Although I'll quote the latest data on jobs (from February)
events have already overtaken the statistics. The spread of the corona virus
threatens to have a dramatic effect on the US economy. And not just in the short
run because the economy already had been trending downward. That's the big problem
when growth is slow, any number of unforeseen circumstances can tip it into a
tailspin.
Although government officials apparently worry mainly about 'liquidity'
in the banking system and propose financial assistance for companies in some
industries, the real problem is that consumers (70 percent of the economy) are
quite likely to pull back on their spending habits, which can lead to a vicious
cycle of perceived economic insecurity that ends in a sharp recession.
It's difficult to imagine a quick turnaround from this and I
think the effects will be felt in real estate for some years. First, interest
rates will be at rock bottom. This means both that investing in real estate
will be cheap, and that the returns on rental properties will be better than
most other investments. Second, the home price bubbles in a dozen US markets will
come to an end, which will encourage more investment in rentals. And third, the
population of renters will increase because fewer people will have the financial
confidence to buy a home.
Jobs in February were up 1.6 percent from last year, the best
performance for months but wasted in the face of the corona situation. Jobs were
up 1.9 percent in finance, 2.0 percent in business services, 2.2 percent in
healthcare, and 2.7 percent at restaurants. Jobs were essentially flat in
manufacturing and retail, and up 1 percent in government. My bell-weather -
temp jobs - were down 1 percent, already indicating a slowing economy.
Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5946477047382647814
