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:
Enhanced Financial Monitoring of Nonbank Mortgage Servicers Is Coming Soon
The U.S. GAO released a February 10 report urging Ginnie Mae and the FHFA to tighten financial monitoring of non‑bank mortgage servicers. Non‑banks now service 66 % of federally backed mortgages, representing over $9 trillion in securities, up from 27 % in 2014. The report highlights data‑quality flaws in the MBFRF, gaps in warehouse‑lending risk assessment, and a narrow stress‑testing framework. Both agencies have accepted the recommendations and plan to implement changes by fall 2026.
Japanese Builders Accelerate U.S. Homebuilder Acquisitions
WOW. ANOTHER ONE. Japanese builders are rapidly acquiring U.S. homebuilders—striking their third deal in a month This week, Japan-based Hajime Construction agreed to buy Utah-based Wright Homes My latest for ResiClub: https://t.co/FgJwjNewbx
Lennar Slashes Prices to 2017 Levels Amid Market Sl
What it Takes to Sell Homes in this Market: Lennar Cuts Average Selling Price to 2017 Level Lower margins, lower revenues per sq.ft., lower construction costs. “We're adapting to market conditions as they are not not waiting for the market to...
Industry Leaders Mixed on Senate-Backed Housing Bill
The Senate approved the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by an 89‑10 vote, sending it to the House where a controversial seven‑year divestiture clause could face opposition. The National Association of Realtors praised the bill’s tools for expanding supply, while...
Construction Tops Out on 32-Story Fulton Market Mixed-Use Tower
VISTA Property and Skender have topped out the 32‑story Pearl Fulton Market tower at 370 N. Morgan Street in Chicago’s Fulton Market district. Designed by Antunovich Associates, the 539,000‑sq‑ft mixed‑use building will host 494 apartments—including 99 affordable units—alongside 4,500 sq ft of ground‑level retail. A...
Colorado Governor Prioritizes Cutting Costs to Boost Affordable Housing
Coloradans care about housing - a lot. That’s why I’ve made reducing costs one of my top priorities. From my time in Congress to cutting red tape as Governor, we’re taking action to create more housing Coloradans can afford—because everyone...
Am I ‘Too Old’ To Buy a House?
The median age of homebuyers has risen to 59, with first‑time buyers now averaging 40. Financial experts like Suze Orman say seniors can purchase if they have 20% down, an emergency fund, and a 15‑year fixed mortgage. Data shows homeowners...
High Street Residential Breaks Ground on Second Project in San Pedro
High Street Residential, the residential arm of Trammell Crow Company, and joint‑venture partner Haseko North America have broken ground on Jules San Pedro, an eight‑story mixed‑use project in the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. The development will deliver 281 market‑rate apartments and roughly...
Yoga Joint Expands to NYC with Locations in Midtown South, Williamsburg
Yoga Joint, founded by former Barry’s executive Adam Shane, has signed a 6,300‑square‑foot lease for the ground floor and part of the basement at 470 Park Ave. South in Manhattan, completing full retail occupancy of the building. Simultaneously, the brand secured a second...
Waiting for a Crash Cost Buyers $400K
In 2010, homes in Vegas were $100K and people still said “I’m waiting for the crash.” Today they’re $500K…
Video: Mar. 13, 2026, Economic and Housing Market Update
The Senate passed the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, targeting increased supply and tighter rules on institutional investors. Inflation eased to 2.4% in February, prompting the Federal Reserve to likely hold rates at its March meeting, while mortgage rates rose...
White House Order to Increase Small Bank Mortgage Lending
The White House issued an executive order directing the CFPB and banking regulators to tailor mortgage rules for community banks, aiming to revive small‑bank participation in mortgage lending. The order follows a bipartisan Senate housing bill but highlights the House’s...
Negotiate Profit‑friendly Prices, Keep Rental Options Open
Make sure you negotiate a price that allows for a profit that is worth your time and effort. We also like deals to make sense as a rental in the event it doesn’t sell. Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more on build-to-rent and...
Mortgage Rates
Rate locks between 6.20% - 6.35% corrinadting with positive purchase application data and weekly pending sales all year long, so far, yes. At 6.41% today is the first day that pricing is above the September 17th, 2025 data point https://t.co/lqWqldYe3s
NPCG Closes Sale of Windsor Locks Apartments in Rebounding Hartford Market
Northeast Private Client Group closed a $4.375 million sale of 21 Spring St., a 31‑unit multifamily building in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The buyer and seller were not disclosed, and NPCG’s investment VPs represented the seller and sourced the buyer. The property, known as...
New Housing EO Boosts Rentals, Beats Senate's Road
I was obviously critical of his prior housing EO, but this one is actually quite good-- and more of a net boost to rental housing supply than the Senate's ROAD to Housing Act (which reduces rental supply for families who...
