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:
Pilot Program Seeks To Turn Working-Class Homebuyers Into Senior Housing Landlords
NewCourtland is allocating $2 million to build at least seven mixed‑age homes on Philadelphia’s Bonsall Street, each featuring accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for seniors. Working‑class buyers will purchase the main units, receive down‑payment assistance, and rent the senior ADUs, creating a steady rental income stream. The pilot aims to cut construction costs to one‑third of comparable LIHTC‑funded projects and demonstrate a private‑capital‑driven model for low‑income senior housing. If successful, the approach could be replicated across other Philadelphia neighborhoods and beyond.
WeWork’s Adam Neumann Sparks Fury in Florida After Tearing Down Historical Church To Build His Wife’s New School
Former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann’s real‑estate firm Flow purchased the 75‑year‑old Rader Memorial United Methodist Church in El Portal, Florida for $13.72 million and demolished it to make way for his wife Rebekah’s new private Jewish school, Student of Life, for Life...
Five Ways Unscrupulous Home Sellers Can Trick You
Unscrupulous home sellers often employ deceptive tactics to boost a property’s price, ranging from hiding appliance ages to faking high‑end brand badges. They may obscure serial numbers, apply stainless‑steel decals, or swap hardware to make old units appear newer. Isolated...
Homeownership Up, America Not Turning Renter Nation
Is America becoming a renter nation? The answer is an unequivocable "no" according to U.S. Census data. Today's homeownership rate of 65.7% is: +0.6 ppts since pre-COVID +1.9 ppts since 10 years ago +0.4 ppts above the long-term average +0.9 ppts above the long-term median +1.0 ppt...
2Life CEO To Retire, Leaving Behind A Legacy Of Senior Housing Advocacy
Amy Schectman announced her retirement as CEO of 2Life Communities, ending a 16‑year tenure that saw the nonprofit double its senior‑housing portfolio and secure $130 million in tax‑exempt bonds for affordable projects. Under her leadership, senior‑housing transaction volume rose 30% year‑over‑year...
Shelter‑driven Inflation Easing as Vacancies Rise, Wages Slow
Fed doves have happy tears, since over 40% of CPI inflation is due to shelter and wage growth is slowing down. Rising rental vacancies mean it's unlikely to see breakaway inflation again. @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #mortgagerates #inflation #economics #realestate #chartdaddy
Mixed-Use Development Coming To Historic Silo Site In West Houston
Moody National Development broke ground on Silo Springs, a 346‑unit apartment complex that will incorporate the historic Shadowdale grain silos on a 17‑acre West Houston site. Phase 1 features five‑story multifamily housing, a six‑story parking garage, and a refreshed silo façade...
How to Make a Cash Offer Without Cash
Cash offers dominate real‑estate deals because sellers value certainty and speed more than price. Dominion Financial’s Express DSCR Rental Loan delivers a 10‑day closing, matching or beating cash timelines while preserving competitive rates. The fast DSCR process lets investors submit...
DR Horton Sells Atlanta Home at 26% Discount
This house, south of Atlanta, is priced at an astounding $120 PSF. 5 bedroom, 5 bath, 3,500 SF. DR Horton is the builder, and they're selling this at 26% discount to the industry cost for new construction ($162 PSF, per NAHB)....
Jamestown Joins Bid To Lure NHL Team To North Point Mall
Jamestown has been tapped by New York Life to redevelop Alpharetta’s North Point Mall into a mixed‑use entertainment district anchored by a 17,000‑18,000 seat arena that could host an NHL expansion franchise. The developer will conduct feasibility studies, manage the...
S&P Downgrades REIT, Citing $2B Of Upcoming Debt Maturities
S&P Global downgraded Service Properties Trust (SVC) to B‑ from B, citing $2 billion of debt maturing over the next two years. Roughly 40% of the REIT's capital structure faces imminent repayment, raising liquidity and covenant concerns. The company sold 112...
