This Southwest London Neighbourhood Is Getting a New Sports Direct Store
Sports Direct opened a 31,000‑sq‑ft, two‑floor store on Kingston’s Market Place, replacing a former Clas Ohlson outlet. The shop carries premium labels such as Nike, Adidas, New Balance and Puma, and introduces the chain’s first in‑store tennis‑racket restringing service through Wilson. The opening is part of Frasers Group’s “elevation” strategy to upgrade its brand perception. The store coincides with a planned revamp of Kingston’s historic market square.
Finnish Proptech Jaakko.com Secures €500K to Scale Beyond Domestic Market
Finnish proptech startup Jaakko.com secured €500,000 (about $545,000) in a mixed angel‑institutional round to accelerate product development and push beyond Finland. The marketplace already hosts over 2,000 hidden properties and 3,000 active buy‑sell listings, with seller activity more than doubling...
Derwent: Prime London Property Assets for Just 50p in the Pound
Derwent London, the UK’s largest office‑focused REIT, owns 61 prime central‑London assets valued at about £33.22 ($42) per share but its stock trades at just £16.00 ($20) – roughly 50p in the pound, delivering a 5.1% yield. The company is...
Home Prices Stay High Amid Supply Shortages and Mortgage Lock-In
Home prices have stayed elevated into early 2026 despite mortgage rates above 7% last year, because the market is constrained more by a chronic inventory shortage than by demand. The United States faces a supply gap of roughly 4.0 million homes...
Sirius Posts Double-Digit Rental Growth, Cites Strong Demand
Sirius, a European commercial‑real‑estate firm, announced double‑digit rental growth in its latest reporting period. The surge reflects robust demand for industrial space tied to rising defence budgets across the continent. The company’s strategy targets assets that serve the defence supply...
California Bill Would Limit EV-Charging Access in Affordable Housing
California requires new multifamily developments to include EV‑charging outlets for residents with parking, a policy hailed as the nation’s most equitable. A February‑introduced bill, AB 2748, would suspend this requirement for affordable‑housing projects until at least 2036, reverting to the...
Build It in Conversation with Fleming Homes’ Sarah Mathieson
Fleming Homes, a family‑run timber‑frame builder based in the Scottish Borders, celebrates its 40th anniversary. Managing director Sarah Mathieson, who joined the board in 2015 and became MD in 2017, now steers strategy, finance, sales and marketing. The company’s roots...
Building Commencements Soar to Four Year Highs
Australia’s new residential construction rebounded sharply, with seasonally adjusted building commencements rising 8.0% to 53,567 in the December 2025 quarter—the highest since September 2021. On an annual basis, starts jumped 14.9% to 194,604, marking the strongest year since the 2021...
Knight Frank Targets Growth with Self-Employed Affiliate Estate Agency Model
Knight Frank has unveiled an affiliate estate‑agency model that lets self‑employed brokers operate under its brand while remaining independent. The network will extend the firm’s residential sales reach into 36 target markets without opening new physical branches, starting with several...
Victoria’s Old Retail, Racing and Radio Sites Now Set to Become New Housing
Victoria's government launched the Unlocking Strategic Sites pathway to fast‑track rezoning of underutilised land for residential use. The first seven identified parcels—including a former Bunnings store in Preston, a Bendigo radio station, and surplus university land—could yield up to 9,155...
Letting Agencies Rethink Strategies as Landlord Exodus Accelerates
Letting agents anticipate a 71% plunge in buy‑to‑let investors this year, according to Iamproperty’s survey of more than 320 agencies. The sharp decline forces a strategic shift from landlord‑driven expansion toward owner‑occupier sales and needs‑based services, prompting agencies to allocate...
Edinburgh Suspends 300% Second Homes Tax Premium After Eight Days
Edinburgh’s Labour‑run council introduced a 300% Council Tax premium on second homes on 1 April, tripling the rate to as much as four times the standard charge. Within eight days, the policy was suspended after backlash from roughly 1,440 affected owners...
“For Sale” Boards Under Scrutiny as Agents Accused of Misuse for Branding
UK estate agents are keeping “For Sale” and “To Let” boards on properties long after they leave the market, a practice critics call “fly‑boarding.” The tactic is seen as a branding exercise that creates a false impression of market activity....
