Rent Magazine Contributor

Contractors and real estate professionals across the Midwest and Southeast are ramping up their strategies in anticipation of a surge in housing demand tied to expanding manufacturing jobs—a wave fueled largely by significant Japanese investment. Insights from a recent industry realtor roundtable in July 2025 highlight a tightening market for move‑in‑ready properties and showcase how...

As of May–June 2025, the U.S. office vacancy rate remains elevated at approximately 19.4%, signaling ongoing stress in the commercial real estate sector. This level stands 160 basis points above the same period last year. Major metro areas such as San Francisco and Austin are notably worse off, with vacancy rates around 27.7% and 28%,...

The national average home value in the U.S. reached $369,147 in June 2025, marking a modest 0.5% increase from a year earlier, according to the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI). This uptick reflects a steady—yet tempered—rise in home prices, with growth far below the double-digit gains seen during the pandemic years. Adjusted for inflation, real...

New York City has entered a defining new chapter in housing development, spurred by widespread office-to-apartment conversions that are reshaping its skyline and offering innovative solutions to the city’s lingering vacancy crisis. At the forefront of this transformation is 25 Water Street, formerly known as 4 New York Plaza, which has officially become the largest such project in...

As mid‑July unfolds, the U.S. rental market is experiencing a familiar summer slowdown in year-over-year rent growth, yet key metropolitan areas remain overheated. While national averages reflect a modest chill, locales like Austin and Miami continue to witness double-digit rent increases. Experts suggest that a surge in inventory—especially in Sun Belt regions—is easing pressure, though...

At Home Group Inc., a Texas-based home furnishings retailer, filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on June 16, 2025. The company secured a restructuring support agreement with lenders holding over 95% of its debt. At Home operates approximately 260 warehouse-style stores in 40 states...

On June 18, 2025, Nippon Steel Corporation finalized its $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, culminating an 18-month process marked by intense political, regulatory, and labor scrutiny. The deal transforms U.S. Steel into a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon, while preserving its Pittsburgh-based headquarters and brand identity. The transaction includes a “golden share” provision that grants...

A July 2025 report from JLL Spark outlines a pivotal moment in commercial real estate (CRE), detailing how artificial intelligence and robotics are swiftly transforming operational models across the industry. Propelled by rapidly advancing generative AI and Falling hardware costs, property owners and management firms are adopting automated solutions for maintenance, security, tenant engagement, and...

The U.S. rental housing market is undergoing a rapid evolution as property owners and managers increasingly adopt PropTech solutions to meet the rising expectations of tenants and streamline their operations. As of July 2025, digital tools like virtual apartment tours, contactless leasing, online rent payment systems, and smart-home technology have become widely integrated into multifamily...

New data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that foreign investment in U.S. residential real estate surged to $56 billion between April 2024 and March 2025—the strongest level since 2017. This marks a 33% increase in total dollar volume and a 44% increase in the number of properties purchased, signaling renewed global interest...