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:
Mortgage Rates Recover Some of Yesterday's Losses
Mortgage rates pulled back Thursday after a sharp Wednesday spike tied to reports of a prolonged Strait of Hormuz blockade. The 30‑year fixed‑rate benchmark fell from a high of 6.50% to 6.45%, mirroring a simultaneous drop in oil prices and Treasury yields. The reversal began around 2 a.m. ET as bond yields slipped, underscoring the tight link between energy markets and mortgage pricing. Rates now sit near the levels seen earlier Thursday morning, easing the brief surge in borrower costs.
Easement Setback? Backup Plan Secured Rental Success
Part 1: Easement Issues. This was a first for me 😂 This was supposed to be flip. Basically everything went wrong. But we were still able to rent it out because we had a back up plan. Follow @chasecalhoun.realestate for more...
Rising Rates Pushed Mortgage Payments Higher in March
Mortgage payments jumped in March as rates and loan sizes rose, pushing the median new purchase‑loan payment 3.4% higher to $2,131, still 1.8% below the year‑ago level. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s affordability index climbed to 154.9, signaling reduced buyer purchasing...
Analysis: Atlanta Cracks Top 10 Among Affordable Cities for Housing
A new study by real‑estate data firm Clever places the Atlanta metro area at No. 9 among U.S. cities for housing affordability, based on a price‑to‑income ratio of 4.03. Median home prices in Atlanta have climbed to $372,000 while median household...
Investment Volume Spikes 18%, Larger Deals Reappear
MSCI Q1 2026: Volume Climbs 18% Investment volume reached $110.7 billion, an 18% year-over-year increase, continuing a growth trend that began in mid-2025. While single-asset deals remain the primary source of liquidity, the market is seeing a selective return of larger...
Purchase Mortgage Closing Costs Dipped in 2025
LodeStar Software Solutions reports that average closing costs for purchase mortgages in 2025 fell to 1.04% of the sales price, or $4,528 on a typical $433,632 home. The median closing cost was $2,993, and the percentage rate remained virtually unchanged...
The Rural Data Center Boom Comes Into Focus: Challenges and Opportunities
The U.S. data‑center build‑out is rapidly shifting to rural locations, with 67% of planned facilities now slated for non‑urban sites. Power availability and inexpensive land are eclipsing traditional latency‑centric siting, positioning regions like Texas to outpace historic hubs such as...
Inside the Two Surprising Markets Where Home Affordability Is Rapidly Collapsing
A new LendingTree report shows mortgage payments are spiking in unexpected Midwest metros, with Akron, Ohio posting a 10.7% year‑over‑year increase and Toledo rising 9.7%. The surge coincides with $5‑per‑gallon gasoline prices in the Great Lakes region and a broader...
Making America’s Houses Bigger May Have Been a Mistake
U.S. millennials and Gen Z are abandoning the long‑standing dream of ever‑larger single‑family homes, preferring smaller, walkable residences. The National Association of Realtors reports a clear preference for compact housing in dense neighborhoods, yet new construction remains dominated by detached...
Stewards of Home: Past and Future
Renovation architect Nicholas Blavat and Deep River Partners have spent two decades updating a 1890s limestone Tudor in Milwaukee’s historic district. The project began with a modern, semi‑professional kitchen that integrates historic brackets and bronze hardware, then extended to dining,...
Purchase Applications Rise Again Despite Higher Rates and Fewer Refis
Mortgage applications slipped 1.6% week‑over‑week as rates edged up to 6.37%, but purchase demand stayed strong, with the Purchase Index rising 1% and sitting 21% above a year ago. Refinance activity fell 4% and now accounts for just 42.5% of...
Mortgage Rates Rise on Iran Standoff, FOMC Meeting News
Mortgage rates halted a three‑week slide on April 30, with the 30‑year fixed advancing 7 basis points to an average of 6.3%. The 10‑year Treasury yield briefly topped 4.4% following the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep short‑term rates unchanged and...
