More Young People Eye Construction Jobs as AI Comes for Knowledge Work
A new NAHB study shows that interest in construction trades among 18‑ to 25‑year‑olds has doubled since 2016, reaching 6% of respondents. The industry faces a looming shortage, needing roughly 2.2 million skilled workers over the next three years to meet housing demand and turnover. Competitive pay and skill‑building opportunities rank as the top draws, while AI‑driven automation of knowledge work is nudging more young adults toward physically based, AI‑resistant jobs. Data‑center construction, spurred by AI infrastructure, is further amplifying trade demand.
When Housing Costs Threatened Essential Workers, These Communities Built Their Own Solutions
Rising housing costs are forcing essential‑service institutions to become landlords. In Provincetown, Massachusetts, the nonprofit behind the Independent newspaper bought a $500,000 condo to house three reporters after median homes hit $1.4 million. In Oakland, California, the Oakland Fund’s Rooted program...
Fly-Fishing Mania Fuels Airbnb Rental Boom in Upstate New York
Fly‑fishing tourism is turning upstate New York towns into hot short‑term rental markets. In Roscoe, nightly Airbnb rates climb to $255‑$306 during April, July and August, and listings have surged from 38 in 2021 to 102 today. Nearby Andes and...
California Added More Homes Than People—But Buyers and Renters Still Aren’t Getting Relief
California added 677,000 housing units from 2018‑2024 while its population grew by only 39,000, yet vacancy rates remain historically low. Owner vacancy fell to 0.8% and rental vacancy sits at 4.3%, well below the national average. Demographic shifts—fewer households with...
Spring Selling Window Opens Amid Historic Housing Market Fragmentation
The spring home‑buying season officially opened, with Realtor.com identifying April 12‑18 as the nation’s best time to list homes in 12 major metros, including Atlanta, Dallas and Detroit. Despite the seasonal optimism, March existing‑home sales fell 3.6% to 3.98 million, and the...
Does Upzoning Work? This New Study Says Yes—Under the Right Conditions
A new Urban Institute report finds that upzoning can increase housing supply, but success hinges on local demand and complementary policies. In New York City, seven neighborhood rezoning projects between 2016 and 2021 generated roughly 4,100 additional units, with Gowanus...
Investor Lawsuit Accuses Baltimore Luxury Condo Developer of Inflating Sales Prices
Investors have sued the Paterakis‑family developer of Four Seasons Private Residences, alleging the condo’s public sale prices were artificially inflated through excessive seller credits. The lawsuit claims the developers concealed $100,000‑plus credits that lowered the true transaction values while keeping...
Boom in Modular Home Construction Could Be Just Around the Corner
Modular home construction, representing 5.2% of North American building activity in 2023, is poised for accelerated growth as builders chase cost efficiencies. The Modular Building Institute projects a 6.3% annual demand increase, reaching $33.2 billion by 2030, driven by speed‑to‑market and...
Maine Bans AI Data Centers Over Concerns About Impact on Household Energy Costs
Maine lawmakers approved the nation’s first statewide moratorium on large‑scale data centers, halting new facilities that exceed 20 megawatts of power until fall 2027. The 18‑month pause includes a framework to assess grid impacts and comes as concerns rise over...
Foreclosures Jump 26% in First Quarter With Surprising Midwestern State Leading the Nation
Foreclosure activity in the United States surged 26% year‑over‑year in Q1 2026, reaching 118,727 properties. Both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures rose sharply, up 20% and 45% respectively, though overall levels remain far below the 2007 subprime peak. Indiana posted...
Shrinking Rent Savings in DC Ease Path to Homeownership for Aspiring Buyers
The March 2026 Realtor.com rent report shows the gap between renting and buying a starter home in Washington, DC narrowed, with the renter advantage dropping $338 to $707 per month. Nationally, the average savings from renting versus buying fell to...
Former Google Exec Brings in $56 Million for San Francisco Mansion in City’s Priciest Home Trade Since Laurene Powell Jobs’...
Former Google executive Daniel Alegre sold his Pacific Heights mansion for $56 million, the most expensive San Francisco residential transaction since Laurene Powell Jobs paid $71 million in 2024. The Beaux Arts‑style home, which the Alegres bought for $11.7 million in 2013, was heavily...
