What I'm Reading Exodus: More California companies have already moved their headquarters out of the state this year than in all of 2020. While businesses often attribute their California exit to regulations like high taxes and increasing utility costs, other reasons may sound similar to individuals leaving the state, such...
September 1st – Spread Out
What I'm Reading Spread Out: In a substantial shift from the past decade, more Americans now say that they prefer a community with big houses even if local amenities are farther away. Part of this is due to Millennial household formation and part is due to the pandemic. However, the...
August 31st – Double Edged Sword
What I'm Reading Double Edged Sword: Almost everyone claims to want more affordable housing but there is little will to actually achieve it. In reality there is no widespread affordable housing without a decline in property values and no politician gets elected to statewide office by promising to slash real...
August 30th – Overloaded
One Big Thing Overload: Harvard University's "The State of the Nation's Housing 2021" report found, unsurprisingly that the nation's affordable housing crisis is getting worse. What is perhaps more troubling is that current economic and market conditions indicate that there is no end in sight. Globe Street That brings us...
August 5th – Overreach
What I'm Reading Overreach: The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a new, targeted federal eviction ban to replace the one that expired over the weekend despite recently admitting that it had no legal standing to do so thanks to an earlier Supreme Court decision. Politico What strikes me as particularly...
July 22nd – Turning Japanese
What I'm Reading Turning Japanese: Not that long ago, global overpopulation was a popular fear. That is no longer the case and global birth trends point towards the opposite, especially in the developed world. The long term aging trend will have many implications, not the least of which is deflationary...
July 19th – Micro Marketing
What I'm Reading Micro Marketing: Cities have historically tried to increase job opportunities by trying to attract large companies with tax incentives. In the post COVID remote work world, cities are increasingly focusing their marketing efforts on appealing to individuals who already have a job but are looking for a...
June 17th – Hold The Line
What I'm Reading Holding the Line: The bid/ask gap between buyers and sellers of property types impacted by the pandemic is closing, with buyers mostly meeting seller demands. However, substantial gaps still exist in some markets. Sellers refusing to meet buyers' expectations on price over the past year is a...
June 11th – Sweet Spot
One Big Thing Topping Out: Economic data is beginning to show signs that the recent surge in US inflation is peaking, despite higher than expected CPI readings that were heavily influenced by massive inflation in used cars. Capital Spectator The second half of this year could be really interesting if...
June 2nd – Big Wave?
One Big Thing For years, people wanted to live in places where it is the most difficult to build, driving prices in those regions up. Now, with remote and hybrid work a possibility, buyers are aiming their sights towards larger properties in the exurbs and builders are struggling to keep...