How Small Brokers Can Beat Growing Mega-Lenders in the Battle for Young Borrowers
The mortgage market is consolidating as mega‑lenders like Rocket acquire servicing firms, intensifying competition for loan leads. JD Power’s Bruce Gehrke warns that smaller brokers risk being sidelined unless they revamp lead‑generation tactics. Younger borrowers are 25% more likely to shop...
Home Insurance Shock Eases but Costs Stay Elevated, Newrez Finds
Newrez’s internal study of about 1.2 million escrowed loans shows homeowners’ insurance premiums surged 64% between 2021 and 2025, reaching an average of $2,625. Growth slowed in 2025 to 10%, the lowest rate since 2021, but premiums remain high, especially in...
Client Alert: Virginia Data Center Tax Reform – Key Implications for Real Estate Developers
Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly tackled a wave of data‑center legislation, but the $1.9 billion‑annual sales‑tax exemption remains unresolved after a brief special session. Lawmakers passed bills that shift energy‑cost recovery to large‑load facilities, impose new siting and noise assessments for projects...
UWM's VantageScore Option Can Cut Mortgage Rates
The nation's top mortgage lender (UWM) has rolled out a VantageScore option for customers. Borrowers who qualify with FICO but have a higher VantageScore could obtain better pricing due to lower LLPAs. However, b/c VantageScore is new and untested, it must be...
Housing Rates Rise Modestly; Fear Skews Market Perception
I enjoyed our exchange with Claire Valdez, and I found this part illuminating. This isn't really a "good" "deal." It's just ... the going rate, including a 4.4 percent annual increase, not crazy in line with projected inflation. Our housing...
“Deliberate Sabotage”: Bankrupt Hedge Funder’s UES Townhouse Sells After Family Legal Spat
Former hedge‑fund activist Jason Ader’s Upper East Side townhouse sold to film producer Eric Eisner for just under $10 million, a steep discount from the $13 million Ader paid in 2010. The sale follows a New York judge’s order allowing Ader’s mother, Pamela,...
This $23B Homebuilder Is Pushing Its Housing Market Incentives to 10.9%—that’s $54,500 on a $500K Sale
PulteGroup, a $23 billion homebuilder, lifted its sales‑incentive rate to 10.9% of the sale price in Q1 2026, translating to roughly $54,500 on a $500,000 home. The move continues a post‑pandemic trend that saw incentives rise from a typical 3‑3.5% to 6.3%...
What the Renters' Rights Act Means for Tenants and Landlords
England’s new Renters’ Rights Act, effective 1 May 2026, overhauls private‑rental rules for the nation’s 11 million tenants. It bans 12‑ and 24‑month fixed‑term contracts, turning all tenancies into periodic agreements that continue until either party gives notice. Landlords must now have a...
Rent Controls Backfire Without Pro‑Supply Tradeoff Policies
I'm glad that the author of "Rent Control Is Fine, Actually" calls themself Unlearning Economics, bc it's good to just state things clearly, such as the open animosity that many left economic populists have for the field of economics and...
W.P. Carey Q1 2026 AFFO Hits $1.30, Raises Full‑Year Guidance
W.P. Carey reported adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) of $1.30 per share for Q1 2026, an 11.1% increase year‑over‑year, and raised its full‑year AFFO outlook to $5.16‑$5.26 per share. The earnings release highlighted a $680 million investment volume to date, a...
Fed Holds Rates Steady, Mortgage Rates Likely to Remain Stable Amid Political Tension
The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the third consecutive meeting, a decision that keeps mortgage rates anchored despite a sharply divided FOMC vote. The move comes as Chairman Jerome Powell announced he will remain on the...
Compass Datacenters Abandons $10B Virginia Data Center After Community Pushback
Compass Datacenters and its backer Brookfield Asset Management have scrapped the 2,100‑acre Digital Gateway data‑center project in Prince William County, Virginia, citing legal and regulatory hurdles driven by resident opposition. The cancellation halts a plan that would have added roughly...
