Today's Real Estate Investing Pulse
Housing market steadies as sellers adjust prices and buyers return
May’s housing report shows median list prices slipping 2.4% year‑over‑year to $429,500, the sharpest decline since 2017. Pending sales rose 4.3% YoY, extending a six‑month growth streak, while new listings jumped 8.6% in the Northeast and 4.7% in the Midwest but stalled in the South.
Also developing:
JP Morgan Looks for Business Rates Discount to Unlock £3bn Canary Wharf Office Project
JP Morgan Chase is negotiating a business‑rates incentive with Tower Hamlets, the Mayor of London and the UK government to move forward with its £3 billion (≈$3.8 billion) Canary Wharf office tower. The 3‑million‑sq‑ft development would house up to 12,000 staff and serve as the firm’s UK‑EMEA headquarters, pending planning approval and a stable business environment. Council documents show the rates relief could be structured as an enterprise zone or discretionary cut, with costs shared among the borough, Greater London Authority and central government. The project is projected to generate about $12.6 billion for the UK economy and create roughly 7,800 construction jobs.
EU Launches Open‑Source ReLIFE Platform to Accelerate Deep Home Renovations
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) rolled out the open‑source ReLIFE platform during a 26 March 2026 online workshop, showcasing a digital ecosystem that makes building data actionable for deep residential renovations. The launch targets policymakers, financiers, owners...
Dubai Issues 10,776 Building Permits in Q1 2026, Up 12% YoY
Dubai Municipality recorded 10,776 building permits in the first quarter of 2026, a 12% increase from the same period last year. The surge lifted the permitted built‑up area to nearly 3.9 million sq m, up 48%, underscoring strong demand for residential and commercial...
IPA Capital Markets Arranges $31M Financing for Nebraska Apartments
IPA Capital Markets, a Marcus & Millichap division, arranged a $31.61 million refinancing for The Flats at Leighton District, a 234‑unit multifamily complex with ground‑level retail in Lincoln, Nebraska. The loan carries a five‑year term, full‑term interest‑only payments and a fixed...
Spring Leasing Lags Behind Last Year, Vacancy Trends Unclear
New data from Radix (apartment data provider) shows no sign yet of a spring leasing bump -- and, in fact, a slower start to the spring leasing season than what we saw at the same time last year. We'll get data...
Hanover Capital Refis Long Island City Retail Property With $26M Loan
Hanover Capital provided a $25.8 million refinancing loan for Vorea Group’s 52,578‑square‑foot retail development at 10‑04 Borden Avenue in Long Island City. The property, opened in 2024, is 100 percent leased to experiential anchors iFly and Vibe Fitness. Hanover highlighted the asset’s proximity to...
Homeownership Costs Consume Nearly 100% of Typical Wages in These Coastal Markets
ATTOM’s Q1 2026 affordability index shows homeownership costs in coastal markets are swallowing nearly a full year of typical wages. Kings County, New York tops the list at 108.6%, while Santa Cruz, Marin, San Luis Obispo and Orange counties in California range from 88% to...
Why Prices For D.C.-Area Retail Properties Are Spiking Right Now
Retail property prices in the Washington, D.C. metro are soaring, with the average price per square foot jumping 27.2% in 2025—far above the 12.3% national increase. The surge follows a 30% decline in 2023‑24 and is fueled by strong consumer...
Sky‑high Home Prices, Not Rates, Suppress Demand
The mainstream media is writing articles about how higher mortgage rates/the war are killing the "housing recovery". But that's wrong. Homebuyer demand remains near its lowest levels on record, and has not improved at all over the last 4 years. This has nothing...
HST Cut Won’t Revive BC, Ontario New Construction
What's Really Stopping Residential New Construction in BC & Ontario? And Why Playing With HST Wont Fix It. Don't get me wrong removing the HST for a year on New Construction homes is a good thing because every tax reduction is...
