would be wise to pay attention. “If you’re building out your real estate portfolio as a hedge against the next recession, you may want to think “student housing.” A new report says a record number of Millennials are pursuing college and will likely continue straight through any downturn.” Click here to hear more of Kathy’s podcasts…