Real Estate News: Real Estate Investing Podcast

The numbers keep going up for the housing market. Redfin reports that competition is so fierce among buyers that a majority of homes are going under contract within two weeks. That's also driving home prices to new record highs. Redfin reports that median asking prices are up 10% from a year ago, to a new all-time high of $334,770. It also says that median sale prices are up 15% year-over-year to $318,750. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending February 13th, 2021... new comments from the Fed Chief on the risk of inflation, a new extension for government forbearance programs, and a forecast on homebuyer demand. We begin with economic news from the past week, and Fed Chief Jerome Powell's commentary about inflation. He spoke before the Economic club of New York saying he doesn't expect a big jump or a sustained increase in inflation right now. He says: "Inflation has been much lower and more stable over the past three decades than in earlier times. In the 1970's, when inflation would go up, it would stay up." www.NewsForInvestors.com

Will it be another great year for single-family homes? After a surge in demand for single-family homes last year, the big question on many investor minds is whether this is "a fad or a real trend." The Urban Land Institute and PWC just published a yearly report on real estate trends, with some insights on where the single-family market may be headed. www.NewsForInvestors.com Link: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/asset-management/real-estate/assets/pwc-emerging-trends-in-real-estate-2021.pdf

With eviction moratoriums in place for nearly a year now, one might assume that investing in rental property would not be prudent. If people lose their jobs and can't pay rent, how can the landlord pay for their bills like the mortgage, property taxes and insurance? Yet, in spite of these unprecedented challenges, some metro areas have actually seen rents rise - according to a recent CoreLogic report that tracks rent collections. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending February 6th, 2021... new record-highs for Houston real estate, good news about renter credit scores, and a big "first" for the 3D printing of homes. We begin with economic news from this past week and the latest job market reports. New applications for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level in nine weeks. The government says that 779,000 people filed for state unemployment benefits during the last week of January. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Realtors are expecting another "booming" year for Central Florida real estate. 2020 was better than they expected and they say it looks like 2021 will follow along that path. Inventory is tight, but some economists expect more existing homes to hit the market, once the pandemic is under control. Builders are also working to fill the inventory gap in the for-sale and rental markets. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending January 30th, 2021… the Fed's latest policy decisions, more good news about home sales, and a Zillow forecast on home values. We begin with economic news from this past week, and another meeting of the Federal Reserve that ended with no policy changes and signs that short-term interest rates will stay right where they are for several years. The Fed also said it has no plans to taper its monthly purchase of $120 billion in bonds until it sees "substantial further progress" in a job market recovery, along with inflation that sits above 2% for some amount of time. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Remote workers may face a surprise tax bill if they live and work in different states. With the rapid expansion of the remote workforce and the ability to live anywhere, remote workers who cross state lines may owe taxes in more than one state. And a recent survey shows that most workers don't realize that. www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/27/unexpected-state-tax-could-be-around-the-corner-for-remote-workers.html 2 - https://abcnews.go.com/US/working-home-due-covid-double-tax-hit/story?id=74864155

We have some year-end totals for the number of home loans that are past due, and at risk of foreclosure. A new report by Black Knight shows that 2020 ended with almost 3.4 million loans in some stage of delinquency, and that seriously delinquent loans were up 250%, but they are well off their pandemic peaks. There's also new data on places where foreclosures are already rising, and many of those locations are in California. www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: https://www.blackknightinc.com/black-knights-first-look-at-december-2020-mortgage-data/ https://www.housingwire.com/articles/2020-ends-with-3-4-million-loans-in-delinquency/ https://www.attomdata.com/news/market-trends/figuresfriday/top-10-u-s-zip-codes-where-foreclosure-filings-are-on-the-rise/

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending January 23rd, 2021… another extension for the Federal eviction ban, homebuilder Lennar to become a single-family landlord, and no more free rental listings on Zillow. We begin with economic news from this past week, and the likely return of former Fed chief Janet Yellen as the new U.S. Treasury Secretary. The Senate Finance Committee approved her nomination on Friday the 22nd. The Senate is expected to vote today, and if confirmed, she'll be the first woman to lead the department in its more than 230-year history. www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/yellens-nomination-to-be-u-s-treasury-secretary-advances-on-unanimous-committee-vote-11611328550?mod=bnbh_mwarticle 2 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jobless-claims-drop-to-still-high-900-000-in-last-full-week-of-trump-presidency-11611236766?mod=economic-report 3 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-home-construction-activity-soars-to-highest-level-in-over-a-decade-as-builders-rush-to-produce-single-family-homes-2021-01-21?mod=u.s.-economic-calendar 4 - https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/existing-home-sales 5 - http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/ 6 - https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/20/biden-to-extend-the-national-ban-on-evictions-through-march-2021.html 7 - https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/emergency-rental-assistance-program#:~:text=The%20Emergency%20Rental%20Assistance%20program,local%20governments%2C%20and%20Indian%20tribes. 8 - https://www.thestreet.com/investing/lennar-moving-into-single-family-rentals 9 - https://www.inman.com/2021/01/20/the-end-of-free-rental-listings-on-zillow-is-here/

