Author: Brad Beckett

The latest S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has reported a 1.3% annual increase for September, 2025.  Their 10-City Composite posted 2% increase year-over-year and their 20-City Composite posted a 1.4% year-over-year increase.  They say with inflation outpaced home prices for a 4th straight month the housing market’s deceleration accelerated in September. “The housing market’s deceleration accelerated in September, with the National Composite posting just a 1.3% annual gain—the weakest performance since mid-2023…This marks a continued slide from August’s 1.4% increase and represents a stark contrast to the double-digit gains that characterized the early post-pandemic era. National…

Rental information site Zumper recently released their latest monthly National Rent Report for November, 2025.  According to their data, median rent for 1-bedroom apartments was $1501 (down 0.7%) and $1880 (down 0.4%) for two-bedrooms. Be sure to check out their list of the 100 top metros. “Our National Rent Index shows one-bedroom rent down more than 2% year-over-year, the steepest decline we’ve recorded since we started tracking national rent data…It’s a clear signal that the cooling we’re seeing isn’t just seasonal.”  Said Zumper CEO Anthemos Georgiades. Click here to read the full report at Zumper.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that pending home sales were up 4% in October, 2025 and were down 0.4% year over year.  The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index (a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings) came in at 76.3 in October. “The Midwest shined above other regions due to better affordability, while contract signings retreated in the more expensive West region…Days on the market typically lengthen from November through February, providing better negotiating power to buyers during the holiday season.”  Said the NAR’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. Click here to read the full report at the NAR.

The Visual Capitalist says that the Baby Boomer generation is arguably the richest in history, averaging $1 million in wealth per person in America.  In fact, as you can see below, this generation holds more than half of all of the country’s wealth but they make up only a fifth of the population.  As for Gen X, they account for $42.6 trillion – more than the combined $37.2 trillion held by the Silent Generation, Millennials, and Gen Z!  Indeed….As always, stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to the Visual Capitalist.

A recent article on Realtor.com says small-scale landlords continue to crowd out larger players when it comes to scouring affordable metros in search of bargains they can rent out at a healthy profit margin.  They say the investment landscape is becoming more divided between high-priced Western and coastal states and more affordable heartland states. …in more affordable Heartland states such as Michigan, Maryland, and Wisconsin, investors are zeroing in on the lower end of the housing market, sometimes paying less than half of what a typical homebuyer would. “Even as investors pull back from [COVID-19] pandemic-era activity, they’re facing fewer…

The WSJ is reporting (reposted on Realtor.com) that consumers’ moods dropped further in November, according to a monthly survey from the University of Michigan, continuing a slide that has worsened amid persistent price increases and an extended government shutdown (which ended in mid-November).  In addition, they say the survey reading is slightly above levels that sentiment sank to amid historic inflation that hit in 2022. Americans are facing down an economy with multiple pressure points. Inflation has dropped from the highs that it reached three years ago, but at 3% in September, it has now remained elevated for almost half…

In a recent editorial entitled “Seattle’s Coming Socialist Experiment,” the Washington Post says with much of the country fixated on New York City’s decision to elect as mayor a socialist with little experience, it was easy to miss that Seattle has done the same. They say that voters across the country will now get to witness two real-time experiments in radical governance.  They’re referring to Katie Wilson, who was elected Mayor of Seattle earlier this month.  The Post says that Ms. Wilson is an activist with even less experience than New York’s Zohran Mamdani and was a first-time candidate with…

Last month we posted about how White House budget director Russell Vought said he plans to close the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau(CFPB).  Now, Politico is reporting that the Trump administration has made a formal determination that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding mechanism is unlawful, which puts the controversial bureau on track to close when its existing cash runs out in the coming months.  In addition, Political says the move would leave the CFPB without money to operate starting next year unless Congress passes fresh funding for the agency – which they say is unlikely given widespread Republican opposition. “The latest…

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in September, 2025 with the unemployment rate coming in at 4.4%.  In addition, the report says employment continued to trend up in health care, food services and drinking places, and social assistance. Job losses occurred in transportation and warehousing and in federal government. ** Editor’s Note – with the U.S. government back in business, the numbers are starting to roll in, albeit late.  ** Click here to read the full report at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales were up 1.2% in October, 2025 to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.1 million.  Total housing inventory at the end of October was 1.52million units, down 0.7% from September but up 10.9% from one year ago.  Unsold inventory sits at a 4.4-month supply at the current sales rate with properties remaining on the market for around 34 days.  The median existing-home price for all housing types in October was $415,200 – the 28th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.  The NAR expects interest rates to continue to drop: “Rents…