Quote from @Ryan Sandor: I’m looking to have a retaining wall rebuilt at my home in totowa nj.

The move came after jobless claims fell to their lowest level since 2022, signaling labor market resilience despite recent ADP data showing job losses in November.

Futures pricing suggests a near-certainty of easing, framed as a “risk management” move amid soft labor trends and muted inflation signals.

Core CPI (excluding food and energy) is also near 3%, signaling consistent price pressures in housing and services.

The outpacing of labor supply over job creation signals a cooling economy where hiring demand is moderating, even as workers return.Inflation, Also CoolingInflation remains moderate at 3%, still above the Fed's 2% target but unchanged from last month.

Some days the economic signals feel like they’re arguing with each other.

𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐅𝐑 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬The newest numbers show a clear trend: Florida’s rental markets are under real stress.𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚:Punta Gorda, 5.07%Cape Coral–Fort Myers, 5.06%Homosassa Springs, 4.66%North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton, 4.29%Naples–Marco Island, 4.29%Jacksonville, 4.11%Homes that historically rented quickly are now sitting vacant 2–3x longer than normal.That’s a structural signal, not a seasonal blip.𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚.

So with an average rent of $2,000-$2,500/mo I’m paying less than the retainer and avoiding a 20% profit center for the PM.  

What matters more is commute patterns, local demand, and whether renters in that zip code prioritize highway access or not.A few things to check:• DOM: If it’s been sitting for 4+ months, that’s your biggest signal.

Expectations for further easing have lowered since Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled to a more cautious stance, remarking "what do you do if you’re driving in the fog?