Today's Real Estate Investing Pulse
Housing Prices Slip 2.4% as Buyers Return, Pending Sales Rise 4.3%
Median list prices dropped 2.4% year‑over‑year to $429,500, the steepest decline since 2017. Pending sales climbed 4.3% YoY, extending a six‑month growth streak. New listings rose sharply in the Northeast (+8.6%) and Midwest (+4.7%) while remaining flat in the South.
Also developing:
Office Loan Woes Bite a Pair of Banks
Washington Trust Bancorp and Bank OZK each moved two office‑related loans to nonaccrual status, sparking sharp share declines. Washington Trust’s nonperforming assets surged to $40.4 million, pushing its NPA ratio to 0.81% and sending the stock down 17% before a modest rebound. Bank OZK reported three CRE charge‑offs, including an office loan, lifting its nonperforming‑loan ratio to 0.90% and trimming net income by 5%. Despite the office‑loan stress, both banks posted solid commercial‑and‑industrial loan growth and remain focused on diversifying their portfolios.
SoFi Enters HELOC Market Amid Home Equity Surge
SoFi Technologies announced it will begin direct home‑equity line of credit (HELOC) lending, adding the product to its existing mortgage suite. The move comes as U.S. homeowners hold over $11 trillion in tappable equity and HELOC balances have surged to $433 billion,...
California’s Net Outflow of 150,000 Fuels Home‑Buyer Surge in Sunbelt States
During 2025, nearly 150,000 more people left California than moved in, sparking a relocation boom for homebuyers in Texas, Arizona and other Sunbelt markets. The exodus, driven by a widening affordability gap, has lifted home‑ownership odds for movers by 11...
Meritage Homes Posts 3,224 Q4 2025 Orders as Affordability Squeezes Demand
Meritage Homes announced 3,224 net sales orders in Q4 2025, a 3.2‑home per month absorption rate, and a 19.3% adjusted gross margin, down from 23.3% a year earlier. The figures underscore a softening market as affordability challenges curb buyer urgency,...
Topular Launches AI Platform to Transform Off‑Market Real Estate Valuation
Topular has introduced Topular AI, an artificial‑intelligence tool that automates discovery and valuation of off‑market real estate across the United States. The platform initially rolls out in Georgia and Northern California, promising investors and brokers deeper insight into property condition,...
D.R. Horton, NVR, Taylor Morrison, M/I Homes Earnings Recap for Mortgage Lenders
Mortgage banking units of the nation’s largest homebuilders posted weaker pre‑tax earnings in Q1 2026 as higher rates and affordability concerns dented margins. Despite the slowdown, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported loan applications for new homes up 11% year‑over‑year and...
Key Metrics to Evaluate Duplex Investment Viability
How to Tell if I Buy These Duplexes if They Would be a good investment
U.S. Pending Home Sales Uptick in March as Supply Constraints Persist
Pending home sales rose 1.5% in March 2026, indicating lingering demand despite high mortgage rates. Year‑over‑year activity fell 1.1%, highlighting an uneven market recovery. Gains were led by the South, while the Northeast, Midwest and West lagged. Economists warn that...
With Optimism Giving Way To More Volatility, Maxim Capital Group Stepping Up Lending
Maxim Capital Group, a 15‑year‑old commercial‑real‑estate bridge lender, is increasing its loan activity in South Florida despite heightened macro‑economic volatility from geopolitical tensions and stagnant Fed rates. The firm recently closed a $70 million loan for a Boca Raton condo project and...
Mortgage Rates Peaked 2024, Now Easing Toward 2026
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate on April 22, by year 4.58% -> April 22, 2018 4.35% -> April 22, 2019 3.43% -> April 22, 2020 3.14% -> April 22, 2021 5.38% -> April 22, 2022 6.66% -> April 22, 2023 7.43% -> April 22, 2024 6.98% ->...
Architecture Billings Declined Slightly in March
The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) edged to 49.8 in March, the nearest it has been to the 50‑point growth threshold since early 2023. While overall billings held steady, design contracts slipped for the 25th consecutive month, signaling deeper weakness....