Section 8 Overhaul: New Rules for Selling or Moving in (May 2026)
The Renters' Right Act, effective 1 May 2026, eliminates no‑fault Section 21 evictions but retains Section 8 routes for landlords who wish to sell or move back in. New rules impose a mandatory 12‑month tenancy protection, double the notice period to four months, and...
Flipping Consigned to History as Profits Diminish
Flipping homes in England and Wales fell to 1.5 % of transactions in 2025, the lowest share in a decade, as higher stamp‑duty charges erode margins. Average post‑SDLT profit dropped from £36,500 (≈ $45,600) in 2015 to £16,390 (≈ $20,500) in 2025, a...
Bangsue Residence / Patara Architects
Bang Sue Residence, designed by Patara Warathanasin, is a 1,333 m² home built for three generations in Bangkok. The layout centers on a second‑floor common area that opens onto a central pool, while each private unit offers self‑contained living spaces with...
Five Young Families Compete for Charming $5.3m Mosman House
A four‑bedroom, two‑storey home at 14 Erith Street in Mosman sold for A$5.3 million (≈US$3.5 million) at auction, outpacing its A$4.8 million guide. Five young families registered, with three actively bidding, pushing the final price about 10% above the guide. The sale occurred...
Northcote Home Passes in at Auction for Same Price Buyers Paid in 2021
A renovated Federation home at 123 Clarke Street in Northcote was passed in at a vendor bid of $3.5 million AUD (≈$2.3 million USD), matching the owners' 2021 purchase price. The property, listed between $3.5 million and $3.8 million AUD, attracted two interested parties...
KKR Unit to Boost Buying in 450 Trillion Yen Japan Property Market
KKR’s Japan real‑estate arm, KJRM Holdings, announced a major push to buy corporate‑owned properties as Japanese firms accelerate divestitures. The firm estimates the addressable market at roughly ¥450 trillion (about $3 trillion) and says its own holdings grew 20% to ¥2.5 trillion ($16.7 bn)...
Months After Logan House Set Suburb Record, It Smashes Past at Auction
A six‑bedroom, 1,406‑sqm double‑lot home at 26‑28 The Heights, Underwood sold for AU$3.2 million (≈US$2.1 million), eclipsing its own suburb record set just 11 months earlier by AU$450,000. The property’s multi‑generational layout, granny flat and ample parking sparked a three‑way bidding war, highlighting...
CLI Real Estate Credit Fund Raises US$320 Million in Final Close - #Wealth #AssetManagement #AssetFinance
CapitaLand Investment Limited completed the final close of its second real‑estate credit vehicle, the CapitaLand Asia Pacific Credit Programme II, securing US$320 million in equity commitments. The raise pushes the fund’s assets under management to roughly US$600 million. The fund targets real‑estate‑backed...
Lower Capital Charge Eyed for Green Home Lending
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is seeking feedback on a draft circular that would assign a 20 percent credit risk weight to sustainable housing loans, down from the current 50 percent weight for standard home mortgages. By lowering the risk weight,...
PORTUGAL CRACKS DOWN ON SHORT-TERM TOURIST RENTALS
Portugal is sharply reducing short‑term tourist rentals, with total registrations projected to fall below 90,000 by spring 2026, down from nearly 126,000 months earlier. Authorities have withdrawn about 7,000 permits since December 2025 and flagged another 10,700 listings for removal,...
Has the Death of the Department Store Reached Japan?
Seibu's flagship department store in Shibuya will close in September, ending nearly six decades of operation. The shutdown reflects a broader slump in Japan's department‑store sector, where sales are now less than half of their 1990s peak despite a post‑COVID...
Secret Documents Reveal Landmark Housing Project's Budget Headache
Internal Victorian government documents reveal that the state’s $5.3 billion (≈$3.5 billion USD) Big Housing Build has absorbed an extra $1 billion (≈$660 million USD) in unbudgeted costs within two years. Soaring construction prices – timber and reinforcing steel up about 60% – added...
