Australia’s Housing Market Has Turned
Australia’s housing market signaled a shift as Sydney and Melbourne auction clearance rates fell to their lowest levels of 2026. Veteran auctioneer Tom Panos warned that buyer depth is diminishing and fear is gripping participants amid rising interest rates and inflation. The March auction data reveal a clear reversal from the rapid price gains of previous years. Market dynamics now show houses chasing buyers rather than the other way around.
Trade Alert by Scott Kennedy 3/20/2026
Scott Kennedy released a series of Trade Alerts between March 16 and March 19, 2026, culminating in a detailed mREIT sector comparison. The Part 1 article examines Rithm Capital’s book value, sector valuation, and dividend yield against 17 peer mREITs following...
Lawler: Some Observations on the February Existing Home Sales Release
The National Association of Realtors moved its existing‑home‑sales release about ten days earlier, a change that Tom Lawler says will likely generate larger-than‑usual revisions. January’s non‑seasonally adjusted sales were revised up by 5,000 units, pushing the SAAR to 4.02 million from...
US New Home Sales Collapse
U.S. new‑home sales plunged in February, posting a 9.5% month‑over‑month decline—the steepest drop since 2013. The slowdown coincided with mortgage rates hovering above 7%, weakening buyer affordability. Builder confidence fell to its lowest level since 2020, and unsold inventory rose...
Supply Pullback Stabilizes Orange County Multifamily Market
Orange County’s multifamily market entered 2026 with moderated activity as developers sharply reduced new deliveries. Vacancy held steady at 3.8% while average asking rents slipped $9 but still rose 1.7% year‑over‑year. Fourth‑quarter 2025 saw a 26% drop in unit deliveries...
Mar. 19: Cap. Mkts Tech, U/W, LO Jobs; Broker, Correspondent, Subservicer Oversight Tools IMB Cost Still $11k per Loan; STRATMOR...
The FHFA announced it will drop certain homeowners‑insurance requirements, which should lower costs for lenders and borrowers. CrossCountry Mortgage disclosed an agreement to acquire Summit Funding, expanding its presence on the West Coast and underscoring ongoing consolidation in residential lending....
Hotel Valuations Stall Across Europe, Impacted by War, Instability and US Leadership
Hotel consultancy HVS reported that Europe’s hotel valuation index barely rose, expanding just 0.2% in 2025 despite robust travel demand. The continent logged three billion overnight stays, a 2.4% increase, driven largely by leisure tourists. Growth was uneven: Copenhagen posted...
Melbourne’s Manhattanisation Won’t Deliver Affordable Homes
The Albanese government aims to deliver 1.2 million new homes by 2031, focusing on high‑rise towers in Melbourne. The Victorian Allan administration has lifted height limits in 25 suburbs, permitting up to 20‑storey buildings to be planned within weeks. Critics argue...
Mortgage Rates Move Back Up Near Recent Highs
Mortgage rates rebounded Wednesday, climbing to the highest levels seen in several months after three rapid repricings. A stronger-than-expected Producer Price Index lifted inflation expectations, while a $6 jump in crude oil pushed bond yields higher. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s...
Architecture Billings Declined Slightly in February
The American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index (ABI) slipped to 49.4 in February 2026, remaining just below the 50‑point breakeven that separates growth from contraction. The score rose from 43.8 in January but still marks the 38th month of...
The ASC Sale-Leaseback Opportunity
Ambulatory Surgery Center owners are increasingly using sale‑leasebacks to turn trapped building equity into cash while keeping operational control. By selling the property to an investor and signing a 10‑15‑year triple‑net lease, physicians can boost EBITDA, improve valuation multiples, and...
Room00 Plans €330 Million Investment to Scale Platform in 2026
Room00 announced a €330‑€420 million investment plan for 2026 to add 20 properties and more than 1,400 rooms across Spain, Italy, Portugal and the UK. Eighty percent of the capital will fund acquisitions of existing hostels and hotels, with the remaining...
