Revealing Our Decade-Long Real Estate Due Diligence Blueprint
The Crown Jewel Regular readers know that we created our original due diligence checklist in ~'14, on the advice of an experienced real estate investor who became our largest 3rd party property management client. (What's a "due diligence checklist"? It's a long list of items to review prior to committing irrevocably to buying a building.) During the intervening years, as we have renovated >100 buildings in LA, every time we have made a mistake or come close, we have added to our list. I regard this our DD checklist as the Crown Jewel of our business, because it is the distillation of much of what we have learned across all those deals. Until now, I have been unwilling to share the checklist (except with @reseedpartners' operators). However, in part due to changes in the algo on here, have recently decided that adding more email addresses to my list is worth more to us than keeping the checklist secret from our local competitors. Therefore, next week, I will be sending a link to a modified version of the checklist to my newsletter subscribers, along with a discussion of how we use it (plus all the other odds and ends that come in my ~monthly newsletter: what I've been reading, interesting LA deals, etc.). If you would like to receive a copy, please join the mailing list at https://t.co/UdyGTHx3Ol

Mortgage Rates Nearing Sub‑6% Despite Week’s Volatility
Even with all the madness of this week #mortgagerates are almost back below 6% #realestate #housing #chartdaddy #mortgagespreads

Housing Market Tightens, Competition Returns to Pre‑2020 Levels
Is the housing market getting tighter? Yes. Supply and demand have squeezed together over the past few months, so competition levels are now are at pre-2020 norm levels (instead of being softer). I'll write more about this tomorrow. Any thoughts?...

Fast‑track Housing Startup Leaves Dozens Unfinished Near Austin
Boom to bust. Onx Homes came to Austin MSA in 2022—backed by $167 million in investor capital—w/ a plan to deploy a rapid construction process (builds completed in under 60 days) Now several dozen of its half-built homes are sitting neglected about...
Senate Bill Threatens Build‑to‑Rent, Slashing New Housing Supply
Digging into the Senate's ROAD to Housing bill more, the new amendments are NIMBY-friendly supply killers. It effectively kills build-to-rent construction, which delivered 250k new homes over past 5 years. And don't assume all those homes would have been built anyway...
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 a deal...
Mortgage Demand Jumps 11% as Rates Near Four‑year Low
Weekly #Mortgage demand surged 11% higher last week, as rates sat near 4-year low https://t.co/2HClawHnMz @MBAMortgage

San Francisco Housing Poised for 3% Rise, Undervalued
Something is going on in San Francisco's housing market. Inventory just dropped 38% yoy and is now at the lowest level in 6 years. Demand is rising. And rents are surging. This market got hammered during the pandemic, with prices in some ZIP...

Target Small Markets, Vet Supply‑Demand, Spot Mispricings
I bought my first deal with $2,500 of my own money and now own over $50M of real estate If I had to start over in 2026, here’s how I’d find a market in just 4 steps: Step...
Opendoor's Sacramento Holdings Shrink From 300 to 30 Homes
Opendoor owns about 30 homes in the Sacramento region right now. At the height of their purchase activity a few years ago, they routinely owned about 300 units at any given time.
Former Owner Might
#Auction on #5thAve. 80KSF #681Fifth, a McKim, Mead&White design, goes for just $100G to #WellsFargo. But #RobertSiegel, who lost it thru #foreclosure, may have some cards up his sleeve. Proceeding barely a min. #realestate #CRE #NYC https://t.co/eiDjaAGEuc via @CrainsNewYork

Corporate Investors Sell, Mortgage Beats Rent, Prices Rise
I'm seeing more and investors selling houses as I travel across the U.S. Housing Market. This one is located south of Atlanta. Corporate investor bought it for $226k in 2021. Tried renting it around $2,000 in 2022. And is now selling at $255k...
Credit Unions Deliver the Worst CRE Underwriting in Market
The worst commercial real estate underwriting in our market isn’t private credit (and that’s pretty bad)…it’s credit unions.
Net Flow, Not Just Buying, Reveals Housing Fire Sales
This is why reporters and policymakers should look at net flows (buying - selling), not just buying.

