2026

California has long been synonymous with high taxes, but new fights over who will pay them are exposing a sharper fault line. The state increasingly reaches for “tax the rich” tools to fund housing and social programs, while anti-tax forces try to constrain those same tools. California’s tax fight is unfolding under a national spotlight. Lawmakers and advocates are testing how far “tax the...

For over a century the Georgia-based brokerage Blanchard & Calhoun Real Estate Co. has continued to serve consumers in the Augusta area all while navigating recessions, record high interest rates, the rise of the internet, the COVID-19 pandemic housing market, the commission lawsuits and the current wave of massive consolidation hitting the housing industry. Tom Blanchard, the firm’s president,...

Oil prices are under $69 while mortgage rates are near yearly highs. For some observers that might seem very odd, but for me it makes sense. During the Iran conflict, the Federal Reserve went from talking about two to three rate cuts to two to three rate hikes. Oil prices falling from over $100 to under $69 is very important, but today I want to focus on the shift in Fed policy and why this chart below...

Clayton Home Building Group confirmed that its Southeast U.S. powerhouse operator, Mungo Homes has acquired Columbia, S.C.-based McGuinn Homes, a four-decade-old regional builder whose rise in HousingWire’s Homebuilder Rankings reflected a carefully executed growth strategy centered on attainable homeownership, disciplined operations and customer focus. In announcing the acquisition, Clayton described...

Creating a beach house feeling in your home can help substitute for the weekend getaways and summer vacations you can’t always take. And when you embrace a carefree, vacation-inspired spirit every day at home, you’ll feel more relaxed. How to do it? Swap out fussy fabrics and formal furniture...

Image CEO Bill Crooker says industrial fundamentals remain strong as tenants prioritize transportation access, power capacity, and...

Image Chief Economist Dr. Jeremy Porter explains why REITs are placing greater emphasis on the financial impacts of physical climate risk and how AI is improving climate...

Image CEO Jonathan Stanner anticipates additional asset sales and debt...

Lower Rates Support Home Purchase Activity U.S. mortgage demand was essentially unchanged last week, but purchase applications continued to outperform last year's pace as modestly lower borrowing costs and improving housing supply encouraged more prospective buyers to enter the market. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its seasonally adjusted Market Composite Index--a broad measure of...

In my last HousingWire column, I focused on reviewing AI-generated listing remarks before they reach the MLS. That was about what AI says about a property. This follow-up is about the line between effective marketing and misrepresentation. A listing video may show a drone-style approach, a smooth walkthrough, or a perfectly furnished interior. But what if the drone never flew, the camera never moved, or...