CNBC reported this week that U.S. “Housing starts increased by 22.6% — far more than expected — to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.496 million units last month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Data for June was revised up to a 1.22 million-unit pace from the previously reported 1.186 million.” But if you take a minute to watch the video you’ll learn that a large portion of that jump came from the multifamily, not the single-family sector and that’s not really where the market needs it right now. Single-family starts were up 8.8% month-to-month.
2. SURVIVE OR THRIVE?
Have you started Reimagining the Urban Office? The Harvard Business Review has since “The Covid-19 pandemic has abruptly challenged a decade of corporate real estate and workplace design decisions by calling into question the purpose of large centralized office locations. With many organizations maintaining work-from-home policies for the foreseeable future, we argue that now is an optimal time to plan for a post-pandemic workplace strategy by revisiting the conventional wisdom behind the centralized office.”
3. FLOCKING CHEAP
Far From the Bright Lights of Big Cities, These Are America’s Hottest ZIP Codes in 2020 reports Realtor.com. “Homes in these ZIPs sold in an average of just 18 days. That’s about four weeks faster than in their respective metropolitan areas and roughly 51 days faster than properties in the rest of the country. They also received about 4.3 times more views on realtor.com.”
4. SOUR GRAPES OF WRATH
CEO Mike Grady struck a sour chord with many at Coldwell Banker Bain, the Bellevue-based residential real estate brokerage. Grady wrote in June that CBBain executives “fully support peaceful demonstrations (and) … equal justice for all people so that everyone is treated equally… We are sad that anarchists negatively impacted these peaceful protests who(se) purpose is righteous.” Dozens of brokers were outraged by Grady’s email. Read this week’s Seattle Times article about why Seattle’s residential real estate industry is talking about race and wrestling with some history.
5. TRASH TV
For me, watching a Selling Sunset episode is like I would imagine smoking a cigarette would feel. You know you shouldn’t be doing it, but you think okay, just one more. If you can’t get enough of it… then allow Tyla to introduce you to your next binge-watch. “Dropping on Netflix on 26th August, Million Dollar Beach House will transport viewers to the champagne-poppin’ world of the Hamptons, the wealthy beach community on the eastern side of Long Island.” Selling Sunset’ Fans Will Love Netflix’s New Series All About Real Estate In The Hamptons.