New York's Largest Shopping Mall Is An Entertainment Hub With Premium Shops And Restaurants
Destiny USA, New York’s largest shopping mall, spans 2.4 million square feet and welcomes roughly 26 million visitors each year. Beyond premium retailers such as Kate Spade and Swarovski, the four‑level complex dedicates its top floor to an extensive entertainment portfolio, including a 55,000‑sq‑ft...
Savvy Homeowners Are Swapping Thirsty Grass for Luxury Irish Moss Lawns This Year
Homeowners are turning to Irish moss as a low‑growth ground cover to replace traditional grass, especially on small, shaded lawns. The moss stays short, removing the need for mowing and reducing reliance on fertilizers and herbicides. However, experts warn it...
Report: California's Density Bonus Is a 'Win-Win' For Developers and Affordable Housing
A new Circulate Planning & Policy report finds California’s revamped density‑bonus law is now the state’s most effective tool for creating housing. Reforms, especially AB 2345 in 2020, lifted the bonus from 35% to 50% for projects that set aside more...
These Las Vegas Tiny Homes Can Be Assembled in an Hour
The Las Vegas city council approved a $6 million tiny‑home community built with Boxabl’s modular units. The project will place 50 custom 360‑sq‑ft homes on a 2.25‑acre vacant lot, each renting for roughly $1,000 per month. Boxabl’s patented design allows each...
Six Houses Proposed at 2219 Ridgeley Dr. In Mid-City
Applicant Shawn Visutsiri has filed a plan to replace a single‑family home at 2219 Ridgeley Drive in Los Angeles’ Mid‑City with a small‑lot subdivision. The 9,500‑square‑foot parcel would be split into six three‑story, three‑bedroom houses, each sitting above a two‑car garage....
Connecticut Developer Fee Brought in $8M for Affordable Housing — but Fewer Affordable Homes Are Being Built
Stamford, Connecticut, collected more than $8.5 million in developer fees earmarked for affordable housing in 2025, yet the city approved only 12 on‑site affordable units that year. The Principal Housing Planner noted a growing preference among developers for paying the fee‑in‑lieu...
Does It Make Sense to Walk Away From My Tracker Mortgage Rate?
A retired couple in Ireland with a €78,400 (≈$85,500) tracker mortgage at 3.1% is weighing a switch to a five‑year green fixed rate from AIB, likely around 3.2%, or a comparable offer from PTSB at 3.0%. The tracker adds roughly...
HarPie / Nathalie Thibodeau Architecte
The HarPie residence, designed by lead architect Nathalie Thibodeau and completed in 2025, spans 6,350 ft² on a narrow strip between a lake and an access road. The building leverages the site’s natural slope to position water‑facing public spaces while shielding...
Forget Hong Kong and Singapore, Philippines Housing Is Least Affordable: Survey
A Gallup 2025 World Poll found 55% of Filipinos struggled to pay for shelter, the highest share among more than 140 countries. Bangladesh, India, South Korea, Nepal, Indonesia and China also placed in the top ten. Although Hong Kong and Singapore...
How to Design a Home for a Sloping Site – The Key Considerations to Note
Designing a home on a sloping site demands careful investigation of geology, soil, drainage, and planning constraints. Prospective self‑builders should obtain detailed topographical surveys and soil tests to determine appropriate foundations and retaining walls. Understanding local planning attitudes and drainage...
Bad Land Policies Worsen Africa’s Housing Problem
African cities are grappling with a deepening housing shortage as rapid urbanisation drives demand for 40 million new homes by 2050. UN‑Habitat officials highlighted that costly, insecure land tenure and outdated acquisition laws are the primary bottlenecks in the housing value...
The Babel Community - Coliving Residence / D'HOUNDT+BAJART Architectes&associés
Architects D'Houndt + Bajart unveil the Babel Community, a 304‑room coliving residence slated for completion in 2025 on a 13,524 m² site in Lille’s historic business district. The development replaces inefficient office towers with a U‑shaped building that wraps a sun‑lit...
As Planning Permission Application Costs Rise, Could Getting Pre-Application Advice Save You Money?
