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Real Estate Industry

“All the news that's fit to print,” or to click, as the case may be, can be found right here at your favorite real estate social networking site, ActiveRain. And here you thought it was merely a great place to chat with colleagues and slap up a blog post or two.


We know you're busy – whether it's trying to fill your pipeline or following up on what's already popped out of the bottom of it. Who has time to read? And, while real estate market news geared toward consumers is easy to round up on the Internet, news for brokers and Realtors is a bit harder to come by.


Your friends at ActiveRain understand how important each of those 168 hours in every week is so we've made it easy for you by consolidating everything you need to know to keep up-to-date with the real estate industry right here, in one place.


How are housing starts looking? Has the FHFA launched any new efforts? How's that Fannie and Freddie loan limit rollercoaster doing?


You've got the questions and your colleagues here at AR have the answers. It's at your fingertips – finally.

Recent blogs on Real Estate Industry
By Charles Stallions, 850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.
(Charles Stallions Real Estate Services )
Home Appraisal vs. Home Inspection: What Gulf Coast Sellers and Buyers  Need to KnowPUT Charles In Charge™ — Serving Pensacola, Pace & Gulf BreezeYour home has been under contract for a week or so, and your agent lets you know the mortgage appraisal is scheduled. You’ve already survived the home inspection… so why is someone else coming through your house again?Let’s break it down — clearly, simply, and in a way that makes sense for sellers across Pensacola, Pace, and Gulf Breeze. Home Inspection vs. Mortgage Appraisal: What’s the Difference?These two steps feel similar, but they serve completely different purposes. Understanding the difference helps you stay calm, prepared, and confident as you move toward closing. Home Inspection (Buyer’s Tool)A home inspection is ordered by the buyer...
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By Charles Stallions, 850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.
(Charles Stallions Real Estate Services )
A Gulf Coast Guide from The Stallions Real Estate Group**PUT Charles In Charge™ — Serving Pensacola, Pace & Gulf BreezeYou’ve accepted an offer — congratulations. That’s a huge step, and for most Gulf Coast sellers, it comes with a wave of relief. But let’s be honest: the part people dread the most isn’t the negotiation… It’s the move.Moving is stressful, time‑consuming, and expensive if you’re not strategic. After helping hundreds of families relocate through the SMOOTH Move SYSTEM™, I’ve seen the same mistakes over and over again. Avoiding them will save you money, time, and a whole lot of frustration.Here are the top moving mistakes Gulf Coast homeowners should avoid — and how to keep your transition smooth from start to finish. 1. Bringing Unnecessary ItemsOne of the biggest mistake...
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By Aaron Mears, Real Estate Analyst and Writer
(House Stories)
Ask a longtime Realtor which listings practically sell themselves, and most won't start with square footage or the kitchen backsplash. They'll bring up what's happening outside the front door. A tennis court with weeds growing through the cracks tells buyers one story. A dog park full of neighbors on a Tuesday evening tells a completely different one. Amenities are never just extras tacked onto a brochure. They're often the reason a buyer circles back for a second showing, or the reason a whole subdivision starts moving faster than the ones two miles down the road.The six examples below aren't pulled from a planning textbook. They're real neighborhoods where a single project, sometimes small, sometimes ambitious, changed how people felt about living there.The Park That Cary, North Carol...
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On August 11, 2026, the National Association of Realtor (NAR) reported that a median home value price was $434,100 in July of 2026 increased 2.0% from the price of $425,700 in July of 2025.Single family home sales were at annual rate of 3.69 million units in July of 2026 declined 1.9% from June of 2026, but higher 0.8% from home sales in July of 2025. The median single family home price was $440,300 in July of 2026, gained 1.9% from July of 2025.Condominium and co-op sales were to an annual rate of 370,000 units in July of 2026 unchanged 0.0% from June of 2026, and same as 0.0% from July of 2025. Median existing condo price was $371,800 in July of 2026, increased 2.2% from July of 2025.Distressed homes sales were 2.0% in July of 2025 no change from 2.0% in June of 2025, and same as from...
