It’s been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world as we know it. In so many ways, it seems far away and still too close. While some of the changes were temporary – mask mandates, six-foot buffers, and take-out-only restaurants – others stuck. 

Remote work is one such change. While many employers adopted work-from-home flexibility as a matter of necessity, the arrangement proved popular and cost-effective. And so, even now, the statistics about remote work show it has staying power:

• Global remote work increased from 20% in 2020 to 28% by 2023.
• 32% of employees prefer to work entirely remotely.
• 41% prefer a hybrid work setup.
• Over half of U.S. workers would prefer to quit their jobs than return to the office full-time.
• Two-thirds of U.S. employers offer hybrid or remote work flexibility.
• 26% of U.S. households now have at least one person working remotely at least one day per week.
• 75 million U.S. employees have jobs that are compatible with remote work.
• 16% of U.S. companies are now fully remote.

The statistics go on and on! The point is this: remote and hybrid work is here to stay. It makes sense for employees and employers, who both see decreased costs and increased productivity from the approach.

But where does the housing market fit into all of this? And how does the remote work boom continue to shape the real estate market as we know it? 

This week, we’re featuring a recently renovated property in the Little Rock area: 7909 Claybrook Road in Mabelvale, AR. This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home was built in 1984 and offers 1,566 square feet of living space, a 2-car garage, and no HOA fees. After a full renovation, it’s now leased and ready to deliver dependable returns for its new owner.

Many people think they’re above falling for a scam. And while we would all hope that’s
the case, these scammers become increasingly sophisticated. AI tools only make it
more challenging to tell facts from fiction, and we’d best believe they’re using every
avenue to fleece their victims!

At REI Nation, we turn potential into performance—and this week’s featured property is a newly renovated 4-bedroom, 2-bath home in Millington, TN. Located at 4821 Greenlawn Cove, this 1,768 sq. ft. home, built in 1992, includes a 2-car garage and has been fully updated to meet our high standards for quality and long-term rental success.

You’ve worked hard to acquire investment properties, build equity, and establish wealth. Now it’s time to make sure all that effort doesn’t disappear when you’re gone! 

We’ve been in this business for a while now. It’s safe to say we’ve seen just about everything the market can throw at real estate investors, from housing market crashes to global pandemic panic. Good times and tougher ones, too. 

We’ll let you in on a secret, though: your success in real estate investment rarely has to do with market conditions. It has everything to do with the things you can control. As a turnkey investor, you rely on a team to get the job done. Critical to that team is property management. 

And what’s the most essential quality in your property manager? Proactive communication. 

A survey shows that, aside from rent costs, the number one most cited reason for rental residents to forgo lease renewal was an unresponsive and ineffective property manager. 

Further Reading: Crucial Questions New Investors MUST Ask a Property Management Company

One of the most telling indicators of housing market health is inventory. We all know that a careful balance between supply and demand determines the strength of the real estate market. But the housing supply seesaw has been one-sided for a long time…high demand, low supply!

Of the 19.3 million rental properties in the United States, 85.6% are single-family rentals. By and large (70.2%), these properties are owned by individual investors. In fact, the smallest portion of rental properties are owned by real estate corporations and REITs – just 1.2%.