Exclusive: Manulife Buys RED Sol Project In Coquitlam From Adera For $60M+
Manulife Financial completed a low‑$60‑$65 million acquisition of the RED Sol rental project in Coquitlam, British Columbia, from developer Adera Development. The deal was structured as a share sale, allowing Manulife to avoid roughly $1.8 million in property transfer tax. RED Sol consists of...
How the Federal Reserve Affects Home Equity Loan and HELOC Rates
The Federal Reserve does not set home‑equity loan rates directly, but its policy shapes borrowing costs. HELOCs, which are variable‑rate products tied to the prime rate, adjust within 24‑48 hours after a Fed move, while fixed‑rate home‑equity loans react more...
Chinese Property Market Decline Eases as Beijing, Shanghai See gains...China and US Wrap up Trade Talks in Paris, Trump Visit...
Home prices in Beijing and Shanghai rose in February, signaling the first uptick in a decade and narrowing the overall decline across 70 Chinese cities to 0.3% month‑on‑month. In Paris, the United States and China concluded their sixth round of...
Another Mostly Empty Office Tower in San Francisco Sells for 75% Off: Juul’s Abandoned Headquarters
Juul Labs bought the 29‑floor 123 Mission St. tower for $397 million in 2019, betting on rapid growth. After legal troubles and a collapsed valuation, the building fell to 87% vacancy and the owner defaulted on a $220 million loan. Madison Capital and PGIM...
First Home Buyers Ignore Rising Interest Rates and Rush Market
The Australian government’s expanded 5% deposit scheme for first‑home buyers, launched on 1 October 2025, quickly boosted mortgage activity. ABS data show a 6.8% rise in first‑home buyer mortgages in the December 2025 quarter, translating to a 9.1% year‑over‑year increase. Mortgage commitment values...
Will Evicting Blackstone Help Young People Buy Homes?
The U.S. housing market faces a crisis as institutional investors like Blackstone and Vanguard have amassed millions of starter homes, driving up prices for first‑time buyers. President Trump and bipartisan lawmakers are pushing legislation to curb corporate ownership, culminating in...
Goldman Sachs Just Bought a Coliving Company, The Collective Is Dead, and Barcelona’s Coliving War Has a New Chapter and...
Goldman Sachs completed its acquisition of Urban Campus, marking the first outright purchase of a European coliving operator by a major investment bank and signalling the sector’s move into institutional‑grade assets. In the same fortnight, The Collective collapsed after failing...
US March NAHB Housing Market Index 38 vs 37 Expected
The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index slipped to 38 in March, missing the consensus forecast of 37 and extending a 22‑month streak below the neutral 50 mark. Builder sentiment remains dampened by affordability constraints, as high price‑to‑income ratios and elevated...
The IPO Buzz: Janus Living (JAN Proposed) Unveils $703 Million REIT IPO
Janus Living announced a $703 million IPO on March 16, 2026, offering 37 million shares at $18‑$20 each, which would value the REIT at roughly $4.8 billion. The company operates 34 senior‑housing communities, all under Resident‑Initiated Direct‑Expense Agreement (RIDEA) structures, making it the sole U.S....
The Pinnacle 5,151 Unit Sale Is the Most Important NYC Multifamily Transaction in Years
The New York City Housing Preservation & Development agency filed a bankruptcy court brief admitting that the rent‑stabilized portfolio of 5,151 apartments sold for $451.3 million cannot sustain a viable business under current rent levels. The filing highlighted that low‑average regulated...
The Chinese Titanic Just Hit a Second Iceberg
Chinese primary‑market property transactions have steadied after the Lunar New Year, but the broader year looks weak. The secondary housing market remains sluggish, with daily transaction volumes lagging across major cities. New‑energy vehicle (EV) sales slipped in February, falling below...
Property Lobby Rallies Against CGT Changes
Ray White, Australia’s largest real‑estate network, warned that the federal government’s plan to reduce or eliminate the 50 % capital gains tax discount for investors in established homes could destabilise the rental market. The proposal would also tighten negative‑gearing rules, targeting...
