Welcome to 2020! In this edition: How to do more work with less effort in 2020. It looks like Mortgage rates are continuing to rise, but will they hit a ceiling? And more and more permits are being taken out to create new homes. This and more below the fold!

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🎧 Latest Podcasts

• BiggerPockets Podcast 363: How to Work (Way) Less but Accomplish (Way) More in 2020 with Michael Hyatt

  • Will 2020 be your best year ever? Today’s episode has all the ingredients to make the answer a big, resounding “Yes!” Bestselling author and productivity expert Michael Hyatt is here, and he guides us through how real estate investors should approach the year ahead. You’ll love hearing how Michael’s

• JF1949: Building A Large Brokerage, Foreclosures, Management, & Commercial Real Estate with Devin Doherty

📖 Latest Blog Posts

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

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• New-Home Construction Activity Continues to Rise, as Builders Seek Even More Building Permits
  • The pace of home-building is still ramping up in the wake of this summer’s drop in interest rates.
• Mortgage Rates Went Up Again This Week—Will They Hit a Ceiling?
  • Interest rates for mortgages have risen roughly 0.25% since early September, but how much more can they increase?
• Mortgage Rates Hold Steady, but Economists Say Don’t Expect That to Last
  • Mixed economic data meant that interest rates on home loans remained unchanged this week.
• Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Will Soon Let Borrowers Take Out Mortgages Over $500K
  • The Federal Housing Finance Agency has raised the maximum conforming loan limit for the fourth straight year. Loan limits were set higher in all but 43 counties across the country.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

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• Should You Become a Section 8 Landlord? The Good, The Bad, & The Truth (Infographic)
  • Heard tales of guaranteed rent payments, courtesy of Section 8? Deposited by the government, and paying higher-than-market rents? If these stories perked up your ears, you’re not alone. Section 8 landlords can make good money, with a lower risk of rent defaults – at…
• How to Increase a Property’s Value: 11 Ideas to Boost Equity & Rents
  •   Looking for ways to raise your property value? Pricing in real estate has little to do with what you paid for the property, or how much you spent improving it. Real estate values and rents are based on one thing: what buyers and renters perceive the value to…
• Lifestyle Creep & Keeping Up with the Joneses: Why You’re Not Rich
  • Could you live on half your current income? Most people shake their heads and answer that it’s not possible. And yet there was probably a time when you did exactly that; you earned far less than you do today, and you managed to survive just fine. So what happened in…
• How to Negotiate with Contractors: The Definitive Guide
  • Dealing with contractors is one of the hardest parts of investing in real estate. The ones who actually return your calls promptly, show up on time for work, and complete jobs on-schedule? They charge a pretty penny for that basic level of professionalism. In fact,…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

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• Better Than BRRRR: Introducing the BRRRLO Model
  • By Shiloh Lundahl
• The No. 1 Wealth-Building Strategy (That Literally Everyone Should Be Using)
  • By Sergio Altomare
• 6 Life Laws That Will Make You Rich
  • By Brandon Turner

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

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• Future-Enabling Apartments with Internet
• How Technology is Saving the Day on the 4P’s of Marketing
• Strengthening the Senior and Affordable Housing Industries
• Online Chat Converts into Higher Set-Visit Ratio

🤓 From Reddit

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

---

• To all owners of 20+ properties: How do you monitor your portfolio?
  • current score on reddit: 128
• I didn’t know registering my name at new home construction sites (w/out my agent) would void my realtor and force me to use the builders agent. Is there a way around this??
  • current score on reddit: 102
• Is buying a house on 20 acres a bad idea for first time home owners?
  • current score on reddit: 93

Welcome to the final edition of the Weekly Digs for the year 2019! This week: mortgage rates remain steady, but expect that to change very soon. How to Get Your Spouse or Partner on Board with your big goals. How to rent your house with no headaches, and more below the fold.

