Real Estate News: Real Estate Investing Podcast

The housing market is cooling as high mortgage rates keep buyers on the sidelines, but rent growth is picking up. Zillow's latest report shows falling home sales, more price reductions, and the strongest annual rent growth in months. Kathy Fettke breaks down what's happening in the housing market, where prices are declining, and what these trends could mean for real estate investors.

Mortgage rates have climbed for seven straight weeks, hitting 7.4% — their highest level since 2023. Rising inflation concerns, bond market volatility, and higher borrowing costs are putting even more pressure on an already sluggish housing market. Kathy Fettke breaks down what's driving rates higher, how they're impacting homebuyers and real estate investors, and where opportunities may still exist.

New homes are becoming a better deal than existing homes in many housing markets. A new Zillow analysis finds that new construction is now selling for less per square foot nationwide, with some of the biggest discounts in Sun Belt markets. Kathy Fettke explains what's driving the shift, why builders are offering more incentives, and what it could mean for homebuyers and real estate investors.

🏘️ Interested in a new construction rental property? RealWealth works with builders across the country to negotiate incentives, including lower mortgage rates, on turnkey rental properties. Schedule a free call with an investment counselor at www.RealWealth.com/Schedule.

Source: https://www.zillow.com/research/new-construction-cost-square-foot-2026/

U.S. job growth slowed sharply in September, with employers adding just 29,000 jobs and unemployment ticking up to 4.2%. Previous job gains were also revised lower. Kathy Fettke breaks down what the weakening labor market could mean for the Federal Reserve, interest rates, and real estate investors.

🏘️ Need more housing market insights? Visit www.Realwealth.com/Webinars where you can access over 500 free webinars.

Sources: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_10022026.htm

https://www.npr.org/2026/10/02/nx-s1-5989140/jobs-labor-wages-federal-reserve

A powerful El Niño could bring more than extreme weather this winter. Kathy Fettke looks at Cotality's warning that flooding, mudslides and severe storms could expose vulnerabilities in homes while putting additional pressure on insurance costs and property values. Find out what real estate investors should be watching.

🏘️ Need more housing market insights? Visit www.Realwealth.com/Webinars where you can access over 500 free webinars.

Sources: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/a-super-el-nino-is-brewing-what-it-could-mean-for-housing/

https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml

Rising insurance premiums are putting new pressure on rental property profits. A new LendingOne and ResiClub survey finds 84% of single-family rental investors say higher insurance costs have impacted their cash flow over the past year. Kathy Fettke looks at how investors are responding — and why getting an accurate insurance quote and stress-testing future increases should now be part of every investment analysis.

🏘️ Schedule a free call with one of RealWealth's Investment Counselors at www.Realwealth.com/Schedule if you want to purchase a rental property before the end of the year.

Source: https://www.resiclubanalytics.com/p/full-results-to-the-lendingone-resiclub-sfr-investor-survey-q3-2026

Mortgage delinquencies moved higher in August, with serious delinquencies up 19% from a year ago and foreclosure inventory up 41%. But ICE says overall mortgage performance remains relatively strong, with delinquency rates still below pre-pandemic levels. Kathy Fettke breaks down the latest data and what it could mean for the housing market and real estate investors.

🏘️ Listen to our other podcast, The Real Wealth Show at www.Realwealthshow.com.

Source: https://mortgagetech.ice.com/resources/data-reports/first-look-at-august-2026-mortgage-data

Could a "coming soon" listing help sellers get a higher price? A new ARELLO study analyzing more than 10 million home sales found that coming-soon listings outperformed both private listings and homes that went directly onto the MLS. In the first half of 2026, coming-soon homes sold for about 1.55% more than standard listings, while private listings generally sold for less. Kathy Fettke breaks down the findings, the potential cost of limiting buyer exposure, and what the study could mean for home sellers. 🏘️ If you want to get more real estate information, just go to www.Realwealth.com/Webinars where you can watch over 500 webinars for free. Sources: https://www.realestatenews.com/2026/09/23/report-coming-soons-sell-for-more-than-private-standard-listings https://www.inman.com/2026/09/25/coming-soon-listings/

More renters are struggling to keep up with housing costs, according to a new Urban Institute report. One in five working-age renters reported trouble paying rent, with payment problems rising sharply among middle-income households. Kathy Fettke breaks down the latest affordability data, what's putting pressure on renters, and what it could mean for real estate investors and landlords.

🏘️ If you want to get more real estate information, just go to www.Realwealth.com/Webinars where you can watch over 500 webinars for free.

Sources: https://www.urban.org/research/publication/renters-increasingly-struggle-pay-housing

Mold is becoming a costly problem for apartment owners. Lawsuits involving mold and habitability issues are on the rise, with some jury awards reaching into the millions. At the same time, insurance costs are climbing and coverage is becoming harder to find in some markets. Kathy Fettke breaks down the growing risk for multifamily investors, what's driving the increase in claims, and how proactive maintenance and adequate reserves can help landlords protect their properties.

🏘️ If you want to get more real estate information, just go to www.Realwealth.com/Webinars where you can watch over 500 webinars for free.

Sources: https://www.bisnow.com/news/national/multifamily/multimillion-dollar-mold-lawsuits-multifamily-owners-habitability-insurance

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mold/testing-remediation/index.html