The Average Joe likely looks at the real estate market of 2024 in shock and awe. Prices are high, but mortgage rate cuts promised to bring everything back into balance. Meanwhile, data shows that the real estate market remains frozen, with only a tiny percentage of homes on the market changing hands.

Rental property turnover: the bane of an investor’s existence.

Insurance feels, in many ways, to be a necessary evil. Not only is insurance largely required, whether on a car or a property, but it can also seem like paying for nothing until you actually need it. And even then, many of us have experienced the headache of trying to make a claim and get a promised payout.

Could a construction boom be on the way for 2025? Some experts seem to think so. Our friends at Bigger Pockets are also discussing the possibility – foreseeing the lower rates will kickstart construction activity – if not in 2025, certainly within the next five years.

For the most part, real estate investors aren’t interested in “trendy” homebuilding. Our focus is usually on function and longevity, not style. This isn’t to say investment properties don’t look nice – but they tend to be renovated for timelessness, not flash-in-the-pan appeal.

But we’re not talking about choosing fancy backsplashes or the right paint color for some HGTV dazzle. Investors should pay attention to building trends – including materials, home styles, layouts, and amenities. These give us insight into what buyers – and, in turn, renters – want in a home.

These are the trends (sourced from U.S. News) to watch and consider when making rental property renovations.

What does it mean to say a real estate market is “hot”? Should investors even care?

Are we headed for a recession? Research from J.P. Morgan has raised the probability to 35% for a U.S. recession by the end of 2024, with unchanged odds at 45% for 2025. Those aren’t percentages to sneeze at. Even if a recession doesn’t come soon, it’s still on the horizon.

One of the biggest real estate investment fraud schemes in recent history has been exposed. Wells Real Estate Investment promised investors that their money would be used to buy, renovate, and develop commercial and residential properties across South Florida. Instead, they gambled $28 million of $58 million in investor funds on speculative options and futures trading.

Mortgage data from Freddie Mac suggests that, as inflation slows, interest rates will continue to slide back down. And no – we’re not going to see 3% rates any time soon – but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your while to revisit your existing mortgages! But when should real estate investors look to refinance? And how do they know it’s the right time?

Every real estate investor starts with one property, but then what? Scaling your portfolio can feel as daunting as buying that first property. Some investors fear branching out into new markets or neighborhoods, worry about over-leveraging, or cringe at the thought of making a costly error. That’s all natural.

But at the end of the day, the only way to grow substantial wealth – the kind that leads to financial freedom – is to add properties to your portfolio.

When you do so with diligence, wisdom, and the right support in place, you put yourself in the best position possible to succeed.