Sign up for the Weekly Digs. Hot takes, Podcasts, and more. Every week, free

🎧 Latest Podcasts

• BiggerPockets Podcast 362: Big Goals? Here’s How to Get Your Spouse or Partner on Board with Jay and Wendy Papasan

  • “How do I get my spouse/partner on board with my real estate investing goals?” It’s the perfect time of year to think through exactly how to do that, and we have the perfect guests to offer some advice. Jay and Wendy Papasan run an annual couples’ goal-setting retreat in Austin, Texas. Today, they w

• JF1931: How You Can Rent Your House With No Headaches, Just Checks with Dave Friedman

  • Dave recently launched a new business venture in which he helps people rent their homes, hassle free. They help homeowners from A to Z with every aspect of turning your home into an investment property. Once they have placed a renter, they continue to do everything for the owner, and send them check

📖 Latest Blog Posts

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

---

• Mortgage Rates Hold Steady, but Economists Say Don’t Expect That to Last
  • Mixed economic data meant that interest rates on home loans remained unchanged this week.
• Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Will Soon Let Borrowers Take Out Mortgages Over $500K
  • The Federal Housing Finance Agency has raised the maximum conforming loan limit for the fourth straight year. Loan limits were set higher in all but 43 counties across the country.
• Mortgage Rates Increased Over the Last Week—and That Could Put a Damper on the Housing Market
  • The real-estate market has been slow to respond to the low interest rate environment, and rates appear to be on an upward trajectory.
• Pending Home Sales Fell in October—Mainly Because Buyers Couldn’t Find Houses
  • The National Association of Realtors attributed the downturn in contract signings to two factors: rising mortgage rates and a lack of homes for sale.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

---

• How to Increase a Property’s Value: 11 Ideas to Boost Equity & Rents
  •   Looking for ways to raise your property value? Pricing in real estate has little to do with what you paid for the property, or how much you spent improving it. Real estate values and rents are based on one thing: what buyers and renters perceive the value to…
• Lifestyle Creep & Keeping Up with the Joneses: Why You’re Not Rich
  • Could you live on half your current income? Most people shake their heads and answer that it’s not possible. And yet there was probably a time when you did exactly that; you earned far less than you do today, and you managed to survive just fine. So what happened in…
• How to Negotiate with Contractors: The Definitive Guide
  • Dealing with contractors is one of the hardest parts of investing in real estate. The ones who actually return your calls promptly, show up on time for work, and complete jobs on-schedule? They charge a pretty penny for that basic level of professionalism. In fact,…
• Where’s the Cheapest Real Estate in the US? Should You Invest in It?
  • Everyone loves a deal, an opportunity to acquire an asset at a low cost. When retailers cut their prices on Black Friday and Cyber Monday each year, frenzied shoppers crowd the store aisles to compete for the limited items on the shelves. And every year, the mania for…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

---

• 3 Reasons Newbie Investors Should Hire a Coach
  • By Erin Helle
• Frequently Asked Questions About Renting by the Room
  • By Ryan Deasy
• As a Long-Time Real Estate Investor, Here’s What I’d Do Differently If I Was Just Starting Out…
  • By M. Ian Colville

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

---

• Future-Enabling Apartments with Internet
• How Technology is Saving the Day on the 4P’s of Marketing
• Strengthening the Senior and Affordable Housing Industries
• Online Chat Converts into Higher Set-Visit Ratio

🤓 From Reddit

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

---

• Prices for a condo in Hong Kong. Too bad to be true.
  • current score on reddit: 295
• Lying Realtors – Fake Multiple Offers
  • current score on reddit: 147
• Millennials: how are are you planning to buy property…? Do we need to buy property…?
  • current score on reddit: 94

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are allowing investors to borrow over $500k now. We are not really sure what that means for the government, about-to-turn-private lender. In other news, Mortgage rates are rising again. And how to get financially independent using 3 house-hacks. This and more below the fold!

Get the latest Real Estate news weekly, for free. Become a part of the most knowledgable Real Estate investors today.

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

---

• Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Will Soon Let Borrowers Take Out Mortgages Over $500K
  • The Federal Housing Finance Agency has raised the maximum conforming loan limit for the fourth straight year. Loan limits were set higher in all but 43 counties across the country.
• Mortgage Rates Increased Over the Last Week—and That Could Put a Damper on the Housing Market
  • The real-estate market has been slow to respond to the low interest rate environment, and rates appear to be on an upward trajectory.
• Pending Home Sales Fell in October—Mainly Because Buyers Couldn’t Find Houses
  • The National Association of Realtors attributed the downturn in contract signings to two factors: rising mortgage rates and a lack of homes for sale.
• New-Home Sales Fell in October, but the Housing Market’s Trajectory Remains Positive
  • The numbers: Sales of newly-constructed homes in the U.S. decreased 0.7% on a monthly basis in October to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 733,000, the government reported Tuesday. However, the figure for

