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:
Terner Center Comments on Build to Rent Provisions of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act
The Terner Center submitted comments on Section 901 of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which would require large institutional investors to sell newly built built‑to‑rent (BTR) single‑family homes within seven years. While BTR homes represent roughly 1% of the overall single‑family stock, they accounted for about 7% of new single‑family starts in 2023, serving renters who prefer a house‑type dwelling. The disposition requirement is projected to increase financing risk, potentially curbing new BTR projects and reducing rental supply. The Center proposes tax‑based incentives as a less disruptive alternative to achieve homeownership goals.
U.S. Home Values Up 89% Since 1950 – Hold Longer
Since 1950: U.S. home prices increased 89% Average appreciation 4–5% annually Hold real estate longer.
Marriott’s Worst Resort May Finally Close — A $50 Million Subsidized Redevelopment in the U.S. Virgin Islands Is Taking Shape
Marriott’s Carambola Beach Resort on St. Croix, long branded as a failing un‑branded property, is slated to close this summer for a $50 million government‑subsidized redevelopment. The resort’s troubles began when a U.S. Virgin Islands pension fund injected $15 million during the Great...
Local NIMBY Votes Drive Housing Prices Sky‑High
This is why your housing is so expensive Not Blackstone, not "greedy landlords" Just your mom, dad, & neighbors voting for NIMBY local politicians who then prevent housing from being built That's why you pay tens of thousands of dollars more than...
Potential Negative YoY Inventory by April if Seasonal Rise Delayed
We should be getting the national seasonal inventory increase soon, but if, for some reason, that doesn't happen, we will have negative year-over-year inventory data by the end of March or Early April Note: For the worse than 2008 crowd...
Revealed: The New Affordable Commuter Hotspots in Great Britain
Savills’ latest research maps a new set of affordable commuter hotspots across Great Britain as post‑pandemic demand reshapes traditional belts. By pairing railway‑station entry data with 2025 house‑price figures, the analysis highlights towns and villages with direct links to London,...
VA Partial Claim Draft Arrives with Detail Sought on Limits
The Department of Veterans Affairs released a draft policy for a new VA partial‑claim program, allowing eligible borrowers to receive a second, interest‑free lien covering up to 25% of the unpaid principal balance. The assistance is designed to curb delinquency...
Vegas Vacancy Rate Hits 10‑Year High, Rents Plummet
Las Vegas apartment vacancies are spiking. And landlords are not happy. 7.6% of Vegas apartments are now sitting vacant, the highest level in nearly 10 years. (Triple the pandemic low of 2.4%). 4 years ago, rents were soaring, and there was no availability. Now...
1540 Broadway Secures 74K SF of New Office Leases
GFP Real Estate and BDT & MSD Partners announced that 1540 Broadway has secured over 74,000 sq ft of new long‑term office leases. Pandora Jewelry expanded its footprint to 55,872 sq ft across the 34th floor and an existing lease, while Woori Bank New York Agency signed...
Planet Financial Grows 58% in Originations, 21% Servicing
Planet Financial Group reported a 58% jump in originations to $28.6 billion and a 21% increase in its servicing portfolio to $144.8 billion for 2025, achieved organically despite recent acquisitions. The growth was driven by strong retail retention (52% rise to $2.5 billion)...
Marx Realty Launches Expansion at Yonkers’ Cross County Center
Marx Realty has broken ground on a 58,000‑square‑foot expansion at Cross County Center in Yonkers, adding a 14,000‑sq ft single‑story building and a 44,000‑sq ft two‑story structure. The project includes a four‑acre park and boardwalk that will serve as the mall’s new...
Clear Height Completes Disposition of Elk Grove Village Industrial Property
Clear Height Properties and Harbert Management have completed the disposition of the Triangle Corporate Center, a multi‑tenant flex industrial asset in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The property, situated less than a mile from Interstate 90 and minutes from O’Hare Airport, offers...
Colliers Closes Sale of 748K-SF Industrial Facility Near KC Airport
Colliers has completed the sale of a 748,833‑square‑foot modern bulk industrial facility in Platte City, Missouri, within the Kansas City metropolitan area. The 2024‑built distribution center, featuring 36‑foot clear heights, 74 dock doors, 7 drive‑in doors, and 463 parking stalls,...
Rent Now, Sell Later When Market Improves
If you have a property that is not going to sell for what it’s worth, you might consider holding onto it, renting it out, and then selling it later on when the market is better. Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more on build-to-rent...
Turning an Inherited Home Into a Short-Term Rental: The Legal and Tax Traps To Watch For
Inheriting a home offers a tempting entry into the booming short‑term rental market, but the path is riddled with tax and regulatory pitfalls. The IRS grants a step‑up in basis, resetting the cost basis and allowing a fresh 27.5‑year depreciation...