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By J Perrin Cornell, Broker, ABR, VAMRES
(Coldwell Banker Cascade Real Estate)
Hi all!I got looking at sales data through July 2026 and thinking back to when it was much stronger! Given the time and circumstances how did we do what we did and does that affect us today. My answers "I don't know " and "Yup it does "So I pulled out some stats, read and reread,  drank an Ultra and started trying to make sense. Sometimes I do better than others. Other times I get lost in my own musings. But looking at what happened during COVID 19 and where we are now in Washington Real Estate at a little more than midway through the year was interesting at worst and perhaps insightful at best (benefit of the doubt here).So I made a new post and It is posted here for all to read. Hope you find it of interest and perhaps the start of a way forward... barring politics, elections and well...
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By Linda Edelwich, Serving Glastonbury & Beyond | 218 New London Trnk
(William Raveis Real Estate)
The pre-listing improvement conversation is one of the most consequential ones an agent can have with a seller, and in Marlborough it is worth grounding in what closed sales actually tell us buyers reward rather than in general advice. Here is the framework I use.What consistently returns more than it costsPaint throughout the main living areas is the highest return pre-listing investment in Marlborough. A professional neutral paint job at $3,000 to $5,000 reliably returns $8,000 to $15,000 in perceived value. Off-white walls and white trim photograph well and appeal broadly. This is not a complicated recommendation. It is simply the one with the clearest and most consistent return.Deep cleaning at move-out level, covering baseboards, fixtures, cabinet interiors, windows on both sides, ...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🏡📊 NEW HOUSING DATA: SINGLE-FAMILY BUILDING IS SLOWING — BUT MULTIFAMILY IS MOVING THE OTHER WAYThe latest permitting numbers through June 2026 tell an interesting story about where housing may be headed.🏠 Single-family permits: 465,301📉 Down 4.2% from the same period last year🏢 Multifamily permits: 255,751📈 Up 4.5% year over yearAnd here's where it gets REALLY interesting…The slowdown in single-family construction isn't happening in just one part of the country.📉 Northeast: -10.2%📉 West: -6.8%📉 South: -3.6%➡️ Midwest: Essentially flatMeanwhile, multifamily construction increased in three of the four regions.💡 Why does this matter?Fewer single-family homes being permitted today could eventually mean fewer new single-family homes coming to market.And when supply doesn't keep pace with ho...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🏗️🚨 THE COST TO BUILD A HOME IS STILL GOING UP 🏠📈Everyone watches mortgage rates...But here's another number that could have a BIG impact on the housing market:Building material prices jumped 5.0% year over year in July.And some materials are moving MUCH faster than that.🌲 Softwood lumber: +17.3% YoY🏗️ Building materials overall: +5.0% YoY🏠 Residential construction inputs: +6.5% YoY⚡ Energy inputs: +33.1% YoY🚚 Transportation & warehousing services: +10.9% YoY🔧 Trade services: +7.0% YoYThere's another number that really caught my attention...📈 Softwood lumber prices jumped 7.4% in July alone.Meanwhile, ready-mix concrete was up only 2.2% from a year ago.So why does this matter?Because the cost of a home doesn't start with the mortgage.It starts with:➡️ Land➡️ Materials➡️ Labor➡️ Transpor...
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By Joe Jackson, Clintonville and Central Ohio Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty)
The rainy weather during the week of August 10th has really slowed down real estate activity across Central Ohio. Showings have dropped noticeably, and we’re also seeing fewer strong offers coming in.The weather isn’t the only factor. Buyers are being more selective, and mortgage rates moved back into the upper-6% range this week. Nationally, July existing-home sales declined 1.7%, another indication that buyers are responding to affordability pressures.The good news? Columbus remains a competitive market, and this feels more like a temporary slowdown than buyers disappearing altogether. Hopefully we get some sunshine, buyers get back out looking, and activity boomerangs heading toward the fall market.What’s the real estate market like in your area? Are you seeing the same slowdown?
