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:
First-Time Home Buyers Are Older Than Ever
The median age of first‑time homebuyers in the United States has risen to 35, the highest level since the 1970s. Longitudinal data from the University of Michigan’s PSID shows a steady three‑year increase since 2000, contradicting Federal Reserve estimates that suggest a younger buyer cohort. The Fed’s credit‑record methodology misclassifies prior owners and omits cash purchases, which now account for about 30% of transactions. Adjusted analyses confirm that delayed adulthood milestones and housing affordability are pushing homeownership later.
U.S. Home Prices Barely Budged in February
U.S. home prices in February barely moved, rising just 0.1% month‑over‑month—the slowest pace in seven months—while year‑over‑year growth stood at 1.9%. The Redfin Home Price Index shows price gains in only a handful of metros, with 16 of the nation’s...
More Home Sellers than Buyers, a Lot More
Redfin data reveals a record housing imbalance in February, with 630,000 more sellers than buyers – a 30 % year‑over‑year increase and the widest gap since 2013. Despite mortgage rates near four‑year lows, demand remains muted, turning most U.S. metros into...
Hawai'i Supreme Court Clears Escrow Firm in $592k Deposit Dispute
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that Title Guaranty Escrow Services acted correctly by releasing a defaulting buyer’s full deposit to the seller, because the escrow agreement, not the sales contract, dictated the disposition of funds. The decision overturned an appellate...
Discount Retailer Kik Is Closing 300 Stores Across Europe
German discount retailer Kik announced a major network reshuffle, planning to close roughly 300 stores across Europe by the end of 2023, resulting in a net reduction of about 225 outlets to just over 4,000 locations. In Germany, around 135...
Borrower Sues UWM over Hard Credit Pull She Never Authorized
On March 20, 2026, Oakland homeowner Tiana Perez filed a federal lawsuit against United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) alleging the lender performed an unauthorized hard credit inquiry. Text messages reveal loan officer Cyrus Mulitalo admitted the pull was accidental and based on no...
Low-Deposit Mortgage Deals Hit as Rates Continue to Soar
Mortgage rates in the UK are climbing sharply, with two‑year fixed mortgages now averaging 5.51% and five‑year fixes 5.52%, the highest levels since early 2023. Low‑deposit products favored by first‑time buyers have been rapidly withdrawn – more than 200 deals...
AI Doesn't Replace Human Judgment in Retail Real Estate - Where We Buy #375
In this episode, James Cook talks with Paul Sill, head of JLL’s Visionary Insights Group, about how data‑driven analytics can guide retail and restaurant site selection while avoiding the trap of mistaking correlation for causation. Sill explains how their predictive...
MTA Seeks Buyer for Newly-Rezoned Atlantic Avenue Parking Lot
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is putting its 30,000‑square‑foot Pacific Street parking lot up for sale, along with up to 34,000 square feet of air rights from an adjacent shuttle right‑of‑way. The rezoned site could support a roughly 250,000‑square‑foot mixed‑use tower...
Home‑Flipping Profits Hit Lowest Since 2008, Only a Handful of Metros Remain Lucrative
ATTOM data shows the average profit on a flipped home fell to $65,981 in 2025, a 25.5% return on investment – the weakest level since 2008. Nationwide flips dropped 4% to 297,045, while a minority of metros such as Binghamton...
Bellway Reports ‘Robust’ Performance with Completions and Revenues Up
Bellway Homes posted a robust interim performance for the six months to January, with revenue rising 6.3% to £1.52 bn (≈$1.94 bn) and completions increasing 2.7% to 4,702 homes. Underlying pre‑tax profit edged up to £150.9 m (≈$193 m) and basic earnings per share...
French Commercial Real Estate Posts 3.3% Total Return in 2025
French commercial real estate delivered a 3.3% total return in 2025, while investment volumes surged 27% year‑over‑year, according to MSCI data. The strong year‑end performance attracted both domestic and foreign capital, underscoring confidence in the market’s yield stability. This growth...