New Quartz Tariffs Will Make Housing Crisis Worse
The U.S. is deep in a housing‑affordability crisis, with median home prices outpacing wage growth. The administration is reviewing a trade case that would impose tariffs on imported quartz, a material widely used in countertops and flooring. Analysts warn that...
Buyer Demand Near Record Lows; Price Cuts Needed
Homebuyer demand remained near record lows to close out April. With Reventure's buyer demand index downshifting to 9/100 this month. For comparison: a 50/100 is "normal", and the current readings are near the lowest on record. Suggesting that the spring 2026 season...
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin Calls Mayor’s Tax Video a Personal Attack, Threatens $6 B Midtown Project
Citadel founder Ken Griffin labeled New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s viral tax‑policy video a "personal attack" and warned the hedge fund could pull a $6 billion Midtown Manhattan development. The clash spotlights the growing political risk hedge funds face when...
Vernon Building Society Deploys AI Platform to Speed Mortgages While Preserving Human Underwriting
Vernon Building Society has rolled out an AI‑driven mortgage platform from FintechOS to accelerate loan origination, aiming to match the speed of larger banks while retaining human underwriting for complex cases. The 102‑year‑old mutual, with assets of about $678 million, expects...
Echo Park
Three residential properties in Los Angeles' Echo Park have entered the market within the past 30 days, with asking prices ranging from roughly $1.2 million to $2.3 million. All three homes sit within a half‑mile of the Metro Gold Line, offering easy...
Mortgage Rates Rise to 6.3%
Mortgage rates edged higher this week, with Freddie Mac’s 30‑year fixed rate rising 7 basis points to 6.3% as the Federal Reserve kept policy rates unchanged. The move coincided with the 10‑year Treasury yield climbing past 4.4% after stalled U.S.–Iran peace...
First Workplaces Opens An Iconic Workspace In The Madrid Sky
First Workplaces has opened a premium flexible office on the 28th floor of Torre Europa in Madrid, a space formerly occupied by Real Madrid. The new venue features designer lighting, high‑end materials and cutting‑edge technology, along with executive offices, meeting...
Anthropic Eyeing 466K Sf Lease for Entire Hudson Square Building
Anthropic, the creator of the Claude AI model, is nearing a lease for the entire 466,000‑square‑foot Hudson Square building at 330 Hudson Street in Manhattan. The proposed space far exceeds the 250,000‑to‑450,000 sq ft range the company was initially scouting earlier this...
ALI Cuts Capex as Q1 Profit Drops
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) announced a steep reduction in 2026 capital expenditures to PHP 50 billion (≈ $0.9 billion), trimming the original PHP 70‑80 billion plan. The cut follows a 23% drop in Q1 net income to PHP 5.4 billion (≈ $98 million) and a 14% revenue decline to PHP 37.5 billion...
Sellers Are Also Buyers, so They Won’t Accept Low Offers
A lot of people fail to realize that "boomers" and other home sellers are also home buyers, most of the time. This makes them would-be sellers, who won't just sell for any price b/c you think they should. Why? Because they...
Oh Canada…
Canada’s April housing data is set to show a rebound after the federal government eliminated the HST on new homes, sparking a noticeable uptick in sales. While condo resales stay depressed, the broader market appears to be stabilizing despite higher...
Partial Stair Repairs Avoid Code, Full Rebuild May Fail
Have to be *really* careful about these in LA. Often, the existing stairs are too steep to meet current code. DBS allows you to do partial replacements of rotted wood without bringing to code. But, if you demo the whole staircase (for example,...
JLL: AI Demands, Rising M&E Labor Costs, Geopolitical Tensions Drive Global Office Fit-Out Costs up 6%
JLL's 2026 Global Office Fit‑Out Costs Guide shows the benchmark for a medium‑quality corporate office has risen to $2,150 per square metre ($205 per square foot), reflecting a 2‑6% increase over the past year. The surge stems from geopolitical instability,...
