Today's Real Estate Pulse
Berkshire Hathaway to Acquire U.S. Homebuilder in $6.8B Deal
Berkshire Hathaway, now led by CEO Greg Abel, announced a $6.8 billion acquisition of a U.S. homebuilder, marking the conglomerate’s first major entry into residential construction. The purchase is intended to add stable, long‑term cash flow from the housing sector to Berkshire’s portfolio.
Also developing:
Policy Paper: Mortgage Charter 2026
The UK Mortgage Charter 2026 sets new lender standards to give borrowers short‑term payment flexibility as mortgage rates climb. The government, acknowledging concerns from families and businesses, convened a meeting with lenders representing 75% of the market and UK Finance. Lenders have reaffirmed their commitment to the Charter, promising practical support amid global market volatility and the Iran conflict. The initiative aims to preserve the market’s resilience while protecting borrowers nearing the end of fixed‑rate deals.
Where Rent Increased and Decreased Most – 2026 Study
The SmartAsset 2026 rent study finds average rent across the 100 largest U.S. cities rose 1.73% year‑over‑year, from $1,810 to $1,843, trailing the 2.41% national inflation rate. San Francisco led the gains with a 13.94% increase, pushing median rent to...
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...
AEI Panel: GSEs Have Never Paid for Their Guarantee
The Trump administration has pledged to retain the implicit government guarantee for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but experts warned that the guarantee has never been paid for by taxpayers. A panel at the American Enterprise Institute highlighted that the...
Proposed ROAD Act Threatens Rental Development Capital
The ROAD to Housing Act is already freezing up development capital -- and it's not even enacted yet. Build-to-rent developers say equity capital is essentially frozen, lenders are "pausing" on new projects, and new starts potentially imperiled. Much frustration not only with...
DWP Leases 100,000 Sq Ft at West Bar Offices in Sheffield
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has signed a lease for the entire 100,000 sq ft No.1 West Bar Square, the largest Grade A office deal in Sheffield in over seven years. The move reinforces Sheffield’s role as the UK’s biggest policy‑development...
Four Big Changes Landlords Need to Get Ready for in 2026
From April 2026, landlords with rental income over £50,000 must submit quarterly digital tax returns under Making Tax Digital, with penalties of up to $51,200 for repeated late filings. The Renters’ Rights Act, effective 1 May 2026, abolishes no‑fault evictions, caps rent‑increase...
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...
Spacebring Launches Lem AI Agent For Coworking Space And Flex Office Operations
Spacebring, a platform serving more than 500 coworking locations worldwide, has launched Lem AI agent to automate routine administrative tasks. The AI assistant handles support ticket triage, retrieves operational data via natural‑language queries, and drafts community communications. Lem AI is...
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...
200-Sq-Ft Tiny House Is Compact, Flexible, and Surprisingly Affordable
The Sledhaus 200, a 200‑sq‑ft modular tiny house designed by Irontown Modular, starts at $49,600 and accommodates up to two occupants. Measuring 20 ft by 10 ft, it offers a living area, compact kitchen, bathroom, and a loft bedroom accessed via a metal...
Barings Expands UK Property Mandate with MAPP
Barings has broadened its United Kingdom property mandate by appointing MAPP to oversee a new portfolio of 20 high‑quality office and logistics assets. The expansion adds both core office space and strategically located logistics facilities to Barings' existing CRE holdings....
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...
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How Necropolitics Deepens the Crime and Inequality Crisis in Cape Town
Cape Town’s housing crisis has intensified as gentrification and soaring property prices force Black and coloured residents from the City Bowl to the Cape Flats, deepening spatial segregation. The article applies Achille Mbembe’s necropolitics framework to argue that state policies and...
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...
Kroger to Spend $112M on Store Projects in Ohio
Kroger announced a $112 million investment to open two Kroger Marketplace stores and remodel fifteen existing locations in central and northwest Ohio during 2026. The Delaware and Canal Winchester stores, spanning 123,000 and 118,000 square feet respectively, each cost roughly $30 million...
U.S. Trading Firm Picks Winner For 450K SF New London HQ
Jane Street has chosen 10 Bishops Square as the site for its new 450,000 SF London headquarters, part of an 870,000 SF redevelopment slated for completion in 2030. The project, owned by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and JPMorgan Global Alternatives, was bought for £557 million (≈$696 million) in 2010....
Mainsail Lodging & Development Chosen to Manage 86 Zero Energy Homes
Mainsail Lodging & Development has been chosen to manage 86 net‑zero energy homes at Hunters Point Resort & Marina on Anna Maria Island. The Tampa‑based operator will oversee reservations, guest services, housekeeping and maintenance through its vacation‑rental platform, giving homeowners...
Evicting Londoners to Tackle Homelessness
Westminster Council has agreed to buy the 32‑flat Garden Court block for roughly $20 million, requiring all private renters to vacate within two months so the units can be used as temporary accommodation for homeless Londoners. The forced evictions come just...
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...
Home REIT to Seek Listing Restoration After Publishing Interim Results
Home REIT, a UK residential property investment trust, has completed its interim financial disclosures and announced plans to apply for the restoration of its London Stock Exchange listing. The filing follows a suspension that stemmed from earlier compliance shortfalls, and...
AIA Unveils 2026 East Bay Home Tours, Opening Private Residences to Public
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced its 2026 East Bay Home Tours, a two‑day public event in June that will showcase a curated selection of private, architect‑designed residences. The tours aim to give homeowners and design professionals rare insight...
Overland Park Teams with Driven Development to Build $400K Affordable Homes
Overland Park's Finance Administration and Economic Development Committee gave the green light for a partnership with Kansas City nonprofit Driven Development Housing to construct nine affordable units—three duplexes and six single‑family homes—on two acres of city‑owned land. Priced near $400,000,...
