Real Estate From The Trenches

Investor-Owned Homes Hit 5-Year High, But It’s Not Who You Might Think

December 6, 2025

According to the Q2 2025 Investor Pulse™ Report from BatchData, investors accounted for 33% of all single-family home purchases in the U.S., the highest share in five years. That jump from 27% in Q1 might sound alarming to some, but the full picture is a bit more nuanced. Yes, investors bought one-third of the homes sold last quarter, but who those investors are, and what they’re buying, is the more important story.

Despite headlines often pointing fingers at Wall Street firms, it’s the “mom-and-pop” investors driving this trend. BatchData’s report shows that individuals owning one to five properties make up a staggering 87% of investor-owned single-family homes nationwide. When you include those holding up to 10 properties, that number jumps to 91%. The big institutions? They own just 2% of investor-held homes and have been net sellers for six quarters in a row. In Q2, they sold 5,801 homes while only buying 4,069.

Buyer’s Markets Are Back: Where Home Shoppers Hold the Cards Again

November 10, 2025

Buyers Markets In the U.S. - Hottest Markets

Buyers Regain Leverage in More Markets—But Not Everywhere

It’s been a long time since homebuyers had the upper hand, but in some parts of the country, the tide is turning. According to a new report from Realtor.com, a growing number of major U.S. metros have crossed into buyer’s market territory, meaning supply has outpaced demand and buyers are finally in a position to negotiate again.

Still Chasing the Dream, But Paying the Price in Florida

November 9, 2025

Florida Home Prices - Floridians Fleeing Florida

The idea of the American Dream is still alive in Florida, but for many, it’s looking more like a high-priced subscription than a birthright. According to the latest survey from Florida Atlantic University’s Business and Economic Polling Initiative, 53% of Floridians still believe the American Dream holds true. Another 54% believe their kids will probably or definitely have a better life than they did. But that optimism is being tested, and in many cases, it’s starting to crack under the weight of housing costs, inflation, and day-to-day financial pressure.

Nearly half of Floridians say they’ve thought about leaving the state because of how expensive it’s become. Housing affordability is top of mind: 80% are worried about it, and 77% still consider owning a home part of the American Dream, but only 51% believe they could realistically buy one today. Between home prices, interest rates, and down payment hurdles, buying a home has gone from a milestone to a moonshot for many middle-income households. Nearly 8 in 10 respondents said it’s harder to buy a home now than just five years ago.

Why Energy-Efficient Homes Still Don’t Get the Credit They Deserve

October 8, 2025

Energy Efficient homes dont get the credit they deserve

The market seems to be pushing for sustainability, but the system still hasn’t caught up. That disconnect is creating real issues for buyers, sellers, and agents.

According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Residential Sustainability Report, nearly half of the agents surveyed said they’ve worked with a green-featured home in the past year. Yet, 73% aren’t even sure whether local appraisers know how to value those features properly. If solar panels, high-efficiency systems, or smart home upgrades don’t show up in the valuation, the seller doesn’t benefit and the buyer may not realize what they’re getting.

Inflation Expectations Rise While Job Confidence Slips, Housing Holds Steady

October 7, 2025

There’s a growing disconnect between how consumers feel about inflation and how they feel about the job market, and it matters whether you’re a homeowner, investor, or a real estate agent trying to read the room. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s latest consumer expectations survey for September 2025, Americans are bracing for higher short-term inflation while confidence in job security continues to slide.

Inflation expectations ticked up to 3.4 percent over the next year, up from 3.2 percent in August, and even five-year expectations inched higher. That’s a sign that consumers aren’t fully buying into the idea that inflation is under control. Interestingly, the largest jump in short-term inflation expectations came from households earning under $50,000 and those with no more than a high school education. These are the same households most exposed to rising prices, and often the ones fueling demand in the rental market.

What Uber, Amazon, and Zillow All Have in Common (and Why It Should Worry Real Estate Agents)

September 16, 2025

Corporate squeeze on agents real estate commission

There’s a familiar pattern playing out across industries right now, and real estate agents are right in the thick of it, whether we realize it or not.

The research on Amazon and Uber’s fee evolution is eye-opening. Both platforms started by offering their users, sellers and drivers, low-cost access and the promise of big opportunities. Amazon took less than 10% from sellers back in 2006. Uber’s original commission rate was a flat 20%. Fast forward to 2025, and Amazon is taking roughly 45% of third-party sellers’ revenue. Uber drivers are seeing 30 to 40% of their fares siphoned off in fees.

Nevada, Florida, and South Carolina Lead Nation in Foreclosure Rates

September 12, 2025

U.S. Foreclosures Jump 18% in August, Sixth Straight Monthly Gain Foreclosure Completions Surge 41% as High Costs Squeeze Homeowners Nevada, Florida, and South Carolina Lead Nation in Foreclosure Rates

Foreclosure Activity Rises Again in August

Foreclosures ticked higher for the sixth straight month in August, according to ATTOM’s latest U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. Nearly 35,700 properties had a filing last month — up 18% from a year ago — even though filings dipped 1% from July.

Not a Crash, Not a Boom — Just a Market That’s Stuck

September 9, 2025

The national housing market is getting more complicated, not less. After nearly two years of steady inventory gains, many buyers and sellers expected more balance heading into fall — maybe even a little momentum. But what’s actually happening is more nuanced, and more telling: sellers are quietly backing off.

Delistings — homes pulled off the market without a sale — surged 57% year-over-year. In plain terms, a growing number of homeowners are giving up midstream. They’re not just lowering prices or sitting tight — they’re removing listings altogether, often because offers aren’t coming in, or the ones that do aren’t even close to expectations. In some metros, like Miami and Phoenix, more than one in every three or four listings is now ending in a delisting.

Split Market: Why Home Prices Are Rising in Some Cities but Falling in Others

August 18, 2025

Why Home Prices Are Rising in Some Cities but Dropping in Others

Depending on where you live, the housing market might feel hot, cold, or somewhere in between—and that’s not your imagination. According to Zillow’s latest data, home values are now rising in about half of the country’s major metros and falling in the other half. What’s behind this split? Mostly, it’s a mix of affordability, supply, and the ability—or inability—to build.

June Housing Trends Show More Listings, But Sellers Aren’t Backing Down

July 25, 2025

Buyers Are Getting the Edge—but Sellers Aren’t Giving In Just Yet

According to the Realtor.com June 2025 Monthly Housing Trends Report, buyers have more to look at this summer than they’ve had in years. Active inventory is up 28.9% from a year ago, marking the 20th straight month of gains and the second month in a row with over 1 million listings on the market. The report calls this a “new post-pandemic high”—but inventory is still 12.9% below pre-COVID levels, so it’s not exactly a buyer’s market yet.