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

---

• How to Negotiate with Contractors: The Definitive Guide
  • Dealing with contractors is one of the hardest parts of investing in real estate. The ones who actually return your calls promptly, show up on time for work, and complete jobs on-schedule? They charge a pretty penny for that basic level of professionalism. In fact,…
• Where’s the Cheapest Real Estate in the US? Should You Invest in It?
  • Everyone loves a deal, an opportunity to acquire an asset at a low cost. When retailers cut their prices on Black Friday and Cyber Monday each year, frenzied shoppers crowd the store aisles to compete for the limited items on the shelves. And every year, the mania for…
• Can You Take Out a HELOC on an Investment Property?
  • Have some rental properties with equity in them, and want to access it to help you grow your real estate portfolio? One way to buy a rental property with no money down is to leverage equity in your other properties. That could mean a blanket loan against multiple…
• “I Rented Dirt”: How Scott Replaced His 9-5 Income with Land Investments
  • “Oh, I also had a few rental homes, but I mainly rented dirt.” So begins Scott Todd’s story, his journey from corporate manager to land investor to being able to cover his living expenses on land rental income alone. Scott reached financial independence in under a…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

---

• 3 House Hacks in 3 Years & Now I’m Financially Free—Here’s Exactly How I Did It
  • By Craig Curelop
• Affordable Housing Is the Golden Goose of My Real Estate Portfolio—Here’s Why
  • By Matt DeBoth
• How Real Estate Bubbles Form and Why They Pop
  • By Phil McAlister

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

---

• Future-Enabling Apartments with Internet
• How Technology is Saving the Day on the 4P’s of Marketing
• Strengthening the Senior and Affordable Housing Industries
• Online Chat Converts into Higher Set-Visit Ratio

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

---

• Rude Sellers (Update)
  • current score on reddit: 156
• Lesson learned: check permits BEFORE buying the house.
  • current score on reddit: 147
• Both parents passed away and I have inherited a payed off house
  • current score on reddit: 135

In this special Wednesday edition of the weekly digs, we see a lot of interesting things happening. Apparently housing sales in October weren’t as rosy as previously reported, mostly because buyers couldn’t find homes. And we take a look at negotiating with contractors. This and more below the fold!

Sign up now for insights, news, trends and hot takes every week in your inbox

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

---

• Pending Home Sales Fell in October—Mainly Because Buyers Couldn’t Find Houses
  • The National Association of Realtors attributed the downturn in contract signings to two factors: rising mortgage rates and a lack of homes for sale.
• New-Home Sales Fell in October, but the Housing Market’s Trajectory Remains Positive
  • The numbers: Sales of newly-constructed homes in the U.S. decreased 0.7% on a monthly basis in October to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 733,000, the government reported Tuesday. However, the figure for
• Home-Price Growth Picked Up in September
  • Home-price growth accelerated in September, marking two-straight months of price increases after a long period of decelerating gains.
• Existing-Home Sales Rebound 1.9% in October as Low Mortgage Rates Continue to Provide a Lift
  • The numbers: Sales of previously-owned homes rose 1.9% in October — the latest housing statistic to demonstrate the upward lift low mortgage rates have provided to the U.S. real-estate market.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

---

• How to Negotiate with Contractors: The Definitive Guide
  • Dealing with contractors is one of the hardest parts of investing in real estate. The ones who actually return your calls promptly, show up on time for work, and complete jobs on-schedule? They charge a pretty penny for that basic level of professionalism. In fact,…
• Where’s the Cheapest Real Estate in the US? Should You Invest in It?
  • Everyone loves a deal, an opportunity to acquire an asset at a low cost. When retailers cut their prices on Black Friday and Cyber Monday each year, frenzied shoppers crowd the store aisles to compete for the limited items on the shelves. And every year, the mania for…
• Can You Take Out a HELOC on an Investment Property?
  • Have some rental properties with equity in them, and want to access it to help you grow your real estate portfolio? One way to buy a rental property with no money down is to leverage equity in your other properties. That could mean a blanket loan against multiple…
• “I Rented Dirt”: How Scott Replaced His 9-5 Income with Land Investments
  • “Oh, I also had a few rental homes, but I mainly rented dirt.” So begins Scott Todd’s story, his journey from corporate manager to land investor to being able to cover his living expenses on land rental income alone. Scott reached financial independence in under a…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