Future Homes Standard Launched with Solar Mandate
The UK government has unveiled the Future Homes Standard, mandating solar panels and clean heating for most new homes in England, with implementation slated for 2028. The policy promises up to £830 (approximately $1,050) annual energy‑bill savings per household and...
Despite Growing Financial Pressures, Canadians Are Still Reliably Paying Their Mortgages
A True North Mortgage survey shows 83% of Canadian homeowners have never missed a mortgage payment, yet more than one‑third report financial strain. Mortgage debt rose to roughly $1.44 trillion USD, a 2.6% year‑over‑year increase, while the national arrears rate stays...
Mobile Homes Can Offer a Path to Wealth—But Not for Everyone
New Realtor.com research shows manufactured homes can generate strong equity, especially when the buyer owns the land beneath the structure. Between 2019 and 2026, mobile homes sold with land appreciated 70.1%, outpacing the 58.6% gain for traditional single‑family homes, while...
Sorry Your House Burned Down. Here's a $23,000 HOA Bill — Due Next Month
Los Angeles Times reports that the La Vina homeowners association imposed a $23,614 special assessment on every resident to fund $6.4 million in fire‑damage repairs after the 2023 Eaton fire, giving owners just 34 days to pay before interest and liens...
Regional REIT Reports Resilient 2025 Performance, Sets 8p Dividend Target
Regional REIT reported a resilient 2025 performance, posting earnings that beat expectations despite a slowdown in tenant decision‑making. The board set an 8‑pence per share dividend target, underscoring confidence in cash‑flow generation. Management cited macroeconomic uncertainty and the Middle East...
How Automation Is Changing Residential Construction and Outdoor Living Spaces
Automation is reshaping residential construction and outdoor‑living projects by integrating digital design tools, CNC cutting machines, and robotics. Homebuilders now use 3‑D modeling and automated fabrication to cut waste, speed timelines, and boost structural precision. Project‑management platforms and drones improve...
UK Rent Prices in Focus Ahead of ONS Release
The Office for National Statistics will release UK private‑rent and house‑price data on 25 March, showing rent inflation easing to 3.5% year‑on‑year in January 2026 – down from 4.0% in December – with average monthly rents at £1,367 (≈ $1,735). House‑price growth...
One Multifamily Building Beats Multiple Single-Family Homes
Why I would rather have one multi-family building than multiple single family homes… Comment FREE to join my free virtual real estate training this weekend.
Raleigh Vs. DC: How High-End Living in the Research Triangle Compares to the Nation’s Capital
Washington, DC’s luxury market remains the nation’s most expensive, with the entry‑level threshold at $1.45 million and prices in the top 1% falling 18% year‑over‑year. Raleigh’s high‑end segment is cheaper at $1.05 million but is expanding rapidly, posting 6% annual growth for the...
Trump's Brand Expands Across GCC Amid Iran Tensions
With the Iran conflict now in its 4th week, an important angle worth noting: President Trump’s family business (Trump Organization) has substantial licensing deals across the GCC - Trump Towers, hotels & golf resorts in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar & Oman,...
Stoneweg Europe Stapled Trust Agrees €22.5m Sale of Warsaw Office Asset
Stoneweg Europe Stapled Trust has agreed to sell a Warsaw office building for €22.5 million, roughly $24.8 million, at a premium to the latest independent valuation. The transaction underscores strong demand for prime office space in Poland’s capital and provides the trust...
The Government’s New ‘Build Here, Not There’ Rule — Is Your Land on the 'Approved' List?”
England has released its first Land Use Framework, featuring a national spatial map that designates where new homes can be built and where environmental constraints apply. The map prioritises land near towns, roads and rail stations, while flood‑prone zones, peatlands...
A Timely and Excellent New Book, Adapt, Designing New Lives for Old Buildings. Free to New TFE Members
The Fifth Estate is offering five free copies of the new book *Adapt, Designing New Lives for Old Buildings* to its next five new members. The book retails for $84.99 AUD (approximately $56 USD). Authors Hannah Lewi and Cameron Logan introduce a...