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.
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...
HECM for Purchase for a Multigenerational Home | 2026 Guide
The 2026 guide explains how a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase lets borrowers 62 and older acquire a primary residence—often a multigenerational property—by making a sizable down payment and avoiding monthly mortgage payments. The loan covers the balance,...
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
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
KERA Breaks Ground on Headquarters, Prepares to Launch Local News Show
Public broadcaster KERA broke ground on a new 56,000‑square‑foot headquarters in uptown Dallas, replacing its 75,000‑square‑foot facility and featuring a community‑focused floor with a 300‑seat studio and podcast lab. The project is funded by a $97 million capital campaign, including a...
Bilt Offers 125% Transfer Bonus, Only for Wyndham
Bilt Unveils A 125% Transfer Bonus For Rent Day — But It Is To Wyndham - View from the Wing https://t.co/iD73OsRnNk
IKEA’s Bet on Tulsa, OK Reveals an Overlooked Growth Market – Placer.ai Blog
IKEA announced plans to open a new store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, citing the city’s strong inbound migration, rising household incomes, and robust retail traffic. Between 2023 and 2026, Tulsa attracted slightly more relocators than Oklahoma City, and newcomers earn about...
Avant Homes Greenlit for £67m Barnsley Development
Avant Homes has received planning permission for Thorn Wood Gardens, a 289‑home development in Thurnscoe near Barnsley, Yorkshire. The scheme carries a gross development value of roughly £64 million (about $82 million) and will feature two‑, three‑ and four‑bedroom homes plus 14...
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...
Zillow Forecasts 6.48% Mortgage Rate, Outlines Three Housing Market Scenarios
Zillow Group said the 30‑year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.48% on March 25 and released three scenarios that model how the rate’s duration could affect home‑buyer behavior. The forecast underscores lingering affordability pressure even as rates dip slightly.
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...
The Affordability Trap: Who Is Renting in America and Why They Can’t Stop
A new analysis of 2024 ACS data identifies three renter segments that together account for over 80% of U.S. renting households: young renters (31.9%), family renters (44.3%) and long‑term renters (36.1%). Young renters gravitate toward affordable inland metros such as...
El Born Loft / Roman Izquierdo Bouldstridge
Roman Izquierdo Bouldstridge transforms an 85 m² former commercial unit in Barcelona’s El Born into a minimalist loft slated for 2026. The design treats the space as a series of voids, articulated through four dimensions: time, space, material and program. A decade‑old...
Mortgage Order Adds More Rules to Diminished CFPB's Load
President Trump issued a March 13 executive order urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to revisit the Ability‑to‑Repay and Qualified Mortgage rules so smaller banks—those under $100 billion and community banks under $30 billion—can more easily compete in the mortgage market. The CFPB...
Sustainable Living Takes Root in Phuket with The Zero’s Eco Developments
London‑based developer The Zero has launched two eco‑focused residential projects in Phuket—The Zero Bang Tao and Silhouette by The Zero Phuket—priced from roughly $123,000 per unit. About 74% of the 85‑unit Bang Tao development is already sold, while the 150‑unit...
Morgan Sindall Starts Passivhaus Scheme at Cambridge University
Morgan Sindall Construction has broken ground on the Owlstone Croft Passivhaus student housing scheme at Queens’ College, Cambridge. The £34.4 million (~$44 million) project will deliver 13 new homes with 60 bedrooms and refurbish existing Blocks A and B to add 87...
LPS Residence / Davidov Architects
The LPS Residence, completed in 2022 on the Mornington Peninsula, reimagines a family’s outgrown home through three distinct volumes for sleeping, living, and dining. Steep skillion roofs create vaulted interiors and improve thermal performance, while limited openings frame vineyard views....
Lenders Pull Entire Range of New Mortgage Deals
Some UK lenders have withdrawn their entire range of new mortgage deals amid heightened Gulf conflict. Swap rate volatility pushed average mortgage rates up to 5.5% from 4.91%, with two‑year fixed rates hitting 5.56% and five‑year at 5.54%. Clydesdale Bank,...
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...
War Forces Housing Market ‘Switch From Optimism to Concern’, Propertymark Warns
Propertymark CEO Nathan Emerson warned that the UK housing market has shifted from optimism to concern as the Middle East conflict begins to affect economic conditions. He noted that inflation held steady at 3% in February but warned rising oil...
BLOG: Here’s Why Valuing Homes for the ‘Mansion Tax’ Will Get Messy
The UK government plans to introduce a “mansion tax” – a surcharge on residential properties valued at £2 million (about $2.5 million) or more, due to start in April 2028. Valuation will be carried out by the Valuation Office Agency, which has said...
More Landlords Demanding Guarantors as Renting Reforms Bite
Landlords are tightening tenancy criteria after the Renters' Rights Act bans advance‑rent payments and eliminates no‑fault Section 21 evictions. A survey of 250 UK letting agencies by Alto shows a third now require guarantors, with 11% reporting a sharp rise in...
Cozy Presidio 1‑Bed, $10k/Mo, Outdoor‑Lover Friendly
FOR RENT. Cozy 1 bed in the Presidio. Natural finishes. Lots of light. 4 roommates. $10k/mo. Must love the outdoors. DM if interested.
Tim Baxter: Insights From a Retail Visionary
Veteran retailer Tim Baxter launched The Baxter Collective, a new brick‑and‑mortar concept that sits between sprawling department stores and niche boutiques. The model delivers tightly curated, community‑specific apparel mixes in modest‑sized stores, beginning with a 3,000‑sq‑ft flagship in Rye, New...
Attached Design Looks Better, Costs More for Fire Rating
Attached looks better … but is more expensive to build due to fire rating https://t.co/kIp5gggkz6