Real Estate News: Real Estate Investing Podcast

It could be a do or die lawsuit for the real estate industry. A home seller in Minnesota filed a class action lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors for anti-competitive behavior. If he prevails, the business of buying and selling homes in the US could be vastly different than it is now. Inman contributor, Robert Hahn, says that Realtor associations would disappear, the MLS might die off, and the entire infrastructure of the residential real estate business would have to be reinvented.

A new study reveals that by the end of the century, a rise in the sea level could cause much more damage along the California coast than that of wildfires or earthquakes. The study is the first to analyze the potential damage caused by a higher sea level combined with big weather events. So if you own property near the coast, you might want to sell it within 80 years.

A major overhaul of the National Flood Insurance Program is finally underway in Congress. It’s been in desperate need of reform for years as storms grow more severe and the program falls into more debt. The new plan is expected to increase insurance rates in flood-prone areas. It could also impact home values in those areas, but the cost to insure individual homes will more accurately reflect the ongoing risk.

In this week's Real Estate News in Brief... home price appreciation slows while rent growth surges, senior equity hits a new high, and cities where residents find happiness.

Fed Chief Jerome Powell recently offered his opinion on the economy in a rare broadcast interview. It’s not unheard of for a Fed Chief to do a media interview, but this one comes at a time when there’s been much criticism about the Federal Reserve’s decision to hike short term interest rates. He reiterated in his interview, that rate hikes are on hold. He also spoke about the health of the economy, true unemployment numbers, and potential risks the Fed is monitoring.

One of the nation’s biggest landlords is going on a buying spree this year, for single-family rentals. Amherst Residential plans to expand its footprint with the purchase of 10,000 single family homes. That’s good for Amherst investors, but maybe not so great for our tight inventory. There’s also an article The Atlantic that says institutional landlords are “not” that popular among tenants.

California lawmakers are tackling the housing shortage with a slew of bills to promote the building of more apartments. One is an upgraded version of a bill that died in committee last year. Both bills override local zoning rules to allow more development near transit stops and business districts but the new version addresses some of the concerns that killed the first version. It’s all part of an ambitious plan by Governor Newsom to build millions of new homes in the next several years.

In this week's Real Estate News in Brief… we have trillions in new housing market value, big gains for home equity, and a new PropTech home in the Northeast. www.NewsForInvestors.com

The massive $1.5 trillion tax cut package has now had one year to work its magic on the U.S. economy, but instead of an expected economic boom, some economists are calling it a bust. One of the biggest changes in the federal tax code was a reduction in corporate taxes from 35% to 21%. That was supposed to boost corporate spending and hiring plans, and contribute to U.S. economic growth, but a new survey shows there were few long-term benefits.

Technology is changing our lives in countless ways, including the length of time we have on this planet. Humanity is fast approaching a new vortex of artificial intelligence and data collection that will turn our “life spans” into “health spans.” Engineer, physician, and entrepreneur Peter Diamandis calls it the “Next Data-Driven Healthtech Revolution” that will make a hundred years old feel like just sixty. But watch out! Living that long may also put you in the poor house if you’re not prepa

The multifamily market is looking good this year as rental demand grows. Fannie Mae’s 2019 Multifamily Market Outlook shows the number of units coming online this year will peak at 453,000. That’s much higher than the previous two years. It says positive job growth is one of the factors driving up demand, but investors need to keep an eye on individual markets.

Oregon has become the first state in the nation to adopt statewide rent control rules. Governor Kate Brown approved the law to help tenants struggling with affordability issues, but real estate investors say her plan will backfire because it will ultimately reduce the amount of affordable housing. Rent control is an ongoing battle in many states that are now watching to see how this one plays out in Oregon.

In this week's Real Estate News in Brief… we have taxpayer sticker shock, single-family rent increases, and a misunderstand deal between Amazon and New York. www.NewsForInvestors.com

This may be a strong year for the home renovation business, although companies that offer those services are cautiously optimistic. The latest reports on the state of the renovation industry show a majority of those companies expect revenue growth, but they have mixed opinions about the economy. Rising business costs are their biggest concern. Many also feel the economy could begin to deteriorate, which could impact homeowner decisions about remodeling plans.

Real estate technology is poised for take-off. It’s involves any kind of technology that’s involved with real estate, and will change the way everyone interacts with the industry. Proptech has already given us many new tools, but venture capitalists are pouring money into proptech startups that are ready to revolutionize the way we conduct our real estate business.