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:
February’s $30M+ Home Sales Cluster in Florida and NYC—Including Two in the Same Barrier Island Enclave
Florida and New York led February’s ultra‑luxury home market, with ten properties selling above $30 million. A never‑listed oceanfront estate in Manalapan, Florida fetched $68.3 million, the month’s highest price, while four Central Park‑adjacent condos in New York each exceeded $50 million. Only two West‑coast sales—an Incline Village mountain retreat and a Los Angeles mansion—made the list, highlighting regional concentration. Overall, the top ten deals underscore a tight cluster of mega‑valued homes in the Northeast and Florida.
Using a HELOC to Fund a Child’s First Home
Parents can tap home equity via a HELOC to help their child’s first‑home purchase, but the way the funds are classified—gift or loan—drastically influences the child’s mortgage qualification. Lenders require a signed gift letter and clear transfer records, and timing...
UK Government Proposes Seven New Towns in Major Housing Push
The UK government has unveiled a plan to create seven new towns, each slated to deliver at least 10,000 homes, as part of a sweeping housing initiative. The proposal aims to inject thousands of new dwellings into the market to...
Record New York Apartment Rents? Blame Policymakers, Not Landlords.
New York City’s market‑rate rents hit historic highs in February, with Manhattan’s median reaching $5,000 and Brooklyn’s $4,300. Vacancy rates have slipped below 2%, intensifying competition for apartments. Economists and developers blame restrictive rent‑stabilization rules and the 2019 Housing Stability...
Household Real Estate Value Drops to $47.9 T
"The market value of household real estate assets fell for the second consecutive quarter to $47.9 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2025" -NAHB
BFC Partners Inks 14K-SF Lease at RFR’s 17 State Street
BFC Partners has signed a 10‑year lease for a full floor—13,758 square feet—at RFR’s 17 State Street in Manhattan’s Financial District. The lease, valued at the building’s market rate of $72‑$85 per square foot, adds the firm to a growing...
Extra Says ‘Why Not?’ To WYE with New Long-Term Leases, Advised by Savills
Extra Motorway Service Areas has renewed its partnership with kiosk retailer WYE by signing a series of 15‑year leases covering existing sites such as Baldock, Leeds, Cambridge, Peterborough, Cobham and Beaconsfield, plus a new unit at Blackburn. The agreements combine...
GFA, Hilton Announce Waldorf Astoria Residences Guadalajara
Grupo Imobiliario GFA and Hilton announced the Waldorf Astoria Residences Guadalajara, the first standalone Waldorf Astoria branded residence in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. The 30‑story, 128 m tower will host 114 luxury one‑ to four‑bedroom units and is slated for delivery...
I'm Selling My Flat and These Are the 6 Jobs I Always Do Before an Estate Agent Values My Home
Selling a flat starts long before an estate agent walks through the door. The author, a seasoned home‑stager, outlines six pre‑valuation tasks: aggressive decluttering, depersonalising, refreshing walls with neutral paint, a thorough spring clean, staging like a show home, and...
Factory‑Built Homes Could Reverse Rising Homebuyer Age
In 2010, the median U.S. homebuyer was 39. Today, it’s 59. Home prices have doubled in a decade, and construction productivity has fallen. Sweden builds 45% of single-family homes in factories, year-round, cutting costs and build time. If we built...
The Surprising Places Where a $100K Salary Won’t Get You a Home
In 2026 Property Reach identified twelve U.S. metros where a $100,000 salary cannot comfortably purchase a median home, with prices ranging from $589,700 in Portland to $1.3 million in San Francisco. The report highlights that even households earning up to $150,000...
Government Admits Not Knowing Number of Quitting Landlords
The UK government admitted it does not track how many landlords have left the buy‑to‑let market since 2020, with the housing minister confirming the department lacks the requested data. Instead, it cited HMRC figures showing 2.86 million unincorporated landlords declared rental...
UK’s Cheapest Town to Buy a Family Home Is Revealed…and It Costs Just £82,000
Zoopla's latest analysis identifies Shildon in County Durham as the UK's cheapest town for a three‑bedroom family home, with an average asking price of £82,000 (about $104,000). The town's price‑to‑earnings ratio of 1.36 means families could afford a mortgage of...
Landlords in Major UK Town Issued with Licensing Warning
Blackpool Council has intensified its selective licensing scheme, requiring landlords of roughly 9,000 private‑rented homes to obtain a licence or face prosecution and fines. More than half of the properties have already registered, and 30% meet the council’s higher “Blackpool...
COLUMN: This Estate Agent Says Up-Front Fees DO Work, but Is He Right?
Estate agent Ian Preston argues that charging vendors an up‑front fee of £300‑500 (≈$380‑$635) improves sale likelihood. His internal data shows 60% of vendors who paid a moderate fee sold, versus 43% under the traditional “no sale, no fee” model,...
