Author: Brad Beckett

The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in August, 2026 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,275,000, which is 2.6% lower than July’s revised number and is 1.2% lower than one year ago.  August’s rate for buildings with five units or more was 344k.  Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,433,000, which is 2.7% lower than July’s revised number and is 3.5% higher than one year ago.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 467k in August.…

On a recent episode of the AZREIA Show, host Michael Jeremy Holden sits down with Benjamin Xiu of Lily Cleaning, an Airbnb-focused cleaning company serving Phoenix-area hosts. Ben explains how STR turnovers differ from traditional residential cleaning and why cleaners are a host’s first line of defense when it comes to guest experience, damage detection, and maintaining five-star reviews. They break down the systems, standards, and communication needed to deliver consistent results on every turnover. “Whether you manage one Airbnb or multiple short-term rentals, this episode offers practical strategies for building a cleaning operation that protects your property and improves…

Citing data from the FHFA, the NAHB’s Eye on Housing says U.S. home prices continued to climb in Q2 2026, rising 2.1% year over year, up slightly from Q1.  They say high borrowing costs and affordability challenges remain headwinds, but limited housing supply (especially in parts of the Midwest and Northeast) continues to support prices.  Leading the climb was Alaska with prices rising 8.3% from a year ago, followed by Vermont with a 7.3% increase. Interestingly, California, Colorado, Washington and New Mexico all saw decreases.  Be sure to check out their interactive chart shown below. Click here to read the…

A recent report in the Wall Street Journal (reposted on Realtor.com) says a New York State judge questioned whether NYC landlords can prove their claim that the city’s Rent Guidelines Board used a “sham process” to enact Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s promised rent freeze. Landlords are seeking to overturn the freeze, arguing that Mamdani improperly influenced the supposedly independent board and that his appointees cherry-picked data to achieve his desired outcome. Now more than nine months into Mayor Mamdani’s first term, opponents are fighting back with lawsuits to challenge his major policies like the rent freeze and a new tax on…

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales were up 0.3% in August but were down 4.7% year over year.  The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) came in at 71.2 in August. Month-over-month sales increased in the South and West but declined in the Northeast and Midwest. Year-over-year sales declined in all four major U.S. regions. “Buyers steadily entered into contracts in August even though mortgage rates increased…However, the housing market is still sluggish, with contract signings below last year. This is due to higher mortgage rates offsetting the increased…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in August.  Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.4% before seasonal adjustment.  The index for gasoline rose 3.9% in August, accounting for over one third of the monthly all items  increase.  The shelter index rose 0.3%. Click here to read the full release at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The first day of Fall is Tuesday, September 22nd.  That means it’s time to start thinking about lawn-care for the upcoming cooler months and prepping for a great lawn next Spring. Today’s infographic from The Home Depot lays out exactly what needs to be done to prepare your yard for the winter months ahead so it’s in tip-top shape for the Spring….and it starts “around” labor Day.   As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!!! Hat tip to The Home Depot.

Denver Colorado TV Station KMGH (Denver7) is reporting that a serial squatter, that records show was evicted dozens of times in Colorado and Texas over last 25 years, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Dallas following a fraud conviction last month. According to the report, Heather Ruybal, aka Heather Schwab, was convicted of using her father’s identity to rent a home without paying while the landlord who rented to her later lost the property due to the resulting financial hardship.  The squatter was reportedly so familiar with the eviction process that it took months to remove her.  Be…

A recent HousingWire Chart of the Day illustrates the national single family housing inventory over the last 5 years.  Their data show inventory is currently up 2.21% year over year.

According to the latest Yardi Matrix Multifamily Report, average multifamily advertised rents rose $2 to $1,773 in August, with year-over-year growth increasing 0.4%.  The national occupancy rate was unchanged at 94.2%, a 0.5% decline year-over year.  In addition, Yardi says August also marked the first monthly increase in several years, although the gain was still below those achieved before the pandemic. Economic uncertainty remains the primary risk to this improving outlook. U.S.–Canada trade tensions escalated in August, with new tariffs and retaliatory measures set to affect billions of dollars of cross-border goods. Meanwhile, the U.S. expanded sanctions against Iran’s oil,…