Spring Housing Market Gains Momentum in 2026
The spring housing market is waking up. We’ve been feeling that since January, but it’s starting to show up a bit more in the stats now that we have two months under our belt in 2026. Pending contracts have been...
Upzoning Alone Won’t Spark Building without Lower Costs
“Nobody is starting construction until the costs come down.” Exactly Upzoning is **necessary** but not **sufficient** to solve the housing crisis

Saving Cash to Purchase Real Estate Pays Off
But nothing wrong with stacking cash to buy assets. 🏆 Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more on build-to-rent and real estate investing. #realestate #investmentproperty #buildtorent
Don't Default to Lower L
When your DSCR doesn't hit the bank’s threshold (usually a ~1.25x DSCR), most people think banks don't give you any option but to lower the LTV But in reality, if you negotiate, you have 3 options: Option 1: Lower LTV Option 2: Schedule...
Japanese Homebuilders Target U.S. Market for Affordable Housing
This is one to watch, especially on the #affordability play. Japanese #homebuilders go on a U.S. shopping spree https://t.co/mx1I1mmMB6 #realestate #realestateinvesting #housing #economy
Location Beats Building Condition: Vision Can't Fix Bad Sites
Doesn’t matter how ugly, run-down or obsolete a building is: If the post-rehab rent or sale price is sufficiently high to justify the expense, you can figure out how to fix it, w enough vision & capital. On the other...
Sunnyside Yard Redevelopment Aims to House 12k Families
At 192 acres, #SunnysideYard w/the largest coach yard in the world w/it opened in 1910+w/#MayorMamdani wants to put 12K families. +He wants #Trump to ok #21B in fed $$ for it. 'In a city w/land is so precious, here lies...
1540 Broadway Hits 50% Occupancy, Targets 80% by Q2
#1540Broadway, fka the #Bertelsmann bldg, reaches 50% as #Pandora 2xs its space+#Korean bank signs for 18.5KSF. 'We expect to be well on toward 80% by the end of Q2' #GFP #MSD #MichaelDell #realestate #CRE #WooriBank #Newmark https://t.co/jMCtLaQVv3

Yesterday’s Pricing Event Predicts Today’s Market Move
Today's podcast discusses yesterday's market pricing event, and today's market action isn't surprising to me. I encourage people to listen to this for a better understanding. @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #mortgagerates #realestate #housing #mortgagerates #chartdaddy
Real Estate That Funds Freedom, Not Traps
I don’t do real estate like everyone else. I don’t buy properties that trap me. I buy properties that pay for my freedom. Months in Costa Rica. Months in Italy. 💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 Booking a one way flight when I feel like it. As an ex...

Wealthy Buy Rentals for Equity, Not Cash Flow
Wealthy people don’t buy rentals for $200 a month in cash flow. They buy them for equity and tax advantages. Say you buy four properties at $50K equity each. That’s $200K added to your net worth, plus a massive...

Luxury Builders See Low FHA Use; Affordable Homes High
Homebuilders with the most—and least—FHA exposure 2% of Toll Brothers buyers use FHA financing 46% of LGI Homes buyers use FHA It makes sense… Toll Brothers average price is $1.19M LGI Homes average price is $364K ResiClub PRO report: https://t.co/vTkPhe0k9z
Ivana Trump's Former NYC Townhouse Halves Price to $14M
The fancy-schmancy townhouse where the 1st Mrs. #Trump lived goes for a deeply discounted $14M. Original ask was $26.5M. Has no full-on kitchen. 'My mom absolutely loved that house' #Ivana #NYC #realestate #mortgage #UES https://t.co/49RjM6YgHM via @WSJ

Sacramento Listings Down
Not much on the market. Slightly below one year ago now in the Sacramento region. And in case you wondered, at this time in 2008, there were over 10,000 MORE active listings than today. https://t.co/R9TLciGJi0

REITs Surge as Bonds
Homebuilders taken down, but REITs up US stocks +0.1% ex-US -1.7% $IBIT and $USO up big with the worst day for bonds in 3 months. $AGG https://t.co/Q5GdXN7VqF
Mortgage Rates Surge After Iran Strike, Ending Recent Decline
#Mortgage rates jump sharply higher after Iran strikes, reversing last week's decline https://t.co/O08aG0nWf9 @mortgagenewsmnd #realestate #realestateinvesting

Mortgage Rates Drop a Year
BACK TO A 6-HANDLE The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate today: 6.12% Same day last year: 6.74% ------------------ 10-year Treasury yield today: 4.06% Spread today: 206 bps

One in Five California Home Sales Are
California’s housing market is officially a landed gentry system. 🏠 New data from the Wall Street Journal: 1 in 5 of CA home transfers are now inheritances—double the US average. Does CA need to end Prop 13 to save the American Dream?...

