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In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending April 25th, 2020... the staggered reopening of the U.S. economy has begun, two small business rescue programs are being refunded, and the home sale slump could be reversing.   We begin with economic news from this past week, and plans, by some states, to slowly restart their economies. The state of Georgia is taking the first steps with the cautious reopening of some businesses on Friday, April 24th. While states, like Georgia and South Carolina, are planning to ease stay-at-home restrictions, others are extending them because modeling shows they are still at risk. A model maintained by the University of Washington shows that Montana could safely reopen on May 1st, and that Alaska, Hawaii, North Carolina, Vermont and West Virginia could do so on May 10th. At least half the states should wait until May 25th or later.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

We’re sure to see some changes in the post-pandemic economy, and one of them could be an increased demand for single-family rentals. Potential homebuyers who have been furloughed or have lost their jobs no longer qualify for mortgages. Those who do have their jobs may not have the down payment, high credit score or reserves needed to get a loan. But with the concern that social distancing could be a longer-term way of life, they may also prefer to rent a single-family home instead of an apartment if they are forced to remain renters for awhile.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

A recent change in lending could impact real estate investors, especially if more lenders follow suit. Over the weekend, JPMorgan Chase stopped accepting HELOC applications. The bank posted the notice on its website saying it’s a temporary suspension due to the current economic uncertainty created by COVID-19. Lenders have also been tightening loan standards.   Chase says it will continue to review already-submitted applications for home equity lines of credit, and HELOCs that have already been issued are not affected. But investors who might want to jump on a real estate buying opportunity by tapping into their home equity, face a shrinking pool of funding options.   www.NewsForInvestors.com    

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending April 18th, 2020... we’ll take a look at whether the pandemic will impact home prices, the good news about rent collection, and what banking regulators are doing to help home sales.   We begin with economic news from this past week, which hasn’t been great but there are a few bright spots, including plans to loosen up “stay at home” orders over the next several weeks.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

If you are a landlord in need of financial help from the disaster loan program and you haven’t applied yet, you’ll now have to wait until Congress agrees to provide more funding. The Small Business Administration announced on Wednesday, April 15th, that the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or EIDL, and the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, have both run out of money and will not be accepting new applications. Already submitted applications are still being considered, but the process is slow-going.   www.NewsForInvestors.com    

Rent default reports are coming in and they are not as bad as some headlines might lead you to believe. You may have seen reports that 30% of renters were unable to pay their rent in April because of pandemic-related lay-offs and furloughs. But that’s somewhat misleading. There has been an increase in defaults, but it’s not 30% above normal. In this podcast, we’re going to take a look who’s paying, who isn’t, and what landlords can do to increase rent collection while they also help tenants survive this crisis.   www.NewsForInvestors.com    

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending April 10th, 2020… a new deadline for the 1031 exchange, a housing market rebound, and a pullback by lenders.   We start with economic news from the past week… but first, important news about the 1031 exchange. The IRS published a notice on Thursday, April 9th, announcing extended deadlines for 1031 exchanges because of the coronavirus. The new deadline is July 15th for anyone with a deadline between April 1st and July 15th. That applies to both the 45-day deadline and the 180-day deadline.   www.NewsForInvestors.com    

The Federal government is pumping trillions of dollars into the U.S. economy to offset damage from the coronavirus pandemic. But, as businesses remain closed and much of the U.S. workforce unemployed, we will likely see some amount of damage -- including the sale of distressed properties. While that’s never a good thing for the seller, it creates a potential buying opportunity for the real estate investor.   The Wall Street Journal reports that a number of institutional investors are sitting on piles of cash for what could be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to buy properties at a big discount.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

Forbearance will help save property owners who can’t pay their mortgage, but who’s going to save the mortgage service companies that have to pay the bond holders? Major players in the housing industry say that without a bailout, companies like Quicken Loans, Freedom Mortgage, Mr. Cooper, and other nonbank mortgage companies could have a serious liquidity problem. FHFA Director, Mark Calabria, doesn’t agree. He says there’s no evidence of a systemic failure among nonbanks.   The pandemic has triggered concerns about another foreclosure crisis because of all the job losses. That prompted the creation of a mortgage forbearance program for homeowners as part of the $2 trillion Cares Act.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

Airbnb has set up a fund to help hosts dealing with coronavirus cancellations. Travelers ditched plans for vacations, work trips, and family get-togethers when the virus spread. And then, Airbnb promised full refunds. Airbnb’s “Host Relief Fund” will help cover some of the lost revenue, but many hosts are coming up short.    We don’t know yet how the coronavirus will impact the overall housing market, but for Airbnb hosts, the impact was felt almost immediately. Big events that draw huge numbers of people to destination hot spots were cancelled, and along with them, Airbnb reservations.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending April 4th, 2020... rent payments are now due, new data on top population growth cities, and how renters are dealing with their plans to move.   We begin with economic news from this past week, and the distribution of stimulus checks to American consumers. Adults earning less than $75,000 will get the full $1,200 amount. Parents will also receive $500 for each dependent child. The IRS is expecting those payments to start going out by the end of April. That should help many Americans pay their bills, including the rent.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

