Inflation plowed ahead at its fastest 12-month pace in nearly 40 years during December, according to a closely watched gauge the Labor Department released Wednesday. The stock and bond markets are suddenly awake, with mortgage rates skyrocketing almost 4% from a low...
2022 real estate predictions: Mortgage payments rise 50%.
I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. Before getting into my predictions for next year, there are three crucial factors to discuss that will shape the real estate market in 2022 and beyond. Interest rates, inflation, and where the pandemic goes from here....
Refinance rates drop 31%, retail sales crushes estimates
I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. Before getting into my predictions for next year, there are three crucial factors to discuss that will shape the real estate market in 2022 and beyond. Interest rates, inflation, and where the pandemic goes from here....
Investors purchase record number of homes, what does this mean for values?
Real estate investors spent a record $63.6 billion to purchase homes in the third quarter, up 78% from a year earlier, with an intense housing shortage fueling their returns, according to a Redfin report published on Monday. “Investors are expecting rents to increase...
Omicron impact on inflation and real estate
What a week it has been a new Covid variant has emerged while at the same time, the federal reserve announced they are retiring the word “transitory”. The stock market dropped and treasury yields increased. What does all the recent news mean for real estate? Will...
Government loan limits jump to almost 1m, impacting real estate
The federal government is about to back mortgages of nearly $1 million for the first time. The maximum size of home-mortgage loans eligible for backing by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is expected to jump sharply in 2022, a reflection of the rapid appreciation in home...
McDonald’s is raising the cost of houses; you will pay allot more!
Retail giants, fast-food chains, and ride-hailing companies are offering higher wages and cash payments. Referral and signing bonuses, rarely needed before to fill entry-level, low-wage jobs, are now commonplace. How will McDonald’s impact real estate prices? Will...
Jobs report disappoints, mortgage interest rates have jumped 30%
Happy Fall, it is hard to beat this time of year with snow up top and changing leaves in the valleys (do you know where I took this pic?) Yields for U.S. government debt posted the biggest weekly jump in months on Friday, as a selloff in bonds that commenced...
Inflation cools, what does this mean for real estate?
Prices for an array of consumer goods rose less than expected in August in a sign that inflation may be starting to cool, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. The consumer price index increased 5.3% from a year earlier and 0.3% from July. Is inflation really...
Is the Fed stoking another real estate price bubble?
Investor Peter Boockvar, the chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group, is sounding the alarm on a housing price bubble brought on by the Federal Reserve’s Covid pandemic policies which have stimulated so much demand that the supply side can’t keep up. What...
China deflates tech stocks (1 trillion lost), what does this mean for US real estate
In recent months, China's tech industry has suffered a palpable chill. Since February, shares of overseas-listed Chinese tech firms have lost a staggering $1 trillion in value, according to Goldman Sachs analysts. The fear is spreading after China's clampdown...
Consumer sentiment falls to 10 year low; not for what the media is saying. Impact on real estate?
U.S. consumer sentiment fell in early August to the lowest level in nearly a decade as Americans grew more concerned about the economy’s prospects. It was the lowest reading for the measure since 2011. A sudden drop of this magnitude is extremely rare for the index. ...
Economic binge continues but consumer sentiment falls, impact on real estate
U.S. consumer sentiment fell sharply and unexpectedly in early July to the lowest level in five months. Consumers’ complaints about rising prices on homes, vehicles, and household durables reached an all time record. Just 30% of all consumers cited favorable home...
Seismic shift in the consumer spending: Who wins?
According to a recent Well’s Fargo economic report: the forecast for the level of services spending is expected to swell to more than four and a half years of typical spending packed into nine months. What does this transition from goods to services mean for real...
Will the fed stop buying your mortgage?
The Federal Reserve has bought $982 billion of the mortgage bonds since March 5, 2020. As Federal Reserve officials discuss how to eventually scale back their easy-money policies, they are debating whether to start by reducing purchases of mortgage-backed securities...
Home rents jump highest in 15 years
I have been saying for months that rent growth would accelerate. The numbers are in and according to Corelogic, Single-family rents were up 5.3% year over year in April, rising from a 2.4% increase in April 2020. Nationally, rent growth exceeded pre-pandemic rates...
The Fed surprises the markets – rates jump
With the craziness in the market, I at least wanted to ease everyone into it with a relaxing picture 🙂 I wrote last week about rate increases coming down the pipe, but like everyone else I was surprised by the last federal reserve meeting and how quickly they changed...
CPI soars, mortgage payments could rise 33%, what should you do?
Consumer prices jump 5% in May (CPI); this is the highest movement since 2008. What does this mean for interest rates? Before getting into the details, I can quickly tell you with 100% certainty, the only way for mortgage rates to go is up. Why are mortgage rates...
Is inflation “transitory”, the answer to this question will predict real estate’s future
The federal reserve on multiple occasions has called the recent spike in inflation “transitory” yet inflation just rose to its highest level since 1982. Will inflation increase over the short term and then fall to a much lower level in the future? Why is the answer...
Inflation jumps to highest levels since 1982
Inflation alert: It is usually not a good sign when Fed Vice Chairman Richard Clarida said after the consumer price index report “I was surprised”. I am not sure what rock people are living under, but everything has increased in price from gasoline to restaurant...
Loan costs for second homes, rentals to spike under new Fannie/Freddie rule
Do residential rental properties with one to four units and second-home mortgages carry more risk? Apparently so says the U.S. Treasury Department. Such loans underwritten by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will end up costing you more under restrictions quietly announced...
10 year treasury soars, mortgage payments could rise 33%, How high will rates go?
Before getting into the details, I can quickly answer the first question with 100% certainty. Will Mortgage rates rise substantially in 2021? Yes they already have and will go even higher! Why are mortgage rates rising while the federal reserve pledges to keep rates...
BOA predicts a housing “mother of all asset bubbles”
As a result of the current loose monetary policy and additional stimulus coming down the pipe, “imbalances” within the economy are starting to form. BofA predicts a 10% drop in stock prices. What are other experts saying on the stock market? How will this impact...
“this time is different” Vaccines rollout, good news abounds, 75% probability you are wrong
There has been a flurry of good news with stocks reaching records, talks of more stimulus, and vaccines rolling out. Small stocks like Gamestop and AMC have been off the charts minting new millionaires every day. What does all this mean for real estate? How will...























