Today's Real Estate Pulse
Chinese Buyers Set Record with $5.5B Hong Kong Property Purchases in Q1 2026
Mainland Chinese investors spent roughly HK$43 billion ($5.5 billion) on Hong Kong real estate in the first quarter, covering apartments to fractional office stakes. Beijing’s new capital‑control measures aim to curb large overseas cash transfers, threatening the momentum of the record‑setting spree.
Also developing:
Iran Conflict Stalls Big Purchases Like Homes and Cars For 1 in 4 Americans; Most Are Undeterred
A Redfin‑commissioned survey finds 25% of Americans are delaying or canceling major purchases such as homes or cars because of the military conflict with Iran, while 56% say the war has no impact on their buying plans. The conflict’s effect is modest compared with tariffs, job‑security worries, and even the October 2025 government shutdown, which produced similar hesitation levels. Agents in military‑heavy markets report isolated buyer pull‑backs, but overall sentiment remains largely undeterred. The findings are based on 1,005 respondents with a +/-3.8‑point confidence interval.
Mount Anvil Gets Green Light for 274-Home Chelsea Development
Mount Anvil has secured planning permission for a 274‑home development on Lots Road South in Chelsea, allocating 44% of units to affordable housing. The scheme includes 65 extra‑care social‑rent homes, 53 general‑needs social‑rent homes, and 156 private residences. Kensington and...
Both Parties Sabotage Housing: Policies Hurt More Than Help
Has there been a housing market, federal, state, municipal, that the government has not screwed up? Get everyone in a house many couldn’t afford pre GFC then “let’s roll the dice.” Don’t ever allow building in anyone’s backyard (a key...
Buy a Home Only When Absolutely Certain and Financially Ready
Whether to buy a home is like deciding whether to have children. You should be 100% sure you want one and that you can afford to maintain it.
Florida Advances Bill to Bypass Local Zoning, Allow Residential Development on Brownfields
Florida’s legislature passed the Infill Redevelopment Act, mandating that counties with over 1.475 million residents permit residential development on 5‑acre parcels, including contaminated brownfields, adjacent to existing housing. The bill caps density at the lower of the local average or 25...
HVM Maya / Perkins&Will
Perkins & Will’s HVM Maya, an 18,000 m² luxury tower in Campo Grande, Brazil, reimagines high‑end living by merging the building with the adjacent Parque das Nações Indígenas. The design uses a west‑facing circulation belt and brise‑soleils to achieve passive thermal comfort, while exposed...
The Gaping Hole in the Housing Market
The existing‑home market is entrenched in a deep recession, contrary to recent optimistic forecasts. While lower mortgage rates have eased affordability pressures, they address only a fraction of the sales slowdown. Persistent inventory shortages and muted buyer confidence continue to...
Gould Investors Completes Section 1031 Transactions
Gould Investors L.P. completed the sale of its Long Island City asset for roughly $101 million, generating about $93 million in net proceeds and a $90 million accounting capital gain. Within days, the partnership redeployed the majority of those funds to acquire a...
401(k) Loan vs Personal Loan: Which Is Better for a House Down Payment?
Homebuyers often consider borrowing to cover a down payment, weighing 401(k) loans against personal loans. A 401(k) loan lets you tap retirement savings with no credit check, typically offering lower interest but a five‑year repayment limit that can erode future...
Hanley Investment Group Arranges $6.9 Million Sale of Two Single-Tenant Retail Properties in Southern California
Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors arranged the $6.9 million sale of two single‑tenant retail pads in Murrieta, Southern California. The Quick Quack car‑wash occupies 4,126 sq ft on a 20‑year absolute triple‑net lease with 12% rent escalations every five years and 17 years...
Supply Surge, Not Weak Demand, Drives Rent Cuts
Here's a crazy-yet-telling apartment stat: Among the top 15 markets CUTTING rents, they collectively had 2x more demand (absorption) than the top 15 markets INCREASING rents. Why? Because it's all about supply, not weak demand or affordability etc. Among the top 15 markets...