2026 Mortgage Rates Show Record‑Low 42‑bp Spread
Since 2000, the average year has seen an 87 bps range between the highest 30-year fixed mortgage rate reading in the calendar year and the lowest reading So far in 2026, that range has been 42 bps Lowest this year: 5.99% Highest...
Good News for Mortgage Rates? What One Analyst Says Could Drive Them Back Down
Mortgage rates have risen back into the mid‑6s after recent geopolitical and economic shocks. Analyst Eric Hagen of BTIG says further rate declines depend on banks re‑entering mortgage lending, regulatory changes, and the potential release of Fannie Mae and Freddie...
Find Mega Real Estate Deals Amid Market Declines
Just bought a property 100k off 2021 sale price. Move-in ready. The market is crashing in certain areas. Mega deals if you know where to look and how to negotiate.
How Wholesale Mortgage Companies Are Pulling in Brokers with Back-Office Support
Wholesale mortgage firms are increasingly absorbing independent brokers by providing back‑office services such as compliance, HR, and technology platforms. UMortgage, led by CEO Anthony Casa, bundles these capabilities with flat‑fee pricing and a corporate margin cap that rewards high‑volume originators....
Bilt Users Report Unpaid Rents and Poor Support
Impacted Bilt users continue to complain about rent payments not being made to their landlords, difficulty accessing human customer support:
Home Equity Dips $78.8B as Appreciation Weakens
Home equity fell $78.8 billion in Q4 2025, a 0.5 % year‑over‑year decline, marking the second consecutive quarter of losses. The average homeowner lost $8,500 of equity, reducing total accumulated equity to about $295,000 per borrower. Slower price appreciation—annual gains of only...
Colorado Investor Buys Downtown West Palm Rental for $79M
Colorado‑based Griffis Residential acquired the 263‑unit Griffis North Olive multifamily complex in downtown West Palm Beach for $78.5 million. The deal was financed with a $56.7 million Fannie Mae‑backed loan that runs until 2036 and marks the first purchase from the firm’s $500 million...
Amazon Pays $130M For Atlanta Warehouse: The Atlanta Deal Sheet
Amazon.com Services acquired the 1.1‑million‑square‑foot Chattahoochee Logistics Center in South Fulton for $129.7 million, according to Georgia court filings. The cross‑dock distribution hub, built in 2020 by Taylor & Mathis, was sold by WSRE CP CLC Investors, an affiliate of Chicago‑based Walton Street...
Visionary Hotelier Rami Fustok’s Art-Filled London Apartment Is Up for Rent
Visionary hotelier Rami Fustok has listed his 5,500‑square‑foot, art‑filled London residence for about £5,000 (≈$6,600) per week. The apartment occupies New River Head, a former early‑20th‑century civic building in Clerkenwell, retaining grand boardroom spaces, high ceilings and Doric columns. It...
How Paying Off Your Mortgage Early Can Affect Your Taxes
Paying off a mortgage early eliminates interest payments but also removes the mortgage interest deduction, potentially increasing taxable income. Homeowners must weigh the loss of that deduction against the interest savings, especially if they currently itemize. Property tax deductions remain,...
Bronx 'Worst Landlord' Ordered To Pay $2.1M Fine In Landmark Ruling
A New York State Supreme Court judge ordered Bronx landlord Seth Miller to pay more than $2.1 million in fines and to complete urgent repairs at his 919 Prospect Ave. building within a strict timeline. The ruling, hailed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani as...
Lennar Profit Drops 56% Amid Rates, Iran Uncertainty
Lennar reported a 56% drop in first‑quarter profit, earning $229 million versus $520 million a year earlier. Revenue from home sales fell 13% to $6.3 billion as average prices and unit deliveries both declined. The company cited persistent headwinds – mortgage rates above...
Big Y Invests $130M in Home State Expansion
Regional supermarket chain Big Y announced a $130 million expansion to add six new stores in Massachusetts and two in Connecticut. The investment moves the retailer toward its goal of 100 locations by its 100th anniversary in 2036. The plan includes...
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...
Condo Market Softens, Cancellations Persist Into 2026
Condos are softer than the detached market. Cancellations have continued into 2026. Nothing at all like all-time highs in 2007, but this submarket is notably softer than detached homes. https://t.co/3krxTga2qS
The FTC Is Mailing $47M in Checks to Renters—But Many Don’t Realize They’re Eligible
The Federal Trade Commission is issuing $47.2 million in checks to more than 444,000 renters who paid undisclosed fees to Invitation Homes between January 2021 and September 2024. Eligible tenants will receive an average of $106, with checks that must be cashed within...
Why Buyers Will Travel 500km to Buy a City Home Before They’re Priced Out
Chemical engineer Stephanie Lim drove 500 km from Gladstone to purchase a home in Brisbane before the market became unaffordable. She relied on parental assistance for the deposit while her regional job allowed her to save on rent. Lim plans to rent‑vest...