Lenders: Chase Affordability Gains Before Rates Climb Further
In February, 30‑year fixed mortgage rates slipped below 6%, pulling the industry average to 5.98% and nudging the Mortgage Bankers Association's Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI) down to $2,061. The modest decline reflected lower borrower payments despite slightly larger loan...
Banyan Tree Launches $1.9 Million Luxury Tower in West Palm Beach
Banyan Tree announced its inaugural U.S. residential tower in West Palm Beach, featuring 88 luxury homes with prices beginning at $1.9 million. The project signals the hospitality brand’s expansion from boutique resorts into high‑end branded residences, a move that could reshape...
Accordia Puts 2 Morrissey Parcel Up for Sale Amid Boston Development Slowdown
Accordia, the developer of Dorchester Bay City, has hired Newmark to market roughly one‑third of the project – a 13.6‑acre, 2.4‑million‑square‑foot parcel at 2 Morrissey Blvd – as the Boston region’s life‑science and housing construction slows. The move comes after Ares Management’s...
Dividend Yield Battle Faces Macro Turbulence as Oil and Crypto Markets Swing
Investors are weighing the dividend growth records of Realty Income and NNN REIT against a backdrop of sharp oil price gains and a cryptocurrency sell‑off, highlighting how macro volatility can pressure yield‑focused strategies.
Cold Storage Trough in Sight as Vacancies Hit 20-Year High
U.S. cold‑storage vacancy rates have surged to a 20‑year high as pandemic‑driven overbuilding meets slowing consumer spending. Despite the excess supply, the sector logged about 3.5 million sq ft of net absorption in 2025, indicating resilient demand. Newmark reports the development pipeline has...
Rent Guidelines Board Says Buildings’ Net Income Climbed by 6%
The Rent Guidelines Board released its annual Income and Expense Study showing net operating income for rent‑stabilized buildings rose 6.2% nominally (about 2.2% after inflation) between 2023 and 2024. Gains were uneven: Manhattan’s core districts posted a 10% increase, while...
REITs’ Decent 2026 Start Could Bode Well for This ETF
Real estate investment trusts posted a 10.5% total return in the first two months of 2026, the second‑strongest start since 2006, and were up 7.6% YTD as of March 16 despite geopolitical headwinds. Nareit’s research shows that in the four...
Los Angeles Soundstages Stay One-Third Empty as Slump Continues
Los Angeles soundstages remain about one‑third vacant, with average occupancy holding at 62% in the first half of 2025, virtually unchanged from 2024. Despite a modest 5% rise in projects on participating stages, new facilities such as East End Studios’...
Landsec Slaps £450m Price Tag on Flagship Piccadilly Circus Island Site
Landsec has put its iconic one‑acre Lucent site at Piccadilly Circus up for sale with a guide price of £450 m (approximately $570 m), the largest West End freehold transaction since 2022. The mixed‑use development offers 188,000 sq ft total, including 126,000 sq ft of office...
The Cargo Cooldown Hits Southern California’s Warehouse Market
January 2026 saw the combined Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle 831,412 loaded import TEUs, a 13% year‑over‑year decline as the tariff‑driven surge of the prior year faded. The slowdown is reflected in rising industrial vacancy across Southern...
Why Private Money Beats Banks for Real Estate
Top builders, investors, and flippers borrow money for their real estate projects from private money lenders instead of from banks. Here are the top two reasons why.
What $200K Bought in 90s Is Unthinkable Today
"Looks like $200K" was a selling point in the early '90s for this new construction home in the Sacramento area, but that wouldn't be a compliment today. https://t.co/CvPI9cITs9
CenterSquare’s Todd Briddell Highlights Alpha Opportunity, Innovation in REIT Market
CenterSquare Investment Management CEO Todd Briddell told the REIT Report podcast that the firm’s three‑decade REIT strategy thrives on embracing market volatility as a source of alpha. He highlighted how disciplined underwriting, defensive positioning and a willingness to “not get over...