Connell Co. Signs Leases with Five New Tenants at The Park Mixed-Use Development in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Connell Co. has secured leases with five new tenants—Four Spoons Ice Cream Co., Doner Shack, Café Exchange, Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, and Greatness Wins—for The District at The Park in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. The District is a 60‑acre,...
Cash-Strapped Homeowners Tap BNPL
A JPMorgan Chase Institute study of 4.5 million homeowners shows that cash‑strained borrowers increasingly turn to buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) as a liquidity valve, especially when mortgage payments tighten budgets. BNPL spending spikes 34‑38% in the year before a first‑time home purchase, while...
Biopharmaceutical Firm Gilead Takes 50,000 Sq Ft at One Triton Square
Gilead Sciences is leasing 50,000 sq ft at One Triton Square in central London, adding to the building’s recent leasing momentum. The development, completed in October 2025, is now 77 % let or under offer, reflecting strong demand for premium biotech space. One Triton...
Big‑Box Spaces Pivot to Fitness, Pickleball, Entertainment
That empty big box store in your shopping center might not become another retailer. Fitness, pickleball, and entertainment concepts are taking over second-generation retail space as goods retailers shrink. Landlords are repurposing boxes instead of waiting years for another anchor. Still marketing retail...
Opportunity Zones: What We Learned—And What Must Change in Round Two
The 2017 Opportunity Zones tax‑deferral program aimed to spur growth in low‑income census tracts, but its first round unfolded amid COVID‑19 and high inflation, limiting clear outcomes. Ohio’s newly released tract‑level data shows two‑thirds of eligible zones received no investment,...
Labor Must Stop Juicing House Prices and Make Buying a Home the Australian Dream – Not Negatively Gearing One |...
Greg Jericho argues that Labor’s housing incentives are inflating Australian property values. In the December quarter, national dwelling prices jumped 2.7%, with Western Australia posting a 7.5% surge and median prices topping $1 million. The 5% first‑home‑buyer guarantee lifted prices sharply...
Africa Needs 50 Million New Homes, but Building Is Bad for the Environment: How to Finance ‘Green’ Solutions
Africa must build 50 million homes by 2050, yet construction generates roughly 39% of global carbon emissions, with concrete alone accounting for 8%. Green housing—using energy‑efficient designs, recycled resources, and low‑water fixtures—offers a climate‑friendly alternative, but financing options are scarce across...
Single-Family Permits End 2025 on a Soft Note
Single-family housing permits slipped to 909,280 units in 2025, a 7.4% year‑over‑year decline, while multifamily permits rose to 516,886 units, up 5.6%. The downturn was most pronounced in the South and West, where single‑family activity fell 8.5% and 10.4% respectively,...
Bold Moves Yield Real Estate Success
Fortune favors the bold. Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more on build-to-rent and real estate investing. #realestate #investmentproperty #buildtorent
Avoid Major Renovations on Your First Remote Investment
One of the biggest mistakes I see investors make is trying to do a major remodel on their very first long-distance deal.
Strettons Raises £11.7m at February Auction
Strettons reported £11.7 million in sales at its 19 February national property auction, achieving an 80% success rate. The headline transaction was a freehold commercial unit on Hoe Street, Walthamstow, which fetched £1.365 million against a £1 million guide price. Residential sales also performed...
Rising Taxes Trigger Housing Supply Surge, Fuel Doom Loop
if you keep increasing the taxy levy without real benefits, eventually new supply (some forced) comes into market and lowers price, which then increases the tax rate burden as a % of asset that makes it very unattractive this is the...
What Does Your Grocery Store Say About Your Neighborhood?
A study of more than 32,000 grocery‑store openings from the 1970s onward links retailer type to subsequent home‑price performance at the ZIP‑code level. Trader Joe’s locations are in affluent, well‑educated neighborhoods and see home values rise 6% above the national average...