Sub‑6% Mortgage Rates May Spur Buyer Confidence
Good to see Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage rate survey go sub-6% too. Not because it changes the math much, but because it will result in more positive news headlines and boost consumer sentiment. The type of stuff that can get prospective home...
Refurbishment Dominates UK Cities Office Development Pipeline
Refurbishment projects now dominate the office development pipeline across the UK’s Big Nine regional cities, representing the majority of space under construction. The volume of refurbishment space rose 12% year‑on‑year as new‑build starts remain subdued due to rising construction costs...
Originations Rise Across Products in Fourth Quarter
Originations across mortgage products climbed in the fourth quarter, marking the first broad‑based increase since early 2023. The rise was driven by strong purchase demand and modest refinance activity despite higher rates. At the same time, banks reported earnings pressure...
Construction In Top Data Center Markets Slows For First Time In Years
Data‑center construction in North America’s eight primary markets fell to 5,994 MW at the end of 2025, marking the first year‑over‑year decline since 2020. Vacancy in these hubs is a historic low of 1.4%, while rent for 3‑10 MW spaces jumped 12.5%...
Housing Market Snapshot: Latest Home Price Index Insights
Today’s podcast covers the state of the union housing talking points and the recent home price index reports @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #realestate #housing #mortgagerates #economics #chartdaddy
Marcus & Millichap Negotiates $9.9 Million Sale of Retail Strip Center Near Washington, D.C.
Marcus & Millichap negotiated the sale of Andrews Park Town Center, a 13,417‑square‑foot retail strip center in Camp Springs, Maryland, for $9.9 million. The property, built in 2021 on 1.2 acres, was fully leased to three national tenants—Advance Auto Parts, Domino’s Pizza and Beyond Dental—at...
700MW Data Center Could Be Built at Port of Dunkirk, Northern France
The Dunkirk Port Authority has opened a 21‑hectare brownfield site for a potential AI‑focused data center, offering developers a power connection ranging from 400 MW to 700 MW. Power will be supplied by RTE from the nearby Flanders Maritimes substation, with a...
Fed’s Miran Backs Four Rate Cuts
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran urged a faster easing path, calling for four quarter‑point rate cuts in 2026 to support the labor market. He argued inflation is largely contained and that the Fed should act sooner rather than later. Miran...
Bipartisan Bill Misattributes Housing Prices to Investors
The crazy train is getting crowded. We now have a bipartisan Senate bill to block large investors from buying houses. The entire premise is based on misinformation, which I'll lay out here: STATEMENT 1: One co-sponsor, Sen. Hawley, shared his rationale this...
The 8 Big Real Estate And Development Industry Questions For 2026
Howard Chai’s latest piece outlines eight critical questions shaping Metro Vancouver’s real‑estate and development outlook for 2026. He probes whether the 2024‑25 downturn has bottomed out, if developers will resume land acquisitions, and how much hidden “shadow inventory” remains. The...
Kroger Traffic Rises as Trips Grow Shorter in Q4 2025 – Placer.ai Blog
Kroger reported a 2.3% year‑over‑year rise in overall store traffic and a 2.8% increase in visits per venue for Q4 2025, signaling continued grocery demand resilience. At the same time, average dwell time slipped, indicating shoppers are making more frequent, mission‑driven...
Denver Has a New Neighbor: Kiel Murphy Wins the Great American Home Search
Redfin announced that Kiel Murphy from El Mirage, Arizona, won the Great American Home Search, a nationwide scavenger hunt linked to its Super Bowl commercial, by locating a $1 million Denver home in just 19 seconds. More than a quarter‑million participants used...
Home Improvement Loan Applications Moderate as Borrower Profile Gradually Ages
Home‑improvement loan applications peaked at 1.49 million in 2022 and have moderated to 1.20 million in 2024, remaining above pre‑pandemic levels. The borrower age profile is gradually aging, with the 65‑74 and 75+ cohorts expanding modestly. Meanwhile, the 45‑54 group stays the...