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By Linda Edelwich, Serving Glastonbury & Beyond | 218 New London Trnk
(William Raveis Real Estate)
Seasonal properties near Lake Pocotopaug come up regularly in East Hampton buyer conversations, and the purchases that go most smoothly are consistently the ones where buyers worked through the practical ownership questions before writing an offer. Here is what that conversation should cover.What seasonal construction characteristics mean for buyersHomes built or designed for warm-weather use were not always constructed to the same standards as year-round residential properties. Insulation, heating systems, and plumbing configurations in seasonal homes can vary considerably, and those variations have direct implications for comfort and cost during colder months.Heating systems in seasonal properties range from functional for occasional cold-weather use to insufficient for sustained wint...
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By Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518, Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.
(Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc)
79% of Real Estate Agents Haven’t Made a Sale This Year? Check the SourceI saw a statistic making the rounds recently claiming that 79% of real estate agents have not made a sale this year, supposedly according to the National Association of REALTORS®.That number certainly gets your attention.It got mine, too.So I went looking for the NAR report behind it.I could not find one.And that is an important reminder for all of us, whether we work in real estate or simply follow the housing market: a statistic repeated often enough on social media does not automatically become a fact.NAR Has Already Addressed a Similar ClaimEarlier this year, another statistic circulated widely claiming that 71% of REALTORS® closed zero transactions.NAR specifically disputed that claim.According to NAR's 2026 M...
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By Linda Edelwich, Serving Glastonbury & Beyond | 218 New London Trnk
(William Raveis Real Estate)
Rural properties in Hebron require a preparation approach that accounts for what buyers are actually evaluating when they arrive, which is not just the home but the full picture of what it would be like to live there. Here is what moves the needle in this specific market. The manageability question buyers are askingBuyers drawn to Hebron are already sold on the appeal of space and privacy before they schedule a showing. What they are evaluating during the visit is whether this specific property feels livable and manageable rather than overwhelming. That distinction is almost entirely a function of how the property is presented, not how much land it has or how the home is sized. A rural property that reads as tended, approachable, and well cared for generates buyer confidence. One that r...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🚨🏡 HOME BUYERS: ASSUME YOU'RE BEING RECORDED AT THE SHOWINGHere's something every buyer should know before walking through that next house:📹 The cameras may be watching.A new LendingTree survey found nearly 3 out of 4 recent buyers noticed cameras or recording devices during a home showing.And it actually changed behavior:🚪 19% said they left a showing because of cameras❌ 18% decided not to make an offer📉 34% said knowing they were being recorded would make them less likely to submit an offerBut here's the part buyers REALLY need to understand…🤫 DON'T NEGOTIATE AGAINST YOURSELFAmong buyers who were concerned about being recorded:💰 22% avoided discussing their budget or offer strategy😍 22% hid their excitement about the home👎 21% avoided talking about things they dislikedThat can matter....
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
🚨🏡 STAGFLATION RISK? WHAT COULD IT MEAN FOR MORTGAGE RATES?There’s a growing debate about whether the economy could be heading toward a stagflation-type environment — a combination of stubborn inflation, slowing economic growth and a weakening labor market.And if that happens, mortgage rates could get stuck in a frustrating place for both buyers and sellers.📈 Inflation & energy costs can push Treasury yields higher.📉 A weakening jobs market can increase recession concerns.💰 Large government deficits and heavy borrowing can put additional pressure on long-term yields.🏦 And the Federal Reserve is caught in the middle — trying to balance inflation against employment.One private lender, Glen Weinberg of Fairview Commercial Lending, described the current environment as an “eerie calm,” notin...
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By William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655
(Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )
📉🏡 INFLATION COOLED AGAIN — COULD THIS BE GOOD NEWS FOR MORTGAGE RATES?We may finally be getting a little more clarity on the inflation front.The latest July CPI report showed inflation easing for the second consecutive month:📊 CPI: 3.4% YoY📉 Down from 3.5% in JuneEven more encouraging:📊 Core CPI: 2.5% YoY📉 Down from 2.6% in JuneThat matters because the Federal Reserve has been watching inflation closely while trying to balance it against a cooling labor market.🏦 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MORTGAGE RATES?Here's the important distinction:Mortgage rates don't move directly with the Fed's rate.30-year mortgage rates are heavily influenced by the 10-year Treasury yield, which reacts to inflation, economic growth, investor expectations and other factors.So a softer inflation report doesn't auto...