How Should An Office Sound? Rethinking The Future Of Collective Productivity
Recent research by Ark Research Lab measured sound levels across a Raleigh office and identified a sweet spot for productive acoustics. Vibrancy begins around 55 dB, while deep focus thrives at 30‑35 dB, with acoustic ceiling tiles delivering 10‑20 dB reductions. The study...
Shaun Carter on Tall Apartment Buildings and the Cost of Not Being Sustainable
Carter Williamson, a Sydney‑based architecture firm celebrating its 21st anniversary, is moving from designing single‑family homes to large‑scale residential towers after winning two major competitions. The firm secured a twin‑tower project in Chatswood and a 55‑storey, 302‑unit riverfront development in...
Modern Homes Cost More, yet Offer Greater Safety
housing is more expensive now, but also a lot safer. this is what an expensive home was like in the 1980s
Housing Sales to Remain Soft Unless Developers Shift Focus From Luxury to Mid-Income Segment: Nuvama
India's housing sales are projected to stay weak unless developers pivot from luxury projects to mid‑income and premium offerings, Nuvama reports. While sales value grew 18% YoY in February 2026, volume growth lagged at 11% and inventory stretched to 20...
Plans for Five New Towns Are Ditched, Minister Confirms
The UK government has slashed its new‑town programme from a dozen sites to seven, with only three slated to break ground before the current Parliament ends. Each of the proposed towns is expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes, contributing...
AGENT: New Office ‘Not Supposed to Look Like a Traditional Branch’
Vita, an independent London estate agency, has opened a second office in Hampstead that looks more like an interior‑design showroom than a conventional branch. Founder Oliver Kent deliberately omitted desks and headsets to create a "home‑from‑home" environment, positioning the space...
OMA’s Metropolitan Village Advances Toward Completion in Taipei’s Xinyi District
OMA’s Metropolitan Village, a 23‑storey, 95‑metre residential tower in Taipei’s Xinyi CBD, is advancing toward completion with construction now at the highest structural element. Developed for Continental Development Corporation, the project broke ground in 2024 and targets a 2027 finish,...
The Complexity of California Housing Law
California’s state density‑bonus law rewards developers who include affordable units by allowing taller buildings and pre‑empting certain local restrictions. The incentive has spurred larger residential projects across the state, but its statewide reach—covering both infill and greenfield sites—has sparked controversy...
Voluntary Home Energy Ratings Won’t Drive Retrofits for All, but These Solutions Will
The Australian government will extend the Nationwide Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) to existing homes in mid‑2026 on a voluntary basis, aiming to inform renters and buyers about energy performance. Researchers from RMIT University surveyed 161 Australians and found that...
Trump Deploys ICE to 14 Airports as TSA Staffing Crisis Deepens
President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to be stationed at 14 major U.S. airports to offset a TSA staffing shortfall caused by a 37‑day DHS shutdown. The move comes as call‑out rates hit 11.76% and more than...
Two $60M‑plus CMBS Loans Move to Special Servicing, Highlight Residential Credit Strain
A $61 million CMBS loan on Lurin Capital’s Estates at Palm Bay townhouse community and a $62.5 million loan on Houston’s Waterford Grove Apartments have both been transferred to special servicing. The moves reflect mounting distress in residential‑linked CMBS amid bankruptcy filings...
Walker & Dunlop Secures $350 Million Debt Facility for Centerbridge‑Reframe Self‑Storage Platform
Walker & Dunlop arranged a $350 million aggregation debt facility with JPMorgan Chase to fund a new self‑storage REIT backed by Centerbridge Partners and Reframe Holdings. The financing will support the joint venture’s plan to acquire over $500 million of Class A and...
