Real estate news from around the web

Self-Employed and Can’t Get a Mortgage? The Loan Type May Be the Problem

Many self-employed borrowers who are told they do not qualify for a mortgage are not actually unqualified. They are applying through a loan type that measures income in a way that works against them. …

Housing Is the Largest Asset Most Americans Own. It’s Also the Only One They Don’t Diversify.

Stock portfolios get diversified. Bond holdings get diversified. Even alternative investments get spread across categories and geographies. But the single largest asset on most American household …

A Seller’s Strongest Negotiating Position in Fairfield County, CT Starts Before the First Showing

The Fairfield County, Connecticut housing market heading into fall 2026 doesn’t fit neatly into a single headline. Some homes are drawing multiple offers above asking. Others, in the same county …

Massachusetts Appraisal Rules Change in November. Buyers Who Wait to Prepare Will Lose Deals.

Most Massachusetts homebuyers will not think about new appraisal rules until those rules delay their closing. By then, according to Colleen Barry of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, the …

Mortgage-Dependent Buyers Are Being Squeezed Out of the Florida Keys

There is a growing divide in the Florida Keys housing market, and it runs along a single fault line: whether a buyer needs a mortgage. Cash buyers – many of them retirees and business owners from …
Columbus, Ohio Has 2.23 Million Residents and Barely 6,000 Homes for Sale
A metropolitan area of 2.23 million people should have a deeper housing market than what Columbus, Ohio is showing right now. According to Central Ohio MLS data cited by Barbara Gale of the Gale …
Washington Is Starting to Name the Middle-Income Renter, Without Yet Funding the Fix
A new federal housing effort has directed the Government Accountability Office to study a formal income definition for the middle class, roughly 80 to 120 percent of area median income, and to …
In Palm Beach County, Single-Family Homes and Condos Are Now Separate Markets
The question heard most often in Palm Beach County this year is whether the housing market is crashing. The numbers point somewhere else: two markets operating in the same zip codes, moving at …
In South Denver, Colorado, Temporary Rate Buydowns Are Expiring – and the Safety Net Isn’t There
The 2-1 buydown was supposed to be a bridge. Buyers who locked in mortgages two to three years ago at rates near 7% used the program to ease into ownership, paying two percentage points less in year …
In Austin, Texas, Tech Layoffs Are Reshaping Who Buys and What Sells
Austin’s residential real estate market has long been associated with tech-driven demand. But in 2026, the buyer pool powering the city’s housing activity looks different than it did even two …

The hidden challenge of co-ownership: What happens when owners have disagreements?

Underwood Law reports that co-ownership of property is on the rise, especially among younger buyers. 

10 best cities to rent rather than own a house in 2026

TheZebra.com reports that Salt Lake City, Denver, and Austin are among the top 10 U.S. cities where renting is more affordable than buying.

Mortgage rates hit 18% in 1981. Here's how that compares with buying a home today

Griffin Funding reports that mortgage rates peaked at 18% in 1981, while today's average is 7.28%. 

What landlord-friendly states have in common, and why investors are paying attention

Faranesh Real Estate and Property Management reports that landlord-friendly states attract investors due to predictable rental rules, fewer rent controls, and population growth.
The Best Real estate news

The 10 best small US cities where renters get the most for their money in 2026

Apartments.com reports that Peoria, IL, and Cedar Rapids, IA, tie as the best small U.S. cities for renters in 2026, with only 9.3% of income spent on rent.

Survey: Baby boomers won the housing market, and are the least convinced it worked

Hometap reports that baby boomers, despite having benefitted from homeownership, are the most skeptical about its fulfillment of the American Dream.

5 housing market changes sellers aren't ready for

HomeLight reports that sellers must adapt to a shifting market with rising inventory, longer selling times, and more negotiations required post-offer.

How real estate can help build generational wealth

Buchanan Street Partners reports that real estate is a key avenue for building generational wealth, providing income, tax benefits, and appreciation over time for families.

Digital for efficiency, human for empathy: What renter preferences reveal about modern customer expectations

Zego reports that customers prefer a balanced approach to service, favoring digital for efficiency and human interactions for complex issues.

Average home equity gains topped $200,000 in six states as renters faced heavy housing costs

Griffin Funding reports that rising home values boost financial security for homeowners but further burden renters, with equity gains reaching over $200,000 in six states.

How much square footage a $500K housing budget buys across US metros

Offerpad reports that regional cost per square foot varies widely in the U.S., affecting real estate pricing. Coastal areas like California have higher prices, limiting space, while the Sun Belt and Midwest offer more generous floor plans for the same budget.
More Real Estate news
Conforming mortgages just lost their majority. Non-QM is helping drive the shift
Griffin Funding reports that conforming mortgages have lost their majority share, with non-QM loans driving this significant shift in the market.
Lower reports that 49.2% of consumers are comfortable with AI approving mortgage applications, with even higher comfort in other tasks. 
PropertyReach reports that absentee owner data is vital for real estate investors, providing insights into motivated sellers and enhancing investment strategies.
Apartments.com reports a national vacancy rate of 7.9% for multifamily properties, with rising rents. States like Texas and Arizona offer renters the most negotiating power due to high vacancies and declining rent growth.
A 1-percentage-point mortgage rate rise can outrun 4 years of rent growth
Griffin Funding reports that the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike affects rental property investors, as rising mortgage costs may outpace slow rent growth.
SmartAsset reports that rising home prices challenge young adults' homeownership dreams, but states with lower costs see them more active in the market.
PropertyReach reports on rising property values in various U.S. neighborhoods, highlighting trends and six promising ZIP codes for real estate investment.
Ownwell reports that the $40,000 SALT deduction cap, effective in 2025, benefits high-tax homeowners while high earners face complex income traps and regional disparities.
3 costly mistakes sellers make when their home isn’t selling
HomeLight reports that sellers often make costly mistakes like delaying price reductions, refusing to adjust expectations, and making inadequate price cuts, hindering home sales.
HousingAnywhere reports that $1,500 in rent offers more space and lifestyle options in Europe compared to the U.S., with significant differences in cities like Vienna, Brussels, and Paris.
Apartments.com reports on the best football cities for renters, where Denver ranks highest for its home record and affordable rent, while Los Angeles offers a flashy stadium despite high rental costs.
RentRedi reports that self-management with property management software outperforms hiring property managers, maximizing cash flow without added chaos.