Tag: Politics
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Bethel, Maine: Balancing Growth and Affordability in a Booming Ski Town
The picturesque town of Newry, Maine, home to the renowned Sunday River ski resort, has seen an extraordinary real estate boom in recent years. Once a quiet mountain community, it is now dominated by multi-million dollar vacation homes, often built on spec and snapped up by second-home buyers. This shift has brought both economic benefits…
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Trump Paused Tariffs, but Homebuilders Still Face Long-Term Risks
The homebuilding industry, already grappling with rising costs and labor shortages, has been keeping a close watch on President Donald Trump’s trade policies. Homebuilders rely heavily on materials imported from Canada, Mexico, and China—three countries that have been at the center of Trump’s tariff plans. Additionally, the president’s promise of mass deportations raises concerns about…
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Trump’s Tariff Pause: What It Means for Real Estate Developers and Investors
A Temporary Reprieve for Builders Amid Ongoing Housing Challenges In a move that has temporarily eased fears within the real estate and construction industries, former President Donald Trump has paused his proposed steep tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Initially set to take effect this week, these tariffs—25% on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10%…
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How Tariffs Will Make Everything More Expensive—From Homebuilding to Your Everyday Shopping
Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China—a decision that will have a major ripple effect on the economy, real estate development, and even the cost of everyday items. For those of us not in real estate or construction, tariffs might seem like an abstract economic…
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How Rising Insurance Costs and Climate Risks are Reshaping Real Estate Development
Climate risks are reshaping the U.S. real estate landscape, forcing developers, investors, and homeowners to grapple with the rising costs of insuring properties. From extreme weather events like wildfires in California to rare snowstorms in Florida, the frequency and severity of these disasters are creating unprecedented challenges. For real estate developers and investors, understanding these…
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9 Things to Watch in Real Estate During Trump’s First 100 Days
Hey friends and family, As you know, I love diving into the details of real estate trends, and with Donald Trump back in the White House, I wanted to share some thoughts on how his early policy decisions might impact the real estate market. These changes could touch everything from construction labor to housing affordability,…
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Can a New Owner Save TikTok from Its US Ban?
As of January 20, 2025, TikTok’s status in the United States remains in flux. The popular video-sharing app, with over 170 million American users, faced a nationwide ban after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law mandating its parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025. Failure to do so resulted…
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What Are the Odds of an Interest Rate Hike in 2025?
As we enter 2025, interest rate speculation is on everyone’s mind—especially for those of us in real estate development and investment. While current forecasts lean toward stability or minor cuts, it’s crucial to recognize that circumstances could change, and the Federal Reserve may be forced to raise rates again, even if it seems unlikely today.…
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What the Latest Fed Rate Cuts Mean for Real Estate—and Why It Matters to You
The Federal Reserve just cut interest rates again, bringing the benchmark rate to its lowest point in two years (4.25%–4.5%). But here’s the catch: they’re signaling fewer rate cuts in 2025. For those of us in real estate—whether you’re a developer, investor, or closely tied to the industry—this shift carries major implications. Rates have dropped…
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Why the Housing Boom Won’t Materialize Anytime Soon: A Reality Check for Real Estate Professionals
In the lead-up to recent elections, we heard bold promises and urgent calls for building millions of new homes to address the nation’s housing crisis. Yet, the latest data on housing starts and building permits tells a much different story — one of stagnation, recession-level activity, and unmet expectations. For real estate professionals, investors, and…
Daniel Kaufman Real Estate 