Realty Stories
Stories and reports from the world of US real estate
The Biden Administration proposed a series of actions yesterday intended to begin to address the country’s affordable housing problem. The proposal is a good start, and it’s encouraging to see the Administration paying attention to housing issues. Unfortunately, the Administration paints investors as the culprits in the lack of inventory available to first-time buyers and […]
Mortgage rates should be lower. Not just because that would be great for real estate investors and homebuyers, but because lower rates better reflect financial realities. One of those realities is that mortgage rates have been artificially inflated as a result of the government’s needless .5% Adverse Market Refinance fee (AMR fee), a fee that […]
After much speculation, the Federal Reserve has decided to move on interest rates. Not decisively, not rashly, and maybe not at all. Instead, the Fed has announced the possibility of two interest rate hikes by the end of 2023 while at the same time explaining they might not be necessary. Does this seem contradictory? You […]
Higher mortgage rates were widely expected this year, but so far it hasn’t happened. That’s great, but will our good luck continue? The real worry for real estate investors, property owners, and mortgage borrowers is that inflation above 2% might force interest rates higher. For much of the year this has not been an issue, […]
Home values have been soaring, powered in large measure by a visible and persistent lack of inventory. If you’re a property owner or real estate investor, the inventory shortage is no different from low mortgage rates or all-cash buyers — it’s a good thing. What makes the lack of inventory especially interesting is that it’s […]
Last month we asked if it was possible that eviction moratoriums from the federal government were illegal. “If you’re a real estate investor with rental properties you depend on monthly rental payments to cover the mortgage, taxes, repairs, and other costs. But what happens if the government says, nope, you can’t evict tenants who don’t […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is moving to ban most foreclosures until the start of 2022. But rather than extend existing moratoriums, the CFPB instead wants to change mortgage servicing rules. It’s a new way to regulate real estate financing but is it necessary? Foreclosure Moratoriums To this point the federal government has had […]
A new tax idea is floating around Washington, one unlikely to thrill real estate investors. The Biden Administration is considering a proposal to increase the long-term capital gains rate to as much as 39.6% for those earning at least $1 million. That percentage, plus a 3.8% tax on investment income, could mean a long-term capital […]
The announcement that fully vaccinated individuals need no longer wear a mask in most cases is a significant turning point in the fight against COVID-19. With the pandemic beginning to fade it also means that the economy can increasingly get back to normal. Something else has also happened, but this reality has generated few headlines […]
$25 billion in government funds are not enough to help landlords impacted by eviction moratoriums. Here are some things landlords can do to protect themselves
Foreclosed homes make great short-term rental properties — but you have to be careful where to do it. These seven cities may limit your returns.