How Will Tariffs Affect the US Housing Market As we head into the spring buying season, buyers and sellers are confused and curious about the effect of Trump’s import tariffs and how it will play out. Aside from potential higher building costs are a host of other factors that are discussed below. It’s not an…
US Jobs Outlook The March jobs report has shaken the Democrat media and is reaffirming the positive effect of tariffs and government waste control. March’s job growth wasn’t supposed to happen, and April’s might not be positive, but the re-industrialization plan looks to be on the mind’s of US and foreign companies. Most expect a…
Auto Insurance Rate Crisis in 2025 The Zebra Insurance company has published their 2025 insurance rate report and predictions. It seems auto insurance rates jumped substantially in 2023 and 2024. Their 2025 auto insurance rate projections are reduced which is wonderful for today’s cash strapped vehicle owners. Affordable auto insurance is an increasing problem for…
Compare Lowest Home Mortgage Rates Housing markets from Boston to Tampa to Los Angeles and Denver all crippled by the mortgage rate locked-in effect. Sellers can’t afford to sell their homes and adopt a new mortgage at a higher rate. For mortgage agents, it’s a frustrating situation as they wait for mortgage holders forced to…
Rate Forecast: Are Lower Mortgage Rates Ahead? Will the FED lower rates in Mid September? And by how much? The next FOMC meeting will take place on September 17-18, 2024. If you’re a mortgage agent, these promise to be some lucrative times ahead as the refinancing wave begins. Actually, it’s already started and the banks…
5 Year Forecast for the Housing Market What does the market crystal ball indicate about the 5 year outlook for US residential real estate markets? As the information below points out, the market is at its worst in 2024, mirroring 1992 numbers. Now it’s in waiting for a release from the shackles of high interest…
Sell My House Now! Now in late 2024, more owners are listing their homes. Everyone’s anticipating the unthawing of the market, and with that, you’ll have more competition for a good price. Prices have plateaued and could fall as a bit of recession takes hold. They all want to sell fast, yet buyers are reticent,…
Are Home Prices Going to Rise or Fall? The February housing market reports from Redfin, Zillow and NAR shows home prices are rising. Other reports show buyers are optimistic about buying, perhaps in 2024. And housing supply is growing via new construction and more resale homes being listed. If mortgage rates were to fall 1%,…
The Rolling Question of a Housing Market Downturn Another year has passed, with buyers and sellers asking whether the housing market could crash? Would that be a good event for buyers, the homeless, and as a launch pad for a 2024 housing market resurgence? There are economists and housing market experts who extoll the…
Gasoline Price Predictions As inflation persists and oil prices rise, the forecast for gasoline prices is as well. You might be very happy to own an EV. Gasoline prices are up 2.65% in the past 5 days, yet are down yet again 2% today. Can anyone possibly forecast gasoline prices? It seems they’re struggling which…
Unemployment Rate in the United States The Covid 19 pandemic interrupted a very positive reduction in the unemployment rate in the United states. 8 years of strong growth during the bull market stock market was crippled by the shutdowns. Now in late 2021, the economic recovery is beginning to deliver stronger job growth (4.8% unemployment…
Chicago Housing Market Update Buyer demand combined with lower construction output are helping to raise prices in the Chicago real estate market. Prices rose steeply in March 2021, as did the number of home sales. Similar to most housing markets across the country, housing supply and big demand from millennials wanting to buy at low…
Illinois and Greater Metro Chicago Real Estate The months of January and February revealed the Illinois housing market and especially Metro Chicago housing market performed much better. 2020 was starting in a promising rising direction with upward projections for the next 3 months. Now with the Covid 19 work shutdown, is Metro Chicago and Illinois…
Google Trends Keyword Search Reports Showing Sparks It’s normal to see search activity pick up as spring approaches, yet this year’s activity seems to be a little stronger. Kind of harkens back to the pre crash era where real estate was huge and people actually believed they could buy a home. Why do they search for…