Lower mortgage rates and less volatility have been one of the key positive stories in 2026 for the housing market. Until last week, rates were under 6.25% all year and we didn’t see much volatility, which is a key variable for a healthy housing market. However, a lot of that changed last week as the conflict with Iran is still escalating, with no end in sight. For now, our data shows housing demand is...

Countertops and other surfaces are showing off fresh colors, enhanced textures and dramatic new looks for 2026. At this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, Florida, in February, manufacturers unveiled a wide range of innovative products — warm neutrals,...

As with any large-scale renovation, the costs of a landscape remodel can quickly add up. With the right design moves and decisions to stretch your budget, you can pull off the look and feel of your dream garden without letting the budget get out of hand. But where it can make sense to save —...

In the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, overwhelmingly approved by the Senate on Thursday, is a provision titled, “Homes Are for People, Not Corporations.” This provision seeks to impose new restrictions on institutional investors in the single-family housing market. Under the provision, entities owning 350 or more single-family homes would face limits on purchasing additional homes. Legislators and...

President Donald Trump on Friday announced two executive orders that aim to increase the U.S. housing supply and consumer access to mortgage credit. One of the orders directs various federal agencies — including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) — to work together on reviewing and revising a number of regulations related to the...

The White House announced on Friday afternoon its effort to challenge what it calls “unnecessary regulatory barriers” to homebuilding by issuing a broad executive order to reduce environmental, permitting and programmatic restrictions that federal officials say are contributing to the nation’s housing affordability crisis. The order, signed by Donald Trump, directs multiple federal agencies to...

New Western released a new report examining the role of real estate investors in supplying entry-level housing. It found that small investors added far more homes in the starter-home price range than homebuilders in 2025. The company’s 2026 Flip Side Report on residential real estate investing trends said independent investors delivered 120,193 homes in the starter segment during 2025 — compared...

A federal judge on Friday blocked subpoenas that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) served the Federal Reserve in a case involving Jerome Powell’s Congressional testimony on the central bank’s headquarters renovation, concluding the effort appeared designed to “harass and pressure” him to lower interest rates or resign from his position. The DOJ served the Fed with grand jury subpoenas in...

A well-designed entryway with built-in mudroom-style storage can help keep the entire home more organized. By creating a dedicated spot for coats, shoes, bags and pet gear right at the door, these spaces corral everyday clutter before it spreads through the house. Benches, hooks and a...

When the Senate overwhelmingly passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on Thursday, longtime real estate analyst Steve Murray zeroed in on a number at the center of the legislation: 350. That figure, under the bill, defines a “large institutional investor” — a category that triggers strict limits on single-family home purchases and imposes a seven-year requirement to sell certain properties to...