Mortgage REIT And BDC Ratings - Edition 130
The Mortgage REIT and BDC Ratings newsletter released its 130th edition, continuing a weekly series that tracks credit quality and performance trends across mortgage real‑estate investment trusts and business development companies. The latest issue provides updated rating changes, sector outlooks,...
New Survey From Redfin Says Investors Are Turning Their Backs on Florida
Redfin’s latest survey shows investor activity in Florida slumping, with Orlando down 16% and Fort Lauderdale 15% year‑over‑year, while national investor purchases rose about 2% in Q4 2025. The decline is driven by soaring insurance premiums—averaging $5,838 annually, more than double...
Rent Prices Are Down Nationwide—Here’s How Investors Can Protect Their Cash Flow in a “Renter-Friendly” Era
After years of double‑digit rent gains, the national median rent slipped 1.4% YoY to $1,353 in January 2026, its lowest level in four years. Vacancy rates climbed to 7.3% as new supply flooded the market, prompting landlords to offer concessions...
Beeline’s Self-Service Mortgage Option One Step Closer to Loan Officer Extinction
Beeline has introduced a self‑service mortgage experience that lets borrowers complete applications, explore scenarios, lock rates and upload documents without a loan officer. The platform’s AI‑driven loan tracker processes data in seconds and offers real‑time assistance via a digital assistant...
Why International Footprints Don’t Sell NYC Investment Properties
International brokerage firms claim global networks attract foreign capital to NYC real estate, but data from veteran broker Robert Knakal shows otherwise. Over 14 years at CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, and JLL, 538 transactions generated 9,146 offers, yet none originated...
Analyze Comps Vacant Land: Complete Guide (2026)
Analyzing comparable sales, or comps, is essential for vacant‑land investors to determine realistic market values based on size, location, and zoning. By reviewing recent transactions, investors can gauge price gradients influenced by amenities, infrastructure, and regulatory shifts. Accurate comps prevent...
Canadian Building Intentions Surge, Mostly Government Spending
Canadian building permits rose 4.8% to $13.3 billion in January, but inflation‑adjusted values only reached $12.3 billion, still below pre‑2023 levels. Residential permits increased 1.8% to $8.0 billion yet fell 9.4% year‑over‑year, with single‑family permits up 8.9% and multi‑family down 1.5% amid a...
Foreclosure Auctions Surged in Q4 Last Year—These States Saw the Biggest Increases
Foreclosure auction notices jumped sharply in December 2025, with 23,235 filings representing a 25.1% month‑over‑month rise and a 68% year‑over‑year increase. The surge was most pronounced in Texas, which logged over 4,100 notices and a 36% monthly gain, while Ohio, North...
The Cause of Australia’s Rental Crisis Is Clear
The article argues Australia’s rental crisis is primarily caused by rapid post‑pandemic immigration outpacing the construction of higher‑density housing. Data from the Commonwealth Bank shows a strong correlation between population growth and rent inflation, with national advertised rents rising 47%...
Why Credit Tenants Still Matter in Today’s Office Market
Target Corp paid nearly $110 million to buy out its roughly one‑million‑square‑foot lease at Minneapolis’s City Center tower after vacating in 2021. The deal underscores how credit‑worthy tenants can provide landlords with stable cash flow and sizable termination payments even when...
Maybe *All* Rental Housing Should Be Owned by Large Institutional Investors
The author challenges the growing political push to ban large corporate landlords, suggesting that an extreme opposite—where institutional investors own all rental housing—might be equally unwise. He notes that corporate landlords currently hold only a small fraction of U.S. homes,...
Canada’s Rental Bubble Moves East: Halifax Nears Toronto Prices
Statistics Canada data shows that while headline rents in Toronto and Vancouver cooled modestly in Q4 2025, the gap with traditionally affordable markets has narrowed dramatically. Halifax’s average asking rent for a two‑bedroom unit reached $2,260, about 84% of Toronto’s $2,670,...
