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:
Minamicho House / ROOVICE
ROOVICE applied its Kariage framework to a 112 m², 2025 family house in Minamicho, converting a vacant property owned by an overseas heir into a livable home. The renovation focused on removing restrictive partitions, exposing structural beams, and preserving original elements such as the yellow kitchen, shoji screens, and TOTO fixtures. New recycled beams and integrated lighting were added, while the staircase, veranda, and garden were opened up to increase natural light and indoor‑outdoor flow. The project demonstrates a low‑impact, heritage‑respecting approach that enables owners to retain assets without active management.
Mortgage Spread Surge Drives Major 2026 Market Shift
Hug a #mortgage spread, it has made a big difference in 2026! @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #mortgagerates #realestate #housing #chartdaddy
What to Plant (and What to Remove) in California's New 'Zone Zero' Fire-Safety Proposal
California’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection unveiled draft landscaping rules aimed at reducing wildfire risk in high‑hazard communities. The plan creates a 1‑foot “Safety Zone” – part of a broader “Zone Zero” concept – where any combustible material, including...
Hanover Planning Commission Backs Tract's 430‑acre Data‑center Campus with 6‑1 Vote
The Hanover Planning Commission voted 6‑1 to recommend approval of Tract's 430‑acre Mountain Road Technology Park, a 900‑megawatt data‑center campus. The project, slated to break ground in 2027 and fully build out by 2035, promises 300‑350 jobs and a $15 million...
Industrial Demand Surges While Multifamily Remains Soft in U.S. Commercial Real Estate
BMO Capital Markets reports that industrial real estate saw accelerated demand in 2025, driven by manufacturing rebounds and data‑center expansion, whereas multifamily properties face headwinds from stagnant population growth, creating a mixed outlook for U.S. commercial real estate investors.
Italian Builders Accelerate Projects with Digital Cadastral Data
Italy’s construction and infrastructure firms are shifting from paper‑based land‑registry files to cloud‑based cadastral databases, a move spurred by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The digital rollout promises to shave weeks off permit processing and site‑opening timelines, addressing a...
CNBC Anchor Slams NYC Mayor Over Pied‑à‑Terre Tax Video at Ken Griffin’s $238 M Penthouse
CNBC anchor Sara Eisen publicly criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for filming a promotional video about a new pied‑à‑terre tax outside hedge‑fund billionaire Ken Griffin’s $238 million penthouse. The clash spotlights the tension between city tax policy and the...
2010 Housing Boom: Cheap Homes, Tiny Commissions, Agent Exodus
In 2010 the best house I bought in the U.S. in was $40,000. The cheapest was $30,000. The most expensive was $90,000. U.S. dollar was parity with the Canadian dollar. Realtor commission was $500 to $1,000 per. Most left the industry because they...
Jamaica Looks Abroad for Skilled Workers as Housing Boom Stalls
Prime Minister Andrew Holstein warned that Jamaica may soon need to import skilled workers to keep its housing construction pipeline moving. Developer David Mullings highlighted a $17.5 million project and a pending Nasdaq listing, underscoring the urgency of the labour gap.
Hochul’s Pied-À-Terre Tax: One More Bad Option to Close NYC Budget Gap
Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced an annual "pied‑à‑terre" surcharge on New York City second homes valued above $5 million, positioning it as a new revenue stream to address the city’s $12 billion two‑year budget shortfall. The proposal follows Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s earlier call for...
Overtaxed Capital Flees to Friendlier Markets Like Miami
This might be the best commercial for Miami Beach real estate I’ve ever seen and New York paid for it. You don’t tax capital and expect it to stay. You drive it to places that want it. It’s that simple. I’ve watched...
What Is a Pre-Listing Appraisal — And Should You Get One Before You Sell?
A pre‑listing appraisal is an independent valuation ordered by a seller before a home hits the market, offering a data‑driven price estimate separate from an agent’s CMA. Costs typically range from $450 to $650, but the insight can prevent costly...
