How Investors Use Migration Data (Without Getting Misled)

REady2Scale - Real Estate Investing

• 7 min

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Are you using popular migration reports to guide your multifamily investments? You might be relying on the wrong signals. In this episode, Jeannette Friedrich breaks down why the U-Haul data, while eye-catching, can be dangerously misleading if taken at face value. She reveals the common pitfalls investors fall into when interpreting these trends, and how to analyse migration data in a way that supports sound multifamily investment decisions. Key Takeaways: - Why high inbound moves do not guarantee population growth: The U-Haul report shows where people are moving to, but not who is moving out. This is a critical gap in understanding net migration. - The frequency vs. volume trap: Seeing states like California mentioned often does not mean they are losing large populations. The report lacks the necessary context investors need. - Correlation does not equal causation: A spike in moves from New York to Miami does not automatically mean rents in Miami will rise. Additional factors like job growth, wage trends, and housing supply must be considered. - The overlooked macro trend: New immigration and deportation policies could result in negative net migration in the US for the first time in 50 years. This may impact labour markets, GDP, and housing demand. - How to use migration data responsibly: Jeannette shares best practices for cross-referencing sources, analysing both inbound and outbound flows, and drilling into local submarket details. This episode is essential listening for investors who want to move beyond hype and headlines. Learn how to extract meaningful insights from migration data and avoid making costly mistakes based on incomplete information. View U-Haul’s 2025 Midyear Report: https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/U-Haul-2025-Midyear-Migration-Trends-35212/ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to U-Haul's 2025 Migration Trends Report 01:16 Misleading Aspects of the Report 01:37 Common Mistakes in Interpreting Migration Data 03:23 Critical Macro Factors to Consider 04:20 Best Practices for Conducting Due Diligence 05:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Are you REady2Scale Your Multifamily Investments? Learn more about growing your wealth, strengthening your portfolio, and scaling to the next level at www.bluelake-capital.com. Credits Producer: Blue Lake Capital Strategist: Syed Mahmood Editor: Emma Walker Opening music: Pomplamoose *𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘗𝘈, 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥/𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶.