Real Estate News: Real Estate Investing Podcast

An invisible enemy is attacking, and it doesn't seem to matter where you are or who you are.. The Coronavirus is quickly spreading to all parts of the world. Whether people are sick or not, many can't go to work, and that could mean missed rent payments -- especially for people living hand to mouth. So what is the appropriate course of action? Headlines across the nation are echoing the same idea -- that cities, counties, states, and even the nation, impose a temporary moratorium on evictions while this virus scenario plays out. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending March 21st, 2020... we have economic news that's contaminated by the coronavirus, a tax day reprieve, and mortgage moratoriums. We're in an unprecedented situation right now as this microscopic virus threatens the health and safety of everyone in the world. It's gotten to the point of statewide lockdowns in California and New York to help slow the spread of the virus. Other states are likely to follow. There are also bans on non-essential travel across the northern and southern borders, but President Trump says we're not at the point of a national lockdown, just yet, although other nations have done so. www.NewsForInvestors.com

There's nothing more unifying than a common enemy, and that's what the nation is facing right now -- a fast-moving virus that can be as mild as a common cold or flu for most people, but absolutely deadly to others. The Federal government and the Federal Reserve are taking drastic steps to shore up the economy, while individuals and families are going into survival mode. It's not the end of the world, however. Good things will come out of this. As exponential tech entrepreneur and futurist Peter Diamandis said in a blog about the virus, "With Pause, Comes Opportunity." www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the second week of March.. we have coronavirus repercussions, mortgage relief options, and something that might lift your spirits from Airbnb. We begin with economic news from this past week and a half. So much has happened because of the coronavirus. The Fed cut interest rates to zero and launched a $700 billion stimulus program. President Trump acknowledged that the pandemic is "really bad" and issued guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus. Cities across the nation are shutting down bars, restaurants, and public gatherings. Stores are dealing with panicked buyers. Officials are encouraging people to shelter in place. There's talk of shutting down our borders and postponing the Presidential election. The stock drop has now erased about 80% of the gains seen since the 2016 election, or what was previously called "The Trump Bump." Companies will be reporting their first quarter earnings and many are expected to miss their forecasts. The second quarter will likely be worse. And, economists are saying the recession has begun. www.NewsForInvestors.com

What a week. While the Coronavirus and its effect on Wall Street, the economy and of course, our health and safety has dominated our conversations, I'm going to focus on how it could affect the U.S. housing market. As we know, home sales were headed for a hot spring season because of low mortgage rates and a strong economy. And then the coronavirus came along. It has brought mortgage rates even lower, but it's also causing an economic disruption like we haven't seen before. Will it be a minor blip on the charts? Or… is this the black swan event that could usher in that recession so many people have been fearing? www.NewsForInvestors.com

The mortgage business is blazing a new trail right now. Rates have fallen to a record low. They have almost hit 3%, but they aren't as low as they could be. Experts say they should have dipped below 3% by now but that busy lenders are holding back on lower rates to help control demand. It's anyone's best guess as to what happens next, but it's quite possible that even lower rates are on the way. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending March 7th, 2020... we have an emergency interest rate cut, all-time low mortgage rates, and a virus-inspired surge in real estate investing. We begin with economic news from this past week, and a quarter percent rate cut by the Fed. The central bank cut rates to help protect the economy from the effects of the coronavirus. The overnight lending rate is now from 1 to 1.25%. Fed Chief Jerome Powell offered reassurance that the U.S. economy is still strong, but he says the spread of the virus will likely affect economic growth. But, he says "we will get to the other side" and "return to solid growth and a solid labor market as well." www.NewsForInvestors.com

States that aren't tax-friendly to retirees are making some changes to keep their seniors from moving away. Maryland is one of them. The governor says that high taxes are driving seniors to places like Florida which is the most tax-friendly state in the nation for all age groups. But the tax situation is especially important for people trying to stretch their retirement dollars, and there are big differences in the kinds of tax breaks you get from each state. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Pet-friendly rentals are becoming a "must-have" for many renters. Zillow says that 46% of renters have pets, and 48% won't rent a place without that option. For many landlords, it's much easier to say "no." But while they are avoiding a few risks, they are also missing out on some big benefits, including additional rental income. There are several benefits to going "pet-friendly" starting with a larger pool of applicants because almost half the renter population has a pet. To offset the potential risk, many pet-friendly landlords charge an additional amount each month for the pet, along with a pet deposit. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending February 29th, 2020... we have an early launch to spring sales, concern about the coronavirus, and top cities for population growth. We begin with economic news from this past week. The spring homebuying season is off to an early start. New home sales rose 7.9% in January. That's more than 18% higher than January of last year. It's also the highest level of sales since July of 2007. That's despite higher home prices. www.NewsForInvestors.com

As homeownership gets more expensive, Millennials are getting more resourceful. The National Association of Realtors says the number of first-time buyers who bought homes with housemates doubled in 2019. It wasn't a huge percentage, but some experts say it could be the future of housing -- at least for people trying to buy their first homes. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Nebraska isn't waiting for the ax to fall on housing affordability. State lawmakers are debating legislation that will allow the upzoning of single-family neighborhoods. It's called "The Missing Middle Housing Act" to address future housing issues before they become a problem. CityLab described the effort as a way to "win the battle before the war begins." www.NewsForInvestors.com