---

• 3 House Hacks in 3 Years & Now I’m Financially Free—Here’s Exactly How I Did It
  • By Craig Curelop
• 3 Things I Learned From My First Hard Money Deal
  • By Ryan Deasy
• Have “Rich Dad Poor Dad” Lessons Stood the Test of Time? Here’s What the Book Misses…
  • By Ben Leybovich

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

---

• Future-Enabling Apartments with Internet
• How Technology is Saving the Day on the 4P’s of Marketing
• Strengthening the Senior and Affordable Housing Industries
• Online Chat Converts into Higher Set-Visit Ratio

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

---

• $600k home smells so bad, need some tips
  • current score on reddit: 137
• Attempting to Buy from Opendoor – we caught them in a lie, can we do anything about it?
  • current score on reddit: 104
• Purchased an investment property via Roofstock. Triple-checked that property was not part of an HOA. Now I learn they are part of an HOA — do I have any recourse?
  • current score on reddit: 101

October of 2019 was a great month for Real Estate. Home sales rebounded 1.9% to boost the overall sales for the year. And new home construction permits hit a pre-recession high in October. Also, can you take out a HELOC on an investment property? This and more below the fold.

Sign up for the hottest newsletter in real estate. Trends, news and hot takes delivered weekly, to your inbox.

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

---

• Existing-Home Sales Rebound 1.9% in October as Low Mortgage Rates Continue to Provide a Lift
  • The numbers: Sales of previously-owned homes rose 1.9% in October — the latest housing statistic to demonstrate the upward lift low mortgage rates have provided to the U.S. real-estate market.
• Permits for New-Home Construction Hit Post-Recession Record High in October
  • This was the fastest rate of building-permit authorizations recorded since 2007. Housing starts also rose 3.8% as builders look to construct many more homes across the country.
• Bad News, Home Buyers: It’s More Expensive for Developers to Buy Lots for New Houses
  • It’s costing real-estate developers a pretty penny to purchase lots for single-family homes. And that could spell trouble for people who are struggling to afford to buy a home.
• Mortgage Rates Are Increasing Again—So Why Did More People Apply for Home Loans?
  • On average, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now comes with a rate of 3.75%. Last week, mortgage rates had fallen after three straight weeks of increases.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

---

• Can You Take Out a HELOC on an Investment Property?
  • Have some rental properties with equity in them, and want to access it to help you grow your real estate portfolio? One way to buy a rental property with no money down is to leverage equity in your other properties. That could mean a blanket loan against multiple…
• “I Rented Dirt”: How Scott Replaced His 9-5 Income with Land Investments
  • “Oh, I also had a few rental homes, but I mainly rented dirt.” So begins Scott Todd’s story, his journey from corporate manager to land investor to being able to cover his living expenses on land rental income alone. Scott reached financial independence in under a…
• How Is Net Worth Calculated? Net Worth Definition & Why It Matters
  • Sometimes you hear chatter on the Internet about people with an extremely high net worth (often to complain about them). But net worth isn’t something only the ultra-wealthy should be aware of. Every investor show know how net worth is calculated, what it means, and…
• Minimum Down Payment for an Investment Property: How to Invest with Less
  • Investing in real estate is a smart strategy for diversifying your portfolio, generating instant passive income, and building equity over time. There’s just one teensy little issue: the tens of thousands of dollars you typically need as a down payment for an…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

---

• Is the 500 Hours It Takes to Learn Investing Worth It? Yes. Unless…
  • By Scott Trench
• 10 Lessons Learned From 5 Years of Flipping Houses
  • By Ashley Wilson
• Stop! DON’T Put Your Investment Property in an LLC If…
  • By Matt Faircloth

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

---

• Future-Enabling Apartments with Internet
• How Technology is Saving the Day on the 4P’s of Marketing
• Strengthening the Senior and Affordable Housing Industries
• Online Chat Converts into Higher Set-Visit Ratio

