New: 🧠 Market Minds Issue #030

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The 10 Best Places to Live in 2024-2025

Here are the top 10 cities to live in 2024-2025 according to U.S. News based on four separately weighted indices: quality of life (32%), value (27%), job market (22%), and desirability (19%):

• 10. Boulder, CO (Overall score: 6.7 out of 10; Quality of life: 6.8; Value: 6.0)

• 9. Austin, TX (6.8, 6.8, 6.3)

• 8. Virginia Beach, VA (6.8, 7.1, 6.9)

• 7. Hunstville, AL (6.8, 6.6, 8.1)

• 6. Raleigh, NC (6.8, 7.2, 6.9)

• 5. Charlotte, NC (6.8, 6.7, 7.3)

• 4. Greenville, SC (6.9, 7.0, 7.0)

• 3. Colorado Springs, CO (7.0, 6.5, 7.0)

• 2. Boise, ID (7.0, 7.4, 7.6)

• 1. Naples, FL (7.1, 6.8, 6.0)

New Construction Near Record High

The U.S. housing market has undergone significant changes since the onset of the pandemic, with a notable shift towards newly built homes. As of the first quarter, a substantial 33.4% of single-family homes for sale were newly constructed. This figure remains consistent with the previous year and only slightly below the record-high 34.5% seen two years ago. Despite a slight decline, the proportion of new constructions in the housing supply is still about double what it was before the pandemic.

Reasons Behind the Rise in New Construction

The surge in newly built homes can be attributed to two main factors:

• Increased Homebuilding: The pandemic sparked a homebuying frenzy, fueled by the shift to remote work and historically low mortgage rates. This led to a boom in construction, with single-family housing starts reaching levels not seen since before 2020.

• Decreased Supply of Existing Homes: Concurrently, the supply of existing homes on the market has diminished. Many homeowners are choosing to stay in their current homes, deterred by the high mortgage rates that peaked last year and remain significantly above both pre-pandemic and pandemic levels. This reluctance to sell and move to a potentially higher mortgage rate has contributed to the scarcity of existing homes for sale.

Try This at Your Next Open House

The Power of Food Trucks at Open Houses

When it comes to selling a home, traditional open houses can sometimes fall flat. One of the most effective ways to do this is by incorporating food trucks into your open house strategy. Yes, it might sound pricey at first—with costs ranging from $600 to $1,500—but think of it as an investment in your future success.

And it also may start a conversation with a neighbor wanting to sell their house, too.

Marketing Your Food Truck Open House

To effectively market your food truck open house, you need to spread the word beyond just the typical channels.

Utilize Listings-to-Leads (or similar)

Create a single property website and utilize things like the "Nearby Homeowners" letter, which is particularly effective for the Fox Homes Team.

Mailing with Zairmail

For direct mail, Zairmail is an invaluable service that handles the printing, stuffing, and mailing of your letters. To ensure your mail gets opened, use a standard envelope with a first-class stamp and avoid putting your business affiliation on the envelope. Timing your mailings to arrive a week before the event can significantly increase attendance.

Enhancing Guest Experience at the Open House

Once guests arrive, make signing in as seamless and rewarding as possible.

Innovative Sign-In Strategies

Instead of the usual sign-in request, entice guests with free food offered by the food truck. They can receive a raffle ticket—which is necessary for the free food—by signing in on an iPad.

And after the open house - don’t forget to follow up by sending a handwritten card to everyone who attended.

Dominate Your Market with the Postcard Pack

Use these editable postcards to dominate your desired area.

Delivered to you - instantly!

If you’re committed to adding another source of leads to your business, try it out here. If you wouldn’t jump into shark-infested waters to keep the mailers, we’ll give you your money back. And you can keep the mailers and the leads that come from them, too.

Home Alone?

This legendary holiday home in Winnetka, IL

And yes, it’s been tastefully remodeled after the mess they made in the movie 😂 

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

The U.S. News ranked the top 10 cities to live in 2024-2025 based on quality of life, value, job market, and desirability, with Naples, FL taking the top spot. The U.S. housing market has seen a significant shift towards newly built homes, with 33.4% of single-family homes for sale being new constructions, driven by increased homebuilding and a decreased supply of existing homes due to high mortgage rates. An innovative open house strategy involves using food trucks to attract potential buyers, marketed through specialized mailings and offering free food as an incentive for signing in. This approach can enhance attendance and start conversations with potential sellers.

Have a great weekend - we’ll see you next Saturday.

Cheers 🍻

-Market Minds Team