REIT Investor & Author Jussi Askola on Sector’s Advantages Versus Private Real Estate
Jussi Askola, president of Leonberg and author of *The REIT Advantage*, argued on the REIT Report podcast that real‑estate investment trusts generally outperform private real‑estate holdings. He cited higher returns, superior liquidity, broader diversification, economies of scale and access to...
Federated Hermes Secures Dual Lettings at Fareham Reach Business Park
Federated Hermes secured dual lettings totalling 34,000 sq ft at Fareham Reach Business Park in Gosport, Hampshire. Healthcare logistics firm Life Couriers UK added 27,231 sq ft, bringing its total footprint to 55,076 sq ft and consolidating its headquarters. The Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner renewed...
Affordability Pyramid Shows Over Half of U.S. Households Cannot Buy a $300,000 Home
The National Association of Home Builders' 2026 Priced‑Out Analysis reveals that 52 % of U.S. households—about 70 million—cannot afford a $300,000 home, while the median new‑home price is expected to reach $410,000. The affordability pyramid shows 47.5 million households limited to homes under...
How Downtown Sacramento Is Rebuilding Demand Through Social Collisions – Placer.ai Blog
Sacramento’s downtown is rebuilding demand by engineering “social collisions” through a surge in programming, festivals, and policy tweaks. The city leverages its farm‑to‑fork identity, major sports events and over 200 annual gatherings to attract out‑of‑market visitors and extend dwell times....
PROPTECH-X : TDS Signs Continuing Multi-Year Partnership with Tlyfe App
The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) has signed a multi‑year continuation of its partnership with the tlyfe app, extending the collaboration across the entire UK rental market. The deal builds on an earlier alliance that integrated tlyfe’s digital tenancy platform with...
PKF Francis Clark Expands Office Space at RO Real Estate’s Bristol Development
PKF Francis Clark is moving into 12,960 sq ft of office space on the second and third floors of RO Real Estate’s 90 Victoria Street development in Bristol, vacating its ground‑floor suite by end‑March. RO Real Estate will refurbish the ground floor...
Court Slashes $6.85bn Judgment in California Apartment Partnership War
The California Court of Appeal trimmed a $6.85 billion judgment stemming from a family‑run apartment partnership dispute. The Jogani brothers’ oral agreement created a de‑facto partnership that the jury found liable for breach of contract, fiduciary duty and fraud, awarding Shashi...
Court Voids Texas Lien After Servicer's Nine-Year Foreclosure Delay
A federal appeals court ruled that a Texas home‑equity lien that remained unforeclosed for more than four years is void, not merely unenforceable. Houston Prime's $500,000 loan, defaulted in 2014, was sold to Community Loan Servicing, which only initiated foreclosure...
Shellpoint Hit with RESPA Suit After Servicing Transfer Sparks Foreclosure
Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing allegedly failed to carry over a borrower’s successor‑in‑interest information during a March 2022 servicing transfer, creating an artificial default that led to foreclosure. The servicer admitted the boarding error in writing yet continued to assess fees and pursue...
Invesco Launches a CIT With Private Real Estate Exposure
Invesco has launched the Invesco Core Plus Real Estate Trust, a collective investment trust (CIT) that blends core‑plus private real estate managed by Invesco Real Estate with passive U.S. REIT holdings, offering daily liquidity for defined contribution (DC) plans. The...
Hong Kong Banks’ Collateral Asset Valuations to Continue Declining in 2026: S&P
S&P Global Ratings warns that collateral values backing Hong Kong banks' commercial property loans will keep declining through 2026, reflecting a market that has yet to find a bottom. The Bank of East Asia disclosed a HK$723 million valuation loss in...
Momentum Builds in Athletic Apparel & Sporting Goods: DICK’s, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and Lululemon – Placer.ai Blog
Foot traffic data and Q3 earnings show DICK’s, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and Lululemon each leaning on distinct growth levers in 2026. DICK’s maintains stable visits while integrating Foot Locker and rolling out experiential House of Sport and Field House concepts. Academy...