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

---

• Barn style doors,
  • current score on reddit: 290
• Facing a $30.000 fine because my tenant turned our apartment into a squat and I don’t know what to do…
  • current score on reddit: 198
• Are Realtors Becoming Obsolete
  • current score on reddit: 151

We hope everyone had an amazing thanksgiving. We also hope you’re all crushing the cyber Monday deals happening right now — we know we are. Believe it or not, there is still real-estate news to report on, and here’s what we’ve got: Home lots are becoming more expensive for developers to buy, how much money do you need to buy a multi-family, and new-home construction hit post-recession highs in October. This and more below the fold

Sign up today for the latest trends, and hot takes in Real Estate. Delivered Weekly — For Free

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

---

• Permits for New-Home Construction Hit Post-Recession Record High in October
  • This was the fastest rate of building-permit authorizations recorded since 2007. Housing starts also rose 3.8% as builders look to construct many more homes across the country.
• Bad News, Home Buyers: It’s More Expensive for Developers to Buy Lots for New Houses
  • It’s costing real-estate developers a pretty penny to purchase lots for single-family homes. And that could spell trouble for people who are struggling to afford to buy a home.
• Mortgage Rates Are Increasing Again—So Why Did More People Apply for Home Loans?
  • On average, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now comes with a rate of 3.75%. Last week, mortgage rates had fallen after three straight weeks of increases.
• Portland Suburb’s Proposed Law Could Discourage Home Development
  • A Portland suburb is poised to vote on a law that taxes anyone who demolishes a home, the latest salvo in the fight over how to create more affordable housing in the state.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

---

• How Is Net Worth Calculated? Net Worth Definition & Why It Matters
  • Sometimes you hear chatter on the Internet about people with an extremely high net worth (often to complain about them). But net worth isn’t something only the ultra-wealthy should be aware of. Every investor show know how net worth is calculated, what it means, and…
• Minimum Down Payment for an Investment Property: How to Invest with Less
  • Investing in real estate is a smart strategy for diversifying your portfolio, generating instant passive income, and building equity over time. There’s just one teensy little issue: the tens of thousands of dollars you typically need as a down payment for an…
• Building Equity: 10 Ways to Create Real Estate Equity Faster
  • Remember the story of The Little Red Hen? She wants to bake bread, and at every step asks her friends for their help, but they all find excuses to avoid helping. Eventually she gets it all done herself and when her friends want to help her eat the bread, she says no….
• Home Improvements with the Best ROI: Which Renovations Add the Most Value?
  • Every real estate investor tackles home renovations sooner or later. Materials wear out, home styles change. Home updates are simply inevitable in the lifespan of a property, if you buy and hold real estate for the long term. As an investor, you naturally want to get…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

---

• Unpopular Opinion: Dave Ramsey Is Overrated
  • By Leather Nix
• 8 Ways to Use Rental Properties to Create Retirement Income
  • By G. Brian Davis
• Yes, I’m Afraid of a Real Estate Bubble—But I Continue to Invest Anyway. Here’s Why.
  • By Scott Trench

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

---

• The Power of Storytelling in Multifamily Marketing
• The Rabbit Hole of Rent Control
• Enhancing Education and Opportunity in the Cuatro Community
• The Business Case for Submeter Upkeep

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

---

• Anger from Seller. Why?
  • current score on reddit: 414
• Just received a threatening call from listing agent
  • current score on reddit: 131
• I purchased my first home in March using a VA loan. Now I am getting constant letters regarding both equity disbursement and accessing my equity reserve. Seems scammy and the letters do little to actually say what this means. Please help a clueless first time home owner!
  • current score on reddit: 97

Fewer homeowners are burdened by Housing costs, but there’s a BIG catch. Owning a home may not eat up as much of many Americans’ income, but there is a reason for that. Also, it seems that people in New York are moving to Jersey City for upscale living in big buildings. And how is net worth calculated, anyway? This and more below the fold

Join the Weekly Digs for news, trends and hot takes every week

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

---

• Fewer Homeowners Are Burdened by Housing Costs—but There’s a Big Catch
  • Owning a home doesn’t eat up as much of Americans’ income as it did a decade ago, according to Census statistics, but the reason for that is not great.
• New Yorkers Cross the River for Smaller Spaces in Big Buildings
  • Young professionals are splurging on studio units in decked-out Jersey City towers, across the river from Manhattan.
• Getting Down-Payment Assistance May Not Make People More Likely to Default on Their Mortgages, After All
  • Down-payment assistance from government programs is especially important for minority borrowers.
• Fed Cuts Rate for Third Time This Year, Hints at Pause
  • The policy statement released Wednesday signaled a potentially higher bar for rate reductions after the latest move.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