Dusit Ajara Hua Hin Anchors Thailand’s Push to Become a World‑class Resort City
Dusit Ajara Hua Hin unveiled its ultra‑luxury mixed‑use development, offering 96 branded residences with projected 7‑9% returns. The launch coincides with a wave of infrastructure upgrades—double‑track rail, highway M8 and an expanded airport—positioning Hua Hin as a premium, globally‑connected resort...
Marcus & Millichap Sets Brentwood Record with $46.35 Million Westside LA Multifamily Sale
Marcus & Millichap announced the closing of two Brentwood, Los Angeles multifamily assets totaling 61 units for $46.35 million, establishing a new price‑per‑unit record in the supply‑constrained market. The deal, representing one of only five Brentwood transactions in 2026, underscores strong...
Couples Cut Housing Costs to Fast‑Track FIRE Goals
Josette Chang and Alexander Nathanson paid off their NYC co‑op mortgage early, while Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung chose long‑term renting over buying. Both strategies slashed housing expenses, lifted savings rates to as high as 70%, and accelerated their path...
Pied-À-Terre Tax Proposal Rankles Real Estate
Governor Kathy Hochul has floated a new pied‑à‑terre tax on second homes in New York City valued at $5 million or more, targeting an annual $500 million revenue stream to narrow the state’s budget gap. The proposal arrived late in budget talks,...
Home Sales Steady; No Waiting Crowd, Life Moves On
There have been nearly 5,000,000 total home sales every year since 2023. The idea that a large group of people is waiting isn’t supported by the data; the peak in the last decade was near 6,000,000. Every day, you get...
This Florida Town Gives Residents a Free Golf Cart with Each New Home
Babcock Ranch, a planned community in Florida, now includes a free golf cart with every new home purchase, reinforcing its brand as a "golf‑cart‑living" haven. The town boasts over 100 miles of bike trails, 10 mph speed limits in school zones,...
What NYC Can Learn From Other Cities with Pied-a-Terre Taxes
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a proposal to levy an annual tax on New York City pied‑à‑terres worth $5 million or more, aiming to help close a $5 billion budget shortfall. The plan follows similar levies in Singapore, Hong Kong and Vancouver, each with mixed...
Prologis Q1 2026: Data Centers Steal the Show
Prologis posted a strong Q1 2026, beating both revenue and earnings expectations, with net earnings jumping to $980 million and FFO rising to $1.50 per share. The company launched $2.1 billion of new development, including a $1.3 billion data‑center push that now secures 5.6 GW...
Welcome to the Second Gilded Age
The piece declares that the United States has entered a "Second Gilded Age," where record housing cost burdens, stagnant real wages and tech‑driven monopoly power echo the 1870‑1914 era. It traces the shift to free‑market policies beginning with Reagan, deregulation,...
Boston Councilors Propose Citywide Parking Minimum Elimination to Cut Housing Costs
Boston City Councilors Sharon Durkan and Henry Santana introduced a zoning amendment that would remove mandatory off‑street parking requirements for all new residential developments. The proposal seeks to lower building costs, expand the housing pipeline and make neighborhoods more walkable.
Walmart to Remodel 650+ Stores and Add 20 New Locations in Nationwide Expansion
Walmart will remodel more than 650 stores across the United States and open roughly 20 new locations through 2027. The rollout, part of a $1.1 billion California investment and a broader 2024 commitment to add 150 sites, targets wider aisles, digital...
Cities Deploy Modern Surveying Tech to Fast‑Track Housing Development
U.S. cities are rolling out advanced surveying tools—including mobile‑mapping vehicles, drone photogrammetry and digital twins—to reduce permitting timelines and get housing projects built faster. Officials say the technology improves accuracy, cuts costs and helps address the nation’s housing shortage.
Waldorf Astoria Miami to Become City’s First Super‑tall at 1,049 Ft, Sparking Skyline Race
PM Group’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences Miami, a 100‑story, 1,049‑foot tower, will be the city’s tallest building when it tops out in 2028. The project joins a string of supertall proposals that signal Miami’s push to become a global luxury‑real‑estate...
