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:
Landlords Urged to Increase Inspections Post Renters’ Rights Act
The UK Renters’ Rights Act replaces fixed‑term assured shorthold tenancies with indefinite periodic tenancies, eliminating the traditional end‑of‑term inspection checkpoint. A survey of 885 landlords by Inventory Base reveals that 46% intend to inspect their properties no more than once a year, with many relying solely on tenant‑reported issues. This reduction in scheduled inspections risks losing oversight of property condition as tenancies lengthen. Industry experts are urging landlords to adopt continuous monitoring to safeguard asset value and tenant satisfaction.
Starmer Orders Investigation Into ‘Mass Eviction’ Scandal
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has instructed Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook to investigate a reported mass eviction by Criterion Capital, owned by Asif Aziz. The landlord issued eviction notices to 130 tenants at Britannia Point in Colliers Wood, allegedly to pre‑empt...
Garden Terrace by Edition Office – The Local Project
Garden Terrace, designed by Edition Office, is an elevated family home on a Melbourne floodplain that uses monumental timber supports to create a sculptural undercroft. The architects integrated a dense, rainforest‑inspired landscape, collaborating with Eckersley Garden Architecture to blend native...
Money and Me: Is Headline DPU Hiding the Truth About Your REIT?
In this episode, Michelle Martin talks with REIT specialist Kenny Lowe about why investors should look beyond the headline Distribution Per Unit (DPU) when evaluating Singapore REITs. Kenny explains how one‑off bonuses, sponsor rental support, lease incentives and financial engineering...
Howard Hanna Takes a ‘Middle Ground’ Approach to Pre-Marketing
Howard Hanna is launching HannaList, a strategic listing program that lets sellers pre‑market properties to the brokerage’s internal network while staying within MLS rules. The pilot begins in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania in April, with a company‑wide rollout slated...
BTL Landlords Urged to Review Ownership Structures Ahead of Tax Changes
Portfolio landlords face higher income tax rates as the UK government plans to raise the basic rate to 22%, the higher rate to 42%, and the additional rate to 47% from April 2027. Finance cost relief will also increase to...
384. Volatility Returns: Oil Shock, Two Market Risks, Student Housing Exposure, Savills-Eastdil Deal, & More Impactful Headlines
The episode examines how a sudden oil price shock from Middle East tensions is reigniting dual risks in commercial real estate: sticky inflation and slowing growth. Stephen Bushbaum explains that this volatility is likely to tighten financing conditions, widen credit...
Propertymark Publishes Housing Manifestos Ahead of Scottish and Welsh Votes
Propertymark has published separate housing manifestos for Scotland and Wales ahead of the May 2026 elections. The Scottish 10‑point plan urges the next government to cut rents, boost supply, improve construction skills, and advance energy‑efficient housing without limiting availability. The...
Savara Inc (SVRA) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Sabra Health Care REIT reported Q4 2025 normalized FFO of $0.36 and AFFO of $0.38 per share, and set 2026 guidance for normalized FFO and AFFO at $1.49‑$1.53 and $1.55‑$1.59 per share, implying roughly 5% growth. Managed senior housing showed...
BRT Apartments Corp (BRT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
BRT Apartments reported strong rental demand in Q3 2020, achieving 98% rent collection and a 5% increase in rental revenue. Despite a $7.0 million net loss driven by a $3.64 million non‑cash impairment, Funds From Operations rose to $0.27 per share, up...
Rentals Can Earn $250K, Buy $1M, Pay Zero Taxes
This is why investors buy rentals: make $250K, buy $1M in property, and potentially pay $0 in taxes.
Fed Reveals Plan to Ease Banks’ Capital Requirements, Boost Mortgage Lending
The Federal Reserve announced it will overhaul capital rules for large banks, moving to a single standardized risk‑based framework that explicitly accounts for loan‑to‑value ratios. Under the proposal, lower‑LTV mortgages would carry lighter capital charges, while high‑LTV loans face higher...
FAPA Blocks Fannie Mae, U.S. Bank From Reviving Stale Foreclosures
On March 11, 2026 New York’s Appellate Division, Second Department, dismissed foreclosure actions by Fannie Mae and U.S. Bank, finding the filings untimely under the state’s six‑year statute of limitations. Both lenders relied on strategies—voluntary case dismissals and challenges to prior acceleration—to reset the clock,...
Will the Oil Shock of 2026 Crash House Prices
Australian analyst David Llewellyn‑Smith warns that the 2026 oil price shock could depress house prices. He notes a rule of thumb: each 10 % rise in oil adds roughly 0.4 % to inflation. Higher inflation is expected to lift mortgage rates and...
U.S. Buys Salt Lake City Warehouse for $145 Million to House ICE Detention Facility
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security purchased a Salt Lake City warehouse for $145.4 million, converting it into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility. The property, part of the Gardner Logistics Center, was sold by RREEF CPIF 6020 W 300 S, LLC, a...
U.S. Housing Bubble Frozen, Equity at Risk
The U.S. housing market isn’t slowing down, it’s frozen. Homes are massively overpriced, and when prices finally fall, millions of homeowners could lose their equity and banks will be stuck with bad mortgages. This is exactly what happens when decades...
