Home Prices Hit New Highs in May 2023

In a surprising turn of events, home prices have soared to record heights in May 2023, according to the Black Knight Home Price Index. As we explore the reasons behind this surge, we uncover two significant factors influencing the housing market. A decline in new listings, coupled with the growing acceptance of higher interest rates among buyers, has contributed to the present situation. But where is the demand coming from amidst high prices and limited supply?

Why Prices Are Surging & Current Median Home Price

According to investment firm Black Knight Home Price Index, home prices hit a record high in May. Currently, 2023 is on pace to have about an 8.9% appreciation, which is not far off from some of…

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Zillow Weighs in on Housing Crisis: A Closer Look at the Challenges & Solutions



The housing crisis in our country has reached a critical point, and Zillow has stepped in to shed light on its severity. Many economists have attempted to determine the size of this crisis, with estimates ranging from 2 million to over 6 million homes. Zillow came up with a pretty common-sense approach and the number they came up with was about halfway in the middle, which was 4.3 million homes.

I really like the approach that they took which was based on their search volume and their search portal, alongside assessing the current housing demand. According to their findings, they believe there are 8 million families across the US in need of housing. However, the…

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Secure Your Future: Beat Inflation With Real Estate

“You will own nothing and be happy.” Owning nothing and being happy sounds like a crazy quote, but it seems to be coming to fruition in everyday life and you don't want to allow this to happen to you as an individual or as a family. Consider simple things we used to own, like VCRs and DVDs for movies. Nowadays, we merely rent a streaming service from Netflix or a movie from Amazon. These seemingly insignificant changes are contributing to more substantial shifts, like the declining rate of home ownership.

In a world where owning nothing seems like a radical concept, it's essential to consider the implications it might have on your future. As we witness shifts in everyday life, such as the…

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Is A Real Estate Bloodbath Coming? Insights and Potential Impacts



Is a real estate bloodbath coming? Barbara Corcoran, a real estate investor and a Shark Tank personality, recently stated that we are likely to experience a bit of a real estate bloodbath before this thing gets better. It's important to note that she is specifically referring to commercial real estate, not residential properties. The state of commercial real estate across the country is in significant trouble.

A Substantial Drop For Commercial But Not Residential

Barbara further explained that she believes we may witness a substantial 40% drop in commercial real estate values before they stabilize. I think she may be right, particularly on a national scale. However, locally, it is…

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Is Huntsville the Worst Alabama City to Invest in?

Is Huntsville the worst city in Alabama to invest in? You might be surprised by the answer. A recent study utilizing data from Zillow has raised some concerns about the investment potential of properties in Huntsville. While the study focuses primarily on cash flow, it overlooks a crucial aspect of investment properties—appreciation. In fact, when you consider the strong appreciation rates and the multiplier effect of leveraging your money in Huntsville, this city emerges as a top contender for high returns. So, before dismissing Huntsville as an unfavorable investment destination, let's delve deeper into the factors that truly matter for investors.

Considerations in Zillow Study

Cap…

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Housing Starts Surge and Builder Confidence Increases in May

In May 2023, there was an impressive 8.5% month-over-month increase in single-family housing starts. However, compared to the previous year, there was a decline of 6.6%.

There is also good news regarding building permits, which saw a 4.8% month-over-month increase. This indicates positive prospects for future housing supply in the country. Builders are currently more confident about the housing market, as reflected in a 5-point month-over-month increase in builder sentiment. Their confidence stems from the improvement in the supply chain and the high demand for housing, despite elevated interest rates.

Builders are currently feeling extremely confident in housing demand and expect…

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Affordable Housing Crisis Continues to Widen

Median Family Income & Housing Supply

You know we're facing a housing crisis in this country, but how is that affecting the average family in the US? The median family income in the US is sitting at $75,000. By definition, that means 51% of the family households in the US are making $75,000 or below. Taking into account today's interest rates, a family with the median income can afford to purchase a home priced at $256,000. For the housing market to be balanced and to be affordable, we would need 51% of available housing in the US to be at or below that $256,000 price point. Unfortunately, we're nowhere close to that here in the US.

We're at less than half of that, we're actually sitting at…

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