Cost of Building London Skyscrapers up 40% Since 2020, Report Shows
Construction costs for London skyscrapers have surged 40% since 2018, outpacing most global peers and trailing only New York. Office shell‑core expenses now range from $6,900 to $8,700 per square metre, roughly $6,440‑$8,125 after converting the cited £ figures. The report attributes the rise to Brexit‑related regulatory shifts, geopolitical tensions, and persistent inflation, while emphasizing that building shape can swing costs by up to 25%. Despite higher outlays, demand for high‑quality, sustainable office space remains robust, allowing patient investors to seek viable returns.
Webinar: Europe’s Housing Markets in a Volatile World
ING is hosting a 45‑minute webinar on 1 April to examine Europe’s residential real‑estate landscape amid higher‑for‑longer interest rates, persistent supply shortages, and shifting regulations. The discussion will focus on the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, while also addressing energy‑price volatility linked...
Chancerygate Expands Into Germany, Names Jonas Hitz as Country Head
Chancerygate, a UK‑based commercial real‑estate investor, announced its entry into the German market by establishing a local office and appointing Jonas Hitz as country head. The firm will concentrate on acquiring ESG‑compliant, multi‑let urban logistics assets across major German cities....
In Pictures: Fred Perry’s New Flagship Soho Store
Fred Perry launched its new flagship store on Lexington Street in London’s Soho on 20 March 2026. Designed by long‑time partner Brinkworth, the space merges retail with cultural storytelling, drawing on Soho’s music legacy and the brand’s subcultural roots. Features such as...
German Housing Market Likely to Bend, Not Break
German house prices rose 3.2% in 2025, bringing the market back into positive growth after two years of decline, yet they remain about 8% below the 2022 peak. Quarterly price momentum slowed sharply, with only 0.1% growth in Q4 2025,...
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas Slash the Price of Their Big Hud...
Catherine Zeta‑Jones and Michael Douglas have slashed the asking price of their Hudson River estate by $2.25 million, bringing it down to $9.75 million after two previous reductions. The historic 12‑acre Longmeadow property spans more than 11,600 sq ft, features eight bedrooms, 11.5 bathrooms,...
Thailand’s Largest Mall Operator Plans $3.4 Billion Expansion
Central Pattana, Thailand’s largest mall developer, announced a plan to invest more than 110 billion baht (about $3.4 billion) over the next five years. The capital will fund new mixed‑use projects, retail plazas, offices and integrated developments, raising its portfolio to 33...
Nigeria’s Power Problem Is Gutting Co-Working Margins
Co‑working operators in Lagos are being forced to relocate because soaring electricity costs, driven by the new service‑based tariff, are eroding margins. In Band A zones, a ₦200,000‑₦400,000 (≈$435‑$870) monthly bill can be cut to about ₦250,000 (≈$543) by moving to...
Wells Fargo Raises $586.3 Million in Commercial Mortgage Conduit
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust raised $586.3 million through a conduit transaction (series 2026‑C66) backed by 29 fixed‑rate commercial mortgage loans on 75 properties. The deal issues seventeen certificate classes, with the top‑rated AAA tranches enjoying a 30% credit‑enhancement cushion. The...
'Wildly Unaffordable': The Harsh Reality of Shared Ownership
The National Audit Office report highlights that shared‑ownership homes in England, once marketed as affordable, are becoming financially unsustainable due to soaring service charges. Buyers like the Bertagna brothers and Jamie face monthly service‑charge bills that have risen from around...
Global Shocks ‘Continue to Test’ UK Housing Market, OPDA Calls for Long-Term Strategy
The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) warned that global shocks, such as the Iran conflict, are exposing the UK housing market’s fragility. With mortgage rates now above 5% and lenders pulling products, buyer activity has slowed. OPDA calls for a...
First-Time Buyers Lean on ‘Mum and Dad’ Expertise – and TikTok – for Homebuying Tips
Lloyds Bank’s survey of 2,000 prospective buyers shows parents remain the top source of guidance for first‑time homebuyers, with 34% turning to mum and dad before mortgage brokers or agents. Among 18‑24‑year‑olds, nearly half rely on parental advice, while 31%...