Year‑to‑Date Sales Volume Across 12 Sacramento‑Area Counties
Just in case you were wondering about year-to-date sales volume in twelve counties in the wider area around Sacramento. I got you covered.... On a serious note, I do think it's fascinating to consider where transactions happen. https://t.co/CRctUqWvn9
Office-to-Residential Conversions Surge 28% as Loans Mature
Still plenty in the office>resi #conversion pipeline. Study by #RentCafe shows 90K+ in the process in early 26, up 28% from last year. 13d of office loans coming due drives the trend. #realestate #CRE #multifamily #YardiMatrix #mortgage https://t.co/gzewkNTvQh
CenterSquare’s Todd Briddell Highlights Alpha Opportunity, Innovation in REIT Market
In this episode, CenterSquare CEO Todd Bridell discusses how the firm’s 30‑year REIT strategy turns market volatility into alpha, consistently outperforming both public benchmarks and private real‑estate products. He explains the shifting dynamics between public REITs and private markets, noting...
Higher Rates Above 6.6% Dampening Demand
This is where the data in the past starts to get hit as in the past few years rates moving above 6.64% and above 7% impacts demand https://t.co/oiZjW5mQiD
Sellers Surge, Buyers Plummet as Housing Supply Near Record
"record growth of potential sellers...record decline of potential buyers...near record new supply of housing units coming to the market."
JW Marriott Marco Island Sold for $835M, Signaling Surge in Florida Luxury Tourism Investment
The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort was sold for approximately $835 million in cash to Sculptor Diversified Real Estate Income Trust. The 800‑room property boasts three miles of private beach, over 100,000 sq ft of event space and a recent $320 million renovation....
Redfin's Seller Data Is Misleading, Beware the Hype
If you men haven't learned that Redfin is playing you like a chump with their most sellers ever data, just look at their weekly pricing data since their chart came out. You guys are getting hustled. https://t.co/OJouoW3HqA
Mortgage Rates High, Market Frozen Despite Fed Cut Hopes
Mortgage rate: 6.43%. Mortgage applications: -10.5% in a week. The housing market isn't slow. It's frozen. Nobody's buying. Nobody's selling. The Fed's "one cut" forecast isn't saving anyone at the closing table. $XHB $TLT $SPY https://t.co/4lS8cSAOkb
Resort Growth Drives European Branded Residence Pipeline
The Savills report forecasts 1,850 branded‑residence projects across Europe by 2032, representing 113 percent growth, with Turkey topping the pipeline. Non‑hospitality brands such as Pininfarina, Missoni and Nobu are expanding, pushing average brand premiums from 29 percent to 38 percent. Stand‑alone projects will...
Investors Adapt When Home Prices Stop Rising
In our latest Real Estate Conversations podcast I talk with Dave Meyer of the massive investor community, Bigger Pockets. One thing I wanted to learn was what happens to the investor game when we can no longer rely on home prices...
Supply Shift Keeps Home Prices From Crashing in 2026
Why haven’t home prices crashed? Some thoughts and perspective on my blog today. I think many people expect 2007 results with 2026 stats, but it’s a much different supply story today. Enjoy my weekly post if you wish. https://t.co/i3BLmGTvo4 https://t.co/hcYtZOpegS
From Homelessness to 1,000 Rental Units: Terrica Lynn Smith’s $1B Real Estate Empire
Terrica Lynn Smith, who lived under a bridge after Hurricane Katrina, now owns and manages more than a thousand rental units and has participated in nearly $1 billion of real‑estate transactions. Her rise from a $5,000 first purchase to a multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar...
KB Home Sees Demand Rise in Jacksonville, Orlando; Tampa Lags
Giant homebuilder KB Home is seeing some demand improvement in Jacksonville and Orlando—while Tampa still remains challenged
QuadReal Ramps Up Self-Storage With £280M Acquisition: The London Deal Sheet
QuadReal Property Group has agreed to buy a 27‑asset, 1.2 million‑square‑foot self‑storage portfolio in the UK for £280 million (≈ $350 million). The deal creates a joint venture with Clear Sky Capital, in which QuadReal holds a 95% interest and will inject an additional...