Housing Inventory Recovery Slows for Ninth Straight Month
Housing inventory rose 7.9% year‑over‑year in February, reaching over 914,000 homes, but month‑over‑month growth stalled at 0.2%, marking the ninth consecutive month of flattening gains. Supply increases were led by the South and West and skewed toward properties priced below...
Falling Mortgage Rates May Boost US Housing, PVC
U.S. mortgage rates slipped below 6% for the first time in over three years, reviving affordability and prompting forecasts of an 8% rise in home sales by 2026. Despite the rate dip, new‑home construction is expected to decline modestly, with...
Volatile Crosscurrents Keep Mortgage Rates Relatively Flat
Mortgage rates remained relatively flat this week despite opposing forces in the bond market. A sharp surge in oil prices initially pushed rates higher by stoking inflation concerns, but a surprisingly weak jobs report later that day pulled yields down....
America Faces Shortfall of 7.2 Million Affordable Rental Homes
A new National Low Income Housing Coalition report reveals a shortage of 7.2 million affordable rental units for very‑low‑income households, equating to just 35 units per 100 residents. The gap affects 11 million renters earning below 30 % of area median income and...
Congress Risks Shutting Out Small Housing Investors
Congress is advancing the ROAD to Housing Act, which would bar any entity that owns or manages more than 350 single‑family homes from purchasing additional properties. While aimed at curbing private‑equity concentration, the bill’s broad definition also captures Regulation A real‑estate...
Weak Jobs Data Drives Mortgage Rates Downward
Another horrendous jobs report saved mortgage rates today. Had it come in hot, we'd likely have a 30-year fixed closer to 6.25% again during peak home buying season. Granted, w/o the conflict in Iran we'd probably be at 5.875% or lower...
David Weekley Homes Presents an Excellent Investment Opportunity in Metro Atlanta
David Weekley Homes has launched Grandview Terrace, a gated townhome community in Canton, Georgia, just two miles from I-575 and the Mill on Etowah. Priced in the high $300 k range, the development offers three‑story, 3‑bedroom floorplans, a future pool and...
AWS Likely Behind Plans for $750m Data Center in Clinton, Mississippi
Amazon Web Services is poised to invest $750 million in a new data center on a 99‑acre site in Clinton, Mississippi, repurposing the former Milwaukee Tool facility. The city council approved a fee‑in‑lieu tax arrangement, though final approval from the Mississippi...
MISMO Releases VA, FHA Form Standards for Industry Use
The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) has elevated the data mapping for VA Form 26‑1820 and the HUD FHA Addendum to candidate recommendation status, making standardized XML datasets available for industry use. The VA mapping translates the loan disbursement report...
Mortgage Rates: 5.5% Really Is the Magic Number
Existing home sales in 2024 averaged 4.1 million units, the weakest pace since the mid‑1990s and about a quarter below the 5.3 million average recorded in 2018‑2019. Analysts argue that mortgage rates must fall to roughly 5.5% to revive the market as...
Rate Shock Slashes Listings; Gradual Recovery Underway
As soon as the rate shock occurred—and switching costs surged—we saw U.S. new listings fall a notch as some of that attempted churn was knocked off That effect was most acute out of the gate Ever since, we’ve slowly seen new listings...
Selling ADUs?
A homeowner asks about accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations, costs, and resale potential. Local rules impose no extra parking requirements and allow up to two stories, though taller structures are discouraged. Building a basic ADU starts around $200,000, but adding...
Do Home Equity Investments Impact Your Credit Score?
Home equity investments (HEIs) let homeowners unlock cash without creating a traditional loan, so they generally do not appear on credit reports. The only direct credit‑score hit comes from a hard inquiry during application, which is usually temporary. Because HEIs...
Macau Residential Sales Fall as Prices Reset
Macau’s residential market contracted in 2025 as total transactions slipped 9.2% to 2,775 units, prompting developers to cut prices and focus on pre‑sale projects, which surged 44.8% to 333 deals. Supply remained limited, with only ten approved projects adding 484...
How to Consolidate Your HELOC and First Mortgage | 2026
Homeowners can combine a home‑equity line of credit (HELOC) and their first mortgage into a single, fixed‑rate loan through a cash‑out refinance. The strategy is most attractive when the HELOC’s variable rate is climbing, mortgage rates are low enough to...
Court Clears Way for 24-Story Garment District Tower After Pretzel Mogul Loses Breach-of-Contract Suit
Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Paul Goetz ruled in favor of Shahn Andersen, allowing him to proceed with the purchase of a 6‑story industrial building at 349 West 37th Street in the Garment District. The decision overturns seller George Makkos’ attempt...
Japanese Builders Accelerate U.S. Homebuilder Acquisitions
Japan’s big bet on the U.S. housing market got even bigger last week Japanese builders are rapidly acquiring U.S. homebuilders—now Daiwa House is buying United Homes That came just 10 days after Japan-based Sumitomo Forestry said it's buying Tri Point Homes...
