We’re well into the first month of 2023. Though it’s still too soon to know exactly how the year will shake out for real estate investors, there are some clear market realities we must contend with. Even buy-and-hold investors who don’t depend on day-to-day market fluctuations must keep their fingers on the pulse of the market.

The real estate industry has taken its fair share of lumps this year. We’re no strangers to the challenges brought by rising interest rates, inflation, recession, and big price tags. 

Some people like to consider what some of the worst-sounding words in the English language are. While many would say moist is the most cringe-worthy word in our language, we’ve got to say that mortgage is right up there with it. The sound of the word is one thing, but the connotations that comes with it are another.

Mortgage originations jumped to over 30,000 in2012 (the latest year with data) and when 2013 numbers are released, they are expected to show another year with over 30,000.  That is almost 8,000 more originations than 2011 and the first time the city has gone over 30,000 originations since pre-2007.  This activity in the Memphis market is a very good sign as the cities normal real estate cycles begin to shift back into focus.