HUD is hoping to make it easier for landlords to comply with Fair Housing Rules by issuing new guidelines on assistance animals. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says there's been a huge increase in the number of requests for emotional support animals, including many that are not legitimate. The agency says the new guidelines offer some clarification of the rules and step-by-step guidance for landlords. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending February 22nd, 2020... the spring construction boom, the latest surge in foreclosures, and the new Gen Z homebuyers. We begin with economic news from this past week. The latest report on existing home sales shows a dip in January. According to the National Association of Realtors, they were down 1.3% to an annual pace of 5.46 million homes. www.NewsForInvestors.com

A sleepy town in North Carolina has become the victim of its own popularity. Lake Wylie is a lakefront community that has mushroomed in size since the year 2,000. Unfortunately, population growth has outpaced the town's ability to keep up, and local officials have placed a temporary ban on new development. This is just one example of a city that needs "smart growth" instead of "fast growth." www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending February 15th, 2020... the benefits of mortgage shopping, 401k millionaires, and moving for love. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The U.S. has a population problem and it's not because we have too many people. The nation's birth rate is declining. It's half of what it was when the baby boomers were born, and is currently at a record low -- so low, that the incoming generation can't replace the outgoing one. According to some social scientists, that could have a serious impact on our future -- both socially and economically. www.NewsForInvestors.com

There's been a lot of worry about the cost of California's new solar power requirement for new homes. But the January 1st start date has now come and gone, and it appears the mandate has had little impact on home buyer demand. There has been a small decline in affordability for some people, but according to real estate experts, the mandate appears to be a "non-event." www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending February 8th, 2020… new lower mortgage rates, the city with a 5-year rent freeze, and a Netflix series about gentrification in Los Angeles. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Concern about the Wuhan coronavirus is pushing mortgage rates lower. That may seem like a weird cause and effect relationship, but there is a good reason for it. The latest rates for a 30-year mortgage have fallen to their second-lowest level in three years. Freddie Mac reported last week that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.51% and the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was down to 3%. That's for the week ending January 20th. If you compare it to the average for that same mortgage in January of last year, it's almost 1% lower. And some economists expect rates to fall further as the coronavirus spreads. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending February 1st, 2020... the latest decision on interest rates, the cost of renting vs. buying, and the theft of $10.5 million from RealPage by hackers. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Calls for a wealth tax are getting louder because of a growing gap between the ultra-rich and the not-so-rich. Oxfam International released a report ahead of the World Economic Forum that says the world's 2,153 billionaires have more wealth combined than 60% of the global population. That's about 4.6 billion people. The global anti-poverty organization also says the wealth gap has a much greater impact on women than it does men. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Chicago landlords have a new tenant screening law to abide by called the Just Housing Amendment. It is now part of the Cook County "Human Rights Ordinance" to help people with a criminal record get housing. Landlords need to know about the required screening process to avoid big fines. There's also a similar ordinance that was just approved in Oakland, California. www.NewsForInvestors.com

New rules in Cincinnati will force landlords to provide security deposit "options" to tenants. It's the first such ordinance in the nation to help tenants who can't afford a large cash deposit. The new rules are not sitting well with some landlords who say all-cash deposits are necessary to help protect their properties. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending January 25th, 2020... we'll look at homeseller profit, FICO score changes, and the financial impact of "curb appeal." www.NewsForInvestors.com

Having a good enough credit score to get a loan may not be good enough to save you thousands of dollars in interest. LendingTree did an analysis on the cost difference between a fair credit score and a very good credit score, and the result may surprise you. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending January 18th... we look at home affordability, foreclosures, where people are moving, and renter preferences in 2020. www.NewsForInvestors.com

Rental housing has changed a lot in the last decade, and the start of a new decade gives us a chance see where we are today. These trends are crucial for landlords to know about. By putting them all together, it's easier to see the big picture and whether any adjustments are needed. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The nation sailed by a big milestone in 2019 for the longest economic expansion on record and many economists expect the good times to keep on rolling. But there are plenty of variables looming in the year ahead, and quite a lot of disagreement about which way the wind might blow. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending January 11th, 2020... rental rates in 2019, renting vs. owning, and why you shouldn't abbreviate 2020. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The rules for tax-deferred retirement accounts are changing as of January 1st. A new law called the SECURE Act takes effect on January 1st. It was signed into law by President Trump as part of the 2020 government spending bill. Investment advisers say it will allow more U.S. workers to participate in these plans. There's also a bit of bad news for people who will inherit an IRA. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The new year is bringing lots of new laws. Since many of our members and listeners are in California, I'm going to dedicate today's podcast to a round-up of laws that could affect the real estate world in California. Of course, California often sets a precedent for other parts of the nation as well, so they may be of interest to anyone in real estate. www.NewsForInvestors.com

In our Real Estate News Brief for the week ending on January 4th, 2020... a look ahead at real estate in 2020, a security camera data breach, and an experiment in basic income. www.NewsForInvestors.com