Remote work is going down

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Americans have been hoarding cash — even before the latest market turmoil link

• Money market fund assets hit a record $7.4 trillion, with $60 billion flowing in during the first few days of April alone. That’s up 60% over five years, growing from $4.4 trillion in 2020.

• The surge isn’t just about safety—MMFs now offer an average yield of 4.2%, making them more appealing as a long-term holding. Even after the Fed pivoted, investors didn’t pull back.

• Cash-hoarding behavior picked up further following tariff tensions and recession fears. This signals that investors are staying defensive instead of buying the dip.

1 in 5 homebuyers expect to sell stocks to fund down payment: redfin survey link

• Twenty percent of prospective homebuyers plan to sell stock to fund their down payment, compared to just 6% of renters doing the same for rent. Stock market volatility is shaking buyer confidence, especially for people in their 50s in cities like Phoenix.

• Nearly 69% of homeowners and 37% of renters hold stocks, making market swings a key factor in housing affordability. With tariffs and inflation fears rising, buyers may struggle to access the capital they were counting on.

• Stock selloffs trail behind other savings methods like paycheck savings (48%) and second jobs (29%) but still rank third for homebuyers. Renters rarely use stocks, preferring steady income sources to cover housing costs.

National Retail Trends link

• The national retail vacancy rate rose to 4.2% in Q1 2025, up 10 basis points from the previous quarter. Net absorption turned negative as store closures picked up and demand softened.

• Retail construction continues to decline due to high financing rates and rising development costs. This is limiting new supply, which may help stabilize vacancy despite slower leasing.

• Demand remains steady across varied sectors, but shopping centers are under the most pressure. Ongoing closures suggest further stress ahead, though tight inventory could prevent a sharp rise in vacancies.

Remote work is going down causing a shift in rental market and housing trends link

• The number of renters working from home fell from 5 million in 2021 to 4 million in 2023, a 20% drop. Despite the decline, this group is still 184% larger than before the pandemic.

• The shift suggests remote work isn’t disappearing, but return-to-office trends are growing stronger. Data indicates the decline will likely continue into 2024 and beyond.

• So far, increased office attendance hasn’t translated into higher leasing demand. This mismatch could reshape rental markets in cities with high concentrations of remote-friendly jobs.

Massachusetts real estate market forecast for 2025 link

• Massachusetts home prices are expected to rise by 3–5% statewide, with Boston and Cambridge projected to see 5–7% increases. Western Massachusetts will see slower growth around 2–3% due to more inventory and lower living costs.

• Inventory is improving with increased construction in cities like Worcester and Springfield, which saw a 12–15% bump in permits. Still, Boston remains tight with only 2–3 months of supply in many neighborhoods.

• Mortgage rates are expected to fall from 7.5% to the low 6% range in 2025, lowering monthly payments by $150–250 on a $400K mortgage. This may draw more first-time buyers back into the market.

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