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.

Monday, October 26, 2026

Top Stories

Home Affordability Worsens Across 98 Percent of U.S. Counties in Q3

WPJ STAFF, World Property Journal

According to a new report from property data provider ATTOM, U.S. housing affordability remained under pressure in the third quarter of 2026, with homeownership costs exceeding historical affordability levels in 98% of U.S. counties analyzed, despite a modest decline in national home prices.

National News 

Fed expected to hold this week as election jitters slow housing, Cohn says

JONALYN CUETO, Mortgage Professional America

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged this week. One veteran mortgage executive says high borrowing costs and election uncertainty are already slowing the housing market.

One In Three Americans Blame Lenders For Housing Crisis Ahead Of Midterms

CZARINNA ANDRES, National Mortgage Professional

Voters want lower taxes, insurance costs, and mortgage rates, but 63% doubt the election will improve housing

Uptick for Non-Conventional Financing in 2025

DANUSHKA NANAYAKKARA-SKILLINGTON, National Association of Home Builders

The reliance on non-conventional financing varied across the United States, with 43% of new home sales using non-conventional financing in the Pacific division, compared with just 18% of new single-family home sales in the Middle Atlantic division.

California News

9 in 10 S.F. homes are now selling for more than asking — sometimes much more

CHRISTIAN LEONARD, San Francisco Chronicle (Subscription)

Data from real estate brokerage Compass suggests that homes in San Francisco are now nearly always selling for prices over what’s on the for-sale sign.

Home values soar in SF, continue rising all across 9 Bay Area counties

TESSA MCLEAN, JACOB MONTERO, SF Gate (Subscription)

For the second month in a row, all nine Bay Area counties had home values rise in September, according to Zillow’s most recent data. San Francisco was up for the 13th straight month, rising 2% from the numbers in August. 

12 Orange County ZIPs on costliest housing list, 3rd most in nation

JONATHAN LANSNER, The Orange County Register (Subscription)

Only two other counties in the nation had more neighborhoods on the list – and both were in California: Los Angeles County with 15 ZIP codes and Santa Clara County with 13.

Exceptionally high tides threaten flooding, homes along Southern California coast

LILY DALLOW, JENNIFER MCGRAW, CARLOS HERRERA, KTLA5

Already battered by weeks of destructive waves, Southern California’s coastline is bracing for another round of exceptionally high tides that could flood homes and roads, accelerated beach erosion and additional damage to vulnerable oceanfront properties.

Industry News 

MLSs nationwide brace for war with Compass

MIKE ROMANO, The Real Deal (Subscription)

Six MLSs across California, Arizona, Colorado and North Carolina sued Compass this week, asking a federal court to declare their listing rules legal and prevent the brokerage giant from bringing antitrust claims against them.

4 Real estate giants team up to create new, shared listings platform

TRACEY VELT, HousingWire

A coalition of 4 large brokerages launched Open Real Estate to create shared infrastructure for listing entry and distribution to MLSs and portals. Backers position it as an alternative to expanded private listing networks and tighter control of inventory.

Real Estate Technology 

No stories today

Property News 

Even $100 Million Mansions Are Considered Teardowns These Days

KERRY BARGER, The Wall Street Journal (Subscription)

Plus, California homeowners rethink their backyards amid wildfires and a divorced couple finishes building their home despite breaking up

The Once-Obscure Corner of Commercial Real Estate Now Riding the AI Boom

WILL PARKER, The Wall Street Journal (Subscription)

Demand for industrial outdoor storage—or yards used for stowing construction equipment, materials, and delivery vehicles—is soaring alongside the rapid build-out of data centers.

In Case You Missed It 

Why are pro-housing groups split on Proposition 45?

BEN CHRISTOPHER, Cal Matters

The fissures aren’t over whether more homes should be built across California. Instead, it mostly boils down to a question of where. 

Resources, Webinars, and Other Items of Interest 

Disclosure of a Prior Occupant’s Affliction and Death: firsttuesday Halloween Special

ft EDITORIAL STAFF, firsttuesday Journal

How this affects your practice: Deaths stigmatize a property – and you need to know the duty of a seller agent and a buyer agent to disclose a prior occupant’s death which occurred on a property.