I'm so glad you're with us today on the Clark Howard Show.

You know, our mission is to serve you with advice and information that empowers you to make better financial decisions in your life.

And in today's episode, I have an update on the housing market and why some people are reluctantly choosing to become what's been referred to over the years as involuntary landlords, how that's benefiting tenants as well.

Also, you may have noticed some changes to menus that are both good for your wallet and your health.

That's a riddle.

I'll fill in later.

So, real estate values in the U.S. have pretty much flatlined.

There are occasional micro markets in the United States

that are still seeing meaningful increases

in home values or condo values year to year.

But as a general rule in data of various housing markets, the housing market may actually in a number of places

have declined. Time on market increased enormously. I just read a story about people in the condo

markets, how condo markets in so much of America and nowhere more amplified than in Florida

that condos aren't selling in a lot of places at any price.

The market is essentially dead right now in a lot of communities for condos and units that move move at a lower price.

In addition, there are a lot of people going back over the last 15 years who intentionally

bought investment properties,

usually single-family homes, duplexes, or townhouses,

to rent out as investments, and now joining them,

a lot of people who, for life circumstances,

have maybe a home with an ultra low mortgage rate,

and they don't want to live in that house anymore or property anymore,

...