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Coverage of the housing and commercial property markets: prices, mortgage rates, construction, urban development, and the policy decisions that shape where and how we live and work.

Berkshire's Builder Bet: Reshaping the Scale Game in Homebuilding
Housing Market

Berkshire's Builder Bet: Reshaping the Scale Game in Homebuilding

Berkshire's buyout of Taylor Morrison rewrites the scale rulebook. Mid-tier builders face a strategic reckoning as the 20,000-closing target becomes the new ben

HousingWire|Jun 4, 2026
Social Security Squeeze: States Facing Deepest Benefit Cuts in 2032
Real Estate

Social Security Squeeze: States Facing Deepest Benefit Cuts in 2032

A 24% benefit cut averages $500/month, but Connecticut seniors lose $556. Homeownership costs have surged 26%, threatening millions of retirees.

Realtor.com News|Jun 3, 2026
Compass-Anywhere Deal: NY Attorney General Probes Market Dominance Abo
Housing Market

Compass-Anywhere Deal: NY Attorney General Probes Market Dominance Abo

NY Attorney General Letitia James probes Compass's $1.6 billion Anywhere acquisition. Combined entity holds >80% market share in Manhattan and Newport Beach. An

HousingWire|Jun 3, 2026
Compass Under Fire: AG Probe Threatens Mega-Merger
Housing Market

Compass Under Fire: AG Probe Threatens Mega-Merger

NY AG probes Compass's $1.6B Anywhere buy. Market share above 80% in Manhattan sparks antitrust fears. What investors should watch.

HousingWire|Jun 3, 2026
MLS Data Security: SWMLS Deploys Forensic Trackers to Fight Theft
Housing Market

MLS Data Security: SWMLS Deploys Forensic Trackers to Fight Theft

SWMLS embeds unique markers in every listing feed; first US MLS to apply vendor-specific forensic IDs at the data level, giving brokers new tools to trace unaut

HousingWire|Jun 3, 2026
Florida Tax Break: An $8 Billion Gamble on Property Relief
Real Estate

Florida Tax Break: An $8 Billion Gamble on Property Relief

Florida's proposed homestead exemption rise to $250,000 could zero out taxes for 28% of homeowners, but risks an $8 billion local budget hole.

Realtor.com News|Jun 2, 2026
Buyer Listing Service: The MLS Pivot That Levels Real Estate
Housing Market

Buyer Listing Service: The MLS Pivot That Levels Real Estate

Gitcha's integration into Momentum MLS exposes verified buyer demand in Arizona, a shift that could redefine agent value and market transparency in 2026.

HousingWire|Jun 2, 2026
Western Pivot: Century 21 Americana Plants Flag in Montana
Housing Market

Western Pivot: Century 21 Americana Plants Flag in Montana

Century 21 Americana enters Montana via a top affiliate with $325M+ in 2025 volume. The move targets Yellowstone County's surging residential market.

HousingWire|Jun 2, 2026
Compass vs. Zillow: The Battle Fracturing Real Estate
Housing Market

Compass vs. Zillow: The Battle Fracturing Real Estate

Compass lost $58M in 2025. Its strategy: restrict Zillow's access to listings. The MLS is its weapon. Who pays?

HousingWire|Jun 2, 2026
Spanish Engineering: Two Lobby Groups Merge to Boost Clout
Real Estate

Spanish Engineering: Two Lobby Groups Merge to Boost Clout

Tecniberia and CÍES sign a pact to fight unfair public-sector competition and improve conditions for 3,000 member firms, reshaping Spain's engineering landscape

El Confidencial - Vivienda|May 28, 2026
Home Purchase Loans Plunge to 12-Year Low: Affordability Crisis Worsen
Housing Market

Home Purchase Loans Plunge to 12-Year Low: Affordability Crisis Worsen

With 581,000 purchase loans in Q1 2026, a 19% quarterly drop marks the lowest since 2014. Nearly every metro saw declines—what comes next?