One Building, Three Functions: Where Live-Work-Play Developments Are Growing Fastest
Live‑work‑play (LWP) mixed‑use projects have surged across U.S. metros over the past decade, with CoworkingCafe’s report identifying the top cities by completions. New York tops the list with 119 LWP buildings, including 31 opened in 2025, while Miami, Chicago, Seattle...
Low‑Rise Home Building Surges After Four‑Year Slump
New Home Construction Industry Rises From The Grave: Low-Rise Home Building Jumps Hi-Rise Condos Still Dead Building new Single Family, Semi's & Townhouses has been Dead in Ontario for 4 years Ottawa has crawled along but Southern Ontario a total crash Until this...
House Price Growth Stalls; Punta Gorda, Austin Plunge
Freddie Mac House Price Index Decreased in March; Up only 0.7% Year-over-year Punta Gorda House Prices Down 21% from Recent Peak, Austin Down 18% https://calculatedrisk.substack.com/p/freddie-mac-house-price-index-decreased-9d1
North Carolina’s $15,000 Forgivable Mortgage: How to Qualify in 2026
North Carolina’s 1st Home Advantage Down Payment program offers first‑time buyers and veterans up to $15,000 in 0% interest assistance for homes priced up to $495,000. The second‑mortgage is forgiven incrementally—20% per year after the tenth year and fully after...
Casa: First Platform to Aggregate 100M Homes for Affordable Ownership
Until Casa, there has never been a digital platform for intelligently understanding the US’s 100M single-family homes — and aggregating that supply to unlock service and pricing advantages, ultimately making homeownership more affordable and enjoyable. https://t.co/vj33pG3HgO
Private‑market Collateral Loans Are Slow to Unwind
"If you ever need to take a loan against private market or real estate collateral or try to liquidate it in some circumstances, it is not something you're going to unwind pretty quickly." ⚠️ ~ @dunleavy89 https://t.co/GyyjXhZlgW
20th Century Vs. 21st Century Housing, Part 2
In Part 2 of his series, Kevin Erdmann traces how post‑World II policies, zoning reforms, and financing shifts created a structural shortage of housing across the United States. He explains that restrictive single‑family zoning, mortgage incentives for larger homes, and federal subsidies...
Institutional Investors Are Boosting Housing Supply by Selling Homes
Reminder that big institutional investors also add to housing supply. Dallas Tanner (CEO – Invitation Homes $INVH): 04/30/26 earnings call: “We’ve sold almost 20,000 homes back into the marketplace in the history of our business.”
Affordable Housing Hotspot for Social and Clinical Risks
The #affordablehousing situation in the US is the most important here. That’s where we have the highest concentration of #risk-social, behavioral, and clinical. #health https://t.co/d8ZGVHqoMo
‘My Own Contribution’: The Ottawa Immigrants Learning to Retrofit Homes and Fight the Climate Crisis
A new Ottawa social enterprise, Build, launched by the non‑profit EnviroCentre, trains immigrants and other under‑represented groups in home‑retrofit trades such as insulation, air sealing and drywall installation. The program tackles Canada’s twin challenges: the need to retrofit roughly 600,000...
Broker Reports Skewed by Newer, Upscale Apartments
Yes. The much-hyped broker reports are skewed by the fact that these are newer, higher-quality apartments in certain neighborhoods.
Adverb VC Celebrates GetCasa, Reviving Joy in Homeownership
We at @Adverbvc are shouting from the rooftops about @getcasa -- we're grateful and delighted customers, proud investors, and can't wait to see Casa bring the joy back into home ownership.
How to Value California Governor’s Mansion Listing
How do we pull comps on the mansion that was built for the California governor? This estate is currently listed for sale, and today I have some thoughts in my weekly post. https://t.co/LymXG0FbtG https://t.co/J1HJJ1HJaT