Hot inflation puts further rate hike in play, impact on real estate

Hot inflation puts further rate hike in play, impact on real estate

Although the market rejoiced in the recent fed “skip”, as you dig into the numbers more the outcome is a lot less sanguine.  Why does inflation continue running hotter than anticipated?  What does this mean for interest rates and real estate?  What happens when...
New government rule radically changes appraisals

New government rule radically changes appraisals

Big changes are ahead for automated appraisals.  The government feels that automated models show bias in valuation so they have proposed a new rule that will radically alter appraisals.  Unfortunately, the new rules will have some large unintended consequences for...
Home Depot slides, house prices stabilize, consumers will keep spending

Home Depot slides, house prices stabilize, consumers will keep spending

  Interesting times we are in.  Consumers keep spending big on services like travel and eating out, but on the flip side Home Depot just reported its first drop since the pandemic.  On the other hand Target tops earnings estimates.  What is driving the continued...
Consumer debt passes $17 trillion for the first time despite slide in mortgage demand

Consumer debt passes $17 trillion for the first time despite slide in mortgage demand

  Households added $148 billion in overall debt, bringing the total to $17.05 trillion, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday. Balances are now $2.9 trillion higher than just before the pandemic.  What categories are...
Commercial real estate falls first time since 2011; what is causing the decline?

Commercial real estate falls first time since 2011; what is causing the decline?

US commercial real estate prices fell in the first quarter for the first time in more than a decade, according to Moody’s Analytics, heightening the risk of more financial stress in the banking industry.  What property types are declining? (hint not just office...
2023 real estate predictions update: Mortgage rates decline, banks fail, impact on real estate prices

2023 real estate predictions update: Mortgage rates decline, banks fail, impact on real estate prices

A lot has changed since my year end update, four major banks have collapsed, and the market is now signaling a recession with interest rates beginning to fall.  What does this mean for real estate in the second half of the year?  Are there any big changes to my...