---

• How Is Net Worth Calculated? Net Worth Definition & Why It Matters
  • Sometimes you hear chatter on the Internet about people with an extremely high net worth (often to complain about them). But net worth isn’t something only the ultra-wealthy should be aware of. Every investor show know how net worth is calculated, what it means, and…
• Minimum Down Payment for an Investment Property: How to Invest with Less
  • Investing in real estate is a smart strategy for diversifying your portfolio, generating instant passive income, and building equity over time. There’s just one teensy little issue: the tens of thousands of dollars you typically need as a down payment for an…
• Building Equity: 10 Ways to Create Real Estate Equity Faster
  • Remember the story of The Little Red Hen? She wants to bake bread, and at every step asks her friends for their help, but they all find excuses to avoid helping. Eventually she gets it all done herself and when her friends want to help her eat the bread, she says no….
• Home Improvements with the Best ROI: Which Renovations Add the Most Value?
  • Every real estate investor tackles home renovations sooner or later. Materials wear out, home styles change. Home updates are simply inevitable in the lifespan of a property, if you buy and hold real estate for the long term. As an investor, you naturally want to get…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

---

• 3 Ways to Overcome the ‘Vegan Effect’ (aka Negativity) in Your Life
  • By Brandon Turner
• Climate Change Could Mean Big Spike in Home Insurance Rates
  • By B.L. Sheldon
• How to Build Your Real Estate Portfolio Faster Using “The Stack”
  • By Brandon Turner

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

---

• The Business Case for Submeter Upkeep
• Enhancing the Renter Lifecycle Through Portals
• RealPage India Adopts Government School in Hyderabad
• 6 High-Performing Content Marketing Channels to Utilize in 2020

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

---

• Buy the smallest house in the best neighborhood you can afford.
  • current score on reddit: 178
• Bought a multi family property and closed on October 31. One tenant sent Nov rent to seller by mistake and seller cashed the check but refuse to pay us. What should we do?
  • current score on reddit: 181
• Almost got scammed on a wire fraud
  • current score on reddit: 116

It looks as though the Fed is cutting interests rates for the third time this year. However, they are signaling that they may pause, ending this amazing run of rate cuts. In other news, Fannie and Freddie are becoming private, and are promising to not leave any borrowers behind. We won’t hold our breath on that one. This and more below the fold!

Join us for the latest news and trends in Real Estate. Every Week

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

---

• Fed Cuts Rate for Third Time This Year, Hints at Pause
  • The policy statement released Wednesday signaled a potentially higher bar for rate reductions after the latest move.
• Borrowers Won’t Be Left Behind as Fannie and Freddie Privatize, Regulator Says
  • For the first time, the Federal Housing Finance Agency called on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to strategize exits from conservatorship.
• America’s Top Small Cities Will Blow Your Mind: Can You Guess Where’s Best?
  • Small cities offer affordability and a high quality of life. If you’re planning to buy a home, check out these top-ranked small cities—including Leawood, KS.
• Home Price Growth Ticks Up, Raising Hopes for Rebound
  • Average national home prices grew 3.2% in year ending in August, according to S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

---

• Building Equity: 10 Ways to Create Real Estate Equity Faster
  • Remember the story of The Little Red Hen? She wants to bake bread, and at every step asks her friends for their help, but they all find excuses to avoid helping. Eventually she gets it all done herself and when her friends want to help her eat the bread, she says no….
• Home Improvements with the Best ROI: Which Renovations Add the Most Value?
  • Every real estate investor tackles home renovations sooner or later. Materials wear out, home styles change. Home updates are simply inevitable in the lifespan of a property, if you buy and hold real estate for the long term. As an investor, you naturally want to get…
• When Should Landlords Charge a Holding Deposit for New Lease Agreements?
  •  Guest article by Alex Tkachenko from Landlord Tips.   When should you collect a holding deposit, as a landlord? And what laws govern them? Deposits, of both the security and holding variety, are regulated by state landlord-tenant laws in the US. Which doesn’t…
• Health Insurance for Early Retirees: 9 Options to Cover the Gap
  • One of the greatest challenges for people looking to retire early is health insurance coverage. It’s the fly in the ointment when pursuing financial independence and retiring early (FIRE). Health insurance has become so expensive in the US that Americans worry they…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