North-South Divide Hits Buy-to-Let, Paragon Data Reveals
Paragon Bank’s latest data shows a pronounced regional shift in UK buy‑to‑let activity, with the Midlands and North now accounting for just over half of purchases, up from under 35% in 2015, while the South’s share fell to 38%. The...
Mortgage Rates Near 6-Month High — but Here’s How Much Worse It Would Be without Freddie and Fannie’s Bond Buying
Mortgage rates have climbed to a six‑month high of 6.48% on Wednesday, up from the 5.9% low seen in January. The surge follows the Iran conflict that began in late February, reigniting market volatility. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae’s $200 billion mortgage‑bond purchase...
U.S. Housing Market Hits Record Buyer‑Friendly Gap with 630,000 More Sellers Than Buyers
Redfin reports 629,808 more sellers than buyers in February, the largest gap since 2013 and the strongest buyer’s market on record. The surplus is tempering home‑price gains even as mortgage rates hover above 6%.
Ray White Report Shows Land Value, Harvest Correlation
Ray White’s 2024‑25 farmland research shows that Australia’s strong grain harvest did not uniformly lift dry‑land cropping values, with regional divergences driven by commodity prices and higher borrowing costs. While Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia saw median prices rise...
Mortgage Rates Surge, Home Purchase Applications Plummet 35%
There Goes the Spring Selling Season: Mortgage Rates Jump, Mortgage Applications to Purchase a Home Drop. Mortgage purchase applications are down by 35% from the same period in 2019 in a housing market that remains frozen https://t.co/sR0N0Jznl0 https://t.co/Hkfy4IziDs
Ido Berniker: Inside the World of Luxury Real Estate Power Deals
Ido Berniker, founding member of Mercer Partners International, is a leading advisor to ultra‑high‑net‑worth investors in luxury real estate. He has brokered marquee deals at New York’s 220 Central Park West and London’s 1 Hyde Park, leveraging deep insight into global...
London Lettings Market Shows Early Signs of Spring Recovery
Foxtons reports that London’s lettings market is showing early signs of a spring‑time rebound after a winter lull. While renter registrations remain below last year’s levels, they have risen from winter lows and budgets are broadly unchanged, indicating stable affordability...
Thinktank Proposes New ‘Starter Deposit’ Scheme for First-Time Buyers
The Resolution Foundation’s new report proposes a government‑funded “Starter Deposit” equity loan that would provide up to $3,800 toward a five‑percent down payment for priority first‑time buyers. It identifies roughly one million low‑ and middle‑income households that struggle to meet...
Trident Provides Financing for Future Tesla Supercharger Site
Trident Capital Partners has extended a $3 million, 18‑month full‑recourse loan to finance a future Tesla Supercharger station in Los Angeles. The loan, structured at a 55 % loan‑to‑value ratio, enabled the acquisition and redevelopment of a 0.52‑acre site in Studio City...
Multifamily Investing Redefines Real Estate Wealth
Most people think real estate wealth = owning properties, managing tenants, or flipping houses. Not anymore. In this episode of Raise the Bar, Seth Bradley sits down with John Casmon to break down how investors are really building wealth in today’s multifamily...
Mortgage Rates Dip, Spread Widens to 214 Bps
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate today: 6.48% Same day last year: 6.80% -------------------- 10-year Treasury yield: 4.34% Spread today: 214 bps
Ilan Bracha Scoops up Scribner Sidekick After Thor Flop
Ilan Bracha’s IB Global closed on the 15,000‑square‑foot Scribner sidekick at 3 East 48th Street for $9.5 million after the property fell into a lender‑driven foreclosure. The sale follows Thor Equities’ 2020 default on a $105 million CMBS loan that once financed...
Northwest Arkansas Commercial Real‑Estate Demand Holds Firm as New Space Hits Market
Skyline’s latest quarterly report says demand for commercial space in Northwest Arkansas remains strong even as more than a million square feet of new office, retail and warehouse space is slated to open. Leasing activity is outpacing supply, though exact...