Capital Flow, Not Demand, Drives Gurgaon Real Estate Prices
How prices actually move across Gurgaon’s real estate cycle (2010–2025) Most people think prices move because of demand. That’s incomplete. Prices move because of where capital is flowing in the cycle. Before we start — how to read this chart: • X-axis = Market cycle phase...
London Housebuilding 94% Below Target as Sector Is Said to Have 'Collapsed'
London’s housebuilding pipeline has collapsed, with only 5,891 homes started in 2025—about 94% below the city’s target. Industry leaders say the shortfall is structural, not cyclical, as projects fail to become financially viable. The Building Safety Act, planning friction, and...
Median Monthly Condo Fee Was $420 in 2025, up 29% From 2019
The median monthly condo association fee hit $420 in 2025, a 29% jump from 2019, while single‑family HOA fees rose 26% to $63. About 21.6 million U.S. households—one‑quarter of owners—paid HOA or condo fees in 2024. The Wall Street Journal notes...
Walmart & Target: The Robin Report Hit & Miss of the Week, 04. 18. 26
Walmart announced a limited‑edition Devil Wears Prada 2 shop opening on May 1, securing a high‑profile fashion tie‑in that Target failed to obtain. The collaboration marks a rare instance where one retailer’s hit is another’s miss, highlighting Walmart’s expanding merchandising ambitions. Analysts...
Tennessee Home Prices Surge, Yet Dip Expected by 2027
Something big is happening in Tennessee's housing market right now. Listings have shot up 50% above the long-term norm. And inventory breached 30,000. (the highest in a decade) Values in markets like Nashville and Memphis have started to drift down YoY for the...
Judge Gives Ford City Mall Owner 7 Days to Fix Repairs or Vacate
Cook County Circuit Judge Leonard Murray ordered Namdar Realty Group to submit a remediation plan for Ford City Mall within seven days or vacate the property. The deadline follows the owner’s failure to repair a faulty fire‑suppression system and chronic...
UK Home Sales Slip 7.6% YTD in 2026, Signaling Market Shift
UK property transactions are down 7.6% year‑to‑date, with 342,000 homes under contract by mid‑April 2026. The slowdown follows the end of the stamp‑duty holiday and reflects persistent valuation gaps, raising concerns for lenders, developers and policymakers.
Marcus & Millichap Sets Brentwood Price Benchmark with $46.35M Multifamily Sale
Marcus & Millichap closed two Westside Los Angeles multifamily assets totaling 61 units for $46.35 million, a record price per unit in Brentwood. The deal, brokered by the Azzi Group, underscores the scarcity of supply and heightened buyer competition in the...
The Multifamily Operations Daily Huddle: The Power of Steady Improvement
Mike Brewer’s article emphasizes that multifamily operators achieve durable NOI growth through steady, incremental improvements rather than dramatic renovations. By fixing broken processes, tightening unit turn‑times, and closing renewal gaps, owners create lasting performance gains. The piece advocates a daily...
Cavite Hosts Uniqlo’s Largest Logistics Facility in Southeast Asia
Federal Land NRE Global and Fast Retailing Philippines opened Uniqlo's new logistics hub in Riverpark North, General Trias, Cavite. The 6.9‑hectare facility is the brand's largest logistics center in Southeast Asia, designed to raise logistics standards and support Uniqlo's regional...
Top Emerging Areas with New Real Estate Projects in Dubai
Dubai’s property market is shifting focus from traditional hotspots to emerging master‑planned communities that offer modern infrastructure and lifestyle amenities. Areas such as Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai South, Expo City Dubai, JVC and Mohammed Bin Rashid City are attracting buyers with a...
Colorado Passes Bipartisan Law Expanding Mortgage Aid for First Responders
Today, I signed the bipartisan SB26-053 into law—expanding access to affordable homeownership for Colorado’s first responders. This bipartisan bill helps more peace officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other public safety professionals qualify for mortgage help, so the people who serve our communities...
