COVERAGE INFORMATION:
California Department of Real Estate (DRE) NEWS CLIPS service coverage:
Monday through Friday (except state holidays) each week includes electronic format articles retrieved from newspapers or news services that report real estate related news in California and some national services. Coverage is for California newspapers that are available electronically via the Internet - and any significant related breaking news.
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Copyright © , California Department of Real Estate
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Friday, April 24, 2026
Top Stories
Home Prices Have Surged 551% Since 1980, Far Outpacing Income Growth
CZARINNA ANDRES, National Mortgage Professional
U.S. home prices have increased significantly faster than household incomes over the past four decades. According to a new analysis from Clever Real Estate and Best Interest Financial, home prices have risen 551% since 1980, compared to income growth of 373% over the same period. That divergence has pushed the national price-to-income ratio to approximately 5.08, nearly double the level of about 2.6 that is widely considered affordable.
National News
U.S. Builder Sentiment Falls to Seven-Month Low on Geopolitical Uncertainty
MONSEF RACHID, World Property Journal
Confidence among builders of newly constructed single-family homes fell four points to 34, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released this week. A reading below 50 indicates more builders view conditions as poor than good.
The Silver Tsunami Isn’t Landing Where It’s Needed Most
CATHERINE KOH, Eye On Housing
The “silver tsunami” refers to the wave of housing inventory expected as older homeowners downsize or transition out of their homes. According to the latest American Community Survey, there are an estimated 61.2 million people in the U.S. aged 65 years or older, representing about 18% of the population. Given the outsized share of homes occupied by Baby Boomers, the release of this housing stock will have a significant effect on housing markets.
California News
California is No. 3 in US for housing permits despite construction hurdles
JONATHAN LANSNER, San Jose Mercury News (Subscription)
Considering all the criticisms of California’s housing creation process, one might think that statewide production of new places to live is abysmal. Perhaps all the nudging for California to build better is working. The past 10 years saw a 44% increase in permits over the previous 10 years. That period was marked by a building boom fueled by easy-to-get mortgages, followed by a market crash and the Great Recession.
Senate committee kills bill mandating insurance coverage for wildfire safe homes
LAURENCE DARMIENTO, Los Angeles Times (Subscription)
A bill that would have required insurers to offer coverage to homeowners who take steps to reduce wildfire risk on their property died in the Legislature. The Senate Insurance Committee on Monday voted down the measure, SB 1076, one of the most ambitious bills spurred by the devastating January 2025 wildfires. The vote came despite fire victims and others rallying at the state Capitol in support of the measure, authored by state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), whose district includes the Eaton fire zone.
Here's how long Californians keep their homes - and how it compares to elsewhere
JESSICA ROY, MSN
In California's biggest cities, homeowners tend to stay put a lot longer than the average American. The typical owner stays 16.5 years in a San Francisco home and 18.7 years in San Jose, according to a new Redfin analysis. In Los Angeles, owners hold onto their homes the longest in the nation - about 20 years on average. That compares to a nationwide median homeowner tenure of about 12 years, up from just over 6.5 years two decades ago.
Industry News
Mortgage industry welcomes new credit score models, urges further reform
SARAH WOLAK, HousingWire
Trade groups and lenders generally supported HUD and FHFA moves to expand mortgage underwriting to FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0. Stakeholders said the benefits will depend on rollout timing, operational guidance, and how new pricing grids and score costs are set.
MRED opens access to all agents — with Compass the first to join
LILLIAN DICKERSON, Real Estate News
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is expanding access to all licensed agents nationwide, the Chicago-based MLS announced today — and Compass International Holdings (CIH) is the first brokerage to jump on board. MRED, which operates its own private listing network, was recently praised by Compass CEO Robert Reffkin. In a joint open letter, CIH and Rocket Companies criticized MLSs that are "actively working against the interests" of agents by imposing restrictions on exclusive listings and pre-marketing — and fining agents who violate those rules.
Real Estate Technology
HOA compliance rating system coming to California home sales
AMANCAI BIRABEN, Orange County Register (Subscription)
Local real estate agents will begin offering prospective buyers a new way to review HOAs upon purchase at a time of low sales and tight lending scrutiny. For $150, a homebuyer in escrow can buy a report from the artificial-intelligence fueled HOASnapshot. Set to land May 1, the reader analyzes hundreds of digital HOA forms submitted by real estate agents to the program, which uses AI to review those pages and render a four-page evaluation.
Property News
The Price Point: What $500,000 Buys Across America Right Now
ELLYN BRIGGS, Redfin News
The half-million mark yields vastly different results depending on where you look; it can mean a starter home or a forever home; downtown living or a long commute; a grassy backyard or a community pool. This week, we’re looking at how $500,000 shakes out in Tampa, FL, Chicago, IL and Denver, CO.
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