Understanding Zoning Changes Land Opportunities: Complete Guide (2026)
Understanding zoning changes is essential for land investors seeking to maximize asset value. The guide explains how alterations in land‑use classifications—such as upzoning from residential to commercial—can dramatically boost property prices, while downzoning may diminish marketability. It outlines the procedural...
Dentist to the Stars Sues Central Park South Co-Op, Board
Celebrity dentist Marc Lowenberg’s elite practice, located on the first and second floors of 230 Central Park South, has sued the building’s co‑op board over a new rule that forces commercial tenants to pay for an extra doorman when 30...
At Wandering Courtyard House, Rebuild Collective and 1+1+ Architects Turn Los Angeles’s Zoning Setbacks Into the Design Itself
Rebuild Collective and 1+1+ Architects completed the Wandering Courtyard House in Monterey Park, California, turning mandatory zoning setbacks into a series of outdoor rooms. The 0.15‑acre, single‑family residence, finished in August 2025, features a curving teak deck that adds roughly 1,100 sq ft of...
Medline Expands Distribution with New Texas Center
Medline announced a new 1.2‑million‑square‑foot distribution center in Midlothian, Texas, slated to become operational in the second quarter of 2027. The facility adds to the company’s network of 45 centers and marks its second hub in the Dallas‑Fort Worth market. Equipped...
Project Profile: A Coca-Cola Bottling Plant Becomes an Entertainment and Cultural Hub
Hendricks Commercial Properties redeveloped Indianapolis’s former Coca‑Cola bottling plant into the mixed‑use Bottleworks District, opening a 139‑room boutique hotel, a 38,000‑sq‑ft food hall, and entertainment venues in December 2020. The project secured federal historic tax credits by negotiating a rooftop...
Art Dealer Trades Greenwich Village Townhouse for $18M
Art dealer Gordon VeneKlasen sold his 4,000‑square‑foot Greenwich Village townhouse for $18 million, translating to roughly $4,500 per square foot. He originally bought the property from hedge‑fund billionaire Daniel Loeb in 2009 for $5.5 million and later renovated it with architect Annabelle...
NSW Renovates Regional Public Service Work Hubs to Spur Back-to-Office Push
The New South Wales government is investing $5 million to refurbish the regional public service workplace hub in Nowra. The upgrade will modernise the facility with flexible, multi‑agency fit‑outs, aiming to encourage staff to return to office. Premier Chris Minns frames...
New Reporting Requirement Under FinCEN's 'Residential Real Estate Rule' In Effect as of March 1, 2026
Effective March 1, 2026, FinCEN’s Residential Real Estate Rule mandates filing a Real Estate Report for every non‑financed transfer of residential property to an entity or trust, regardless of value. The rule replaces the previous geographic targeting orders with a permanent, nationwide...
From Factories to Five Stars, Berlin's Hotels Love a Bold Revolution
Berlin’s hospitality scene is redefining itself through adaptive reuse, converting historic baths, prisons, embassies and industrial structures into boutique hotels. Iconic projects such as Hotel Oderberger, Wilmina, and Das Stue showcase how original architecture is preserved while modern amenities are...
Congress Curbs Investors in Housing, Ignores Health Care
It's interesting that Congress is moving to restrict institutional investors from buying up homes, but there's no similar effort for health care.
CIM Group Pursues Mixed-Use Development at Watchtower Site
CIM Group has filed a rezoning proposal to transform the former Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower campus in Brooklyn Heights into a 661‑unit mixed‑use development, including 165 affordable apartments. The site, comprising five buildings at 25 and 30‑58 Columbia Heights, was purchased...
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Republicans Propose Cutting Capital Gains Taxes on Home Sales to Boost the Housing Market
Republican lawmakers have asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to use executive authority to index capital gains on primary residences to inflation. Indexing would adjust the cost basis, potentially reducing taxable gains for long‑term homeowners, especially higher‑income sellers. The proposal builds...
ULM Properties' Student Housing Bonds Downgraded to B3 by Moody's
Moody's downgraded the University of Louisiana at Monroe student‑housing revenue bonds (Series 2019A) from B2 to B3, citing weak demand and an 85% occupancy rate. The debt‑service coverage ratio slipped to 0.98× as of December 2024, forcing draws on the debt‑service reserve....
With Record Backlog, Balfour Beatty Targets More U.S. Data Center Jobs
Balfour Beatty announced a strategic push into U.S. data center construction, leveraging its two‑decade experience in shells and cores. The firm reported a record £22.7 billion backlog and a 7.5% revenue increase to £10.8 billion for 2025, with pre‑tax profit jumping 51%...
30‑Year Mortgage Rates Likely Stay Below 7%
Questions to ask: - How high can the 30-year fixed go again? Is 6.5% a reasonable guess? Is 7% out of the question? I think 7% is unlikely as we'd be getting into recession talk and bond yields would likely...
Weaker Conditions for Single-Family Built-for-Rent Housing
Single-family built‑for‑rent (SFBFR) construction slipped in Q4 2025, with starts falling to roughly 15,000 units, a slight decline from the prior year and contributing to a 19% drop in total 2025 starts versus 2024. The slowdown reflects higher financing costs...