---

• Solving the Affordable Housing Crisis: Apple, Google, Amazon Can’t Help—THIS Can
  • By Phil McAlister
• Why We Really, Really Need More Women Investors in the Real Estate Industry
  • By Whitney Hutten
• BiggerPockets Podcast 356: 30+ Rentals (in a Pricy Market) Through BRRRR and Section 8 with Joe Asamoah
  • By BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

---

• Holistic Expense Management
• Developing Cristo Rey Dallas Students into Leaders of Tomorrow
• 5 Trends that are Opening the World of Technology Even Wider
• How Fogelman is Sustaining Growth and Strengthening its Position in Multifamily Markets

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

---

• Washington Supreme Court approves Seattle law requiring landlords to accept first qualified applicant
  • current score on reddit: 270
• My Successful Refi Experience (FHA to Conventional)
  • current score on reddit: 105
• Closing Date Was Four Days Ago, Seller Is Still Not Out Of The House
  • current score on reddit: 88

Average national home prices moved up 3.2% in year ending in August, giving some hope to a potential rebound. Hopefully this isn’t just another rebound, and it really lasts this time. Also, which home renovations get you the most ROI, and when should landlords charge a holding deposit for new lease agreements? This and more, below the fold.

Sign up now to be informed with news, hot takes, and trends in Real Estate

From Realtor.com’s Latest News

---

• America’s Top Small Cities Will Blow Your Mind: Can You Guess Where’s Best?
  • Small cities offer affordability and a high quality of life. If you’re planning to buy a home, check out these top-ranked small cities—including Leawood, KS.
• Home Price Growth Ticks Up, Raising Hopes for Rebound
  • Average national home prices grew 3.2% in year ending in August, according to S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index.
• Pending Home Sales Rise for the Second Straight Month in September
  • Pending home sales rose for the second straight month in September, helped by lower mortgage rates.
• Falling Rates Boost Mortgage Market to Precrisis Levels
  • The mortgage market turned red hot over the summer, posting its biggest three months since the financial crisis.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

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• Home Improvements with the Best ROI: Which Renovations Add the Most Value?
  • Every real estate investor tackles home renovations sooner or later. Materials wear out, home styles change. Home updates are simply inevitable in the lifespan of a property, if you buy and hold real estate for the long term. As an investor, you naturally want to get…
• When Should Landlords Charge a Holding Deposit for New Lease Agreements?
  •  Guest article by Alex Tkachenko from Landlord Tips.   When should you collect a holding deposit, as a landlord? And what laws govern them? Deposits, of both the security and holding variety, are regulated by state landlord-tenant laws in the US. Which doesn’t…
• Health Insurance for Early Retirees: 9 Options to Cover the Gap
  • One of the greatest challenges for people looking to retire early is health insurance coverage. It’s the fly in the ointment when pursuing financial independence and retiring early (FIRE). Health insurance has become so expensive in the US that Americans worry they…
• How Much Can Landlords Charge for Rental Application Fees in Each State?
  • Remember when you had to meet prospective rental applicants at the property with a stack of paper rental applications and pens in hand? Your applicant completed each line and checked each box on the spot to hand back to you. Once they were done, you collected the…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

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• 5 Best Cities to Buy Rental Properties Right Now
  • By Max Sharkansky
• How Being a Real Estate Investor Has Changed My Life (Aside From Retiring at 40)
  • By Ryan Deasy
• I Did My First Deal in Less Than 45 Days for Under $2,500—Here’s How
  • By Nathaniel Hovsepian

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

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• 5 Trends that are Opening the World of Technology Even Wider
• How Fogelman is Sustaining Growth and Strengthening its Position in Multifamily Markets
• Portfolio Monitoring & Data Outsourcing: What’s Best for Your Business?
• Going Beyond the Basics of Training: How to Develop a Future for Today’s Employees

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

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• HUD asks FTC to investigate online emotional support animal websites.
  • current score on reddit: 164
• [CA] Lived in apartment for 6 years, landlord trying to keep all of $4600 deposit.
  • current score on reddit: 165
• The Internet, the Death of Real Estate Agents, and the Rise of the Used House Dealership
  • current score on reddit: 158

Across the board, home sales have dropped in September. New home sales dropped 1% in September, while existing-home sales dipped 2.2% in the same month. High prices and slim inventory appear to be weighing in on the housing market. We also explore buying your first rental property with no money down, renting to college students, and more below the fold.