Pending Sales Rise YoY, Driving Inventory Decline
Another week of positive year-over-year growth in our weekly pending sales data, and it's biting inventory lower now. 😉 A lot more with tracker article this weekend
Starwood’s Pollack: Insurance Capital and Cloud Investments to Shape Firm's RE Growth
In this episode, Starwood Capital Group President Jonathan Pollack discusses his first year overseeing operations, emphasizing a strategic shift toward deeper partnerships with insurance capital and a rapid expansion of the firm’s data‑center platform driven by AI and cloud computing....
Banning Institutional Investors May Worsen Housing Affordability
'The housing paradox: why banning institutional investors could make affordability worse' Commentary by Amherst CEO Sean Dobson in @FortuneMagazine (no paywall) https://t.co/mXFQpGRK2m
All Major Homebuilders Face Year‑Over‑Year Margin Compression
All 11 of the biggest homebuilders tracked by ResiClub are seeing year-over-year margin compression Homebuilders—especially those with a big presence in some of the softer markets in Texas and Florida—are still in cost-cutting mode ResiClub PRO report: https://t.co/w9iTXbeCx0
Multifamily Buyer Sentiment Improves for Core Assets
CBRE’s Q4 2025 Core Multifamily Buyer Sentiment survey shows core buyer optimism improved quarter‑over‑quarter while negative sentiment stayed flat, contrasting with a dip in value‑add buyer confidence. Underwriting assumptions remained steady for the second straight quarter, and average going‑in cap rates...
Mortgage Spreads Curb Rates Amid Iran War Concerns
Mortgage spreads continue to keep mortgage rates in check as Iran war sp... https://t.co/iBMRx6aFsB via @YouTube
Inventory Surged Pre‑recession, Now Below Normal Levels
Home sales peaked in 2005 Home Sales crashed from 2005 to 2008 Inventory spiked before the recession started 2005 2.5 million Inventory 2007 4,000,000 Inventory Currently at 1.22 million Normal is 2-2.5 million Credit channels have run inventory channels for...
Average UK House Price Passes £300,000 for the First Time
The Halifax House Price Index shows the average UK home price has risen above £300,000 for the first time, reaching £300,077. Prices climbed 0.7% in January after a 0.5% dip in December, lifting annual growth to 1%. Regional gaps have...
Inflation and Job Loss Cripple 2026 Real Estate
Surging inflation and sagging employment double whammy for the fragile real estate market in 2026 https://t.co/4yrdR28tG3
Regional Price Gaps: Some Homes Beat, Others Miss List
Selling above or below? Here’s a look at properties that sold above, below, and at the original list price last month in the wider region. The market isn’t the same in every location. Any thoughts? https://t.co/8CHHvxLyKV
Choosing Infill and Mountain Sites to Cut Construction Costs
This undershoots the mark. At @americanhousing we're already under these (in some places) Because conventional methods are labor intensive, construction is higher in places with: 1) High rents 2) Scarce labor That's why we're building in: 1) Infill Cities 2) Mountain towns
HSP Sells Land at Premium, Dividend Rises, Not a Hold
#HSP selling a 2nd tranche of its renewable energy land portfolio for £6.8m, at 6% uplift to independent valuation. ShareScope has fwd p/e 12.4 falling to 12.2 and fwd Divvy 5.1% rising to 5.2%; nice income. I don't hold.
Florida Inventory Dips; Connecticut Buyers Still Stuck
Florida is one of the few places where active inventory is down a little year-over-year right now Also: Connecticut homebuyers still can't catch a break Analysis via @ResidentialClub https://t.co/cp8T0N2iHu https://t.co/OFTPOagq2t
Homeowner Numbers Stagnant; New Laws Fuel Economic Shift
That is not the scale of homeowners in America for 15 years now. The QM laws of 2010 and the 2005 BK reform law changed a lot for American economics https://t.co/SfPRuod5EC
Rising PITI Costs Shatter 2020‑24 Sales Threshold
Total PITI costs surged for housing and in a QM lending environment that was set to crush sales. I had a price model limit for 2020-2024: if we didn't surpass 23% during those five years, we would be okay; we...
Fannie Mae Predicts Steady 6% Mortgage Rates Through 2027
Fannie Mae: Get use to these mortgage rates Fannie Mae's forecast for the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate: Q3 2026 --> 6.0% Q4 2026 --> 6.0% Q1 2027 --> 6.0% Q2 2027 --> 6.0% Q3 2027 --> 6.0% Q4 2027 --> 6.0%
Opendoor's Sacramento Margins Remain Razor‑thin Despite Improvement
Pulled some #Opendoor stats in Sacramento. They are doing better than a few years ago, but some razor thin margins. This is the dollar difference between acquisition price and resale price. Real estate fees, holding costs, credits, & repairs costs...