How to Get Equity Out of Your Home Without Refinancing | 2026
Homeowners can tap their property’s equity without refinancing by using a range of products such as home equity loans, HELOCs, home equity agreements, sale‑lease‑back deals, second‑mortgage combos, reverse mortgages, and secured personal loans. Each option draws 80‑85 % of appraised value...
The Gaping Hole in the Housing Market
The existing‑home market is entrenched in a deep recession, contrary to recent optimistic forecasts. While lower mortgage rates have eased affordability pressures, they address only a fraction of the sales slowdown. Persistent inventory shortages and muted buyer confidence continue to...
401(k) Loan vs Personal Loan: Which Is Better for a House Down Payment?
Homebuyers often consider borrowing to cover a down payment, weighing 401(k) loans against personal loans. A 401(k) loan lets you tap retirement savings with no credit check, typically offering lower interest but a five‑year repayment limit that can erode future...
The Players Championship: How The PGA Tour Turned A $1 Swamp Into A $150 Million Real Estate Business
Former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman bought 415 acres of Florida swampland for $1 in 1979 and built TPC Sawgrass, a public course that also serves as the Tour’s headquarters. By hosting The Players Championship at the venue, the PGA...
Bite-Sized Restaurants
Amelie’s French Bakery opened a 400‑square‑foot, no‑seating outlet in Plaza Midwood, a stark contrast to its typical 4,500‑square‑foot locations. The micro‑format targets pedestrian traffic and leverages delivery apps to meet demand for quick, convenient meals. COO Justy Martinez describes the...
Sydney Faces Heavy House Price Falls
Sydney’s housing market is poised for a steep correction, with SQM Research now projecting up to a 6% price decline by 2026, while Melbourne may see a 4% drop. Recent data show zero growth in Sydney and a 0.1% dip...
In US Housing, A Faint Pulse. But That’s It.
Existing home sales in the United States posted a modest 1.7% increase in February, marking the first uptick after a sharp decline the previous month. The rise caught many economists off‑guard, as most forecasts anticipated a continued slide. While the...
News Roundup for March 10, 2026
Toronto’s rental market continued its decline in February, with average asking rents slipping to $2,030 for the 17th month in a row, a trend analysts attribute to broader affordability constraints beyond simple supply‑and‑demand dynamics. Meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford is weighing...
RPD Looks at Simon Property Group
RPD revisits Simon Property Group after the REIT’s share price climbed from about $160 to near $200, defying his earlier skepticism about forward earnings growth. He highlights SPG’s strong credit profile—an A‑ rating, $9.1 billion in liquidity against $35 billion of debt,...
The Housing Market Freezes as Americans Brace for War
The On The Market podcast highlighted how the emerging Iran‑Russia conflict is injecting fresh uncertainty into the U.S. housing market, prompting buyers and sellers to pause amid rising oil prices and potential rate hikes. Transaction volume has slipped to under...
CRE: Constraints, Moats and Value
Wall Street wiped 12‑14% off the market caps of CBRE, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield after analysts warned that high‑fee, labor‑intensive CRE models are vulnerable to AI disruption. At the same time, Yardi’s research with AREF found only 45% of...
What Negative Gearing and Capital Gains Tax Do – Here’s the Data; Here’s the Evidence
Australia’s federal budget foresees $11.99 billion annually lost to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, with a projected $193.9 billion revenue shortfall over the next decade if unchanged. In 2025 investors accounted for 39 percent of new housing loan commitments—almost double...
Q&A: Cushman & Wakefield's Brad Newman-Bennett On The State Of Real Estate Insolvencies
Brad Newman‑Bennett of Cushman & Wakefield warns that Canadian real‑estate insolvencies have moved beyond secondary lenders to senior banks, as land values have slumped roughly 50 % since purchase. The fallout has stalled high‑rise, concrete projects while distressed sales remain scarce...
Toronto Condos In Recession, Filled With Supply No One Wants: BMO
BMO Capital Markets declares Toronto’s condo segment in recession, citing a 9.5% year‑over‑year price drop and sales falling 6.4% in February. The market is awash with new units, many of which lack buyer interest, leading to project cancellations and delayed...