Young Entrepreneur Risks $1.5M Loan, Builds 51k‑sq‑ft Storage
In 2016 we broke ground on our first self storage development. I had just turned 27 and had personally guaranteed a $1.5 million loan to make this happen. We put in about $500k of our own cash (from a small business we had been running for 5 years) and $500k of family/friends capital. 51,000 rentable square feet. Wide eyed, crazy and taking a larger risk than we realized. That is my dad on the right and my uncle on the left next to my partner and I. Both instrumental.
Compass Merger Triggers 110 Layoffs; Anywhere HQ Available
If you work for #Anywhere in #MadisonNJ, you might want to polish up your resume. Merger w/#Compass costs 110 jobs at combined #brokerage giant. 270KSF Anywhere HQ up for lease. #realestate #MandA #mortgage #NJ #layoffs #JLL #RobertReffkin https://t.co/4SsKTtsrg2
Choosing Infill and Mountain Sites to Cut Construction Costs
This undershoots the mark. At @americanhousing we're already under these (in some places) Because conventional methods are labor intensive, construction is higher in places with: 1) High rents 2) Scarce labor That's why we're building in: 1) Infill Cities 2) Mountain towns
Japanese Builders Accelerate U.S. Homebuilder Acquisitions
Japan’s big bet on the U.S. housing market got even bigger last week Japanese builders are rapidly acquiring U.S. homebuilders—now Daiwa House is buying United Homes That came just 10 days after Japan-based Sumitomo Forestry said it's buying Tri Point Homes...
Florida Inventory Dips; Connecticut Buyers Still Stuck
Florida is one of the few places where active inventory is down a little year-over-year right now Also: Connecticut homebuyers still can't catch a break Analysis via @ResidentialClub https://t.co/cp8T0N2iHu https://t.co/OFTPOagq2t
Discard Outdated Housing Debt Bubble Narrative
You have to let go of the housing debt bubble premise from the past — that's an old battle that no longer exists, you're chasing a ghost here. https://t.co/DV4aV0RuyM
Homeowner Numbers Stagnant; New Laws Fuel Economic Shift
That is not the scale of homeowners in America for 15 years now. The QM laws of 2010 and the 2005 BK reform law changed a lot for American economics https://t.co/SfPRuod5EC
Rising PITI Costs Shatter 2020‑24 Sales Threshold
Total PITI costs surged for housing and in a QM lending environment that was set to crush sales. I had a price model limit for 2020-2024: if we didn't surpass 23% during those five years, we would be okay; we...
Fannie Mae Predicts Steady 6% Mortgage Rates Through 2027
Fannie Mae: Get use to these mortgage rates Fannie Mae's forecast for the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate: Q3 2026 --> 6.0% Q4 2026 --> 6.0% Q1 2027 --> 6.0% Q2 2027 --> 6.0% Q3 2027 --> 6.0% Q4 2027 --> 6.0%
Opendoor's Sacramento Margins Remain Razor‑thin Despite Improvement
Pulled some #Opendoor stats in Sacramento. They are doing better than a few years ago, but some razor thin margins. This is the dollar difference between acquisition price and resale price. Real estate fees, holding costs, credits, & repairs costs...
Mortgage Rates Set for Volatile Swings Amid Global Uncertainty
My biggest takeaway right now regarding mortgage rates is to expect heightened volatility. They will likely bounce around a lot more than normal thanks to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The good news is 30-year fixed rates remain near ~3-year...
Walk Away When Bridge Debt, Low DSCR, Thin Yield Spread
Here’s how to identify when a deal is too risky: Sometimes the deals you don’t do are more important than the deals you do This 40-unit deal that I underwrote a while ago had 4 major deal breakers 1. Having to take...
Homeownership Isn't the Only Path to Millennial Wealth
If you’re a millennial, you need to stop believing that owning a home is the ONLY way to build wealth. It is just one part of the puzzle and an optional one at that. If you can’t own a house,...