Federal GST Relief for First-Time Buyers Comes Into Force with Bill C-4
Canada’s federal government has enacted Bill C-4, launching a GST rebate for first‑time buyers of newly built homes. Eligible purchasers receive a full GST refund on properties priced up to $1 million and a partial refund on homes between $1 million and...
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...
Behind-the-Meter Data Center Proposed Outside Richmond, Virginia
LS Power is planning a 205‑acre, four‑building data‑center campus outside Richmond, Virginia, that could draw power directly from the adjacent Doswell natural‑gas plant via a behind‑the‑meter connection. The site will feature a GE Vernova LM6000 gas turbine and on‑site solar...
Airline Caterer Gate Gourmet Inks 63K-SF Lease at Queens’ Inwood Logistics Center
Airline catering firm Gate Gourmet signed a 63,437‑square‑foot lease at the Inwood Logistics Center in Queens, while Chinese third‑party logistics provider Yanwen Express took an additional 23,800 square feet. The two deals total 87,237 square feet on the 10‑building, 1970s‑era...
Institutional Buying Doesn't Hike Prices; Building New Homes Lowers Them
It's not actually that complicated: 1️⃣ There's no evidence that institutional purchases of existing single-family homes drives up prices. 2️⃣ Institutional financing, building, and ownership of new single-family homes expands the housing supply and drives down prices.
Unlock Review for 2026: Terms, Access and Customer Feedback
Unlock offers a home‑equity agreement that provides homeowners a lump‑sum cash advance in exchange for a share of future property appreciation, eliminating monthly payments. The company emphasizes a fully digital application, transparent pricing examples, and extensive educational resources to simplify...
Ultra‑wealthy Exodus Leaves No Revenue, Boomers Get Breaks
There's not going to be a revenue base here after they drive ultra HNW to Florida and Texas and keep giving boomers property tax breaks.
Methodology: Inventory Impact of Phased Marketing
Redfin’s new methodology quantifies how phased marketing—letting sellers test price and control exposure before a formal MLS listing—can lower effective selling costs by 1.2‑2.4% of home value. By improving pricing accuracy and privacy, the model predicts a 15‑30% reduction in...
FIGRE Trust Issues $335.7 Million From Pool of HELOC
FIGRE Trust is launching the 2026‑HF3 securitization, selling $335.7 million of revolving home‑equity lines of credit (HELOC) in eight SOFR‑linked tranches. The A1A tranche holds $164.3 million and receives a 44.5% credit‑enhancement cushion, while lower tranches have progressively smaller enhancements. The underlying...
These Stocks Will Benefit From AI and an Aging Population, Jefferies Says. They Also Pay Dividends
Jefferies analysts say artificial intelligence and an aging population are creating a powerful tailwind for senior‑housing REITs. They highlight Welltower, which has built a decade‑long data‑science platform, integrated OpenAI, and offers a 1.4% dividend, and American Healthcare REIT, a 2024...
Financing Rules and Lawsuits Have Halted U.S. Condo Construction
Over the past 20 years, America has basically stopped building condos. Owing to a mix of restrictive financing regulations and endless defect litigation, the most viable path to urban homeownership has largely disapprared. In my latest for @TheAtlantic, we explain...
FHA to Allow Early Payments on Trial Loan Mods
The Federal Housing Administration announced that borrowers enrolled in its trial loan‑modification program can now make early payments before the trial period ends. The change gives homeowners the option to reduce principal faster and avoid default during the trial. Early...
Architect Bob Hale’s House of Love in L.A. Just Listed for $5.3 Million
Architect Bob Hale’s personal residence, the Beit Ha‑Ahava, has been relisted in Los Angeles for just under $5.3 million after a brief price reduction from $5.7 million. The 5,300‑square‑foot, five‑bedroom home in Cheviot Hills showcases perforated aluminum panels etched with the Hebrew...
A Stronger Spring Housing Market? Real Estate Agents Think So
The Real Brokerage’s February 2026 Agent Survey shows a pronounced optimism among its agents, with 73% expecting a stronger spring selling season than 2025 and 36% forecasting a significantly stronger market. Despite a dip in the Transaction Growth Index to...
Are You Maximizing Technology to Improve Efficiency in Your Building?
Building automation systems generate massive data streams, yet many facilities lack tools to turn raw logs into actionable insight. Reliable Controls’ RC‑Reporter software lets owners visualize, automate, and share performance metrics without coding, freeing them from vendor lock‑in. The platform...
Housing Committee Passes Bill Protecting Connecticut Renters From Arbitrary Evictions
The Connecticut Housing Committee approved a bill, 11-8, that requires landlords of buildings with five or more units to provide a legitimate reason before evicting tenants who have lived there for at least one year. The legislation specifically targets no‑fault...
War-Driven Rate Hike Adds $130/Month on $600k Mortgage
For a $600,000 home, a borrower will now have to pay $130 more per month than what they would have paid the day before the war started when rates were 5.99%