The cities with the highest, lowest rental vacancy rates,

The cities with the highest, lowest rental vacancy rates link

• Steady National Rate: The national vacancy rate for rental housing was 5.8% in Q4 2022, a slight decrease from 6.0% in Q3 2022.

• State Standouts: Massachusetts boasted the lowest rental vacancy rate at 2.8%, while Arkansas topped the list with a high of 13.3%.

• Metro Movers: Among the 75 largest metro areas, Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut, had the lowest vacancy rate at 1.8%. In contrast, Little Rock, Arkansas, had the highest at 16.3%.

Nobel laureate Paul Krugman cites the 'misery index' as proof of the US's economic strength link

• Resilient Recovery: The US economy has seen a remarkable turnaround with the 'misery index' falling back to the level it was when Biden took office in January 2021.

• Inflation in Check: US inflation has started to cool, dropping from over 9% in mid-2022 to just 4% in May 2023.

• Employment Triumph: Despite aggressive interest-rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, the labor market remains strong with the US economy adding 339,000 jobs in May and unemployment holding steady at 3.7%.

5 of the largest mixed-use projects in the works across the US link

• Billion-Dollar Bets: Developers across the US are investing heavily in mixed-use projects, with budgets reaching into the billions. The Urban Land Institute's 2022 report predicts excellent performance for these developments.

• Diversification Advantage: Mixed-use projects offer exposure to multiple market trends, providing a balance that has proven beneficial during the pandemic, according to Eric Willett, managing director at RCLCO Real Estate Consulting.

• Major Projects Underway: Some of the largest developments include The Railhead in Texas ($2.5 billion), Landmark/Inova Development in Virginia ($2 billion+), Enterprise Research Campus in Boston ($1 billion), Ronkonkoma Hub in New York ($700 million), and Transit Village in Florida ($500 million).

Stats behind the current Market standoff link

• Sticky Situation: Despite mortgage rates at 20-year highs, the housing market remains tight. Demand is high, supply is low, and homeowners are reluctant to let go of low rates they secured years ago.

• Locked In: Nearly a quarter of homeowners are sitting on a mortgage rate of less than 3%, close to the highest amount on record. This has led to a unique market where demand is low, people aren't actively looking to sell, yet prices remain high.

• Surprising Surge: New-home sales and housing starts have seen a surprising increase, suggesting a potential rebound in homebuyer activity. This could help alleviate the inventory shortage and balance out the affordability equation for buyers.

Pending Home Sales Down 2.7% in May link

• Dip continues: Pending home sales experienced a 2.7% drop in May 2023.