Some Homes Are Getting Cheaper, Creating an Entry Point for Buyers
The median price of a new single‑family home fell 3.4% year‑over‑year to $405,300 in Q4 2025, making new homes cheaper than existing homes for the first time in years. Existing home prices have stayed flat or risen slightly, now outpacing new...
Kentucky Woman Rejects $26M Offer to Turn Her Farm Into a Data Center
An unnamed artificial intelligence firm offered Kentucky farmer Ida Huddleston $26 million to sell part of her 1,200‑acre farm for a data center, but the 82‑year‑old rejected the proposal. Huddleston argued the project would not generate local jobs and raised concerns...
SourceRE Launches MLS Data Tracker; State-Wide MLS Adds RealReports
SourceRE introduced Data Dye, a tracking system that embeds invisible identifiers to monitor MLS listing data usage across vendor feeds. Offerpad launched AI‑driven platforms SCOUT and HENRY, boosting seller intake, pricing decisions and portfolio insights while lifting contracting rates by...
Four-Story Buildings Allowed in some Single-Family Zones Under L.A.'s Plan to Delay SB 79
Los Angeles City Council approved a plan to upzone 55 single‑family and low‑density neighborhoods, permitting four‑story, 4‑16 unit buildings. The measure is designed to delay the statewide SB 79 upzoning requirements until 2030, offering a modest density increase compared with the...
Banyan Group Enters U.S. Market with West Palm Beach Residential Launch
Singapore‑based Banyan Group announced the launch of Banyan Tree Residences West Palm Beach, its first branded residential development in the United States. The 88‑unit tower, built with Mast Capital and Curated JCZM Development, targets luxury buyers seeking resort‑style living in...
HPD Pledges Overhaul of Housing Lottery System
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced a comprehensive overhaul of its Housing Connect lottery platform, signaling a possible full replacement rather than incremental tweaks. Commissioner Dina Levy highlighted that the agency placed over 10,000 households...
Home-Buying Costs Are 4 Times What Buyers Expect
A January 2026 survey of 947 U.S. homebuyers revealed average upfront expenses of $31,502, roughly four times the $8,083 buyers expected. The cost breakdown includes $3,032 for moving, $5,719 in closing fees, $7,678 in seller concessions, and $15,073 for first‑year...
Do You Have Thoughts on Rental Fee-Related Regulations? Share Them with the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule targeting unfair or deceptive rental‑fee practices. Stakeholders—including renters, landlords, and property‑management firms—are invited to share experiences, data, or suggestions about fee transparency. The FTC will...
Senator Calls for FTC Investigation Into FICO Score Pricing
Senator Josh Hawley has asked the FTC to open an investigation into Fair Isaac Corp.'s (FICO) mortgage‑score pricing after documenting a 16‑fold jump from $0.60 to $10 per pull over five years. He argues the surge adds roughly $500 million in...
How Automation Is Driving Demand for Industrial Real Estate in California
Automation is reshaping California's industrial real estate, turning warehouses and factories into high‑throughput, technology‑driven facilities. Tenants now prioritize power capacity, data connectivity, clear heights and flexible layouts over simple square‑footage metrics. This shift is driving stronger demand for sites in...
Gloucester Quays Unveils Restaurant Signings and New Arrival
Peel Retail & Leisure announced three new restaurant signings at Gloucester Quays: the French‑fusion Muse Brasserie (3,282 sq ft, 100 covers), COSMO’s world‑buffet Umami (7,263 sq ft, 243 covers) and casual Italian Banchina (5,252 sq ft, 132 covers). All three concepts are making their city debut,...
FiDi Condo Building Changes Hands in Secret $93M Sale
Eenhorn, a Grand Rapids‑based real‑estate investor, purchased the 62‑unit 1 Park Row condominium tower in Manhattan’s Financial District for $93 million. The building, originally developed by Circle F Capital, had been plagued by construction delays and a $50 million loan dispute before the sale. Units,...
Crocs Steps Into Caledonia Park
Crocs has signed a lease for a 1,754 sq ft outlet store at Caledonia Park in Scotland, slated to open in April. The outlet will showcase the brand’s core and seasonal collections, including clogs, sandals, slides and a dedicated Jibbitz™ charm personalization...
