Make U.S. housing great again: 25-year Surge

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The U.S. consumer is exhausted link

• Credit card charge-off rates hit 4.58% in late 2024, the highest since 2011, and JPMorgan reports unrecoverable credit card debt at a 13-year high. The percentage of consumers paying only the minimum rose again, hitting a 12-year high.

• Consumer sentiment has plunged, with the University of Michigan’s index falling to 50.8 in April 2025—the second-lowest reading since 1952. Inflation expectations surged to 6.7%, the highest since 1981, pointing to deep pessimism.

• Credit card balances grew just 4% in Q4, a sharp slowdown from the double-digit growth in 2022–2023. Spending in April may have been “front loaded” ahead of Trump’s tariff implementation, signaling fragile consumer behavior.

Tariff uncertainty drives up apartment costs, delays projects, and shifts renter demand link

• Tariffs have increased development costs by $5,000 to $10,000 per unit, especially for mid-rise and high-rise apartments. Since 2018, around 500,000 units have been delayed nationwide, including 70,000 in Los Angeles alone.

• Developers are cutting features like crown molding and backsplashes to offset rising material costs. Supply chain disruptions and inflation are driving renters toward cheaper options, including roommate setups and lower-tier buildings.

• Cities like New York, Dallas, and Phoenix are seeing broad delays, with labor shortages and construction red tape compounding the impact. Some developers are now budgeting 8%–12% contingency funds and adding tariff clauses in contracts to manage cost spikes.

FBI warns of home title theft surge link

• The FBI’s Boston division reports a growing wave of home title theft in New England, with $61.5 million in losses from 2,301 victims between 2019 and 2023. Massachusetts alone accounted for $46 million in reported losses.

• Scammers use forged quit claim deeds to steal property ownership, sell homes, or take loans without the owner’s knowledge. Some target vacant lots or elderly homeowners, while others create fake transaction histories that go undetected until after a sale.

• The FBI recommends monitoring county records, setting up alerts, and checking vacant properties regularly. Digital real estate practices post-COVID have made it easier for scammers to bypass identity checks.

These states are the most reliant on global trade link

• Louisiana leads the U.S. in export reliance with 26.5% of its GDP tied to overseas trade, driven by oil and chemicals. Texas and Kentucky follow, each exporting over 16% of their GDP in energy, auto, and aerospace products.

• Kentucky also tops import reliance at 32.3% of GDP, reflecting deep ties to global supply chains in autos and pharmaceuticals. Michigan, Indiana, and Georgia also show high import exposure, especially in manufacturing-heavy cities like Detroit and Louisville.

• States less reliant on trade, like Nevada and Utah, saw stronger long-term job and home price growth. Since 1994, home prices rose 291% in low-trade states versus 237% in high-trade states.

Life science market finds its spark link

• Venture capital funding for life sciences rose nearly 20% in 2024, reaching $5.6 billion more than 2023, making it the fourth-best year on record. Despite this, vacancies now exceed 20% in key markets like Boston, San Francisco, and San Diego.

• More than 43 million square feet of new space was delivered between 2022 and 2024, with 15 million in 2024 alone, but only 17 million square feet is underway for 2025. This drop in new construction may help reduce oversupply in top markets.

• Developers are betting on high-quality, purpose-built properties in established clusters like Boston and San Diego. Projects like FORUM in Boston Landing are focusing on placemaking, amenities, and community integration to attract tenants.

Make U.S. housing great again: 25-year Surge link

• The U.S. is expected to enter a 25-year housing boom driven by Millennial and Gen Z household formation and a 4–5 million home shortage. In Austin, a single listing is seeing up to 30 bids, pushing home prices up 10% in just months.

• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's exit from conservatorship could drop mortgage rates from 6.5% to 5.5%, saving $150/month on a $300,000 loan. PMI reductions and 40-year loan terms are also expanding affordability and boosting buying power.

• Federal land releases and tariff-driven manufacturing are spurring housing in places like Phoenix, Marysville (Ohio), and Greer (South Carolina). 3D-printed homes and modular construction are cutting build times by 50%, setting up faster supply growth.

Texas real estate market forecast for 2025 link

• Texas home prices are expected to rise by 4–6% statewide in 2025, with suburban areas like Frisco and Round Rock possibly seeing gains over 7%. Austin and Dallas continue to lead price growth, while Houston and San Antonio remain more affordable.

• Housing inventory is projected to improve slightly, with new listings in Dallas and San Antonio rising 8–10% year over year. However, Austin’s inventory is still tight at 4.6 months, below the balanced level of 6.5 months.

• Mortgage rates may drop from 7.5% to around 6.8% in 2025, potentially increasing buyer purchasing power by up to 10%. This could ease affordability pressures and boost market activity across major Texas metros.

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GetFloorPlan is an AI-powered real estate tool that converts property photos into 2D and 3D floor plans, virtual staging, and 360° virtual tours.

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