Better Spread Levels Keep Mortgage Rates About 1% Lower
If we had the worst mortgage spread levels of 2023, mortgage rates would be 7.39% today, not 6.29%. If we had the worst levels of 2024, mortgage rates would be 7.02% today. If we had the worst levels of 2025, mortgage rates...
Tara Sutaria Designs Her Mumbai Home, Mixing Parsi Charm with Modern Elegance
Actress Tara Sutaria opened her self‑designed Mumbai home to filmmaker Farah Khan and cook Dilip in a newly released video. The tour highlights a blend of Parsi heritage, a personal piano collection, and contemporary design choices that reflect a growing...
Senate Bill Lets Institutions Buy Fixer‑Uppers With 15% Repair Spend
Institutional investors could still buy single-family homes needing major repairs under the Senate housing bill—will they? It still allows institutional SFH resale acquisitions if they spend >15.0% of purchase price spent on repairs ResiClub PRO https://t.co/Xk3ZCcdQcW
American Dream Wanes as Homeownership Drops Sharply
Faith in the American Dream has plummeted, partly "because homeownership has declined sharply": ✔️In 1980, 67% of adults owned own homes ✔️In 2025, only 48% owned own homes Part of the problem is rising home prices. Another part is falling marriage...
CRE Maturity Wave Puts $1.5 Trillion of CMBS at Risk of Default
The commercial real estate sector is confronting a $1.5 trillion maturity wave as CMBS and other loans due in 2025‑2026 face refinancing challenges. The pressure concentrates on regional banks and CMBS holders, raising the specter of higher delinquencies and systemic stress.
Pending Home Sales Return to Year‑Over‑Year Growth
Weekly Pending Home Sales are back to positive year-over-year. "Mind," This week's data is the snap back from the holiday week. Next week will be back to normal, more on this with the weekend tracker
Hidden Cost of Moisture in Long Beach Coastal Properties
Coastal properties in Long Beach and Signal Hill face a hidden moisture problem that goes beyond obvious leaks. High ambient humidity and salt‑laden air lower the drying potential of building envelopes, allowing water to linger in concrete, drywall and wall...
Crusoe Starts Building 900 MW AI Factory in Abilene for Microsoft
Neocloud provider Crusoe has broken ground on a 900 MW AI infrastructure campus in Abilene, Texas, dedicated to Microsoft. The site will eventually reach 2.1 GW, with the first building slated for mid‑2027, and is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs...
Deka Immobilien Secures €200 M Mahon Point Mixed‑Use Revamp in Cork
Cork City Council approved Deka Immobilien’s Irish subsidiary to redevelop Mahon Point shopping centre in a €200 million project that will add 13,000 sq m of retail, a 6,434 sq m office block and 251 apartments. The plan, subject to 52 conditions, marks one of...
Ascott Opens Flagship Serviced‑Apartment Hotel in Taipei’s Nangang, 186 Rooms Slated for Q4 2026
Ascott and Taiwan’s Dadi Hotel have signed an agreement to develop the Taipei Nangang Dadi Ascott Hotel, a 186‑room flagship serviced‑apartment property scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. The project targets high‑end long‑stay business travelers and marks...
Mortgage Rates Show Signs of Falling After Iran War Peak
Mortgage lenders in the UK are trimming rates on new fixed‑mortgage deals as market optimism grows around a possible cease‑fire in the Iran war. The average two‑year fixed rate slipped from a recent peak of 5.90% to 5.87%, after climbing...
GH Bank Rolls Out B4bn Mortgage Scheme for Elderly
Thailand’s Government Housing (GH) Bank has launched a 4 billion baht ($112 million) mortgage programme aimed at seniors aged 50 and above. The scheme splits into two tracks: a 1 billion baht ($28 million) fund for buyers of second‑hand homes with rates as low...
Rowhomes: Affordable Urban Starter Homes with Extra Bedrooms
The thing that makes rowhomes fantastic for families ... the numbers of bedrooms per square foot Rowhomes are affordable, urban, starter homes