Author: Rent Magazine Contributor

Huntington Beach, California—nicknamed “Surf City USA”—once again lived up to its reputation as the heart of American surfing as the 2025 U.S. Open of Surfing came to a close on August 10. The weeklong event, which is considered one of the nation’s premier surfing competitions, brought together a mix of elite professionals, rising talents, and an enthusiastic global audience for a celebration of sport, skill, and beach culture. From the first heat to the championship finals, the shoreline buzzed with energy as surfers from around the world tackled challenging summer swells. Competitors navigated the unpredictable conditions of the Pacific with…

Across the residential sector, demand for AI-powered smart homes is rising at a pace that industry analysts say could redefine modern living over the next decade. While not linked to a single event, this trend reflects a growing consumer appetite for convenience, efficiency, and personalization in home environments—driven in large part by recent advances in artificial intelligence, including the release of cutting-edge systems like GPT-5. Smart home technology has been steadily expanding for years, but AI’s latest capabilities are bringing a new level of sophistication to everyday living. Homeowners are no longer limited to basic automation such as scheduled lighting…

In a historic moment of collaboration between the tech giant Apple and the U.S. government, CEO Tim Cook presented a glass plaque to President Donald Trump as part of an announcement highlighting Apple’s significant commitment to U.S. manufacturing. This gesture came alongside a larger promise from Apple to invest $100 billion in American manufacturing over the next decade, marking a major shift in the company’s operations and its relationship with both the government and the American workforce. Apple’s investment is a bold step toward revitalizing domestic manufacturing and securing a future for American jobs in the tech sector. The move…

The Ohio REALTORS association is calling for applications for its 2025 committees and forums, offering real estate professionals across the state a unique opportunity to actively engage with the industry, contribute to the development of new initiatives, and collaborate with fellow professionals. These committees and forums are crucial in shaping the future of the real estate market in Ohio, providing a platform for members to influence policies, advocate for industry advancements, and foster innovation within the sector. The Ohio REALTORS association is well-known for being at the forefront of real estate advocacy, education, and leadership. By being part of one…

In the modern era, the integration of smart home technology has significantly transformed the way we live, offering a wide array of benefits that go far beyond mere convenience. From increasing energy efficiency to providing enhanced security, these technological advancements are making homes more comfortable, safer, and smarter. As technology continues to evolve, smart homes are becoming a vital part of everyday life, bringing a host of advantages to homeowners. One of the most notable benefits of smart home technology is the unparalleled convenience it offers. With devices such as smart thermostats, voice-controlled assistants, and automated lighting systems, homeowners can…

In recent years, co-working spaces have drastically changed the commercial real estate landscape, emerging as a dominant trend in the modern business environment. These flexible, collaborative spaces are not only meeting the needs of freelancers and small startups but are also becoming increasingly popular among large corporations looking for adaptable office solutions. As businesses around the world embrace remote work and hybrid working models, co-working spaces have grown into an essential part of office design, reflecting broader shifts in workplace culture and the commercial real estate market. The concept of co-working spaces is not entirely new, but their evolution over…

As of August 5, 2025, the U.S. commercial real estate market is showing encouraging signs of recovery, especially in the industrial, multifamily, and data center sectors. Despite lingering headwinds from elevated interest rates and the broader economic fallout from recent tariff policies, a growing wave of investor interest and transactional activity points to a sector regaining its footing after years of volatility. The strongest momentum is visible in the industrial property segment, where demand for logistics facilities, distribution centers, and last-mile delivery infrastructure remains high. The shift toward e‑commerce, reshoring of manufacturing, and supply chain diversification efforts have spurred both…

In 2025, Rocket Companies emerged as a driving force in the evolution of the U.S. housing industry by integrating advanced artificial intelligence into its operations and executing high-profile acquisitions that significantly expanded its market presence. At the center of its transformation is Rocket Logic, a proprietary AI platform that is already reshaping the mortgage experience for millions of homebuyers. Launched in 2024, Rocket Logic was designed to automate one of the most time-consuming and paperwork-heavy aspects of the home buying process: mortgage processing. Drawing from more than 10 petabytes of proprietary data, including tens of millions of customer service transcripts…

On August 4, 2025, reports indicated that the U.S. commercial real estate sector had reached a stabilizing phase, with investment activity expected to grow by approximately 10 percent during the year. CBRE projected total commercial real estate investment volume to reach around $437 billion in 2025, still below pre-pandemic levels but showing clear signs of recovery. Investors have increasingly focused on property types such as industrial assets, data centers, and retail locations, reflecting a deliberate shift toward high-demand, higher-quality real estate. Though overall portfolio allocation remains cautious, capital is choosing its targets carefully. CBRE emphasized that industrial and multifamily properties are attracting…

In mid‑2025, U.S. rental demand began accelerating, driven particularly by strong activity in Sun Belt cities such as Austin, Phoenix, and Atlanta. According to CBRE’s U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook midyear review, this growth reflects a combination of rising consumer spending, ongoing population migration toward warmer, lower‑cost metros, and easing financial conditions that support both renters and investors. Vacancy rates decreased modestly across these markets, contributing to upward pressure on average rents and sparking heightened investor interest in multifamily and single‑family rental assets. The increase in demand aligns with broader demographic and economic trends that have shaped the Sun Belt’s…