Cribbs Continues to Expand Dining Offering with Loungers Letting
Cribbs Mall in the South West has secured Loungers’ Picaro Lounge, signing a 15‑year lease for a 4,600‑sq‑ft space in its food court. The new venue, part of Loungers’ 250‑location chain, aims to attract Gen Z diners with its brunch...
Montperia Files Plans for Borough Park Mixed-Use Project
Woodside‑based developer Montperia Group has filed a rezoning application to build a 13‑story, 150‑unit mixed‑use development at 900 60th Street in Brooklyn’s Borough Park. The project, spanning 108,000 sq ft, will feature 35‑42 permanently affordable units for households earning 60‑80% of area median income, 5,500 sq ft...
‘Playmakers’: The Brokerage Strategy That’s Losing Steam
Jack Miller, CEO of T3 Sixty, warned that the traditional "everything to everybody" brokerage model is losing steam as the housing market cools and consolidation accelerates. He highlighted the rapid Compass‑Anywhere merger as a sign of a favorable regulatory climate, but...
Reason for Optimism: Why One Agent Expects a ‘Healthy’ Spring Despite Market Volatility
Despite record‑high contract cancellations and a 630,000‑seller surplus, Coldwell Banker agent Maria Kourepenos remains optimistic, forecasting a steady, healthy spring season. She cites persistent buyer interest, though consumers are more deliberate amid rate volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. Limited inventory in...
Metrobloks Announces Plans for Three-Building Data Center Campus in Kansas City, Missouri
Metrobloks announced a $1.4 billion investment to build a three‑building, 568,800 sq ft data‑center campus on 29 acres in Liberty, Missouri. The first 177,000 sq ft building has secured planning permission, and the project will create about 30 high‑skill jobs. Metrobloks, backed by equity partners...
Here's How Developers Are Trying To Reduce The Cost Of Conversions
Developers in Washington, D.C. are buying under‑priced office buildings and converting them into residential apartments to sidestep the scarcity of new multifamily projects. By reusing existing infrastructure such as underground parking and designing larger, fewer units, they trim capital expenditures...
Microsoft Agrees to Lease 700MW at Crusoe's Data Center in Abilene, Texas - Report
Microsoft has signed a lease for roughly 700 MW of data‑center capacity at Crusoe’s Abilene, Texas campus. The deal follows Oracle and OpenAI’s decision to scale back their planned 2 GW expansion at the site to 1.2 GW. With two buildings already operating,...
Ares Buying 36 Industrial Properties From EQT For $650M
Ares Management is purchasing 36 industrial warehouses from EQT Real Estate for more than $650 million, marking its second major acquisition from the seller in four months. The transaction includes 7.3 million square feet of space, financed with a $500 million two‑year floating‑rate...
The Sad Story of Holmes Towers
In May 2017, New York City Housing Authority approved a $25 million, 99‑year lease with Fetner Properties to replace the deteriorating John Haynes Holmes complex with a 47‑story, 50 percent affordable tower and new playground. A vocal minority of tenants, backed by local politicians,...
Marcus & Millichap Brokers $18.7 Million Sale of Sherwin-Williams Retail Portfolio in Three States
Marcus & Millichap facilitated the sale of an 11‑property Sherwin‑Williams retail portfolio for $18.7 million across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The assets comprise roughly 55,590 rentable square feet and include locations such as Bemidji, Duluth, Bismarck and Sioux Falls. Prior to...
Third-Party Ownership and Strong Market Fundamentals Drive ‘New Shape of Solar’ in US Residential Sector
The Aurora Solar Snapshot shows third‑party ownership (TPO) models have become the leading financing choice for U.S. residential solar, with 55% of installers favoring PPAs or leases over loans and cash. The shift follows the Trump administration’s rollback of Inflation...
Amazon Adding 112K-SF Warehouse to Orlando-Area Holdings
Amazon announced plans to construct a 112,000‑square‑foot warehouse on a 45‑acre site in Titusville, Florida, near the Indian River. The facility is expected to support Amazon Leo, the company’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellite broadband network, following FCC approval for 3,236 satellites. Amazon...