Homebuyer Demand Plummets to Record Low, Spring Sales Slump
Reventure's homebuyer demand index hit a 9/100 on April 22nd, 2026. This figure is up slightly from last week, due to increased mortgage applications. But remains well below the pre-pandemic norms of a 50/100. And actually, today's demand readings are near the lowest...
Boston Properties Posts Q4 2025 Earnings, Flags Office Market Headwinds
Boston Properties (BXP) posted $3.5 billion in full‑year revenue and $1.76 per share core FFO for Q4 2025, slightly below guidance. The office REIT highlighted a 86.7% year‑end occupancy rate, a $1 billion asset‑sale pipeline, and a 2026 FFO outlook of $6.88‑$7.04...
SL Green’s 1515 Broadway Downgraded as Owner Feels the Sting of Casino Bid Loss
SL Green’s flagship Times Square tower, 1515 Broadway, was downgraded by S&P Global after the property lost its casino bid and faces tenant uncertainty. The 57‑story, 1.7 million‑sq‑ft building’s sole occupant, Paramount Global, is considering a space reduction following its sale...
Five per Cent Home Deposit Scheme Fuelling Price Hike, Report Suggests
The Australian government’s First Home Guarantee, expanded in October 2025 to allow 5% deposits with a loan guarantee, has accelerated price growth for homes under the scheme’s price caps. Cotality data shows eligible properties rose 6.7% in the first six...
Only Top 20% Can Afford Ontario, BC Homes
Average Incomes Aren't Good Enough To Buy A House In Ontario & BC Today: It's Just The Top 20% Of Incomes It was my honor to testify before the Finance Committee of Parliament for the 4th time & I got some...
Term Sheet: BNP Paribas Plans an SRT, a UK Retail CMBS Gets Underway, MERA Eyes Preferred Equity Deals
BNP Paribas is weighing a synthetic risk transfer (SRT) to shed credit exposure, marking the latest European bank to consider such structures. In the UK, a new securitisation of the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre will launch a fresh retail CMBS,...
Jax Apartment Investor Inks $50.5M Refi
Beachwold Residential has obtained a $50.5 million first‑mortgage loan to refinance Gran Bay Apartments, a 308‑unit garden‑style community in Jacksonville, Florida. The five‑year, non‑recourse loan was led by Mesa West Capital and arranged by Walker & Dunlop. Gran Bay, built in...
‘On Top Of All That’: US Housing In Limbo
U.S. housing activity showed modest improvement as the average 30‑year fixed mortgage slipped to 6.35%, the lowest level in more than a month. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported double‑digit growth in purchase applications, reflecting buyer response to the rate retreat....
Analyze Property Physically Before Trusting Excel Numbers
If you’re buying real estate solely based on numbers, you’re already losing Real estate isn’t just numbers in excel. It’s tangible Here’s how to actually analyze a property without making that costly mistake: First thing most investors do when they see...
RBA Nightmare as 90pc of Banks Hike Mortgage Rates
Around 90% of Australian banks have lifted at least one fixed mortgage rate since the Reserve Bank of Australia’s last meeting, signaling aggressive pricing ahead of the May 5 decision. The average variable home‑loan rate has risen to 6.42%, up 0.25...
DLF Sobha M
Which luxury developers actually performed the best from 2010–2025? Not by marketing. By returns, execution, and pricing power. Over the last 15 years, a clear pattern emerges: A few developers consistently created and preserved wealth Top performers (2010–2025): • DLF → Highest pricing power +...
First Industrial REIT Posts $0.77 Q4 FFO, Lifts Dividend as Industrial Demand Surges
First Industrial REIT (FR) delivered fourth‑quarter 2025 funds‑from‑operations of $0.77 per share, up from $0.71 a year earlier, and announced a 12.4% increase in its quarterly dividend. The results reflect higher rental rates, solid lease‑up of 2026 rollovers and strategic...
