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.
|
Copyright © , California Department of Real Estate
|
Monday, January 26, 2026
Top Stories
U.S. home sales 18% below average despite cheaper mortgages
JONATHAN LANSNER, Orange County Register (Subscription)
Americans bought homes at the fourth-slowest pace for a November in a 21-year history, despite the lowest mortgage rates in three years. It’s no short-run slip. Sales over the past three years averaged 340,913 per month, 8% below the pace of the previous 18 years.
More US homebuyers than ever are walking away from deals
LIEZEL ONCE, Mortgage Professional America
Roughly 40,000 US home‑purchase agreements were canceled in December, equal to 16.3% of properties that went under contract that month. That's the highest December share in Redfin’s records back to 2017. The pullback highlights a market where buyers held more leverage but still wrestled with affordability and uncertainty.
National News
Housing costs are crippling many Americans. Here’s how the two parties propose to fix that
GAVIN J QUINTON, Los Angeles Times (Subscriptin)
With housing costs so central to voters’ perceptions about the economy, both parties have put forward proposals in recent weeks targeting affordability. Here is a closer look at their competing plans for expanding housing and reining in costs.
More Gen Zers are Buying Homes. But It’s a Trickle, Not a Flood.
DANA ANDERSON, Redfin News
The homeownership rate for younger generations inched up from 2024 to 2025 because affordability and inventory improved slightly. But it didn’t surge, because housing costs remained historically high, and many young buyers were turned off by economic uncertainty.
California News
Los Angeles might tweak its ‘mansion tax.’ Here’s why that matters for the rest of California
BEN CHRISTOPHER, CalMatters
The ballot measure do-over is intended to restart apartment development across Los Angeles and ward off a statewide anti-tax crusade.
Industry News
UAD 3.6 is live, but many lenders aren't ready
BRAD FINKELSTEIN, National Mortgage News
UAD 3.6, a sweeping overhaul of how residential appraisals are reported to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, becomes available to all lenders on Jan. 26. The rollout comes even as many lenders are still sorting out what the change will mean for their appraisal workflows, systems and timelines.
Late-Stage Delinquencies Rise As Originators Face Growing Credit Quality Headwinds
National Mortgage Professional
New Experian data shows rising late-stage mortgage delinquencies are signaling emerging credit stress for originators, even as HELOC performance remains relatively stable.
Real Estate Technology
No stories today
Property News
California homes for sale for $260K? Here’s where to find lowest prices
ANGELA RODRIGUEZ, Sacramento Bee (Subscription)
The new year is starting out on a high note for potential homebuyers. Home prices in California have dipped slightly, according to the California Association of Realtors.
In Case You Missed It
No stories today
Resources, Webinars, and Other Items of Interest
No stories today