Median-Income Americans Can Afford Only Modest Homes
This chart shows the = home price an American household on a median income can afford. More at today's Chartbook Top Links: https://t.co/1bNlhKyjp5
Youth Group Targets Jonathan Chu over Chinatown Displacement
Engquist: Landlord derangement syndrome in #Chinatown? #YouthAgainstDisplacement tries to make a villain out of #realestate figure #JonathanChu, w/#dimsum #restaurant in middle. #JingFong #NYC #CRE #MuesumofChineseinAmerica #NYC #realestate https://t.co/eECp9ouAPX
Florida Condos Diverge: $60K Loss vs 11% Gain
Florida condo owners lost $60,000 in equity in one year. Orlando condo owners gained 11%. Same state. Same year. I break down exactly why — and what happens next. https://t.co/fY7zpTVEkE
Chicago Investor Secures Third Multifamily Property in Year
In long-term bet, Chicago investor buys third multifamily property in city in less than a year https://t.co/6uKHH6SzQR
US Homebuilding Follows Demand, Halts at 120K Units
As a country, we simply don't ever build on a supply-first model; we only build based on our demand curve. This is why the builders pause when total completed units for sale just hit 120K, for decades https://t.co/S6RwyAA3hO
Homeowners Cling to Low Rates, yet Many Still Move
Given this situation, millions of Americans could afford and even need to move, but they stay in homes they no longer want because they do not want to lose their low mortgage rates. Yet each quarter, people have given up...
Atlanta Condos Plunge 25%, Buyers Find Bargains
Atlanta condo down 25% from peak value. Seller taking $40k loss. And now listed at pre-pandemic pricing. The condo market in many cities is getting smoked right now. (with some decent buying opportunities starting to show up). In this case - the HOA fee is...
Home Sellers Relist Fastest in Decade Amid Low Supply
Home sellers are relisting properties at fastest pace in a decade, but spring supply is still low https://t.co/nuOAzLHBun
Airbnb Purchases Deliver Tax Breaks, Depreciation, Passive Income
The smartest clients I’ve helped buy Airbnbs purchased for Tax Benefits of owning Real Estate 100% Bonus depreciation Owning Long Term Passive Income Last
From $1 Shoe Salesman to Nation's 2nd Largest Apartment Owner
The story of Morgan Properties is one of those "only in America" stories -- started by a shoe salesman in 1985 putting down $1 to buy 3 suburban Philly apartment properties, and growing it into the nation's 2nd largest apartment...
Housing Market Tightens, Home Receives 94 Offers
The housing market has tightened a little lately. I’m not saying it’s 2021 again. I’m just saying supply and demand have squeezed together a little. More thoughts on my weekly blog along with a discussion about that one home that...
War in Iran and Inflation Push Mortgage Rates Near 6%
Today’s podcast discusses a theory of mine on why #mortgagerates are near 6%, with hotter inflation data and the war with Iran driving up oil prices. @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #economics #realestate #housing #chartdaddy
Record Low Sales Set Stage for Modest Rebound
Home Sales & Home Prices Keep Dropping In BC & Ontario: The Sales May Improve Even If Prices Keep Falling The February Home Sales Numbers continue to look awful just like January But here's the thing about horribly low numbers: eventually the...
Restricting Bank Foreclosure Threatens New‑Build Lending
I understand the principle of precluding large firms from buying existing homes. They do “compete” with young families and raise prices. But the ROAD to Housing needs to be **clearly** re-written. Preventing "investors" from owning homes they built not only affects...
Sergey Brin Joins Tech Elite with $51M Miami Purchase
Another boldface #tech name decamps to #SoFla. #Google cofounder #SergeyBrin pays $51M for waterfront home of #LVMH boss #MichaelBurke on #AlisonIsland, joining the #Zuckerbergs+fellow Google creator #LarryPage. #realestate #mortgage #Miami #CoconutGrove https://t.co/3BfAXAnLCz
Second‑Generation Restaurant Spaces Offer Ready‑Made Opportunity
Touring a second-generation restaurant in Dupont Circle today and I’ve been getting a lot of calls about it. 3,700 square feet across two floors on Connecticut Ave with the Dupont Metro two minutes away. Second-generation restaurants create real opportunity because the infrastructure...
Harbour Centre Posts $234M Loss, Skips Dividend
Harbour Centre Development Limited 2025 Final Results: • Group loss attributable to equity shareholders amounted to $234 million (2024: $70 million) • Attributable loss to equity shareholders per share was $0.33 (2024: $0.10) • no dividend for the year ended 31 December 2025 https://www1.hkexnews.hk/search/titlesearch.xhtml?lang=en
Homebuyer Demand Hits Record Low, Price Cuts Needed
Reventure's Homebuyer Demand Index just updated for the first week of March. The monthly reading stayed at 6/100. The 3-month rolling average dropped to 8/100. 50 is "normal". Note that during the last crash, the index never dropped below 29/100. Indicating just...
