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A Narrative of The Housing Economy

Homework: What’s Going On With Mortgage Rates?

Time to read [4 minutes] Takeways Tariffs are hurting the economy: Weaker job market and rising household costs, with key prices up sharply. Fed rate cut likely: 90% chance for a 25 basis point cut, lowering recession odds and keeping mortgage rates steady or lower. Housing outlook unclear: Mortgage rates are already dropping and housing demand is rising, but tariffs keep prices high...

Two Years Later, Airbnb Law In NYC Solves Privacy, But Not Affordability 

Time to read [6 minutes] Takeways NYC Multiple Dwelling Law strengthened by Local Law 18 in 2023, dropping Airbnb's NYC rental share from 4% to 0.3% The crackdown satisfied hotel owners (with hotel rates rising 7%) and permanent residents, who no longer face rotating shortterm visitors next door Despite the intent to lower rents and increase affordability, these laws did not make NYC housing more...

‘Ugly Signs’ Were A Precursor To Opendoor

Time to read [5 minutes] Takeways Ugly Sign Marketing Works Despite Unprofessionalism iBuyers As A More Polished Platform To Get Cash For A House Risks and Tradeoffs Are Numerous In The Ugly Sign World Every so often, I see amateurish signs with catch phrases like "We Buy Houses" or "We Pay CASH For Houses" planted at intersections around my region. The one below that I snapped has a typo, which...

Relax, Sales Blow Up All The Time

Time to read [5 minutes] Takeways Seller Leverage Dwindles, Especially In Texas and Florida Surging Cancellations Tied To 2022 Rate Hikes And Uncertainty “Record” Rate Claim By Redfin Only Spans Nine Years Business Insider has a good story on sales that fall through: Seller Beware. As inventory expands, sellers are losing their dominance in the transaction, and those slow to react to more...

Hard Money (Private Mortgage) Lending Is Trying To Be A Solution

Time to read [5 minutes] Takeways (powered by Perplexity) Private mortgage lenders fill the gaps left by traditional banks Technologydriven private lenders provide faster underwriting and closings The growth of private mortgage lending opens new opportunities for reputable appraisers As I've written about in the past, private mortgage lending (not to be confused with private banking) has been a...

The American Dream, Whip It Good

Time to read [5 minutes] The Devo Song "Whip It" Is Oddly About The American Dream The Song Was About Avoiding Being Duped By The American Dream Relocating To Downsize Is Determined By Highest And Best Use It's the day before the long holiday weekend, and I needed some levity. I just read a fun Wall Street Journal piece on Devo Frontman Mark Mothersbaugh on the Double Meaning of 'Whip It' [gift...

Buying A Pizza With A House As The Topping

Time to read [4 minutes] Homeowners are developing rituals to celebrate, like ordering pizza The drive from the closing to the house with the keys is pretty special You'll never forget closing on that first house, and wonder how you got there Labor Day is nearly upon us, and so is pizza, so let's keep it short and festive. When we closed on our first house, the agent took our picture in front of...

Bidding Wars And The Winner’s Curse

Time to read [6 minutes] Bidding Wars Are Auctions And Winners Behave Differently Than Losers Chronic Shortage Of Listing Inventory Is Easing But Bidding Wars Remain Prevalent Nearly One In Five US Sales Sells Above The Ask I have often told the story of our efforts to buy our present home three years ago in a Connecticut housing market devoid of listings. We beat 30 people and paid about 36%...

What Does The Stigma Of 666 Really Mean?

Time to read [5 minutes] I Doubt Having An Address Of 666 Will Damage Value The Epstein Mansion Value Was Not Hurt By Its Stigma A Plane Crashing Into A Condo Has Not Hurt Values In Building Yesterday, there was an article about a Sackler family heir's triplex on Park Avenue that might be listed. If you remember, the Sackler family was sued because they "owned, directed, and profited" from Purdue...

The Wealth Gap Is Driving More Luxury Housing

Time to read [5 minutes] The Wealth Gap Is Expanding Rapidly The Top 1% Own 50% Of The Financial Markets Luxury Real Estate Is Likely To Fair Better Than The Remainder A while back, I wrote about how the outlook for luxury housing seemed better than for the remainder of the housing market. One of the drivers of its outsized performance was the expanding wealth gap, which is a generational change...