It Takes More Than Zoning Reform to Get More Housing
Zoning reform has become a mainstream policy tool, with over 300 state and local jurisdictions adopting changes such as accessory dwelling unit allowances, reduced parking minimums, and duplex permissions. While early adopters like Minneapolis, Oregon, and California sparked a nationwide...
Miami's Rent Growth Turns Negative Amid Mass Exodus
Large market with the worst single-family rent growth in the U.S. entering 2026? Miami Wouldn't have guessed that from the headlines about Zuckerberg and Palantir. While billionaires are moving in, local residents are moving out. Rents are up 50% in Miami from...
Texas Factories Dwarf Everything: 10M to 100M+ Sq Ft
Everything is bigger in Texas. Giga Texas (Tesla's Gigafactory Texas, located near Austin) has a factory floor area of over 10 million square feet. TERAFAB is reportedly going to be over 100M SF. https://t.co/CrVsGCW2rN
New Town Locations Confirmed by Government
The UK government has announced seven new‑town sites, each slated to deliver at least 10,000 homes, with some schemes exceeding 40,000 units. The locations – ranging from Tempsford in Bedfordshire to Milton Keynes and two sites in Greater London –...
Check if Your Area Is Among the Most or Least Affordable for First-Time Buyers
Nationwide’s latest Affordability Report shows housing affordability improving across Great Britain, yet stark regional gaps persist. London’s Kensington & Chelsea remains the least affordable area with a first‑time‑buyer house‑price‑to‑earnings ratio (HPER) of 13.9, while Inverclyde in Scotland is the most...
Portland’s Backyard Duplex Boom Cuts Starter Home Prices by $185K
Portland, Oregon, has approved 1,400 duplexes, four‑plexes and accessory units since 2021, driving the average price of starter homes down from over $800,000 in 2018 to $615,000 in 2024. The city’s floor‑area‑ratio incentives and relaxed setbacks are reshaping affordable‑housing policy...
Luxury Brands Bet on Growth as Well-Heeled Tourists Flock to Hong Kong Events
Hong Kong’s K11 Musea is undergoing a major revamp, adding over 60 new luxury brands and redesigning roughly 30% of its retail floor. Rents are projected to increase by double digits as flagship stores like Audemars Piguet, Prada and Rolex...
Iran Conflict Triggers $199K Home Prices in California’s Cheapest Counties
The California Association of Realtors reported that median home prices have fallen to $199,000 in several northern counties as the Iran‑related geopolitical tension dampens buyer confidence. At the same time, statewide median prices sit at $830,370 and mortgage rates have...
Adelaide Suburbs Where Home Sales Are Speeding Up
Adelaide’s housing market is accelerating, with several northern suburbs posting dramatically shorter listing periods. PropTrack data shows Salisbury Heights now sells in just 19 days—a drop of 18 days year‑over‑year—while Golden Grove, Elizabeth Grove and others also saw double‑digit reductions....
Why SM Believes There’s Big Opportunity Outside Metro Manila
SM Investments reported 2025 revenues of 681.7 billion pesos (≈US$11.4 billion), driven largely by a 5.4% rise in retail sales. The conglomerate is accelerating expansion beyond Metro Manila, with 82% of its 490 new stores and two new malls opened in provincial...
Anglesea House / Eckersley Architects
Anglesea House, a 350 m² two‑storey residence overlooking Victoria’s Southern Ocean, reinterprets 1950s‑60s coastal modernism for a couple and their extended family. Replacing a 1970s structure on a 720 m² sloping site, the home uses an H‑plan to create two sheltered courtyards...
Housing Market Set to Grow If Iran Tensions Spare Rates
Housing market is poised for growth this year if Iran conflict doesn't raise rates, says HousingWire Mohtashami https://t.co/ZBWUvaA7UQ
More Rental Units Drag Single-Family Rent Growth to Decade Low
This additional rental supply is putting downward pressure on single-family rents. One reason why SFR rent growth is at 10-year low. https://t.co/wh9Qyhz6TK
PROPTECH-X : Will Vistry Group UK’s Largest New Home Developer Go Under?
Vistry Group, the UK’s largest new‑home builder, is under pressure after a strategic shift toward affordable‑housing partnerships and the costly Countryside Partnerships acquisition. The partnership model delivers lower margins, while rising construction costs, debt growth and mis‑priced land have forced...
Property Auction Market Hits ‘New Benchmarks’ as Supply and Sales Volumes Surge
UK property auction market set new benchmarks in Q4 2025, with supply and sales volumes surging across regions. Overall lots offered increased 14.2% to 3,948 in December and 10.4% year‑to‑date, while lots sold rose 15.1% to 2,771, pushing total proceeds...
An Exclusive Interview with Themistoklis Bakas, Founder and President of E-Real Estates, Greek Real Estate Market Analyst
Greek real estate is stabilizing after a decade‑long crisis, with a clear recovery since 2018 driven by domestic demand and foreign capital. The Bank of Greece reports €1.46 billion of foreign direct investment in property during the first nine months of...