9 Ways To Weatherize Your Home To Lower Your Energy Bills Before Summer Heat Sets In
Homeowners are urged to weatherize before summer to cut energy bills and avoid HVAC overload. Experts from FilterKing, Service Experts, and First Choice Heating outline nine practical steps—from sealing windows to testing thermostats. Early action secures contractor availability, prevents costly...
California’s Housing Market Is Still All Over the Clock—Despite Years of Reform
California’s housing market remains fragmented despite more than 180 land‑use reforms since 2017. The Realtor.com Market Clock shows metros ranging from an early seller’s market in San Francisco to early buyer territory in Riverside. Permit issuances dropped to about 101,500 units...
Congressional Leaders Insist Housing Bill Remains Priority, Despite Divided Attention
Congressional leaders are pressing to revive the stalled bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act, with House Financial Services Chairman French Hill and Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott seeking a joint reconciliation. The Mortgage Bankers Association opposes the Senate’s proposed...
‘Stealing Signs Won’t Change Minds’: Proposed 50% Property Tax Hike Sparks Bitter Tax Battle in Massachusetts Town
South Hadley, Massachusetts, faces a $3 million budget shortfall and has placed two property‑tax override measures on the ballot—a $9 million and an $11 million option that would lift the town’s tax limit and increase the median homeowner’s bill by roughly 50% over...
The U.S. Postal Service Is Running Out of Money—And Homeowners May Need To Be Worried
The U.S. Postal Service warned Congress it could run out of cash within a year, after accumulating $118 billion in net losses since 2007. A steep decline in first‑class mail and the agency’s self‑funded model have left it vulnerable without legislative...
Why Lenders Could Be Tightening HELOC Requirements in 2026
Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) surged 16% year‑over‑year between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025, driven by record‑high U.S. homeowner equity of roughly $17.8 trillion. In 2026 lenders—especially non‑bank and fintech firms—are tightening terms, often demanding borrowers draw 50%‑100% of the line upfront....
In His 100-Day Address, Mamdani Says ‘Pothole Politics’ Will Fix NYC Housing and Affordability
Mayor Zohran Mamdani used his 100‑day address to brand a "pothole politics" strategy that ties everyday service fixes to broader affordability goals. He highlighted filling more than 102,000 potholes, conducting Rental Ripoff Hearings with 1,600 tenant testimonies, and securing $2 million...
Home Sales Fell in March as Weak Job Growth Dampened Buyer Confidence
Existing‑home sales fell 3.6% in March, slipping to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million as weak job growth and higher mortgage rates dented buyer confidence. Condo transactions dropped 7.9% year‑over‑year while single‑family sales were essentially flat. Despite the sales...
America’s Rising Debt Could Keep Mortgage Rates High—And Housing Expensive
Washington’s $38 trillion debt, rising by roughly $2 trillion each year, is emerging as a key driver of higher mortgage rates. The Trump administration’s FY2027 budget offers no clear long‑term strategy to curb the deficit, leaving investors uneasy about future Treasury financing....
Savvy Homeowners Are Swapping Thirsty Grass for Luxury Irish Moss Lawns This Year
Homeowners are turning to Irish moss as a low‑growth ground cover to replace traditional grass, especially on small, shaded lawns. The moss stays short, removing the need for mowing and reducing reliance on fertilizers and herbicides. However, experts warn it...
An AI Data Center Is Coming for Her Backyard and Century-Old Family Cemetery
A proposed $5.18 billion, 650‑MW hyperscale data center—Project Ruby—by Habitat Real Estate Partners is slated for a 15‑acre site in Muscogee County, Georgia, adjacent to a family cemetery dating to the 1800s. Homeowner Debbie Jackson learned of the plan in February...
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Vetoes Property Tax Cap Bill, Pitches Own Solution
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2745, a Republican‑backed proposal that would let a petition of 5% of voters freeze local government budget increases above 3%. Kelly argued the measure would not deliver real property‑tax relief...
The New Frontier of Tenants Rights: Logan Square Renters Fight To Outbid Corporate Buyers
Chicago’s 2024 right‑of‑first‑refusal ordinance lets tenants bid on a building before outside buyers, aiming to curb displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods. Tenants of a five‑unit property on North Francisco Avenue are testing the law, trying to purchase the $1.35 million building that...
