Author: Brad Beckett

A recent and quite prescient essay by Ethan Blevins with the Pacific Legal Foundation says the federal government wants to micromanage the nation’s housing.  It was published over at the Hill, a mainstream media outlet focused on the U.S. government and can be read in its entirety by clicking here. Here are some excerpts: In the early 2000s, the city of St. Paul, Minn., cracked down on landlords who ignored rat problems, bad sanitation, poor heating, and so on. But instead of shaping up, the landlords sued the city for violating the federal Fair Housing Act. They argued that St.…

According to ATTOM’s 2022 Property Tax Analysis for 87 million U.S. single family homes, $339.8 billion in property taxes were levied on single-family homes in 2022. That figure is up 3.6% from 2021, and more than double the 1.6% growth in 2022.  In 2022, the effective tax rate nationwide was 0.83 percent. In 2021 that figure was 0.86 percent – the lowest point since at least 2016.  ATTOM says that states with the highest effective property tax rates in 2022 were New Jersey (1.79%), Illinois (1.78%), Connecticut (1.57%), Vermont (1.43%) and Nebraska (1.36%). “Property taxes continued their never-ending climb last…

Local Market Monitor, a National REIA preferred vendor, recently released their monthly National Economic Outlook where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy. National Economic Outlook By Ingo Winzer April, 2023 The big question in 2023 is how far and how fast home prices will fall. We won’t know first quarter home prices until late May, but I’m certain that prices will be lower in many markets. The surge in 2021 was so sudden and swift that the deflation of prices will similarly be rapid and steep. In high-flying markets like Salt Lake City, Spokane,…

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis is reporting that America’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 46 states (and D.C) in Q4 of 2022.  The percent change in real GDP ranged from 7% in Texas to –4.3 percent in South Dakota. Click here to read the full report at the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Airbnb says they’re the largest collector and remitter of tourism taxes by short-term rental platforms in the world.  According to a company release, Airbnb says it has collected and remitted more than $1.9 billion in tourism taxes across all 50 states in the US (including D.C. and Puerto Rico).  This figure is approximately 27% higher than 2021. In Canada, they collected and remitted over C$177 million in 2022, including nearly $70 million in federal Goods and Services Taxes (GST) in the last six months.  Globally, these numbers are part of more than $7 billion in tourism taxes paid. Key takeaways…

Baby boomers have now surpassed millennials and to make up the largest generation of home buyers, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.  The data comes from their latest Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report which examined differences and similarities between varying generations of homebuyers and sellers.  Millennials had long been the largest generation of homebuyers, but in 2022, they were overtaken by the baby boomers. “Baby boomers have the upper hand in the homebuying market…The majority of them are repeat buyers who have housing equity to propel them into their dream home – be it a…

Recently, the Biden Administration released its Blueprint for a “Renters Bill of Rights.”   As part of a 5-part series on the Rent Perfect Podcast, David Pickron and his General Counsel Denny Dobbins discuss how this blueprint can and will affect landlords today and in the future. You can download a copy of the White House’s document by clicking here. Here is part Five: Click here for Parts 3 & 4. Click here for Parts 1 & 2. Click here to listen on Spotify.

The National Association of Realtors is reporting that existing home sales were down 2.4% in March to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.44 million (down 22% year over year).  Total housing inventory at the end of March was 980k units, up 1% from February and 5.4% from one year ago.  Unsold inventory sits at a 2.6-month supply at the current sales rate with properties remaining on the market for around 29 days.  The median existing-home price for all housing types in March was $375,700, down 0.9% from one year ago.  The NAR said individual investors or second-home buyers (who comprise…

The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,420,000, which is 0.8% lower than February’s revised number and is 17.2% lower than one year ago.  March’s rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 542k.  Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,413,000, which is 8.8% below February’s revised number.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 543k in march. Click here to read the full report…

This is certainly something to make you go hmmmm.  Today’s infographic from the Virtual Capitalist illustrates how America owes foreign investors of its national debt $7.3 trillion – all in the form of Treasury securities.  Interestingly, they point out that central banks often use them for foreign exchange reserves and private investors flock to them during flights to safety thanks to their perceived low default risk.  Indeed….. Stay safe and have a Happy Friday!! “…foreign investors may buy Treasuries as a store of value. They are often used as collateral during certain international trade transactions, or countries can use them…