Planning application fees in England rose 3.8% on 1 April 2026, increasing the financial stakes for homeowners. Consultants argue that pre‑application advice can surface zoning or policy issues early, potentially avoiding costly resubmissions. However, experts warn the service is not a guarantee...
Is a House Stager Worth It If You're Selling Your House? Here's When You Should Really Consider One to Help...
A house stager prepares a property to appeal to the broadest buyer pool by decluttering, rearranging rooms and adding rented furniture. Experts say staging is most valuable for vacant homes, odd layouts, dated interiors, or listings that aren’t generating interest,...
Melbourne Seller Makes $280,000 by Bulldozing Home, Selling Land
A Melbourne owner demolished a house bought for AU$1.4 million (≈US$0.92 million) and sold the vacant block for AU$1.68 million (≈US$1.11 million), pocketing a AU$280,000 (≈US$185,000) profit. The sale, completed yesterday, surprised agents as the suburb’s auction clearance rate slipped to 55 percent. The property...
There Are Years-Long Waiting Lists to Retire on College Campuses. 6 Steps to Take Before Enrolling.
University retirement communities are rapidly expanding, with more than 80 campuses offering senior‑living options and many reporting years‑long waiting lists. Entry fees typically range from $100,000 to over $1 million, while monthly fees of $5,000‑$12,000 cover housing, meals, utilities and campus...
SM Offices Saves More Water in 2025 Through Recycling Initiatives
SM Offices, the leasing arm of SM Prime Holdings, reported saving over 185,000 cubic meters of water in 2025 through expanded recycled‑water systems. The company reclaimed 57,190 m³ from stand‑alone offices and 128,700 m³ from mall‑integrated sites, enough to supply 775 average...
Cobble Hill’s Luxury Moment Is Just Getting Started
Actors Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz sold their Cobble Hill townhouse for nearly $12 million, roughly double the $6.8 million they paid nine years ago. A second Cobble Hill property recently closed at $7 million, earning the top spot on Compass’ weekly luxury report. Limited...
Mamdani’s First 100 Days Reshape City Hall’s Real Estate Calculus
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first 100 days have reshaped New York City Hall’s real‑estate agenda by reinstating the Office to Protect Tenants and launching high‑profile “rental ripoff” hearings. While he signals a pro‑development stance through the SPEED task force and state‑level...
UK Homeowners Urged to Lift One Laminate Flooring Plank After Woman's Shocking Renovation Find Goes Viral
Kim Ladd’s TikTok revealed wet concrete beneath laminate flooring, sparking viral concern among UK homeowners. The video exposed a common construction flaw—laminate laid directly on concrete without a moisture barrier—leading to damp, swelling boards and potential mold. Experts warn that...
10 Cheapest Places to Live in South Carolina
South Carolina’s cheapest counties combine ultra‑low property taxes with modest home prices, making the state a magnet for retirees and remote‑work professionals. Median home values range from $76,200 in Allendale to $104,500 in Williamsburg, while property tax bills dip below...
What Do the Gilmore Girls, Happy Days, and Full House Have in Common? ADUs.
A new Connecticut bill would permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) across most of the state, reviving a housing model popularized in shows like "Happy Days" and "Full House." Proponents argue ADUs provide low‑impact, affordable housing, letting seniors downsize, families stay...
Full Building Permit Issued for Development at 2249 W. Belmont
BM International Builders Inc. received a full building permit to replace a two‑story house at 2249 W. Belmont with a four‑story, 45‑foot brick building. The new development will contain six condominium units—two three‑bedroom duplexes, two three‑bedroom simplex units, and two four‑bedroom duplexes...
$2.6 Billion Diriyah Wadi Safar Project Infrastructure Tender Advances Trump Golf Development
The Diriyah Wadi Safar project, a $2.6 billion luxury mixed‑use development, is moving from planning to execution as Dar Al‑Arkan launches an infrastructure tender. The scheme will host a Trump‑branded golf club, hotel and premium residences across 2.6 million sqm in Riyadh’s historic...
These Forces Could Push up Canada’s Home Prices Later This Year: FP Video
Financial Post’s video series highlights several macro forces that could lift Canadian home prices in the second half of 2026. Jason Mercer of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board expects price appreciation as inventory remains tight and demand stays robust....