Tag: economics
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Office Visits in Major Cities: August Trends and Insights
As we navigate the post-pandemic landscape, office visit trends in major cities offer a fascinating glimpse into the recovery and adaptation of urban workspaces. In August, office visits nationwide reached 68.8 percent of August 2019 levels, slightly below the recovery peak seen in July. Regional Highlights Miami, New York, Atlanta, and Dallas have outperformed the national…
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Top 10 Cities for Affordable New-Construction Homes
Think a new-construction home is out of your price range? Think again. There are numerous cities where you can find new-construction homes for around or under $275,000. Closing the Price Gap While new-construction homes are typically more expensive upfront than older homes, the price gap has narrowed recently. According to a July report from the…
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Top 10 Cities Where Homes Sell for the Most Below the Asking Price
Most homebuyers know that the price they see on real estate listings is more a fervent hope than a steadfast number etched in stone. So how much more—or less—than the asking price should buyers offer? For starters, that depends on timing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for homes was so strong that offers over the…
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U.S. Apartment Market: Stability Amidst Subtle Shifts
The U.S. apartment market continues to showcase remarkable stability, with occupancy rates holding steady at 94.1% for August 2024. This marks the 10th consecutive month where occupancy has fluctuated by no more than 10 basis points (bps) in either direction. The minuscule difference between July (94.16%) and August (94.13%) underscores this stability, as the 0-bps…
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New Era for Real Estate Investors: Navigating the Fed’s Latest Moves
This week, the Federal Reserve’s significant interest rate cut has set the stage for a new monetary era, sparking both excitement and uncertainty among investors. As bond traders anticipated a larger reduction, two-year Treasury yields dropped to a two-year low of 3.5%, down from 5% in April.. This shift has revived risk appetite in the equity market,…
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Fed Slashes Rates Aggressively: What It Means for Mortgages
In a bold move, the Federal Reserve has issued its first interest rate cut in four years, initiating an easing cycle that promises to make new mortgages more affordable. This significant policy shift, announced on Wednesday, saw a half-point reduction in the central bank’s benchmark rate, bringing it down to approximately 4.8% from a two-decade…
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Amazon’s Bold Move: Mandating Five Days in the Office
Amazon has announced a significant shift in its remote work policy, requiring its 350,000+ corporate employees to return to the office five days a week starting in January. This move sets Amazon apart from its more flexible peers and has sparked considerable internal debate. The Return to Office (RTO) Policy In May, Amazon had already…
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San Francisco’s Rent Control Expansion: A Game Changer for Real Estate Investors and Developers?
San Francisco is on the brink of a significant shift in its housing market. The city is poised to extend rent control to thousands more renters, contingent on the outcome of California’s Proposition 33 this November. Sweeping Changes on the Horizon Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin has introduced an ordinance to expand rent control…
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Fed Rate Indicator Signals Potential Cuts Amid Recession Worries
The gap between the Fed funds rate and the 2-year Treasury yield suggests a recession could be on the horizon. Warning Signs Barron’s recently highlighted a significant difference between the effective federal funds rate (EFFR) and the 2-year Treasury yield as a new metric signaling potential trouble. As of September 9, 2024, the EFFR stands…
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The Return-to-Office Mandate: What to Expect in 2025
As we approach 2025, a significant shift is on the horizon for the American workforce. Despite some resistance, a majority of companies are gearing up to enforce return-to-office (RTO) mandates. According to a recent Resume.Builder survey featured by BenefitsPro.com, an overwhelming 9 in 10 companies plan to implement these mandates next year. This survey, which…
