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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Monday, March 9, 2026
Top Stories
Senate’s New Housing Bill Would Force Large Investors to Sell Homes
REBECCA PICCIOTTO, Wall Street Journal (Subscription)
In a bipartisan bid to make homeownership more affordable, the U.S. Senate is aiming to restrict the industry that builds homes to rent them. Senators recently inserted a new provision in their latest housing legislation that would require large single-family home investors to sell their newly built rental properties to individuals within seven years of completing them.
Here’s what California’s candidates for governor had to say about home ownership
LINH TAT, San Jose Mercury News (Subscription)
Multiple candidates for California governor convened on Thursday, March 5, in Sacramento to talk about one of the issues that’s top of mind for many voters: home ownership. The candidates who participated in the forum often agreed, at least in concept, on a number of solutions for making housing affordable, expediting construction of new homes and providing insurance to homeowners.
National News
Middle-income homebuyers have $30,000 more buying power than a year ago, research finds. It’s still not enough
SARAH AGOSTINO, CNBC
U.S. households that have a median income — an estimated $86,300 — and enough money for a 20% down payment can now afford a $331,483 home, up $30,302 from $301,181 a year ago, according to a new report from Zillow. By “afford,” Zillow means that the monthly mortgage payment, including insurance and property taxes, would be under 30% of a household’s income.
Mortgage originations rise to three-year high in Q4 behind refi surge
SARAH WOLAK, HousingWire (Subscription)
Mortgage origination activity rose sharply in the fourth quarter as a jump in refinancing activity pushed lending to its highest level in more than three years, according to ICE Mortgage Technology‘s March 2026 Mortgage Monitor Report.
Housing inventory recovery slows for ninth straight month
COLIN MCNAMARA, National Mortgage News (Subscription)
Housing inventory ticked up on an annual basis for the 28th consecutive month in February, but growth continued to flatten, underlining a trend losing momentum. Active listings grew 7.9% year over year in February, but just 0.2% month over month, reaching more than 914,000 homes on the market, according to Realtor.com's monthly housing report. While inventory typically increases early in the year, annual progress has slowed for nine straight months.
California News
California has 40,000 affordable housing units ready to break ground. One setback is holding them up
BEN CHRISTOPHER, CalMatters
An estimated 39,880 affordable units across California are stuck in financial purgatory, according to a new report by Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit that funds, consults and advocates for affordable housing. Many have “been sitting for a year or two waiting for funding,” said Justine Marcus, policy director for Enterprise’s Northern California office and one of the report’s co-authors.
State Farm settles California home insurance rate request; some customers will get refunds
MEGAN FAN MUNCE, San Francisco Chronicle (Subscription)
State Farm General, the financially imperiled California home insurance giant, will not raise rates any further for homeowners under a settlement with the California Department of Insurance and Consumer Watchdog. The settlement means that the previously-granted interim 17% rate hike for homeowners, which began appearing on customers’ bills last summer, will stand, but the company will not pursue the additional 11% rate increase it previously sought.
Industry News
Compliance Pitfalls In Comp Plans Cost Thousands, Experts Warn
CZARINNA ANDRES, National Mortgage Professional
A webinar hosted by mortgage training firm MaxClass on Thursday warned loan officers and lenders that poorly understood compensation agreements and vague clawback provisions are costing professionals thousands of dollars in lost income.
Real Estate Technology
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Property News
The strange, psychedelic history of how San Francisco got colorful homes
PETER HARTLAUB, San Francisco Chronicle (Subscription)
There was a time when San Francisco leaders couldn’t demolish Victorian homes fast enough. They were called an architectural “pestilence” and derided as “Gothic horrors.” Even the beloved Painted Ladies along Alamo Square, stars of the “Full House” opening credits and now a Top 10 San Francisco tourist attraction, were in a zone slated for demolition. Then something unexpected happened: Bright colors arrived.
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