Real Estate News: Real Estate Investing Podcast

New Census data shows where Americans are moving — and how those migration trends could reshape housing markets across the country. U.S. population growth slowed to about 0.5% between 2024 and 2025, largely due to a drop in international migration. But domestic migration is still shifting demand toward states in the South and Sun Belt, including North Carolina, Texas, South Carolina, and Tennessee...

Retirement account balances are rising — but so are withdrawals. New data from Fidelity shows the average 401(k) balance climbed more than 11% in 2025 as the stock market posted another strong year. But at the same time, a growing number of Americans are tapping their retirement savings early. Hardship withdrawals and 401(k) loans both increased last year, signaling that many households are still...

The latest jobs report delivered a surprise. The U.S. economy lost 92,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors , Kathy Fettke breaks down what the weaker labor market could mean for the economy, mortgage rates, and housing demand. A slowing job market can cool housing demand, b...

Tensions between the United States and Iran are adding new uncertainty to the global economy — and that could have real implications for real estate investors. In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors , Kathy Fettke breaks down how escalating conflict in the Middle East could impact oil prices, inflation, and the Federal Reserve's path for interest rates. Kathy explains the key economic s...

As the 2026 rental season approaches, demand is already building — and it's happening earlier than usual. In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke breaks down new data from RentCafe showing which U.S. cities are seeing the biggest surge in renter activity. From Cincinnati taking the top spot to strong momentum in Atlanta, Minneapolis, and several Midwest markets, this early...

Mortgage rates have officially dropped below 6% for the first time in more than three years. The average 30-year fixed rate is now 5.98%, according to Freddie Mac — a key psychological and financial shift for the housing market. In this episode, Kathy breaks down what lower rates mean for buying power, inventory levels, and home prices. Zillow reports that the median-income household has gained mo...

The White House is proposing a new housing policy that could limit how many single-family homes some investors can own. Under the proposal, investors who own more than 100 single-family rental properties could be restricted from buying additional homes. That's a much lower threshold than many in the industry expected. In this episode, Kathy breaks down what the 100-home cutoff means, how many inve...

Artificial intelligence is starting to rattle another major industry — commercial real estate. In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down why shares of major brokerage firms like CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, and Newmark recently fell despite strong earnings. Investors are questioning whether AI could shrink brokerage commissions, automate appraisal work, and compress margins across the industry....

Is 2026 shaping up to be the best year for short-term rental investing since 2021? In this episode, Kathy breaks down AirDNA's 2026–2027 short-term rental outlook, including where occupancy is headed, why ADR growth may slow before rebounding, and how the STR premium is improving as mortgage rates stabilize near 6%. We'll cover supply growth, demand forecasts, home price declines in coastal and ur...

Builder confidence in the single-family housing market slipped again in February, according to the latest Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders. The index fell to 36, marking the second straight monthly decline and signaling continued weakness in builder sentiment. Affordability remains the biggest challenge. High home price-to-income ratios, elevated land costs, and...

The Supreme Court has struck down many of President Trump's tariffs, ruling that the emergency law used to impose them does not authorize broad trade taxes. In this breaking news update, Kathy Fettke explains what the decision means for inflation, construction costs, and the housing market. Some tariffs remain in place, but others may be reversed — and billions in potential refunds could follow. H...

A new study is challenging one of the biggest narratives around tariffs — and the implications could directly affect inflation, interest rates, and your real estate portfolio. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York finds that Americans are paying nearly 90% of recent tariffs, not foreign exporters. In other words, higher import taxes are largely flowing through to U.S. consumers and bu...

New data from the Federal Reserve shows U.S. household real estate wealth dipped slightly in the third quarter of 2025 — but the bigger story is homeowner equity. In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors , Kathy Fettke breaks down the latest Fed Z.1 Financial Accounts report, including the decline in total housing asset values to $48 trillion, rising mortgage balances, and why owners' equ...

Commercial real estate could be a major story in 2026. In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors , Kathy Fettke breaks down CBRE's 2026 Commercial Real Estate Outlook and why investment activity is expected to rise 16% — even as GDP growth slows. We cover what's ahead for cap rates, income-driven returns, and key sectors including office, industrial, retail, multifamily, and data centers....

The U.S. House has overwhelmingly passed the Housing for the 21st Century Act in a 390–9 vote, advancing a bipartisan effort aimed at addressing America's housing affordability crisis. The sweeping package focuses on boosting housing supply, streamlining development regulations, expanding financing for manufactured and multifamily housing, and modernizing federal housing programs. Now, the bill he...

The January jobs report is in — and it came in stronger than expected. The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs to start 2026, while the unemployment rate edged down to 4.3%. Hiring was concentrated in health care, social assistance, and construction, even as some sectors saw losses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also released updated benchmark revisions confirming that 2025 job growth was softer than...

Apartment demand cooled across much of the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a return to more typical seasonal patterns after several years of unusually strong growth. But the slowdown wasn't universal. In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down which U.S. apartment markets continued to see positive demand in Q4 and why those metros stood out as others experienced net move-outs. We look a...

In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors , Kathy Fettke breaks down the proposed "Trump Homes" concept that's gaining attention across the housing industry. The idea centers on a new pathway-to-ownership model designed to help first-time buyers afford homes—without driving down existing home prices. We explore how the proposal could work, why major homebuilders and investors are paying at...

Immigration policy changes are emerging as a new risk factor for multifamily investors, especially in immigrant-heavy markets like Florida and Texas. Recent surveys show rising vacancies, slower leasing activity, and shifting tenant behavior tied to enforcement actions, creating operational challenges for apartment owners. In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors , Kathy Fettke breaks dow...

The January jobs report has been delayed after a partial government shutdown forced the Bureau of Labor Statistics to suspend its scheduled data releases. In this episode, Kathy Fettke explains why the closely watched employment report won't be released on time, what other economic data may also be delayed, and why the missing labor market numbers matter for investors watching interest rates, hous...

A new survey reveals growing pessimism among Americans about the future of homeownership. According to data from IPX1031, 62% of Americans say buying a home in 2026 feels unrealistic, up sharply from last year. Rising home prices, affordability challenges, and limited inventory are pushing many would-be buyers to the sidelines, while confidence in the real estate market continues to weaken. Nearly...

Inflation pressures are resurfacing—and the Federal Reserve may be headed for a major shakeup. In today's episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down the latest Producer Price Index report, which shows wholesale prices rising faster than expected in December, driven entirely by persistent services inflation. While goods prices remain flat, the data suggests underlying inflation pressures are proving stubbor...

A new nationwide class action lawsuit is accusing Rocket Companies of illegally steering homebuyers toward its mortgage and closing products — even when better rates may have been available elsewhere. The lawsuit alleges Rocket and its affiliates pressured real estate agents, including those at Redfin , to funnel clients to Rocket Mortgage and its title company, potentially violating the Real Esta...

The Federal Reserve is hitting pause. The Fed held interest rates steady this week after cutting rates three times since September, as policymakers weigh signs of a stabilizing job market against inflation that remains above target. Despite pressure from President Trump for more aggressive rate cuts, most Fed officials said now is the time to wait and watch the data. In this episode, Kathy Fettke...

New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that U.S. population growth slowed sharply in 2025, largely due to a steep drop in immigration. After one of the fastest growth years in decades in 2024, the nation's growth rate fell to about 0.5%, raising important questions about future housing demand. In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors , Kathy Fettke breaks down the lates...