The vaccine rollout is underway, and people in real estate are speculating on how it will help or possibly hurt some aspects of the housing market. 2020 was of course a very difficult year for many sectors of the economy, but not housing. What changes can we expect in the coming year? www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/vaccines-housing-market/

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending January 16th, 2021... a new COVID relief bill that extends the federal eviction moratorium, proposes more rental assistance, and authorizes new stimulus checks, plus bitcoin fortunes at risk over lost passwords, and reports on unemployment, inflation, consumer sentiment, and mortgage rates. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Buying a condo in some fun-filled tourist destination could disqualify you from an FHA loan. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have both announced that certain condo buildings may be disqualified for FHA loans if there are too many short-term rentals in the complex, even if the condo "you" are buying won't be used in that manner. www.NewsForInvestors.com

As the inventory for existing homes dwindles and demand for rental homes grows, investors are working with builders on the construction of new rental homes in markets across the country. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, this new surge in activity is the result of a pandemic-induced desire for more spacious homes in the suburbs combined with Americans who can't afford to buy those homes. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending January 9th, 2021... inventory hits a new low, where home prices are rising fast, signs of an urban exodus reversal, a stimulus check glitch, and reports on unemployment and construction spending. www.NewsForInvestors.com

California and New York have long been two of the nation's top states for business, but due to a changing business climate, many companies are migrating to more business-friendly and less expensive areas. Savvy real estate investors are flocking to these locations to get ahead of the wave. www.NewsForInvestors.com

A new president, plus a shift of power in the Senate has some Americans popping the cork in celebration, and others trembling in fear of the coming changes. Today we'll take a look at some of those changes, and how today's new leadership may affect real estate investors. www.NewsForInvestors.com

2020 was an extremely difficult year for many people and many businesses, but not for U.S. housing. While the coronavirus swept across the nation without mercy, infecting millions and blowing holes in the economy, the housing market actually got stronger. Let's take a look at where we began the year and where we are now. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Oregon landlords are taking the state to court over an eviction moratorium that now runs through June of next year. Lawmakers also approved a compensation fund for landlords, but landlords say it will provide nowhere near enough money for landlords who are owed months of back rent. www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/housing-assistance/Pages/landlord-compensation-fund.aspx 2 - https://rentalhousingjournal.com/oregon-passes-150-million-landlord-compensation-fund/ 3 - https://katu.com/news/following-the-money/about-13-of-oregonians-unable-to-pay-rent-in-july-lawmakers-look-for-more-federal-aid 4 - https://katu.com/news/local/landlords-file-lawsuit-over-oregons-eviction-moratorium

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending December 26th, 2020, mortgage rates hit another all-time low, new stimulus help for renters and landlords, best grocery store for home values, and reports on the GDP, the job market, consumer spending, and new and existing home sales. www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/historic-increase-in-u-s-gdp-in-third-quarter-revised-to-33-4-annualized-rate-11608644494?mod=economy-politics 2 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jobless-claims-fall-to-3-week-low-of-803-000-before-christmas-but-they-still-high-11608731267?mod=economic-report 3 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/consumer-spending-drops-0-4-in-november-11608731509?mod=economic-report 4 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/consumer-confidence-tumbles-in-december-to-lowest-level-since-lockdown-11608650517?mod=economic-report 5 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-consumer-sentiment-deteriorates-in-late-december-11608736845?mod=economy-politics 6 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-home-sales-fall-as-buyers-begin-to-get-cold-feet-in-an-expensive-market-2020-12-23?mod=economic-report 7 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/existing-home-sales-fall-in-november-as-buyers-struggle-to-find-properties-to-purchase-2020-12-22 8 - http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/ 9 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-is-just-slowing-the-clock-on-evictions-congress-will-extend-eviction-moratorium-fund-emergency-rent-assistance-with-new-stimulus-dea-11608553279 10 - https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2020/12/23/the-supermarket-effect-on-home-values

The Holidays are celebrated in many ways. But one theme that seems to cross over all belief systems is that this time of year is a time of giving, giving to those you love and also giving to those less fortunate than you. While this altruistic behavior stems from religion, it's also an important ingredient for success. www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://www.realwealthnetwork.com/real-wealth-foundation/ 2 - https://www.operationsmile.org/ 3 - https://mentorsinternational.org/ 4 - https://www.yocinc.org/ 5 - https://www.habitat.org/ 6 - www.ProfitPurposeConsulting.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending December 19th, 2020... single-family rent growth picks up, remote work migration could surge, a creative new venue for indoor restaurant dining, and reports on the job market, residential construction, and another new low for mortgage rates. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Tis the season for a more than a normal amount of Christmas decorating. With pandemic stay-at-home orders and curfews, demand is skyrocketing for Christmas trees, holiday lights and other decorations. It's a way to shake off the pandemic gloom, and bring an otherwise difficult year to a close with a few festive memories. www.NewsForInvestors.com