Retiring Boat Repair Business Offers Property for Sale
It’s not easy finding a good boat repair company. These business owners have done great but are looking to retire making this property for sale or lease. 🚤 https://t.co/sqmJLB9Tl1
Homebuilders Cut Starts, Offer Incentives Amid Low‑Ball Offers
Atlanta Fed Beige Book: “Homebuilders pulled back on housing starts and utilized incentives to shrink speculative inventory. Some builders reported home buyers shopping around for the best deals and often presented “low-ball” offers. This is especially true in the entry-level...
First‑time Buyers Now 40; Delaying Assets Stalls Wealth
The average first-time homebuyer is almost 40 now. If young people don’t start owning assets, they’ll never build wealth...
Turn Distressed Assets Into Home Runs with Yield‑based Underwriting
How do I underwrite deals to ensure that (if I get my offer price) the deal ends up being a home-run? This is how. This is a real deal I submitted an offer on a while ago. 56 units, priced at...
Early-Year Listings Stagnate; Sellers Tentatively Re‑Enter Market
In recent years we've seen more new listings between January and February, but that wasn't the case this year. Just something on my radar. On one hand, we've started to see sellers come back to the market, but I'm not...
Starbucks Proximity Boosts Real Estate Investment Returns
Do you pay attention to Starbucks proximity for residential or commercial real estate investing? Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more on build-to-rent and real estate investing. #realestate #investmentproperty #buildtorent #starbucks
Give Homebuyers First Refusal, Keep Investor Exit Valve
Potential compromise on single-family investor ban: Give individual homebuyers a "first right of refusal" on home listings for 30 days before investors (of any size) can make offer. (And fully exempt BTR.) The "first dibs" rule would advantage individuals, but also protect...
Rent Cuts Trigger Nationwide Landlord Sell‑offs
Investors are selling properties after months of cutting rent. And it's happening all over the U.S. The owner here is a Wall Streeet Landlord. They purchased for 195k in 2012 and have rented it out ever since. And rent has gone...
Mayor Mamdani's Optimism Cracks over Tax and Housing Plan
Engquist: Ding ding ding. Cracks appear in the resolutely optimistic #MayorMamdani's armor as qs rise over prop #taxes+#Sunnyside #affordablehousing. #realestate #CRE #multifamily #NYC #Queens https://t.co/SKMyuFhL5X
Purchase Applications Rise YoY, Five Weeks Double‑Digit Growth
Yes, it's true that even with the snow this year which is melting away, purchase application data is up year over year every week this year, with 5 weeks showing double-digit growth. @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #realestate #housing #mortgagerates #chartdaddy
Mortgage Rates Hover Near 5% as Jobs Data Looms
Mortgage rates have eased back toward the 5s today, potentially due to oil transport assurances from the President. The 30-year fixed is just 8 bps away from a 5-handle again, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Jobs report on Friday...
Investors' Small‑Bay Industrial Vision vs Harsh Reality
How institutional investors think small bay industrial looks like vs what is does look like https://t.co/eLj2NHCCOQ
City’s First Use of Eminent Domain Revealed
Where this hole exists is the first time I have seen the city use eminent domain to obtain a property https://t.co/Zfy8HrAEcZ
NAHB Warns Congressional Housing Bill Will Curb Supply
National Association of Home Builders: The Congressional housing package being pushed through right now would HURT housing supply NAHB: The latest version of the bill would 'undermine' build-to-rent construction The @NAHBhome email obtained by @PunchbowlNews/@BrendanPedersen 👇
Revealing Our Decade-Long Real Estate Due Diligence Blueprint
The Crown Jewel Regular readers know that we created our original due diligence checklist in ~'14, on the advice of an experienced real estate investor who became our largest 3rd party property management client. (What's a "due diligence checklist"? It's a long...
Mortgage Rates Nearing Sub‑6% Despite Week’s Volatility
Even with all the madness of this week #mortgagerates are almost back below 6% #realestate #housing #chartdaddy #mortgagespreads
Housing Market Tightens, Competition Returns to Pre‑2020 Levels
Is the housing market getting tighter? Yes. Supply and demand have squeezed together over the past few months, so competition levels are now are at pre-2020 norm levels (instead of being softer). I'll write more about this tomorrow. Any thoughts?...
Fast‑track Housing Startup Leaves Dozens Unfinished Near Austin
Boom to bust. Onx Homes came to Austin MSA in 2022—backed by $167 million in investor capital—w/ a plan to deploy a rapid construction process (builds completed in under 60 days) Now several dozen of its half-built homes are sitting neglected about...
10-Year Yield Stagnates
10-year yield action this week 🥱 considering all that has happened, maybe jobs Friday changes that https://t.co/30TFujFiHs