California Lawmakers Push New Fire Insurance Rules After Wildfire Claims Crisis
California lawmakers are advancing a trio of bills—SB-876, SB-877 and SB-878—to tighten fire‑insurance practices after the Jan. 2025 wildfires destroyed 12,000 homes and erased roughly $8.3 billion in property value. The legislation would require insurers to file disaster‑recovery plans, speed claim documentation,...
Clean House, Clear Mind: The Surprising Health Benefits Behind Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning does more than freshen a home; it can dramatically improve health by reducing indoor allergens, lowering stress hormones, and enhancing sleep quality. Studies from Brown University and the Journal of Environmental Psychology show that thorough dust removal and...
Mortgage Calculator: Here’s How Much You Need To Buy a $400,000 Home at a 6.37% Rate
Mortgage rates slipped to a 6.37% average for 30‑year fixed loans in the week ending April 9, a 9‑basis‑point decline from the prior week’s 6.46% peak. The dip translates into a $2,012 monthly principal‑and‑interest payment for a buyer putting 20% down...
Rates Retreat From Seven-Month High, Offering Spring Buyers a Modest Reprieve
Mortgage rates slipped to 6.37% for the week ending April 9, easing from a seven‑month high of 6.46% the week before. New home listings dropped 10% year‑over‑year, the steepest weekly decline since the January winter storm, while active inventory remains 3.9%...
It’s Buy O’Clock Somewhere: The 8 Metros Where Home Shoppers Have the Upper Hand Right Now
Realtor.com’s new Market Clock tool maps housing conditions across the 50 largest U.S. metros, revealing eight genuine buyer’s markets: Atlanta, Austin, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Tampa and Riverside, CA. These metros show abundant for‑sale listings, price reductions and longer time‑on‑market,...
The Housing Market Is More Fragmented Than Ever—Here’s a New Way To Understand the Data
Realtor.com unveiled the Market Clock, a visual tool that maps buyer‑seller dynamics across the United States on a 12‑hour clockface. While the national market sits at a balanced‑cooling 3 o’clock, the top 50 metros are split—26% are seller’s markets, 16% buyer’s,...
The Birthplace of Basketball Makes a Comeback as America’s Hottest Market
Springfield, Massachusetts reclaimed the top spot in Realtor.com’s March 2026 Hottest Housing Markets, propelled by its median listing price of $352,500—less than half Boston’s $829,000. The city’s homes attracted 3.6 times the national average online views and sold in just...
19-Year-Old MLB Phenom Konnor Griffin Signs $140 Million Deal With Pirates—Just Months After Moving Into His First Marital Home
Teenage outfielder Konnor Griffin, the 19‑year‑old phenom drafted by Pittsburgh in 2024, signed a nine‑year contract extension worth $140 million, extending his stay through the 2034 season. The deal was announced Wednesday on the Pirates’ official X account and praised by...
Fed Meeting Minutes Show Policymakers Weighed Economic Impact of Iran War
Federal Reserve officials highlighted the economic fallout from the U.S.-Iran conflict in the March 17‑18 FOMC minutes, noting that a prolonged war could lift energy prices and feed core inflation. The committee voted to keep the policy rate steady in...
Mercedes-Benz Condo Developer in Miami Scrambles for Financing After Foreclosure Lawsuit
Mercedes‑Benz Places, a 67‑story, 791‑unit luxury tower in Miami’s Brickell district, is under pressure as developer Michael Stern’s JDS Development faces a foreclosure lawsuit over a $775 million bridge loan. The loan, originally funded by Maxim Capital and later transferred to...
Stay in Detroit, Get $15K: A Guide to the Coalition Providing the Funding in the Motor City
MoveDetroit coalition launched the “Make Detroit Home” program, offering cash incentives to Detroit residents. Up to 313 participants can receive a $15,000 stipend for business expenses, home purchases, renovations or rent, while other eligible residents may obtain $1,000 for relocation...
How Georgia’s Last-Minute Property Tax Deal Got Rolled Into a Hemp Bill—And What It Signals Beyond the State
Georgia lawmakers salvaged a stalled property‑tax reform by embedding key provisions into SB 33, a hemp‑regulation bill, after HB 1116 failed in the Senate. The compromise delivers a $500 grant per homeowner, caps the rate of assessment increases, and authorizes...