There's a home equity bonanza going on right now. Over the last year, the value of mortgaged homes has gone up $1 trillion. CoreLogic research shows the year-to-year increase is 11% from the third quarter of 2019 to the third quarter of 2020. That's great news for borrowers, especially those at risk of foreclosure because of the pandemic. www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://www.corelogic.com/insights-download/homeowner-equity-report.aspx 2 - https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/10/housing-is-doing-something-it-hasnt-done-since-the-bubble-achuthan.html 3 - https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/11/household-net-worth-hits-new-record-of-123point5-trillion-amid-stock-market-surge.html

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending December 12th, tenants who owe back rent, CEO 2021 forecast, tiny home popularity, NAR'S new non-profit, and reports on unemployment, inflation, consumer sentiment, and mortgage rates. www.NewsForInvestors.com Reference Links: 1 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jobless-claims-surge-to-3-month-high-coronavirus-trigging-more-layoffs-11607607903?mod=economic-report 2 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-job-openings-rose-in-october-but-layoffs-rose-even-faster-as-coronvirus-started-to-surge-11607526990?mod=u.s.-economic-calendar 3 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/consumer-prices-climb-in-november-cpi-shows-but-inflation-still-low-11607612244?mod=economic-report 4 - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/consumer-sentiment-jumps-in-december-on-democratic-euphoria-after-biden-win-11607700242 5 - http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/ 6 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/07/unemployed-debt-rent-utilities/ 7 - https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2020/12/08/ceos-anticipate-business-returning-to-pre-pandemic-levels 8 - https://www.housingwire.com/articles/tiny-homes-are-big-winners-in-2020/ 9 - https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2020/11/23/nar-launches-the-american-property-owners-alliance

Airbnb made big headlines as it re-launched its plan for an IPO. The home-sharing company started trading on December 10th as ABNB on the NASDAQ. But that's only half the story for Airbnb. It also announced Airbnb.org to help relief workers and medical staff find shelter during a crisis, like the pandemic... www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://news.airbnb.com/airbnborg/ 2 - https://www.airbnb.org/ 3 - https://www.reuters.com/article/global-aid-airbnb/update-1-airbnb-nonprofit-to-focus-on-finding-housing-for-disaster-pandemic-workers-idUSL8N2IO55G 4 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/10/airbnb-stock-market-debut/

If you are interested in Opportunity Zones, you should expect some changes to the program under the new Biden Administration. The program is getting bi-partisan support, but Joe Biden and his team feel it's not doing enough to help distressed neighborhoods. The Biden website talks about reforming Opportunity Zones, to make sure they provide benefits to the local community and not just the investors getting the tax breaks. www.NewsForInvestors.com Links: 1 - https://www.nreionline.com/investment/cre-pros-laud-biden-s-proposed-changes-opportunity-zone-program 2 - https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Impact-of-Opportunity-Zones-An-Initial-Assessment.pdf 3 - https://joebiden.com/racial-economic-equity/

In this week's Real Estate News Brief, the FHFA extends the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and reports on unemployment, pending home sales, construction spending, mortgage rates, homeownership affordability for renters, Airbnb IPO plans, and the surging demand for build-to-rent homes. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Co-living appears to be doing quite well, despite the pandemic. A new report from Cushman & Wakefield shows a rent collection dip toward the beginning of the pandemic, and a rebound from there. Even though we're still dealing with the pandemic, co-living companies are moving forward with plans for major expansions across the U.S. www.NewsForInvestors.com

California voters approved a real estate measure that will help older homeowners, but it could have a big downside for their children. Proposition 19 allows seniors, the disabled, and disaster victims to take their low property tax base with them to a new home. But it also reduces that protection for their heirs. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this episode, reports on the GDP, unemployment, consumer spending, home sales, home prices, and consumer confidence. Also - mortgage rates, conforming loan limits, mortgage activity, the importance of friendly neighbors, and real estate gratefulness. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is proposing a change to flood insurance rules that could bring costs down. The proposal would allow borrowers with government-backed loans to buy flood insurance from private companies instead of the National Flood Insurance Program. www.NewsForInvestors.com