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By Aslan Realty Advisors, LLC, Staying a step ahead with Pride!
Historic East Lee County Ranching Portfolios Transition to Mahala Property Group(Neal Homes) Public records filed with the Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court have officially finalized a landmark land transaction, transferring extensive multi-parcel acreage in East Lee County to Mahala Property Group, LLC, an entity associated with Neal Homes (with a principal address at 5800 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Sarasota, FL). Thomas Gunderson of Henderson Franklin Law Firm handled the transaction. The transactions encompass significant historic portfolios previously held by Cary Land Company LLC, Cary & Duke Properties, LLC, the Harney Revocable Trust, and Povia Family, LLC. Spanning sections within Township 43 South, Range 26 East, the properties have long stood as anchors of traditional agricultu...
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On August 11, 2026, the National Association of Realtor (NAR) reported that nationwide existing home sales dropped 1.7% to annual rate of 4.06 million homes in July of 2026 from June of 2026, but higher 0.7% from July of 2025.There were 1.54 million homes supplies of available inventory in July of 2026, fell 1.9% from June of 2026, and lower 0.6% from July of 2025.There were 4.6 months available inventory in July of 2026 same as from to 4.6 months in June of 2026, and from 4.6 months in July of 2025.On average it took 29 days to sell a home in July of 2026, increased from 28 days in June of 2026, and from 28 days in July 2025.First time buyers acquired 29.0% of homes in July of 2026, declined from 33.0% in June of 2026, but grew from 28.0% in July of 2025.Investors purchased 14.0% of ho...
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By Linda Edelwich, Serving Glastonbury & Beyond | 218 New London Trnk
(William Raveis Real Estate)
Ranch style homes in East Hampton occupy a specific and reliably active segment of the buyer market. The buyers pursuing them tend to be focused and decisive, which creates a dynamic worth understanding whether you are working with a buyer trying to find one or a seller preparing to list one. What drives buyer focus on ranch homesThe buyers searching specifically for ranch homes in East Hampton are almost always motivated by the practical value of one-level living. Bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas on a single floor removes a friction point from daily life that accumulates in significance over time. Many of these buyers are planning ahead for long-term livability, and they recognize that a well-designed ranch layout supports comfortable daily living in ways that a two-story home may...
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By Tamra Lee Ulmer, NRBA ~REO Broker / Auctioneer
(Arizona Resource Realty)
One concern many property owners have when selling real estate is not knowing how long the process will take. Traditional listings can remain on the market for varying lengths of time depending on buyer demand, financing, inspections, and negotiations.Real estate auctions offer a different approach by creating a defined selling timeline from the beginning.Instead of waiting for offers indefinitely, sellers know the marketing schedule, preview dates, auction date, and anticipated closing process. This structure helps many sellers plan moving dates, estate administration, investment decisions, or the purchase of another property.The auction process doesn't start on auction day. Marketing begins weeks beforehand to generate interest among qualified buyers. Advertising, online exposure, pro...
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By Sam Thomas, When it's important; hire a professional.
(Providence Group Realty)
The mortgage rate doesn't have to fall dramatically for the housing market to change. Here's what today's rate environment means for buyers, sellers, and anyone waiting for the "perfect" time to move.For the past couple of years, I've heard the same thing from homeowners and buyers:"I'm waiting for mortgage rates to come down."I understand it.When you're talking about a $400,000, $500,000, or $600,000 home, even a small change in the interest rate can affect the monthly payment.But here's the part many people are missing:You don't need a 3% mortgage rate for the housing market to improve.You need a market where buyers can plan, sellers can price realistically, and both sides have enough information to make a smart decision.And that's increasingly what we're seeing.What Are Mortgage Rate...
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