SL Green Nears $1.7 B Refinancing of Fully‑Leased One Madison Tower
SL Green is on the cusp of securing a $1.7 billion commercial mortgage‑backed securities loan to refinance its fully‑leased One Madison office tower. The deal will retire $1.2 billion of construction debt, fund $136 million in reserves, and allow owners to cash out...
Alex Chesterman Returns to the Property Stage to Focus on Lettings
Alex Chesterman, the Zoopla founder, will speak at the inaugural Goodlord Leaders Forum in London on April 14, bringing his expertise to a panel that includes the Goodlord CEO, a Ministry of Housing deputy director, and the National Residential Landlords...
Live Rent‑free: Duplex Ownership Offsets Mortgage
Let me be real: buying a “home” just to live in it doesn’t make sense to me. If I’m signing up for 30 years of payments, that house better be working for me. So instead of buying a single-family home,...
Statistical Annex to ‘First Time Home Buyers Really Are Older’
The New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel (CCP) identifies first‑time homebuyers solely by the first appearance of a mortgage on a credit report, excluding cash purchases. This definition misclassifies older repeat owners—boomerang buyers, paid‑off owners, and never‑mortgaged heirs—because prior mortgages...
Vendors Feel Tied Down by Estate Agent Contracts
A OnePoll survey of 1,000 recent UK home sellers reveals that six in ten feel constrained by estate‑agent contracts, with 62% tied to a single agent and 47% signing sole‑agency or sole‑selling‑rights agreements. Fees are a major grievance; 25% deem...
Strategic Tie-Up Aims to Increase Agent Revenues
The Guild of Property Professionals has teamed up with HomeLet and Let Alliance to launch Guild Lettings+, a new service aimed at helping agents increase revenue per tenancy. The offering bundles tenant referencing, rent‑guarantee cover and compliance tools as the...
Section 21 Repossession Claims Fall, Government Data Shows
Government data shows Section 21 possession claims in England fell to 28,112 in 2025, the lowest level since 2022, with the final quarter recording just 6,367 claims. Homelessness risk linked to Section 21 notices dropped 18.6% year‑over‑year in Q3 2025. The Renters’...
Office Construction Hits 2011 Lows; B‑space Demand Uncertain
We’re currently seeing the lowest level of office construction since 2011. ▫️A+ is full ▫️A is almost full What happens to B space is the question? Some B+ will be competitive in good locations and with renovations. Tear Downs and Conversions are up. In...
Leaseholders Warn of Rising Service Charges
Leaseholders seeing people post council tax bills on the houses they hope to one day occupy, realising they would just be paying a new form of always rising service charge if they ever make it out. I am seeing bills...
Florida Homeowner Sells House in 5 Days for $954,800 Using ChatGPT
Robert Levine, a Miami resident, sold his four‑bedroom home for $954,800—roughly $100,000 above broker estimates—in just five days by relying on ChatGPT for pricing, staging, marketing and contract drafting. The experiment shaved an estimated 3% off typical selling costs, highlighting...
Florida's Housing Boom Peaks, Then Corrects Dramatically
What's happening across Florida housing markets, as told by 10 charts Florida experienced one of the most intense Pandemic Housing Booms—and subsequent corrections. Here’s where things stand now. My latest ResiClub PRO report https://t.co/Nesqr0w1OL
Use of Smart Data in Homebuying “Could Generate £14bn for UK”
The UK Department for Business and Trade estimates that applying smart‑data to home‑buying could generate roughly $17.5 bn over 15 years, making property the sector with the highest net social value and GDP impact among five use cases studied. An authorised...
CapitaLand Ascendas REIT Spends S$1.4 Billion to Rejuvenate Portfolio- #BeltAndRoad #Economy #Infrastructure
CapitaLand Ascendas REIT announced a S$1.4 billion (approximately US$1.1 billion) investment to acquire two Singapore properties and a hyperscale data‑centre in Japan. The deal brings the total outlay to S$1.41 billion, marking the REIT’s first direct entry into the Japanese market. The acquisitions...