Just days after the largest stimulus package in history was signed, talks have begun on what could be “phase four” of the coronavirus stimulus plan. A few of the ideas being discussed include major infrastructure spending and a rollback on the cap for SALT deductions.    President Trump signed phase one of the virus rescue plan in early March. It authorized $8.3 billion for the initial response including money for state and local governments, virus research, testing, and vaccine development. Phase two was signed on March 18th for $100 billion that expands unemployment benefits and provides tax credits to employers for paid sick  leave. Phase 3 is the big one so far. The $2.1 trillion dollar package went into effect on March 27th and includes major relief for consumers in the form of direct bank deposits or checks, tax deferrals, state aid, loans to small and large businesses, and some grants for several impacted businesses like airlines.   www.NewsForInvestors.com    

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending March 28th, 2020… ugly numbers for job losses and economic growth, a possible “snapback recovery”, and encouraging news about medical supplies.   We begin with economic news from the past week and a $2.2 trillion dollar COVID-19 rescue package that helps individuals and companies. The short list of money hand-outs includes $100 billion for hospitals and virus-related healthcare, $290 billion for an infusion of cash into consumer pockets, $350 billion for small-business loans, and $500 billion for hard-hit industries, like the airlines.    www.NewsForInvestors.com    

There’s something in it for everyone. The federal government approved a $2 trillion dollar virus relief package last week called the CARES Act. That stands for “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security.” The legislation is almost 900 pages long so it’s not a quick read, but details are emerging on what’s inside. And, there is help for people in the real estate industry including real estate investors and landlords.   I want to talk about the CARES Act, but first, I’d like to mention another big announcement on Monday, March 30th.   The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an advisory that said real estate should be considered an essential business.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

As unemployment claims soars due to “Shelter in Place” mandates in cities across the nation, lenders who offer non-qualifying mortgage loans are also shutting their office doors. There have been several headlines recently about lenders suspending non-QM loans which could impact real estate investors.   An article in HousingWire on March 20th suggested that non-QM lending is the latest victim of the coronavirus. (1) Non-QM loans had become more common in recent years for borrowers who don’t have a traditional income source, and need alternative methods of income verification. Many real estate investors fall into this category. And due to the uncertainty created by the virus, several lenders have recently announced they are suspending non-QM loans.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

The U.S. was expecting to have one of the best spring home-buying seasons in years, until we got hit with the Coronavirus daily news. Still some markets continue to boom, while others are on a time-out.    In California, where there’s a statewide shelter-in-place order, the California Association of Realtors also advised against any open houses, home tours or face-to-face meetings with clients. (1) That scene is playing out in other markets as well, even as low interest rates dangle like a carrot in front of our noses.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

There’s been a lot of talk about rent moratoriums and eviction bans for struggling tenants, but what happens when landlords can’t pay mortgages and other expenses for those very same rentals? There’s been a growing chorus of questions and lobbying efforts in regard to relief for property owners, and some big announcements about forbearance options that apply to landlords in both the single-family and multi-family realm.   It’s now critical that people are able to “shelter in place” to help stop the spread of the virus. Many local governments have issued orders to stay at home, except for essential needs that include jobs that are also considered essential. While some people are going to work and returning to the safety of their homes, many more are laid off and sheltering in place 24/7.    www.NewsForInvestors.com  

An invisible enemy is attacking, and it doesn’t seem to matter where you are or who you are.. The Coronavirus is quickly spreading to all parts of the world. Whether people are sick or not, many can’t go to work, and that could mean missed rent payments -- especially for people living hand to mouth. So what is the appropriate course of action?   Headlines across the nation are echoing the same idea -- that cities, counties, states, and even the nation, impose a temporary moratorium on evictions while this virus scenario plays out.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

In this Real Estate News Brief for the week ending March 21st, 2020... we have economic news that’s contaminated by the coronavirus, a tax day reprieve, and mortgage moratoriums.   We’re in an unprecedented situation right now as this microscopic virus threatens the health and safety of everyone in the world. It’s gotten to the point of statewide lockdowns in California and New York to help slow the spread of the virus. Other states are likely to follow. There are also bans on non-essential travel across the northern and southern borders, but President Trump says we’re not at the point of a national lockdown, just yet, although other nations have done so.   www.NewsForInvestors.com  

There’s nothing more unifying than a common enemy, and that’s what the nation is facing right now -- a fast-moving virus that can be as mild as a common cold or flu for most people, but absolutely deadly to others. The Federal government and the Federal Reserve are taking drastic steps to shore up the economy, while individuals and families are going into survival mode. It’s not the end of the world, however. Good things will come out of this. As exponential tech entrepreneur and futurist Peter Diamandis said in a blog about the virus, “With Pause, Comes Opportunity.”   www.NewsForInvestors.com