Fairfax Times the Cycle with a Bet on a Manager Intent on Scaling Its Credit Business
Fairfax Financial is timing the market cycle by investing in Kennedy Wilson’s credit platform as the real‑estate firm prepares for privatization. Kennedy Wilson has steadily expanded its real‑estate debt capabilities while maintaining a global equity presence. The move reflects Fairfax’s...
Cava Targets 1,000 Locations, Sparking DC Retail Opportunities
Cava is aiming for 1,000 restaurants by 2032. The DC-based chain just hit $1.2B in revenue and plans to pass 500 units this year. Same-store sales were flat last quarter, but expansion is driving growth. They’re preparing for 100 openings a...
SB 79: Infill Housing Near Transit, A Missed Environmental Victory
SB 79, which legalized hundreds of thousands of new infill homes within walking distance of transit, is perhaps the biggest environmental win of a generation, yet the old guard of environmentalism can't even recognize it as such.
Pressure Mounts for Mandatory Disclosure of Home Energy Efficiency Ratings
The Royal Automobile Association is urging South Australia to require energy‑efficiency ratings on every home at sale or lease. Around 70% of the state’s housing stock predates the 2003 minimum standards, leaving the average Australian home at a meagre 1.7‑star...
Home Prices Need Multi‑Metric View, Not Just Median
What are home prices doing? Here’s a look at some traditional price metrics and a few price indexes. I think it’s important in today’s market to look beyond just the median and average. https://t.co/flulXSqx4R
Turn Idle Home Equity Into Productive Cash
"Equity in a home is unemployed Benjamins. Redeploying that equity puts those Benjamins to work." –Bryan Maddex* *Our favorite mortgage lender & financing expert. Learn more → https://t.co/6LQHDFuiBV
When Community Becomes Distraction: How To Manage Social Friction In Coworking Spaces
Coworking spaces thrive on spontaneous collaboration, yet the same community can become a source of distraction. Unspoken signals—headphones, laptop orientation, and a bag on a chair—communicate members’ availability and help navigate social friction. When operators over‑schedule events during peak focus...
Rent Rolls Must Always Include Options and Option Rents
hey guys, I can't do much with a rent roll that doesn't show options and option rents/fmr - including that stuff should be standard 100% of the time
Bozzuto Invests $1 B to Revitalize Aging Properties
Why developer Bozzuto Group is deploying $1 billion toward older buildings @CNBC @Bozzuto @Yardi #realestate #realestateinvesting #rent #housing https://t.co/xWwXMgYJvp
London Ditches Glass Façade; NBPC Good Building Product Guide; ICIRT; Flood Auctions; Featherweight Homes
Private‑equity firms such as Blackstone and Brookfield are refurbishing London office towers, swapping glass façades for green terraces, gyms and resilient construction designed for heavier rain and hotter summers, while installing fully electric HVAC systems. In Australia, the National Building...
Houston Leads Top Five Markets for New MOB Construction
🏥 Top Markets for New MOB Construction 1⃣ Houston 2⃣ Memphis 3⃣ Kansas City 4⃣ Los Angeles 5⃣ El Paso & Washington DC https://t.co/WGeA6KolkA
NYC Homeowners Face Nearly 10% Property Tax Rise
NYC Home Owners do you think this is FREE? Property Taxes going up nearly 10%
Independent Agencies See OpenRent as a ‘Major Threat’
Independent UK estate agencies with fewer than five branches view DIY platforms such as OpenRent as a major threat, with one‑third flagging heightened risk. Larger firms, by contrast, largely dismiss these services, seeing little danger to their market share. The...
Google Cloud to Develop AI Planning Decisions Tool
The UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has awarded Google Cloud a £6.9 million contract to build an AI‑powered planning decisions tool. The system will initially focus on householder developments, which account for 69 % of applications, with a target...