Florida Home Hits 1% Rule After 50% Price Drop
Some properties in Florida are actually starting to look semi-affordable. On this house - 50% correction from peak, and down 7% in last 10 years. $263,000 zestimate. (sold for 295k in 2024) $2,519 rental value. Actually hits the 1% rule. https://t.co/d1gJnTvJub

Market Bounces Above 2024 Levels After Seller Retreat
A step in the right direction? Yes. Sellers stepped back from the market in 2025, but for three months in a row we are finally above 2024 levels again. We are still historically anemic, but this is a positive direction....
2% Inflation Won’t Trigger 3% Mortgage Rates
2% inflation won't lead to 3% mortgage rates with the Fed at neutral policy. https://t.co/TpEKz1u8Cu
2030s May Open Homeownership for Gen Z, Despite Racial Gaps
Is Gen Z completely priced out of homeownership, or are market shifts creating new opportunities? Analyzing the latest economic data reveals significant racial disparities and supply trends that suggest the 2030s could be a pivotal decade for young buyers. https://t.co/hWYTDWyAf9

MA Apartment Starts and Acquisitions Set to Plunge in 2026
Easy prediction: New apartment construction starts and acquisitions will plunge across Massachusetts in 2026 until after the potential November ballot measure on rent control is decided. https://t.co/PNqV8oMkvq

Bond Yields Spike, Markets Remain Unpredictable Amid War
War & Mortgage Rates: We're All Along For The Ride Since I am old & have been around for many Geopolitical Events I have learned 2 things: - No one knows exactly how things will turn out - The initial reaction of Financial...
Altos Single-Family Inventory Drops 1.4% Weekly
Final Look at Local Housing Markets in January Altos: Active single-family inventory was down 1.4% week-over-week https://calculatedrisk.substack.com/p/final-look-at-local-housing-markets-899
ReSeedPartners Hits ‘Default Alive’ Milestone, Validating Model
Very good post @ReSeedPartners, the platform some partners and I started ~3 yrs ago to seed emerging real estate operators, recently reached "default alive", reminding me yet again how powerful a position that is

Economic Wild
Today's topic is #economic wildcards; this was prepared before the Iran situation began, but that topic was discussed. @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #mortgagerates #realestate #housing #chartdaddy
Buy RFI: Yield Boost and Discount Recovery
RFI preferred: similar REIT CEFs face a lower-rates tailwind; RFI shows larger mean-reversion upside vs RQI. Risk: rate/timing, leverage. Trade: buy RFI for yield + discount recovery 📈 — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA. More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Gurgaon Property Gains Mask Hidden Transaction Costs
Gurgaon’s ₹1 Crore Illusion: Why 70% of “Paper Profits” Are Financially Misunderstood Most investors proudly say: “My property doubled.” Let’s test that with numbers. Because appreciation is not profit. It’s arithmetic. Case Study (Realistic 2020–2026 Cycle) Bought in 2020: ₹2.00 Cr Value in 2026: ₹3.50 Cr Headline gain: ₹1.50 Cr Looks like...
Reduced Listing Transparency Sparks Political Pressure, Consumers Resist
If listing transparency meaningfully declines in the housing market, political pressure will follow, IMO. Consumers are unlikely to relinquish the market access they’ve gained over the past decade-plus.

SB 684-1123 Bypasses SB 9 Owner-Occupancy Limits
Yet more SB 684-1123 projects starting entitlement in Sacramento. In this case, it's being uses to do the exact sort of thing intended by SB 9. Why did it work? Doesn't have the SB 9 owner-occupancy poison pill. https://t.co/mXfsiuKvEJ
LA Metro Land Value Doubles National Average at 68%
In the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA metro, land accounts for 67.7% of the total property value. That's 2X the national average. If you’re not already following ResiClub on X, show your support: @ResidentialClub https://t.co/n4Tlenhfco

Nearly One‑Fifth of California Property Transfers Are Inherited
Wild stat: “~18% of all property transfers in California last year were made through inheritance.” https://t.co/LPI84VU4Uh https://t.co/oHzRbjVzOn
Texas, Florida, California Lead; Who Ranks Fourth?
The biggest three states for existing home sales are 1. Texas 2. Florida 3. California Who is #4?

US Housing Market Splits Amid Ongoing Weather Impacts
Another shocking example of the divided US housing market. I believe a lot of this is still showing weather effects from early in the month. But still... https://t.co/Ze7mUcxJS4

Lease Incentives Impact Yield and Refinancing Strategy
Retail landlords: TI vs. Free Rent isn’t just negotiation — it’s balance sheet strategy. TI = upfront capital out. Free rent = delayed income. Both reduce effective yield. But they affect refinancing and liquidity differently. In today’s lending environment, structure matters more than optics. If you’re...