briefcase | invest smarter | Issue #148

Poll: A recent survey found that 100% of real estate agents chose the same Halloween costume this year: a therapist.

Other than not getting any hard grandma candies this year, our Halloween wish is that you pick one fun real estate tidbit below and share it with your favorite ghoul-friend.

Now, who's ready to harass kids with motion-activated decorations?

Happy Halloween briefcase readers! This week's issue will be dedicated to the odd, fun, crazy, head-scratching world of Halloween-themed real estate stories.

Let's give you pumpkin' to talk about this Halloween.

The next Fed meeting is…October 31st. Coincidence? As like everyone else with a pulse, we’re hoping that the Fed doesn’t get spooked and keeps rates paused.

Rates have been scaring everyone from government officials to businesses to consumers. The 30-year average rate recently hit above 8% as it continues to spook the economy.

But, there is hope that the Fed will keep rates paused this time around, and it’s not because they’re breaking early for an office Halloween party.

Per Housing Wire:

As any realtor knows, you always listen to the children.

Nice try “1943 bungalow on a quiet street.” It’s a little too quiet around here.

M&M's is launching its first Halloween Rescue Squad to assist Americans at risk of running out of candy on Halloween night. A recent survey by Mars revealed that almost half of Halloween celebrators have fretted about running out of candy, and 89% admit to eating some of the candy meant for trick-or-treaters before the main event.

Don’t lie! We’ve all done it. But now we have a savior, the Halloween Rescue Squad. Now, if only we could get one of these for mortgage payments.

53% of American homeowners are members of a Homeowners Association (HOA). And, as of 2021, 82% of all single-family homes were a part of one. By 2040, it’s expected that the HOA model will be the most common form of homeowners in the U.S.

The trouble is that they act as de-facto governments by issuing fines and being able to foreclose on homes.

To be honest, we’re just upset about another HOA fine for lawn decorations.

But, then there’s the other side.

And now, “unholy ham sandwich" is our new favorite phrase at the briefcase offices. Thanks internet.

So What? Happy Halloween to all the briefcase readers!! Safe trick or treating, and always remember that scaring is caring.

PS - According to science, spreading briefcase awareness offsets your tricker-treating candy corn ratio by 3-1.