As the coronavirus pandemic gets worse, some states are beginning to implement new restrictions and lockdowns on non-essential services. That's reigniting a battle on whether real estate should be considered "essential." Here are a few talking points in defense of the industry. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The Federal Reserve and the Treasury are at odds over the need for economic relief, while unemployment claims rise. Good news on the housing market and mortgage rates, although NAR warns about high home prices. The latest rent collection numbers, and a few words of wisdom from Jamie Dimon about the traits of a successful leader. www.NewsForInvestors.com

With Joe Biden set to become the 46th President in January, there's plenty of talk about how his policies will impact housing. This is especially important as the red hot housing market becomes less affordable for both owners and renters, and builders are unable to fill the inventory gap. Biden's plan includes a $15,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers, expansion of the Section 8 voucher program, and billions of dollars for new construction, renovations, and energy retrofits. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending November 14th, 2020… homebuyers on pause, big earnings for a cloud-based national realty, and a fraud warning for landlords and property managers. We begin with economic news that was impacted by a tense political standoff over the presidential election and a surging number of coronavirus cases. Home buyers hit the pause button, and consumer confidence fell to a three-month low, but the housing market is still booming. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Hubzu's new mobile app, Homesnap's new home pricing tool, SafeShowings expansion in California, and a mysterious money-raise for a tech venture by ex-Zillow execs. Hubzu is making it easier to have on-the-go access with a new mobile app. The online marketing platform gives users a way to find and bid on residential real estate auctions that include foreclosures, short sales, and retail sales. The app will give users mobile access with iOS and Android phones. www.NewsForInvestors.com

It's the first time since the Great Depression that a majority of adults are living with Mom and Dad. Blame it on the pandemic, college closures, and job losses. A study by Pew Research shows that 52% of young people are living with one or both parents.

The latest economic news on economic policy, the job market, construction spending, mortgage rates, California rent control, zombie foreclosures, and a builder's effort to reduce his carbon footprint. We begin with economic news from this past week and another vote by the Federal Reserve to leave overnight interest rates right where they are, near zero. Board members met for their monthly meeting in the midst of a contentious presidential election. It now appears that former vice president Joe Biden will be our next president, although President Trump's team is calling for recounts and litigation. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Several housing organizations filed a lawsuit accusing Redfin of a modern-day form of redlining. At issue is the level of service that Redfin offers to different communities and whether minority communities are being shortchanged. Redfin denies any discriminatory practice, saying decisions are based on legitimate business reasons. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending October 31st, 2020... a report on the strength of the economic rebound, a forecast on 2030 home prices, and the primary reason that people are looking for new homes. It's been a volatile week for the stock market as investors worry about the pandemic and the presidential election, but there are some strong economic reports to share, including one on the third quarter GDP. www.NewsForInvestors.com

New California law gives owners, tenants, non-profits, and local governments a chance to outbid investors who buy foreclosures. It also bans the "auction bundling" of foreclosed homes, and prevents foreclosure blight with big fines. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The Mortgage Bankers Association is forecasting another busy year for lenders. It's predicting that American home buyers will be taking out a record number of home loans in 2021 while refinancing activity slows down. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending October 24th, 2020... the home buying frenzy continues, the government extends its forbearance program, and the Federal Reserve talks about the possible issuing of digital currency. www.NewsForInvestors.com

A company that helps people live "off-the-grid" in floating sea pod homes is now offering a different kind of live-work-play experience. Ocean Builders is converting a former cruise ship into a floating condominium complex off the coast of Panama for digital nomads, expats, researchers, start-ups, and crypto businesses. And you can own one for as little as $25,000. www.NewsForInvestors.com

California voters will tackle three thorny real estate issues on November 3rd. One will raise taxes on a significant group of taxpayers, while another will provide a property tax reprieve, and a third will allow new rent control measures for virtually all rental properties, including single-family homes. In this episode, you'll hear more about Propositions 15, 19, and 21 in the 2020 California election. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending October 17th, 2020, mortgage rates hit a new low, the pandemic migration hits 16 million, and condos are headed for a comeback. We begin with economic news from this past week that shows mixed results. On the employment front, jobless claims surged to a 7-week high. www.NewsForInvestors.com

If you're thinking about hosting a Halloween party at the end of the month, you won't be able to do it at an Airbnb. Airbnb announced a ban on one-night whole house reservations for Halloween weekend. It's not only a way to keep peace with the hosts and with neighbors, but a way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The federal government issued new guidelines on the CDC eviction moratorium. It clears up some questions that legal experts have been debating on what landlords can and can't do including when eviction proceedings can begin. While it clarifies certain aspects of the moratorium for property owners, some scholars say it may also make it more confusing. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending October 10th, 2020... Fed Chief calls for more stimulus, the job market recovery cools off, and a haunted house appears on Zillow. We begin with economic news from this past week, and comments from Fed Chief Jerome Powell about the need for more stimulus. In a speech to the National Association for Business Economics, he said it's better for Congress to offer too much support than too little. www.NewsForInvestors.com