Howard Stern and Wife Beth Are Sued by Former Assistant Over Claims They Created ‘Hostile Work Environment’ at $50 Million...
Howard Stern and his wife Beth are being sued by former assistant Leslie Kuhn, who alleges a hostile work environment after moving into their $50 million Hamptons mansion. Kuhn claims she faced immense pressure from the couple's extensive cat‑rescue operations and...
Dave Ramsey Warns That Timing the Housing Market Will Leave Both Buyers and Sellers Unhappy: The Perfect ‘Time’ Is Now
Dave Ramsey warns that waiting for a perfect moment in the housing market will leave buyers and sellers dissatisfied, urging action now as spring inventory rises and median list prices fall for five consecutive months. Mortgage rates sit at 6.46%,...
Key Fed Official Says Interest Rate Hike Is Possible as Gas Prices Soar
Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack warned that soaring gasoline prices, now $4.14 per gallon, could force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates if inflation remains stubborn. The Fed has kept its benchmark rate steady at 3.5‑3.75% since December, but...
Inventory Is Up, Prices Are Down—So Why Are Home Sales Muted?
U.S. home sales remain muted despite a sharp rise in inventory and a 2.2% drop in median prices, now at $415,450, the lowest since 2022. Mortgage rates have jumped to 6.46%, the highest in seven months, adding roughly $117 to...
From Property Taxes to HOA Fee Deductions, 7 Last Minute Homeowner Tax Questions Answered by Expert Adviser
With the April 15, 2026 deadline looming, homeowners are racing to claim new tax benefits before filing. The Residential Clean Energy Credit still offers a 30% deduction for solar systems installed in 2025, while mortgage‑interest deductions are capped at $750,000 for loans...
Wyoming Woos Google, Microsoft, and Meta To Build More AI Data Centers in the State
Wyoming is courting the AI data‑center boom by hosting a closed‑door Data x Power summit that brought together Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and energy firms. The state already operates 21 data centers and is promoting its abundant, low‑cost electricity, tax‑free environment and...
Congress Pitches Expanding Farm Credit System To Help Rural Homebuyers
A bipartisan Senate bill (S.4182) would amend the 1971 Farm Credit Act to broaden the definition of rural areas from towns under 2,500 residents to those under 10,000. The change would make an additional 29.9 million homebuyers eligible for flexible Farm...
Georgia Has $3.3 Billion in Unclaimed Property. New Bill Aims To Give Some Residents a Check.
Georgia’s Senate Bill 403 proposes that the Department of Revenue automatically issue checks for unclaimed property balances under $500, targeting the $3.3 billion currently held by the state. The bill would cross‑reference tax filings with the unclaimed‑property database, shifting the burden...
First Look at New York City’s Tallest Luxury Residential Tower on Iconic Fifth Avenue
New York City’s skyline will gain its tallest luxury residential tower at 262 Fifth Avenue, a 860‑foot, 52‑story development by Five Points Development Group. Designed by Meganom with interiors by Norm Architects, the building offers 26 full‑floor and duplex residences...
Georgia Passes Landmark HOA Reform To Protect Homeowners
Georgia lawmakers have passed SB 406, the Georgia Property Owners’ Bill of Rights Act, creating the state’s first formal oversight of homeowners associations. The bill mandates annual registration of HOAs with the secretary of state and bars unregistered groups from...
Oil Prices Surge After Trump Vows To Hit Iran ‘Extremely Hard’
President Donald Trump warned of a two‑to‑three‑week escalation against Iran, sending oil markets into a frenzy. Brent crude surged more than 10% to breach the $100‑per‑barrel mark, while the 10‑year Treasury yield climbed above 4.3%. Mortgage rates followed, jumping to...
Republican Congressional Leaders Announce Plan to End the Partial Shutdown
Republican leaders House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a dual‑track plan to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, ending a 47‑day partial shutdown that left TSA agents unpaid and caused airport delays. The strategy...
New Jersey Zombie Mall Built on a Landfill Will Be Demolished To Make Way for Hundreds of Apartments
The Borough of Raritan approved demolition of the aging Raritan Mall, a former strip mall built on a 1980s landfill, to construct a five‑story, 276‑unit apartment building. The project reserves 42 units for affordable housing and dedicates roughly 20,000 square...