How Do Retail Trends Affect Real Estate?

The real estate space is like a well-oiled machine. Just like many other industries, there are numerous factors that play a part in the overall success or failure for real estate investors. With there being so many outside influences with the ability to impact the real estate industry, it’s so important to not only be following trends in our own field, but that of others as well. Understanding trends and predictions in similar industries can be a crucial help when gauging what to expect in your own day to day real estate investing career.

A recent article from the Washington Post shared retailers and stores are sitting on merchandise that consumers are simply not interested in buying, and also noted while the country faced product shortages throughout the pandemic, the exact opposite is occurring now. In short, these reports could be an indicator of the way the economy is headed. Are people spending less because they are being more frugal, saving more instead of spending?

Although the two industries – retail and real estate – are very different, they both could be affected by these economic and financial trends. IRA Specialist, Nicole Bacot likes to think of it like a tower of building blocks. What you do to the block in the middle of the tower influences the entire tower.

“I follow trends in manufacturing because it can predict consumer goods, overstocking, too little product, and supply chain faults. These can be indicators of what is to come and where people are going to put their money,” Bacot says. “Being an informed investor is key to also being a successful investor. I follow trends in the stock market, even though I don’t invest in it because it does give you the overall financial feeling at the time.”

The Washington Post also reported extra goods are creating a lack of storage space and a shortage of cash - new challenges for retailers. The dramatic sell-offs in the stock market are also a result of concerns over diminished profits. Now more than ever people may be choosing to turn to self-direction, where they have the ability to invest beyond traditional assets and earn a better return. While the success is still in the hands of the investor, the opportunity is possible inside of a self-directed IRA.