The National Association of Realtors says nearly 90% of metros experienced home price increases in Q4 2024, as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate ranged from 6.12% to 6.85%.  In addition 14% of the 226 tracked metro areas posted double-digit price gains over the same period, up from 7% in the third quarter.  Indeed….Stay safe and have a Happy Friday!!! “Record-high home prices and the accompanying housing wealth gains are definitely good news for property owners…However, renters who are looking to transition into homeownership face significant hurdles.”  Said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. Hat tip to the Realtors!   The post Nearly 90% of Metros Registered Home Price Gains in Q4 2024 appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

Is it better to buy or rent?  That’s an age-old question that really depends on a lot of variables – especially an individual’s station in life.  According to their 2025 Rental Affordability Report, ATTOM says both owning & renting remain difficult for average U.S. workers, commonly consuming 25-60% their wages. However, they point out that major ownership expenses on typical single-family homes require a smaller portion of average wages than renting three-bedroom residences in close to 60% of the 341 county-level markets with enough data to analyze.  Indeed… Buying or renting a home in the U.S. these days can be like searching for a diamond in a pile of marbles, and it’s only getting worse in most markets as the cost of both goes up…However, in most parts of the country, homeownership is somewhat more attainable for those who can gather the necessary resources to cover down payments that often surpass …

The median monthly housing payment remains near record highs, but slowing price growth, declining mortgage rates and a pileup of supply is giving homebuyers in certain parts of the country room to negotiate. The median U.S. home-sale price rose 3.7% year over year during the four weeks ending February 16, the smallest increase since September. Additionally, the weekly average mortgage rate dipped to 6.87%, its lowest level of the year.  While typical monthly housing costs remain near record highs, decelerating price growth and gradually declining rates are among several small pieces of good news for house hunters this week. Here are the others: Homebuyers have more total inventory to choose from. There are five months of supply on the market, up from 4.1 months a year earlier and the most since early 2019 (except the 4 weeks ending January 26, when there were 5.1 months). Supply is piling up because …

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. Click here for more information about Local Market Monitor.   The post Local Market Monitor’s National Economic Outlook for February ’25 appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

Brian Hamrick On a recent episode of the Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast, Brian Hamrick talks with Avery Carl, CEO of The Short Term Shop and one of the nation’s leading experts on short-term rental investing.  Avery provides a deep dive into the operations of short-term rentals, how to strategically analyze and choose markets, and offers actionable advice on managing properties, no matter the size of the portfolio. “Short-term rentals can be a great path to financial freedom, but they also come with challenges that can derail even experienced investors. Knowing how to approach this asset class strategically is critical to success.” Click here to listen.   The post Smarter Strategies for Short-Term Rental Success appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

A Conversation With Jay Thies and Pete Carroll As the U.S. waits for the final decision on the fresh tariffs imposed on Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese imports, the housing industry is bracing for the impact of this policy decision. With material costs already a growing concern, these new trade policies could send ripples through supply chains, development timelines, and affordability. Tariffs on steel, lumber, concrete and other key building materials have the potential to drive up construction costs, exacerbating an already tight housing market. Builders and developers may need to rethink sourcing strategies, while policymakers weigh the broader economic consequences of trade restrictions on inflation and consumer spending. From rising home prices to shifting supply chains, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith sits down with industry experts Pete Carroll CoreLogic’s, EVP of Public Policy and Industry Relations, and Jay Thies CoreLogic’s Vice President of Pricing Analysis and Delivery to explore the immediate …