The Importance of Access for Retail Tenants and Developers
Access is the linchpin of retail site success, dictating whether convenience‑driven tenants like c‑stores, gas stations, and QSRs can attract pass‑by traffic. Developers must evaluate vehicle movement, curb cuts, and cross‑access potential before committing to a parcel, often collaborating with...
CICT Leans on ‘Bold Acquisitions’ and Asset Recycling to Drive Growth
CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) is pursuing aggressive portfolio upgrades, highlighted by a S$3.9 bn ($2.9 bn) acquisition of Paragon Mall funded through debt, a S$600 m ($444 m) private placement, and the sale of Asia Square Tower 2 for S$2.48 bn ($1.84 bn). The REIT’s recent...
More Than 50,000 Home-Purchase Contracts Fell Through in March
In March, nearly 53,000 U.S. home‑purchase contracts fell through, representing 13.4% of pending sales – up from 12.5% a year earlier and the highest March rate since the pandemic‑driven 2020 spike. Cancellations clustered in buyer‑heavy metros such as San Antonio...
Mortgage Rates Sink Again, and Homebuyers Jump Back In
Mortgage rates slipped to 6.35% for 30‑year fixed loans, marking a third consecutive weekly decline and a 55‑basis‑point drop from a year ago. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 7.9% jump in total mortgage applications, with purchase‑loan requests up 10%...
Strong Micro-Market Demand Set to Absorb New Self Storage Assets Across London
Savills warns that while London’s self‑storage pipeline is expanding rapidly, supply remains uneven across the city. Strong micro‑market demand—particularly in outer boroughs such as Croydon, Stratford and Hounslow—is expected to absorb the influx of new assets. Vacancy rates have slipped...
Live Mastermind Delivers Real Deal, Debt & Capital Strategies
Had an amazing Elevate 2 Day Mastermind 💎 Two days… a room full of real business owners… great conversations. We broke down live deals across new construction and commercial, talked through how to structure debt in today’s market, and went deep on...
Austin's Housing: Supply Outpaces Demand, Not Shortage
It's not a demand issue in Austin. There's plenty of it. But even more supply than demand.
NYC Proposes $500 Million Tax on $5 Million‑plus Second Homes Owned by Non‑residents
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to levy a 1% tax on luxury second homes worth over $5 million owned by non‑residents, projected to raise $500 million a year. The proposal targets roughly 13,000 units in a market...
Great Lakes Cities Poised for Climate‑Driven Real Estate Boom
Wildfires and floods put $15 trillion in real estate at risk. Could the Great Lakes be America's last climate haven? 🌎 🔥 🌊 I test the theory using Redfin data to see if Detroit, Milwaukee, and Buffalo are primed for a...
Local Counties Show Diverging Days‑on‑market Trends
A slide I'm showing in a presentation this morning. Days on market for three local counties. https://t.co/3kanFGf5f5
Netflix in Talks to Acquire Radford Studio Center for $330‑$400 M
Netflix is negotiating with Goldman Sachs to buy the Radford Studio Center in Studio City for $330‑$400 million, far below the $1.85 billion price paid in 2021. The deal would give the streamer a flagship L.A. soundstage complex as it expands its...
Housing Leading Indicators Return to Positive Growth
With the MBA data this morning, all of my three favorite housing leading indicators have flipped back to positive YoY growth after war-related declines at the end of March. Will it hold? https://t.co/nPUuWGhIrg
Life‑Science Lab Real Estate Bounces Back, Investors Take Note
Life sciences lab real estate is on the rebound. What it means for investors @CNBC #realestate #biotech #realestateinvesting https://t.co/Ts7hAvMYed
Commercial Real Estate Market at Turning Point as Vacancies Drop: Report
Canada’s commercial real‑estate market shows its first simultaneous drop in office and industrial vacancy rates since the pandemic, according to Colliers International. Office vacancy fell to 13.6% in Q1 2026, a one‑point year‑over‑year improvement, while industrial vacancy slipped to 3.5%, the...
Homebuilders Cut Spec Inventory, Boosting Margins
Homebuilders like $DHI and $TMHC reporting sharp, swift declines in unsold finished homes during earnings so far is good news for the sector. Excess spec inventory has been one of the biggest drags on margins in recent years.