Lee Jae‑myung Bars Multi‑Home Officials From Shaping South Korea's Housing Policy
President Lee Jae‑myung announced a ban on government officials who own more than one residential property from participating in housing‑policy decisions. The move targets perceived conflicts of interest and could reshape South Korea's real‑estate regulatory landscape.
Student Debt Eats Away Home Deposit Savings to Tune of £2,000 a Year, Says Barclays
Barclays’ latest study finds that UK borrowers with student loans save roughly £2,000 less per year for a house deposit than peers without debt, with a monthly gap of £163.70. The report shows 44% of loan‑holders say repayments undermine long‑term...
How to Launch Short Term Rental Units for Maximum Revenue
Launching short‑term rental units requires a review‑first approach rather than chasing early average daily rates. Operators should price 15‑25% below market for the first 30‑60 days, limit stays to 2‑7 nights, and aim for at least 25 five‑star reviews with...
New Zealand Struggles to Regain Economic Mojo without Housing Recovery
New Zealand’s economy is faltering as the housing market, long used as a growth engine, remains 20% below its pandemic peak despite the Reserve Bank’s aggressive rate cut to 2.25%. The RBNZ now projects flat house prices for the year, while...
This Miami Metro Is One of the Most Competitive Seller’s Markets in Florida—Here’s Why
Coral Springs, a Miami‑metro suburb, now has the lowest inventory in Broward County, with active listings down 37% year‑over‑year and a two‑month supply of single‑family homes. The median listing price sits at $395,000, roughly 36% cheaper than Miami’s $619,500 median....
Try Build‑to‑Rent Before Dismissing It
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more on build-to-rent and real estate investing. #realestate #investmentproperty #buildtorent
U.S. Migration Shift Slows Growth, Boosts Midwest and South Cities in 2026
New Census data and mover‑company indexes show U.S. population growth slowed to 1.78 million in the year to July 2025, driven by a 54 percent plunge in net international migration. Texas, Florida and emerging Southern states added the most residents, while California, New...
Residents Oppose New Homes Near Tube, Question Double Standards
A community outside of London, served by the Tube with a train every 7 minutes, opposing 150 more homes directly next to the station begs the question: would they have supported their home being built under the same logic? (Duncan...
Outlet Malls Thrive on Low Costs and Agglomeration
Outlet malls have a bunch of strategic advantages that make them unlike any other “mall” 1. They are open air, so lower HVAC costs 2. They are far away, so land prices are low 3. Every store has smaller footprint (no large dead...
With Rates And Costs High, LA Multifamily Investors Shift From Ground‑Up To Preservation Plays
With interest rates climbing since 2022, Los Angeles multifamily investors are shifting from new construction to preserving existing affordable assets. Companies like Impact Housing and Turner Impact Capital are pivoting toward naturally occurring affordable housing and stabilized properties to mitigate financing...
Public Split on Whether Mortgage Rates Are Rising
If you look at this chart of mortgage rates, do you say rates are: Up, Flat, or Down? (poll follows below) https://t.co/f44iFahBSk
TopGolf Membership Beats Bay Area Co‑working Prices
The TopGolf monthly membership (weekdays from 9-5) is actually the best co-working deal $225/month in Bay Area https://t.co/E708tafi5V
Florida CEO Sells Home for $100K Above Agent Estimates Using ChatGPT
Robert Levine, CEO of consulting firm ComOps, used ChatGPT to set the price, craft marketing copy and steer negotiations for his Cooper City, Florida home. The AI‑guided strategy netted a $954,800 sale, roughly $100,000 above the price real‑estate agents had...
Struggling Sellers Turn to Renting, Listings Surge
Homeowners who are having trouble selling their homes are becoming landlords at a near record pace About 2.2% of rental listings on Zillow in November had previously been listed for sale—highest level since late 2022 when mortgage rates surged...
Rising Real Estate Costs Strain Physicians Amid Reimbursement Pressure
With construction costs, CAM charges, and rent escalations pushing higher, many physician groups and health systems are struggling to balance real estate expenses with reimbursement pressures.
Sunbelt Housing Markets Are so Weak that This $22B Homebuilder Is Offering Its Biggest Incentives Since 2010
Lennar, the U.S. homebuilder with a $22 billion market cap, is spending an average of 14% of a home’s final sales price on buyer incentives in Q1 2026 – the highest level since 2010. A $450,000 house now carries roughly $63,000 in...
New Home Sales Yet to Slip Below 2022 Lows
If new homes can fall below the 2022 lows in sales for at least 5-7 months, that would do it, but their purchase application data hasn't shown that yet. https://t.co/Jv2eyLip1u
Consider Exiting Real Estate Amid Systemic Trust Risks
it's an awful spot to be and many are sitting in it due to naive trust in the system, the banks and the government and @bankofcanada It could be the right time to walk away from your real estate | Financial...
ChatGPT vs Realtor
A Florida homeowner used ChatGPT to list and sell his house, handling description writing and transaction steps automatically. The buyer, represented by Avanti Way agent Elinor Solomonoviz, identified a significant pricing gap of $50‑$100 per square foot and negotiated a...