Welcome to real estate insights born from many years “in the trenches.” This site cuts through the theory to deliver down-to-earth, field-tested advice for homeowners, buyers, and industry pros—covering everything from buying and selling to investing and development. It’s all practical knowledge for making smarter property decisions.
Up-to-date analysis, forecasts, and news on national housing market trends and developments.
If you’re an independent landlord, or you represent one, June’s rent payment numbers might catch your attention.
According to Chandan Economics’ latest monthly tracker, only 84.3% of independently managed rental units were paid on time last month. That’s down 85 basis points from May and marks a 23-month streak of year-over-year declines in on-time payment rates. The report, based on data from RentRedi covering 73,502 units, shows a clear downward trend that landlords can’t afford to ignore.
It’s no secret that affordability is a concern almost everywhere, but according to ATTOM’s Q1 2025 Special Housing Risk Report, certain U.S. counties are showing more signs of vulnerability than others. Topping the list? California and New Jersey.
In total, 23 of the 50 most at-risk housing markets were in those two states—14 in California and 9 in New Jersey—according to the report, which considered home affordability, seriously underwater mortgages, foreclosures, and unemployment rates.
If you were hoping for some bright spots in the real estate market this summer, you’re not alone—so was Dr. Lawrence Yun.
Yesterday, I attend the Economic Issues & Trends Forum at NAR’s Mid-Year Meetings in Washington D.C. at which, Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors, opened with a bit of candor: “I thought at this conference I would share some good news with you. Home sales are rising. Momentum is building. But we are not seeing that”.
Condo Market Hits a Decade Low for Investors—Is It an Opportunity for You?
Investor interest in U.S. condos has dropped to its lowest level in ten years, according to newly released data, with only 8,509 units purchased nationwide in Q1 2025. That marks a 3% year-over-year decline—and aside from the early-pandemic freeze, it’s the weakest quarter for condo investor activity in a decade.
Sun Belt Buyers Finally Have the Upper Hand—For Now
If you’re house hunting this spring, your experience might hinge on where you’re looking. According to new data from Zillow, there are major differences in how competitive local markets are, and that might be the edge buyers have been waiting for in certain parts of the country.
After declining sharply during the pandemic, foreclosure activity in the U.S. is continuing its slow but steady return to pre-COVID levels. According to ATTOM’s newly released April 2025 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, foreclosure filings, including default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions, hit 36,033 nationwide last month. That’s a slight 0.4% uptick from March, but a more notable 13.9% increase from a year ago.
While that number still doesn’t come close to the monthly volumes we saw during the Great Recession, it’s the direction, and persistence, of the trend that’s worth watching. Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, summed it up plainly: “April’s foreclosure activity continued its gradual climb, with both starts and completions up annually… the year-over-year increases may suggest that some homeowners are beginning to feel the effects of persistent economic pressures”.
Housing affordability isn’t what it used to be—no surprise there. But according to a new analysis from Realtor.com, some states are still holding their own when it comes to the balance between home prices, income, and new construction. And a few names at the top of the list may surprise you.
South Carolina snagged the top spot as the most affordable state in the country, earning an overall “A” with a relatively low median price ($354,429), reasonable income-to-price ratio, and—here’s the kicker—a negative new construction premium. That means new homes there are actually selling for less than existing ones, which is about as rare as a stress-free appraisal these days.
Private listing networks are once again under the spotlight, this time drawing fire from consumer advocates who say the practice restricts market access and tilts the playing field in favor of large brokerages. In an April 14 statement, the Consumer Policy Center (CPC) called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate how these networks — often referred to as “office exclusives” — may be enabling anticompetitive behavior. The CPC highlighted Compass specifically, citing its push to privately market listings early and selectively, in ways that may reduce competition and limit consumer choice.
According to the CPC report, Compass has made clear its intent to market new listings aggressively and without restraint while still maintaining access to the major real estate portals — like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com — if a buyer isn’t found through its internal network. The report describes a concerning pattern where listings are publicly marketed through signs, emails, or social media, yet withheld from the MLS. Experts cited in the report say this creates a two-tier system: listings are first offered to in-house agents or select brokers, and only later — if needed — opened up to the wider marketplace. The CPC argues that this limits transparency and could lower sale prices by reducing the pool of potential buyers.
According to a new study released today by Chandan Economics, analyzing data from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, Texas, California, and Florida lead the nation with the highest numbers of homeowners under the age of 35. However, the states boasting the largest proportions of young homeowners, relative to their total housing market, offer more intriguing insights into first-time homebuyer trends. Topping this list are Utah, Alaska, and Iowa, where young adults under 35 represent over 10% of all homeowner households, indicating lower barriers to entry for younger buyers.
Interestingly, states with thriving job markets and higher average wages—such as Washington D.C., California, and New York—rank lowest for under-35 homeowner density. Despite higher earning opportunities, young professionals in these regions often opt for renting over homeownership due to prohibitive costs. These findings underscore the ongoing balance younger households must strike between career opportunities and achievable homeownership, particularly in high-cost, economically vibrant regions (See charts below).