Where It’s Cheaper to Buy a Home than Rent – or Almost the Same Price
Research from Cotality shows that in several Australian metros, especially Melbourne’s city core, buying a unit can be cheaper than renting, with savings of up to $322 per fortnight. In Sydney’s western suburbs, the mortgage premium over rent is as...
Mortgage Rates Climb to 6.19% in Biggest Gain Since September
U.S. 30‑year mortgage rates jumped 10 basis points to 6.19% in the week ending March 6, marking the steepest rise since September. The increase mirrors a sharp climb in the 10‑year Treasury yield, spurred by geopolitical tension after Iran’s conflict disrupted...
PROPTECH-X : Data & Digital Infrastructure (DDI) as a Project versus Treating It as a Platform
The article argues that commercial‑real‑estate owners should treat Data & Digital Infrastructure (DDI) as a long‑term platform rather than a one‑off project. A project mindset leads to isolated installations, vendor lock‑in, and limited ROI, while a platform approach creates a...
Bite-Sized Restaurants
Amelie’s French Bakery opened a 400‑square‑foot, no‑seating outlet in Plaza Midwood, a stark contrast to its typical 4,500‑square‑foot locations. The micro‑format targets pedestrian traffic and leverages delivery apps to meet demand for quick, convenient meals. COO Justy Martinez describes the...
Report: Montréal Seasonal Short-Term Rental Ban Risks Millions in Tourism Revenue
An independent analysis by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton estimates Montreal’s seasonal short‑term‑rental ban will leave a deficit of more than 26,000 accommodation nights during the 2026 Formula 1 Grand Prix and UCI World Cycling Championships. The shortfall translates into over $19 million in lost visitor...
Supermarket Income REIT Closes in on £1bn Value Target for Blue Owl JV
Supermarket Income REIT (SUPR) has more than doubled the value of its joint venture with Blue Owl Capital to £845 million, edging close to its £1 billion AUM target. The partnership, launched in April, added £398 million of acquisitions in the second half...
Landsec Reports Leasing Drive From AI and Tech Firms at MYO King’s Cross
Landsec reports that its premium flexible workspace MYO at King’s Cross has surpassed 60% occupancy within six months, driven primarily by AI and technology firms. More than ten tech companies, including Perplexity AI and PlanHat, have signed leases, and the...
China's Trade Surplus Grows as Property Recovery Stalls
Frustrating. China won't use the "clean" balance sheet of the central government to support a real recovery from the prolonged property market slump. The net result: a rising trade surplus supports China's growth at the expense of its trading...
We're 62 and Plan to Sell Our $1.2 Million House to Retire, but Our Daughter and Grandkids Live With Us....
At age 62, a couple with $1.1 million savings and a $1.2 million home consider downsizing to fund retirement, but their daughter and two grandchildren currently live with them. Selling the house could generate roughly $500 k in equity, boosting their retirement portfolio...
SUPR Trades Near NTA, Targets Dividend Growth, Acquisition Opportunities
#SUPR results OK. EPRA NTA per Share 87.5p (up) against Share price 82p; so discount relatively small now. Cost down from bringing operation in-house. Target minimum 2% Dividend Growth from FY2027. Appears to be lots of opportunities to acquire Supermarket...
Bundesbank HQ to Be Repurposed as School
Bundesbank will abandon its old brutalist headquarters, with the building now set to become a school https://t.co/Ao2BQqWndL via @laura_malsch https://t.co/vyAx8mitA9
$900,000 Homes in California, North Carolina and Texas
A 1922 Craftsman bungalow in Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven neighborhood is listed for $899,000, offering 1,232 square feet of living space at $730 per square foot. The home features a covered front porch, hardwood‑floored living areas, a modest kitchen, and two...
