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
|
Friday, April 17, 2026
Top Stories
Average US long-term mortgage rate eases to 6.3%, its second weekly drop
ALEX VIEGA, San Diego Union-Tribune (Subscription)
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate declined again this week, easing borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers during what is typically the housing market’s busiest time of the year. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate dropped to 6.3% from 6.37% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.83%.
Renting Remains More Affordable Than Buying Across Top U.S. Metros
CZARINNA ANDRES, National Mortgage Professional
Renting remains more affordable than buying a starter home across all 50 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas, according to a new analysis from Realtor.com. The company’s March 2026 rental report found the median asking rent for units with up to two bedrooms fell to $1,669, down 1.5% year over year. That marks the 32nd consecutive month of annual rent declines, driven in part by an influx of new multifamily supply that has increased competition among landlords.
National News
U.S. Homeowners Are Remodeling Instead of Relocating
DANA ANDERSON, Redfin News
For many, renovating is a deliberate alternative to seeking out a different home. Roughly two-thirds (65%) of homeowners who are recent renovators chose to upgrade their current home instead of moving. For homeowners who are planning to renovate in the next year, 71% say they’re remodeling instead of buying a new place.
U.S. Home Sellers Cut Prices at Record Rate as Buyer Leverage Expands
MONSEF RACHID, World Property Journal
A total of 34.2% of sellers lowered their list price during the month, up from 31.5% a year earlier and the highest February share in records dating back to 2012. The average reduction among sellers who cut prices was $40,915, or 7.3%, the largest percentage decline for a February since 2023.
California News
San Jose deal underscores Bay Area office market tumble
GEORGE AVALOS, San Jose Mercury News (Subscription)
A North San Jose building bought at a discount compared to its prior value underscores the ongoing hard times for the Bay Area office market. Paceline Investors, acting through an affiliate, purchased an office and research building at 2581 Junction Ave. for $12.2 million, according to documents filed on April 15 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office. The discounted price Paceline paid for the North San Jose building is part of a pattern of slumping values for office buildings in the Bay Area, a slide that has morphed at times into loan defaults and foreclosures.
Bay Area city becomes first to ban data centers over power and water concerns
AIDIN VAZIRI, San Francisco Chronicle (Subscription)
The Oakley City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to impose a 45-day moratorium on data center projects, barring the city from accepting or processing related land-use applications. Under state law, the ban can be extended in phases to last up to two years.
Industry News
Commission changes haven’t killed deals, but ‘worrisome trends’ loom
LILLIAN DICKERSON, Real Estate News
After the National Association of Realtors suffered a loss in the Sitzer/Burnett commissions trial and agreed to settle with the homeseller plaintiffs, many consumer advocates believed agent fees would come down. Instead, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) reports, not only have commissions seen little movement, homebuyers now face new barriers to housing.
New data shows the colossal scale of Compass International Holdings
TAYLOR ANDERSON, Inman (Subscription)
On its own, Compass was already the largest real estate brokerage by sales volume before it acquired Anywhere Real Estate, the largest enterprise by volume (Anywhere included many franchise brands), earlier this year. Combined, the megabrokerage Compass International Holdings is far larger than its closest competitors according to nearly every metric tracked by the industry, the data show.
Real Estate Technology
No stories today
Property News
Cities Invest In 3D Printing Homes To Solve Housing Challenges
JENNIFER CASTENSON, Forbes
Several years ago, 3D printing homes was a sexy, futuristic idea. Startups were jumping on the bandwagon to leverage the appeal but mostly delivering on the novelty and less on the practicality of the solution. Now, 3D printing companies are working with local jurisdictions to leverage the cost efficiency of the process to deliver more affordable housing solutions in their markets.
In Case You Missed It
No stories today
Resources, Webinars, and Other Items of Interest
No stories today