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From Realtor.com’s Latest News

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• Mortgage Rates Rise to Highest Level Since August
  • Despite the increase in interest rates, affordability may be improving for home buyers.
• New-Home Sales Drop Nearly 1% in September, Coming Off Previous Month’s Near-Record Sales Levels
  • The median price of newly-built homes decreased in September, suggesting that builders may be constructing more affordable homes.
• Regulator Says Government Will ‘Wipe Out’ Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Shareholders If Needed
  • Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria’s comment came during a congressional hearing regarding the Trump administration’s housing finance reform plans.
• U.S. Existing-Home Sales Declined 2.2% in September
  • Sales of previously owned U.S. homes declined in September, a sign that high prices and slim inventory continue to weigh on the housing sector.

From Spark Rental’s Latest Blog Posts

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• How Much Can Landlords Charge for Rental Application Fees in Each State?
  • Remember when you had to meet prospective rental applicants at the property with a stack of paper rental applications and pens in hand? Your applicant completed each line and checked each box on the spot to hand back to you. Once they were done, you collected the…
• How to Buy Your First Rental Property with No Money Down
  • Most people are surprised at the economics behind rental property returns versus stocks’ returns over the last 145 years. How can rental properties perform better than stocks, but have lower volatility and risk? Doesn’t high-return mean high risk? The answer is…
• Renting to College Students 101: Pros, Cons, & What Landlords Need to Know
  • One of the most common questions among real estate investors is “Where should I purchase rental properties?” They typically mean the context of finding neighborhoods and the best cities for real estate investing. But before asking where, it often helps to decide who…
• Buy and Hold Real Estate Strategy: Pros, Cons, and Maximizing Your Income
  • Looking for an investment strategy that helps you create ongoing passive income? Income streams that will keep coming in for the rest of your life? That’s the beauty of the buy-and-hold real estate strategy: you put in the work and money once, and give yourself the…

From Bigger Pockets’ Top Popular Posts

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• How to Retire Early (From Someone Who Did at Age 27)
  • By Brandon Turner
• 8 Ways to Establish a Large and Meaningful Network
  • By Jay Chang
• 3 Ways to Advertise Medium-Term Rentals
  • By Erin Spradlin

From PM Insider’s Latest Posts

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• Going Beyond the Basics of Training: How to Develop a Future for Today’s Employees
  • Millennials are America’s future. They are close to overtaking Baby Boomers as the largest living generation and are on track to being the most educated, according to Pew Research Center. Millennials also dominate the U.S. workforce at 56 million strong, based on the latest U.S. census data. Experts say that this generation wants to be trained and[…]
• Acing the Senior Living Market
  • The senior living market has become more competitive than ever. The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care reported that occupancy fell to eight-year lows at one point last year. Operators face workforce challenges and aging in place is becoming more desirable. Whether independent living, assisted living or memory care, senior housing properties are being[…]
• Is Your Website Senior and ADA Friendly?
  • According to AARP, Baby Boomers spend about $3 trillion annually and a whopping 78 percent are online, where they’re buying $7 billion in goods and services. As of 2017, they spent more time online than Millennials. It’s likely their time spent online will continue to grow, and they have the resources to support an increasing number of online[…]
• Turning a Bad Turn Day into a Good One with Technology
  • Hours upon hours and days upon days can be spent planning and executing student housing lease-ups. Vendor schedules must be coordinated, leases approved, apartments assigned and roommates matched. Property management technology can assist but the sweat of the brow is often necessary. Most of all, listening to students and parents as they embark upon one[…]

From Reddits /r/RealEstate Subreddit

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• Update to Buyer making unreasonable demand 9 days before closing
  • current score on reddit: 192
• The real “Money Pit” has closed
  • current score on reddit: 133
• Are there any ELI5 resources for first time home buyers? And first time “adulters” in general?
  • current score on reddit: 120