Dreamland Opens Its First Three Stores at Cora Shopping Sites
DreamLand, the Belgian toy retailer, will launch three new experience stores on March 13 at Cora Shopping locations in Rocourt, Châtelineau, and La Louvière. The openings replace two existing outlets and add one new footprint, bringing DreamLand’s total to 93 stores...
Persimmon Earnings: Superb Performance but War in the Middle East Clouds Outlook
Persimmon reported 2025 earnings that beat expectations, driven by higher completions and a rise in average selling price. The firm kept its GBX 1,680 fair‑value estimate and reaffirmed 2026 guidance of 12,000‑12,500 completions with a £284,000 average selling price. While results...
Will Curtis: Bridging the Military-to-CRE Gap One Veteran at a Time
In this episode, veteran‑turned‑CRE professional Will Curtis shares how his Army experience and a pivotal financial‑specialist presentation sparked his transition into commercial real estate, leading him to specialize in office and industrial assets across Texas. He emphasizes the importance of...
Aldi to Create 1,100 Jobs This Year
Aldi will create more than 1,100 new store roles in 2026 as it invests over £370 million to open 40 additional UK stores. The hiring wave includes full‑time and part‑time positions ranging from store assistants to managers. This follows a second...
The Debt Burden Facing Estate Agency’s Biggest Groups
Recent filings for the UK’s largest estate‑agency groups reveal a surge in leverage as interest rates climb. Chianti Holdings, Leaders Romans, Strike and Yopa all posted higher revenues but deepening losses, with total debt ranging from £5.7 m to over £370 m...
Negative Perceptions About HMOs Can Be Changed, Developers Insist
North West developers Ray Guy and Geoff Knight argue that hands‑on management can overturn the negative reputation of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). They manage 40 HMOs themselves, emphasizing tenant vetting and proactive maintenance to ensure quality. Their latest project...
Million Pound Homes Sell for Massive Loss, New Analysis Reveals
New analysis by the Daily Telegraph reveals that 18% of UK homes sold for over £1 million changed hands at a loss in 2024, with the figure climbing above 25% in the final quarter of the year. Adjusted for inflation, the...
The EU’s Transformative Short-Term Rental Regulation
The EU Short‑Term Rental Regulation (EUSTRR) takes effect in May, creating a unified registration system and mandatory data‑sharing protocol for an estimated four million short‑term rental units across all 27 member states. While substantive rules such as caps or quotas...
Deconstructing the Financial Viability of Retail
The article dissects Saks Global’s bankruptcy to illustrate a broader retail paradox: private‑equity‑backed chains often falter while multi‑generation, family‑led stores like Mitchells, Dillard’s and Von Maur thrive. It argues that misaligned capital structures—excess debt, lease‑backs, and premature equity deals—accelerate a...
Prince William’s Controversial 2,500-Home Development Granted Planning Approval
Planning permission has been granted for the Duchy of Cornwall’s South East Faversham scheme, a 2,500‑home development on 137.7 hectares of Kent farmland owned by Prince William. The plan includes 400 social‑rent homes, 475 affordable units, a primary school, nursery,...
Ideal Business Types for This New Shop Listing
What type of business can go into this shop ? My latest #cre listing https://t.co/wXu2o5vMna
Institutional Homebuying Ban: What It Actually Changes
What the institutional homebuying ban actually does, according to ResiClub’s reading of the bipartisan Senate housing bill Me + @MalasMeghan's latest ResiClub PRO report: https://t.co/GIci6e5eqY
AI Could Change Homebuying. How Listings and Negotiations Are Already Shifting
AI-powered tools are reshaping how homebuyers visualize properties and negotiate deals. Collov AI, a new platform, provides virtual staging, 3‑D tours and interior‑design suggestions directly from listing photos, with subscription plans from $19 to $127 per month. Realtors report that...
Sydney Faces Heavy House Price Falls
Sydney’s housing market is poised for a steep correction, with SQM Research now projecting up to a 6% price decline by 2026, while Melbourne may see a 4% drop. Recent data show zero growth in Sydney and a 0.1% dip...