Real Estate News: Real Estate Investing Podcast

There’s been a lot of talk about rent moratoriums and eviction bans for struggling tenants, but what happens when landlords can’t pay mortgages and other expenses for those very same rentals? There’s been a growing chorus of questions and lobbying efforts in regard to relief for property owners, and some big announcements about forbearance options that apply to landlords in both the single-family and multi-family realm. It’s now critical that people are able to “shelter in place”...

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

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’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.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

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 - Millennials are realizing that by finding compatible co-buyers, they’ll wind up with a more stable living situation that is also earning equity. www.NewsForInvestors

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.” You might not think NE is at risk of a housing crunch, but the cost of housing is rising in the cities of Omaha & Lincoln. www.NewsForInve

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