Realtor.com News|May 28, 2026
Home Equity Investments Face Pennsylvania Crackdown: A Regulatory Shif
Housing Market

Home Equity Investments Face Pennsylvania Crackdown: A Regulatory Shif

Pennsylvania votes June 1 on HB 2120 regulating home equity investments. With 30+ states cracking down on similar contracts, homeowners face new protections and

HousingWire|May 28, 2026
Zillow-CoStar Feud: The Matterport 3D Tour Standoff
Real Estate

Zillow-CoStar Feud: The Matterport 3D Tour Standoff

Zillow pulled Matterport tours in Oct 2025; CoStar refuses to sign no-sue pledge. Who blinks first?

HousingWire|May 28, 2026
Fertility Crisis: Housing Costs Squeeze Population Growth
Housing Market

Fertility Crisis: Housing Costs Squeeze Population Growth

Rising housing costs drove 51% of US fertility decline from 2000s to 2010s. What this means for housing demand and investors.

Realtor.com News|May 27, 2026
Scale Is Now Table Stakes for Private Homebuilders
Housing Market

Scale Is Now Table Stakes for Private Homebuilders

Eastwood Homes buys Peachtree Building Group. Private builders now account for 39% of M&A activity. Scale is no longer a public-builder luxury.

HousingWire|May 27, 2026
Zillow vs. MRED: Data Feud Threatens Chicago Listings
Real Estate

Zillow vs. MRED: Data Feud Threatens Chicago Listings

Judge orders MRED to restore Zillow feeds through June 5, but a July 1 hearing will decide the preliminary injunction. The case reveals a growing clash between

HousingWire|May 27, 2026
DeSantis's Property Tax Plan: A Radical Shift for Florida
Housing Market

DeSantis's Property Tax Plan: A Radical Shift for Florida

DeSantis's plan could eliminate property taxes for 60% of homeowners, potentially boosting home values 7-9% and reshaping Florida's housing market.

Realtor.com News|May 27, 2026
Separate Accounts, Shared Mortgage: A New Hurdle for Couples
Housing Market

Separate Accounts, Shared Mortgage: A New Hurdle for Couples

42% of couples merge finances, but 20% keep them separate. How extra paperwork and DTI calculations complicate mortgage applications in 2026.

Realtor.com News|May 27, 2026
MLS vs. Zillow: Nashville Threatens to Pull Listing Feed in Battle for
Housing Market

MLS vs. Zillow: Nashville Threatens to Pull Listing Feed in Battle for

Realtracs will suspend Zillow's listing feed on June 1 if it doesn't comply with new IDX rules. It's the second MLS in 2026 to take this step, escalating a disp

HousingWire|May 27, 2026
Refi Plunge: Mortgage Applications Drop 18% as Rates Rise
Housing Market

Refi Plunge: Mortgage Applications Drop 18% as Rates Rise

Refi applications sank 18% as rates hit 6.65%. Purchase activity holds steady but loan sizes hit a record. What's next?

Realtor.com News|May 27, 2026
Agent Productivity: The Metric Real Estate Teams Overlook
Real Estate

Agent Productivity: The Metric Real Estate Teams Overlook

Teams with $8.24M per agent in 2025: the key isn't more recruiting but tracking conversations. See how to cut contacts per appointment from 3.6 to 1.4.

HousingWire|May 27, 2026
Smartfi's 50-bps Reverse Mortgage Discount for Veterans: A Strategic P
Housing Market

Smartfi's 50-bps Reverse Mortgage Discount for Veterans: A Strategic P

Smartfi cuts reverse mortgage rates by 50 bps for veterans, targeting an underserved niche in the growing proprietary market. A strategic play for loyalty and v

HousingWire|May 27, 2026
CMLS vs. Compass: The Race for a National MLS Alliance
Real Estate

CMLS vs. Compass: The Race for a National MLS Alliance

With 1.8M agents vs Compass's 340K, CMLS has the numbers but must act by September or risk losing control of the MLS landscape.

HousingWire|May 27, 2026
Home Equity Cap for Medicaid: A $1 Million Shift Hits Middle-Class Hom
Housing Market

Home Equity Cap for Medicaid: A $1 Million Shift Hits Middle-Class Hom

New $1 million home equity cap for Medicaid long-term care could affect middle-class owners in expensive markets. Here's what to do before 2028.

HousingWire|May 27, 2026

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