Cheryl Bourland's blog

Low Supply Drives Up Renting Costs

Thinking of renting your next place to live? You may want to pu that thought on hold. According to REIS Inc., a real estate research data firm, the average effective rent rose by 3.6% in the second quarter compared to the same time in 2014. In fact, the cost of renting has been rising continuously since 2012, with typical annual growth of around 4%.

 

What is the culprit behind these soaring rent costs? According to REIS, a small supply of new units as well as a low vacancy rate for existing units (just 4.2%) are driving competition among potential renters, resulting in higher costs. However, some relief may be on the horizon, as there are 230,000 new units projected to be built this year, which is nearly double average.

 

Several of the markets with the largest rent increases are in areas with strong technology sectors, such as San Jose and San Francisco, where rents rose 7.2 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively. Average rent in San Jose now stands at $1,951 a month, while in San Francisco the average is $2,316 per month. These both pale in comparison to the nation's most expensive rental market, New York City, where rent is now $3,294 per month. On the plus side, that figure represents only a 1.7% increase from the same time last year.

 

All in all, this just means that there is another good reason to get out there and buy a home!

 

Source: Renters Face More Cost Increases

Stars and Stripes Festival

Looking for a great way to celebrate the upcoming Independence Day holiday? Look no further than the Stars and Stripes Festival!

While the event kicked off on Wednesday, July 1, there are still two more days of activities scheduled! On Friday, enjoy a family fun run, kayak and stand-up paddleboard races, and live music by the Ghost Town Blues Band.

Saturday will feature a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, biking on the Desoto Multipurpose Trail, and music by Roses and Revolvers. The festival will finish in style with the grand finale Fireworks Show at 9:00 p.m.

Still unsure about going? Click the link below to see details for the full schedule of events. Whatever you do, have a safe and happy holiday!

Full event schedule and details here!

Three Arkansas Cities Among Healthiest Housing Markets

Nationwide has just released its latest Leading Index of Healthy Housing Markets (LIHHM) report, which examines the near-term outlook for the housing markets of 400 metropolitan areas across the country. The report analyzes employment, demographics, mortgage market, and house price data for each quarter in order to assign a score assessing the health of each market. Scores range from 75 to 125, with scores above 100 indicating more positive markets and scores below 100 indicating more negative markets. According to the new report, several cities in Arkansas can boast having housing markets among the healthiest in the nation!