Australia’s Tallest Build‑to‑Rent Timber Tower Gets Passivhaus Certification
"$330m Deal Clears Way for Australia’s Tallest Build-to-Rent Timber Tower - adaptive reuse, combining mass timber at scale with Passivhaus certification for the first time in Australia." #passivhaus #passivehouse https://t.co/LWTGVGpiC4 https://t.co/pIJyWjH0vc
Public Storage Hits Upper End of Guidance with $4.26 Q4 2025 FFO
Public Storage (PSA) posted Q4 2025 core FFO of $4.26 per share, landing at the high end of its $4.26‑$4.38 guidance range. The result was driven by a 20% year‑over‑year jump in non‑same‑store NOI, which offset a 0.2% decline in...
BLDR Undervalued: Massive Cash Flow, Housing Shortage Persists
Market is throwing out the baby with the bathwater on $BLDR. Down 28% in 2025, another 20% in Q1 2026. Yet $875MM in free cash flow, 10-13% FCF yield, and zero growth priced in. Structural US housing shortage isn't going away. Pitch by...
Why the Ultrarich Are Shrinking Their Property Portfolios in Favor of Other Investments
Wealthy U.S. households are reducing real‑estate exposure, with the top 10% allocating only 17.1% of assets to property in Q3 2025—down from 20.2% in 2022. Strong stock market gains, especially in AI‑focused S&P 500 equities, have driven overall asset growth while real‑estate...
Automation Boosts Demand for Modern Logistics Space in Europe
Prologis' latest market analysis predicts that by 2035 nearly half of Europe’s modern warehouses will be equipped with automation technologies. The shift is spurring heightened demand for logistics facilities that feature higher clearances, robust power capacity, and built‑in data connectivity....
Inside the Mind and Investment Playbook of StripMallGuy (Repost)
In this episode of the Crexie podcast, host Shanti Ryle chats with Don Tepman, founder of Town Center Capital and the social media persona "Strip Mall Guy," about his unconventional path into commercial real‑estate investing, from a commission‑only broker role...
SA Housing Market Shifts as Buyers Turn Cautious
The Adelaide housing market is cooling as prospective buyers grow cautious amid rising interest rates, fuel costs, and uncertainty over capital‑gains‑tax reforms ahead of the May 12 federal budget. Buyers are gravitating toward inner suburbs and properties close to public...
JPMorgan Sees China Property Stabilising, Boosting Outlook for Equities.
JPMorgan sees China’s property market approaching a turning point as price declines slow and secondary‑home values rise in dozens of cities. The bank argues that stabilising housing conditions could act as a tailwind for Chinese equities, helping them outperform other...
Will Labor Go ‘Back to the Future’ on Property CGT?
The Albanese government is expected to restore the pre‑1999 capital gains tax (CGT) framework for property investments, taxing real gains—adjusted for inflation—at the investor’s marginal tax rate. This would replace the current system that levies nominal gains at 50% of...
Savvy Homeowners Are Paying Off Their Mortgages Before Retirement. You Should Too.
Homeowners aged 65‑79 are increasingly entering retirement with mortgages, as the share of senior borrowers rose 17% and median debt jumped over 400% between 1989 and 2022. Experts recommend accelerating principal payments, removing private mortgage insurance, or using a loan...
Black Residents Secure Ownership of 34 North Richmond Public Housing Units
Black residents of North Richmond have completed the purchase of 34 dilapidated units in the former Las Deltas housing project, leveraging a first‑of‑its‑kind preference policy. The effort, led by longtime activist D’Shawn Goodwin, combines below‑market sales, a community land trust...
KingSett and Choice Acquire First Capital, Splitting Nearly $10 Bn of Retail Assets
KingSett and Choice have agreed to buy First Capital’s portfolio of well‑located retail properties, dividing assets worth almost $10 bn. The transaction, described as a rare chance in a tightly held asset class, underscores strong investor appetite for prime retail locations....