What Buyers Are Stressed About — and How Agents Can Help
A Clever Real Estate survey of 1,000 recent homebuyers shows emotions heavily sway purchasing decisions. Thirty‑six percent admitted to acting against better judgment, and 76 percent overlooked red flags, leading to widespread post‑purchase regret—especially among first‑time buyers, where more than...
Flat Conditions for Townhouse Construction
Townhouse construction in 2025 remained essentially flat, with 173,000 starts versus 174,000 in 2024. The fourth quarter saw a soft 38,000 attached starts, the weakest since early 2023, while townhouses accounted for over 17% of all single‑family starts. A one‑year...
Feb 2026 SAC:
How did homes sell compared to their original list price? Here's a way to show that. Anything above the 0% line went above, and anything below went below. FEB 2026 SAC REGION Above: 30.7% Below: 56.0% At Original List Price: 13.3% Any thoughts?
Foreclosure Auctions Surged in Q4 Last Year—These States Saw the Biggest Increases
Foreclosure auction notices jumped sharply in December 2025, with 23,235 filings representing a 25.1% month‑over‑month rise and a 68% year‑over‑year increase. The surge was most pronounced in Texas, which logged over 4,100 notices and a 36% monthly gain, while Ohio, North...
Behind the Idea: Bloxx
Bloxx is a fintech platform that lets buyers secure a home with just a one‑percent deposit and fixed monthly payments, eliminating the need for a traditional mortgage. The model creates equity for homeowners while linking renters, builders, and institutional investors...
Some Florida Distress Grows as Broader Foreclosures Waver
Foreclosure activity rose 20% year‑over‑year nationwide, marking the 12th consecutive month of increases, though monthly numbers slipped 4% from January. Florida’s distress deepened, with Lakeland posting the worst metro filing rate and Punta Gorda second‑worst. Completed foreclosures jumped 35% from...
Mortgage Payments Up $1,300 Monthly Since 2021
A $500K mortgage was $1,900/month in 2021. A $500K mortgage is now $3,200/month. $1,000+ more each month for the same home.
Report: Just 17% of Gen Z Americans Own Homes
A new report finds that only 17% of Gen Z Americans own a home, a stark contrast to the more than half of Millennials who have already bought property. In the past five years, Gen Z renters surged sixfold, climbing from 700,000...
Whole Foods to Double UK Footprint
Whole Foods Market announced the opening of six new Daily Shop stores in London, doubling its UK presence to twelve locations. The stores, ranging from 3,300 to 10,000 square feet, occupy former Amazon Fresh sites and will launch between April...
War Threatens Spring Housing Market Stability
Today's podcast discusses is spring #housing is really at risk due to the war? @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #mortgagerates #housing #economics #chartdaddy
California's “Prohousing” Label Ignores Actual Building Results
The trouble with California's prohousing designation is that it only recognizes policies adopted—and not the outcome of interest, which is more housing getting permitted and built. Too many "prohousing" cities aren't really doing much to build housing. https://t.co/tjn6bDrDRd
Lennar's Margins Hit 2009 Low Amid Aggressive Incentives
Lennar—America's second largest homebuilder—gross margins fall to the lowest levels since 2009 Among giant public homebuilders, Lennar has been the most aggressive in using affordability adjustments/incentives to maintain volumes/take market share @ResidentialClub research
XHB Endures Sharpest 9‑Day Drop Since 2022
Homebuilders $XHB worst 9-day selloff since June 2022 -13% since the first of the month. The housing market sucks. @stockcharts https://t.co/wJDyxPUMdv
Judge Disqualifies Alina Habba, Threatening NJ Mortgage Fraud Lead
Hideous handling of #AlinaHabba may jeopardize #NJ lead in #mortgagefraud cases. She+3 successors all disqualified by a federal judge. #realestate #CRE #mortgage #PamBondi #Trump https://t.co/qjSREOwVWm
Bipartisan Housing Bill Passes Senate 89-10, Schatz Opposes
Trump-Tim Scott-Elizabeth Warren bill combining abundance and anti-monopoly politics on housing, passes the Senate with 89 votes to 10 no votes. Future Democratic leader Brian Schatz is a no.
Senate Passes ROAD to Housing; Reporters Miss Expert View
With the Senate passing the ROAD to Housing Act today, political reporters not in tune with the housing beat seem to be interpreting the legislation for how its authors are spinning it, versus what housing experts and homebuilders say it...
Homebuilders Slam “ROAD to Housing” Despite Pro‑housing Claims
Homebuilders: Build-to-rent ban isn't the only problem with "ROAD to Housing" legislation. How do you pass a supposedly pro-housing bill that is opposed by homebuilders and most housing experts/economists?
Senate's ROAD to Housing Act Threatens Ranch‑style Duplexes
This is a "ranch-style" apartment community in West Virginia, built in 1983 and once owned by an apartment REIT (Equity Residential). It features duplexes across a 92-unit property. It would become impossible to build these under the Senate's "ROAD to Housing...