What I'm Reading Sweet Spot: Tight market conditions and rising land and construction costs in many markets and port cities led to limited development limiting new supply while demand for industrial warehouse space has continued to grow. Even though industrial returns are expected to decline, it should continue to perform...
March 29th – Off to the Races
What I'm Reading Off to the Races: Through the first three months of the year, 2022’s national rent growth is outpacing 2021’s record rent growth, according to Zumper’s National Rent Report published last week. Zumper Its almost as if home ownership becoming completely unaffordable creates more renters or something. Time...
March 28th – The Laundromat
What I'm Reading The Laundromat: “In the United States, as in many countries, real estate is an attractive investment for kleptocrats looking to park dubiously sourced money, as it continues to be one of the least transparent industries. This lack of transparency, and the flood of corrupt and illegal cash...
March 25th – Pendulum Swinging
What I'm Reading Pendulum Swinging: Geopolitical stability and improvements in transportation and communications in recent decades allowed companies and countries to opt for what seemed to be the cheapest and easiest supply chain solutions rather than the most secure. Recent world events have revealed the risks of opting for inexpensive...
March 22nd – Upward Spiral
What I'm Reading Upward Spiral: Employment is strong and rents are rising quickly. People want to buy homes, in part to protect themselves against rising rents. The obvious answer is to build more homes. However, this is easier said than done thanks in part to a shortage of raw materials...
March 21st – Calm Before the (Next) Storm?
What I'm Reading Calm Before the (Next) Storm? In the first two months of 2022, the queue of ships waiting for Southern California berths fell, velocity of cargo moving through terminals increased and more boxes were unloaded at Southern California docks. However, part of the improvement may be due to...
March 17th – Up, Up and Away
What I'm Reading Up, Up and Away Part I: Demand for single-family rental homes is soaring, pushing prices to record highs, as Americans continue to want larger homes with outdoor spaces per the latest report from CoreLogic. Sunbelt cities like Miami and Phoenix are leading the charge. CNBC Up, Up...
March 16th – On Watch
What I'm Reading On Watch: There is a strong correlation between a dramatic rise in oil prices and recessions. Historically, not every recession is preceded by a 50% rise in oil but every 50% rise in crude has resulted in a recession but not for the reason that you may...
March 15th – Lockdown
What I'm Reading Political Risk: With the housing market tight and rents exploding higher in much of the country, an increasing number of municipalities are considering rent control measures. Wall Street Journal What is most astounding here is that this hasn't worked anywhere that its been tried and typically makes...
March 14th – Back from the Dead
What I'm Reading Back From the Dead: Congress seems poised to revive the EB-5 visa program with higher minimum investments. The reinstated program will also aim to crack down on gerrymandering of high-unemployment areas into shapes that include more prosperous places, which allowed developers a loophole to use the program...