Biophilic Acoustic Solutions for High-Ceiling Buildings: What Owners and FMs Should Know
High‑ceiling spaces suffer from echo and reverberation, prompting architects to turn to biophilic design for acoustic relief. Living walls, moss panels, and porous natural materials diffuse and absorb sound while boosting indoor air quality. Combining these green solutions with conventional...
Portman Adding 330 Rental Units to Savona Mill Project
Portman Holdings is expanding its Savona Mill adaptive‑reuse development in Charlotte with a Phase II add‑on of 330 multifamily units. The historic 108‑year‑old mill, which already delivered 319 apartments in Phase I, will also feature eight townhome pads and extensive amenities. Construction...
$134M Gainesville Port to Open in May
Georgia Ports Authority is set to launch a $134 million inland port in Gainesville this May, designed to handle up to 200,000 containers annually once fully built. The site will be anchored by a 540,000‑square‑foot warehouse from Alliance Industrial and a...
Oklahoma Has Over 200,000 Vacant Homes. None Are Affordable to Low-Income Families.
Oklahoma’s Housing Finance Agency reports more than 220,000 vacant homes, with roughly 39,000 listed for rent. However, virtually none meet affordability criteria for low‑income families, leaving a gap of over 80,000 rental units for the poorest households. The shortage stems...
Almost Half of the Owner-Occupied Homes Built Before 1980
Nearly half of U.S. owner‑occupied homes were built before 1980, pushing the median home age to 42 years in 2024, up from 31 years in 2005. New construction from 2020‑2024 added just 3.6 million units—only 4% of the total stock—while homes...
Thrift’s Next Chapter: From Trade-Down Trend to Retail Mainstay – Placer.ai Blog
Thrift retail is transitioning from a niche discount option to a mainstream apparel channel, driven by value, discovery, and younger, digitally savvy shoppers. Foot‑traffic data shows thrift stores have posted consistent visit growth since Q1 2025, surpassing both traditional and luxury...
Food Lion to Open New Store in Simpsonville, S.C., on March 25
Food Lion will open its fifth Simpsonville, S.C., store on March 25, expanding its local footprint and marking the fourth new opening in Q1 2026. The 30,000‑square‑foot supermarket offers an omnichannel experience with in‑store, pickup and delivery options via the...
14% of Home-Sale Agreements Fell Through Last Month–A Record for February
Redfin’s February 2026 analysis shows 42,000 U.S. home‑sale contracts—13.7% of pending deals—fell through, the highest February share on record since 2017. Cancellations spiked in buyer‑friendly metros such as Tampa (18.1%) and San Antonio (17.9%), while seller‑tight markets like San Francisco...
U.S. Home Prices Barely Budged in February
U.S. home prices in February barely moved, rising just 0.1% month‑over‑month—the slowest pace in seven months—while year‑over‑year growth stood at 1.9%. The Redfin Home Price Index shows price gains in only a handful of metros, with 16 of the nation’s...
More Home Sellers than Buyers, a Lot More
Redfin data reveals a record housing imbalance in February, with 630,000 more sellers than buyers – a 30 % year‑over‑year increase and the widest gap since 2013. Despite mortgage rates near four‑year lows, demand remains muted, turning most U.S. metros into...
Hawai'i Supreme Court Clears Escrow Firm in $592k Deposit Dispute
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that Title Guaranty Escrow Services acted correctly by releasing a defaulting buyer’s full deposit to the seller, because the escrow agreement, not the sales contract, dictated the disposition of funds. The decision overturned an appellate...
Discount Retailer Kik Is Closing 300 Stores Across Europe
German discount retailer Kik announced a major network reshuffle, planning to close roughly 300 stores across Europe by the end of 2023, resulting in a net reduction of about 225 outlets to just over 4,000 locations. In Germany, around 135...
Borrower Sues UWM over Hard Credit Pull She Never Authorized
On March 20, 2026, Oakland homeowner Tiana Perez filed a federal lawsuit against United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) alleging the lender performed an unauthorized hard credit inquiry. Text messages reveal loan officer Cyrus Mulitalo admitted the pull was accidental and based on no...