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3 States With the Highest Numbers of Foreclosures
Ranked: The World’s Most Populous Countries (2025-2100P) and more
Macro Trends
Small business uncertainty near record-high levels link
The February NFIB survey shows small business uncertainty is near the highest levels recorded since the 1970s. Businesses are struggling to plan due to inconsistent economic signals and policy uncertainty.
High inflation and interest rates are increasing costs for small businesses, making it harder to maintain profitability. Many business owners report difficulty in securing financing and managing expenses.
Labor shortages remain a major concern, with many small businesses struggling to hire and retain workers. The tight labor market is adding pressure on wages and operational stability.
Real Estate Trends
Single women homebuyers are outpacing single men by a 2-to-1 ratio link
In 2024, 20% of homebuyers were single women compared to just 8% single men. The highest share of single women buyers was in 2006 at 22%.
Single women buying for the first time have a median income of $71,300, compared to $87,500 for single men. Despite lower incomes, single women are more likely to make financial sacrifices, with 44% cutting back on nonessentials.
The median age for single women buying a home is 40, while it’s 34 for single men. Women are also more likely to have children under 18 at home and buy multigenerational properties.
3 States With the Highest Numbers of Foreclosures in February link
Delaware had the highest foreclosure rate in February, with 1 in every 2,278 housing units facing foreclosure. Illinois followed at 1 in every 2,333 units, and Nevada ranked third at 1 in every 2,435 units.
Nationally, 32,383 properties were in foreclosure, up 5% from January but down 1.7% from February 2024. New Jersey (1 in every 2,695 units) and South Carolina (1 in every 2,816 units) also had foreclosure rates well above the national average.
Foreclosure starts jumped 8% from January and 1% year-over-year, with New Jersey seeing the largest monthly spike at 78%. New York City had the most foreclosure starts among major metros, followed by Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Dallas.
Major Criminal Trend Hits Southern California Neighborhoods link
Criminals in Southern California are planting hidden cameras on properties to study homeowner routines and find the best times to break in. A woman in Encino found a small camera in a tree, and police have also discovered hidden cameras in Arcadia, Alhambra, Chino Hills, Garden Grove, and Goleta.
Police believe a sophisticated ring of foreign nationals is behind the activity, targeting wealthier areas for burglaries. Three Colombian men were arrested in Temecula after a camera disguised with black tape was found in a homeowner’s landscaping.
Los Angeles County homes are popular targets due to their high value and accessible front yards. Police response times have increased due to overwhelming caseloads, which criminals are exploiting to their advantage.
It Will Take 7 Years To Fix the Housing Shortage at Current Construction Pace, Economists Say link
The U.S. housing shortage stands at 3.8 million units, and at the current pace of 1.4 million units per year, it would take 7.5 years to close the gap. New household formations were at a nine-year low in 2024.
The South could close the housing gap in 3 years due to faster construction, while the West would take 6.5 years, the Midwest 41 years, and the Northeast will see little improvement.
Single-family home construction has been flat at around 1 million units per year since 2022. Tariffs on Canadian lumber could raise costs further, limiting future construction.
Something I found Interesting
A growing Fannie Mae ‘blacklist’ is paralyzing home sales
Fannie Mae has blacklisted 5,175 condo properties due to inadequate insurance or needed repairs, making it hard for buyers to secure a mortgage. This trend worsened after the 2021 Surfside condo collapse in Florida.
Shadow Ridge, a condo complex in Los Angeles, was blacklisted in December due to a shared insurance policy. Getting separate coverage would raise monthly fees from $570 to over $1,100.
Condo associations are opting for cheaper insurance policies that fail to meet Fannie and Freddie Mac’s standards. High insurance costs, especially in California, Texas, and Florida, are driving lenders and insurers out of these markets.
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Top 10 COUNTIES for Buying Single-Family Rentals in 2025
The projected annual gross rental yield for three-bedroom properties across 361 counties will be 7.45% in 2025, down from 7.52% in 2024. Rental yields are expected to drop in nearly 60% of these counties as home prices outpace rent growth.
Suffolk, NY, leads with an 18% rental yield in 2025, supported by 7% year-over-year wage growth. St. Louis City, MO, stands out with a 12% rental yield and 7% wage growth.
Santa Clara, CA (2.9%) and San Mateo, CA (3.3%) are expected to have the lowest rental yields. High prices and slow rent growth are driving down returns in several coastal markets.
57 crucial real estate statistics that explain the 2025 market
The median list price of homes in the US is $435,000, with new listings averaging $435,900. Homes are staying on the market for an average of 117 days, with a median of 77 days.
32% of buyers are first-time buyers, with 75% of them aged 25 to 33. The largest group of homebuyers are Gen Xers (24%), followed by older Millennials (21%) and younger Boomers (19%).
89% of sellers used an agent, and most sellers sold a larger home to buy a smaller one, downsizing by an average of 200 square feet. 68% of sellers did not reduce their asking price, and 44% were not in a hurry to sell.
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Large Markets Where Apartment Demand Far Outpaced New Supply in 2024
U.S. apartment demand in 2024 hit its highest level in over 30 years, with 666,700 units absorbed versus 588,900 units delivered, creating 77,800 units of excess demand. The West and South regions saw the largest gaps, with 29,809 and 25,506 excess units, respectively.
Washington, DC led the nation with 7,741 units of excess demand after absorbing 21,928 units and delivering 14,187 units. Occupancy climbed 130 basis points year-over-year to 96%, ranking #6 among large markets.
Houston ranked second with 6,849 units of excess demand after absorbing 31,925 units and receiving 25,076 units of supply. Despite increased demand, Houston's occupancy remained weak at 93.8% at the end of 2024.
An analysis of Gen Z home buying trends
Gen Z accounted for 13% of US home purchase applications in 2024, up from 10% in 2023. Most of the activity is in affordable areas like the Midwest, where median home prices stayed below $250,000 compared to the national median of $332,000.
Milwaukee saw a record 20% jump in median home sale prices in the year ending February 2025, compared to a national average increase of 3.2%. Other Midwest metros are also seeing rapid price growth as demand rises.
Some Gen Z buyers are teaming up with friends to afford homes or investing in properties they don't plan to live in. Creative strategies like these are helping them enter the market despite high mortgage rates.
Demand Outpaces Supply in these Large Apartment Markets
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National apartment demand outpaced supply by 77,800 units in 2024, despite record-high new supply of 589,000 units. Washington, D.C., led the excess demand with 7,741 units, pushing occupancy to 96%.
Houston had the second-highest excess demand at 6,849 units, with supply of 25,076 units and absorption of 31,925 units. Occupancy rose to 93.8%, up 120 basis points.
Las Vegas and Los Angeles saw excess demand of 4,317 and 3,110 units, respectively. Occupancy climbed 200 bps to 94.6% in Las Vegas and 30 bps to 95.4% in Los Angeles.
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Ranked: The World’s Most Populous Countries (2025-2100P)
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