Home Sales Collapsing at Highest Rate in Years - Redfin
High Cancellation Rates: Home purchases in the U.S. are being canceled at a record rate, with 15.3% of agreements canceled in July, marking the highest level since 2017.
Regional Trends: The highest cancellation rates were observed in Texas and Florida, particularly in cities like San Antonio, Fort Lauderdale, and Jacksonville, where buyers are seeking better deals or facing increased costs.
Economic Factors: Elevated mortgage rates, high home prices, and economic uncertainty are driving buyers to withdraw from contracts, while some are also influenced by rising natural disaster risks and insurance fees.
Potential Market Shift: A slight decrease in mortgage rates and expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts may lead to increased buyer urgency as housing supply diminishes.
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New York Real Estate Trusts Decline Due to Mamdani's Wealth Tax Proposal
- New Tax Initiatives: The new mayor of New York City is focused on increasing taxes for the wealthiest residents.
- Impact on Real Estate: This tax strategy is causing pressure on stocks of real estate investment trusts, particularly those operating in the New York market.
Top Income Opportunities for 2026: Dividend Stocks, Energy Pipelines, and More Recommended Choices
- Bond Market Performance: The bond market experienced its best year since 2020, surprising income investors who were losing hope.
- Future Outlook: Despite some emerging risks, the outlook for the bond market in 2026 remains positive.
California Couple Victimized by Serial Squatters Who Avoided Rent for Months: 3 Real Estate Investment Strategies
Squatting Incident: A Sacramento couple, Karen and Skip Moriarty, faced significant financial strain after renting their home to tenants who stopped paying rent and left the property in disrepair, highlighting challenges landlords face in California's eviction process.
Real Estate Investment Alternatives: For those deterred by traditional property management, options like crowdfunding, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and platforms like Arrived and Mogul allow investors to participate in real estate markets with lower capital and without the responsibilities of direct ownership.
November Sees Rise in Short Interest for S&P 500 Real Estate Stocks
Short Interest Trends: As of November, average short interest in S&P 500 real estate stocks rose to 2.80%, with office REITs being the most shorted at 6.41%.
Performance of Real Estate ETFs: The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF (XLRE) gained 2.06% in November, contrasting with the S&P 500's slight loss of 0.04%.
Notable Changes in Short Bets: Iron Mountain (IRM) experienced the largest increase in short interest, rising to 3.38%, while Host Hotels & Resorts (HST) saw the most significant decline to 5.19%.
Least and Most Shorted Stocks: BXP remains the most shorted stock at 6.43%, while Prologis is among the least shorted at 1.27%, indicating varying levels of investor sentiment across the sector.
Three Leading ETFs I'm Eager to Invest in Heavily in 2026, Even with Numerous Affordable Stocks on My Watchlist
Investment Strategy for 2026: The author plans to allocate half of their retirement contributions to ETFs in 2026, focusing on the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF, Vanguard Real Estate ETF, and Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF as key investments.
Small Cap Stocks Outlook: Small cap stocks, particularly those in the Russell 2000 index, are currently undervalued compared to large caps, and lower interest rates in 2026 could help close this valuation gap.
Real Estate Investment Potential: The Vanguard Real Estate ETF is highlighted as a promising investment due to its exposure to REITs and a 4% dividend yield, especially as the real estate sector is expected to recover.
AI Investment via ETFs: The Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF is favored for its focus on smaller AI stocks, providing a way to invest in the AI revolution without extensive research on individual companies.
Elizabeth Warren Criticizes Trump for Constructing Ballroom for 'His Corporate Donors' as Republicans Withdraw Housing Affordability Bill
Bipartisan Housing Measure Blocked: House Republicans removed the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act from the National Defense Authorization Act, opting to pursue a stand-alone bill next year, which raises concerns about the future of housing affordability reforms.
Warren's Criticism of GOP Priorities: Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized House Republicans for their inaction on housing costs, contrasting it with the Trump administration's luxury renovations at the White House, highlighting a perceived neglect of essential needs.
Political Threat Ahead of Midterms: Warren warned that if House Republicans continue to block housing cost legislation, Democrats would push for it themselves if they regain control of Congress in 2026.
Call for Action on Housing Crisis: Senator Tim Scott emphasized the urgency of addressing the housing affordability crisis, stating that families are suffering from rising costs and urging his colleagues to support the stalled legislation.
New York Real Estate Trusts Decline Due to Mamdani's Wealth Tax Proposal
- New Tax Initiatives: The new mayor of New York City is focused on increasing taxes for the wealthiest residents.
- Impact on Real Estate: This tax strategy is causing pressure on stocks of real estate investment trusts, particularly those operating in the New York market.
Top Income Opportunities for 2026: Dividend Stocks, Energy Pipelines, and More Recommended Choices
- Bond Market Performance: The bond market experienced its best year since 2020, surprising income investors who were losing hope.
- Future Outlook: Despite some emerging risks, the outlook for the bond market in 2026 remains positive.
California Couple Victimized by Serial Squatters Who Avoided Rent for Months: 3 Real Estate Investment Strategies
Squatting Incident: A Sacramento couple, Karen and Skip Moriarty, faced significant financial strain after renting their home to tenants who stopped paying rent and left the property in disrepair, highlighting challenges landlords face in California's eviction process.
Real Estate Investment Alternatives: For those deterred by traditional property management, options like crowdfunding, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and platforms like Arrived and Mogul allow investors to participate in real estate markets with lower capital and without the responsibilities of direct ownership.
November Sees Rise in Short Interest for S&P 500 Real Estate Stocks
Short Interest Trends: As of November, average short interest in S&P 500 real estate stocks rose to 2.80%, with office REITs being the most shorted at 6.41%.
Performance of Real Estate ETFs: The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF (XLRE) gained 2.06% in November, contrasting with the S&P 500's slight loss of 0.04%.
Notable Changes in Short Bets: Iron Mountain (IRM) experienced the largest increase in short interest, rising to 3.38%, while Host Hotels & Resorts (HST) saw the most significant decline to 5.19%.
Least and Most Shorted Stocks: BXP remains the most shorted stock at 6.43%, while Prologis is among the least shorted at 1.27%, indicating varying levels of investor sentiment across the sector.
Three Leading ETFs I'm Eager to Invest in Heavily in 2026, Even with Numerous Affordable Stocks on My Watchlist
Investment Strategy for 2026: The author plans to allocate half of their retirement contributions to ETFs in 2026, focusing on the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF, Vanguard Real Estate ETF, and Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF as key investments.
Small Cap Stocks Outlook: Small cap stocks, particularly those in the Russell 2000 index, are currently undervalued compared to large caps, and lower interest rates in 2026 could help close this valuation gap.
Real Estate Investment Potential: The Vanguard Real Estate ETF is highlighted as a promising investment due to its exposure to REITs and a 4% dividend yield, especially as the real estate sector is expected to recover.
AI Investment via ETFs: The Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF is favored for its focus on smaller AI stocks, providing a way to invest in the AI revolution without extensive research on individual companies.
Elizabeth Warren Criticizes Trump for Constructing Ballroom for 'His Corporate Donors' as Republicans Withdraw Housing Affordability Bill
Bipartisan Housing Measure Blocked: House Republicans removed the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act from the National Defense Authorization Act, opting to pursue a stand-alone bill next year, which raises concerns about the future of housing affordability reforms.
Warren's Criticism of GOP Priorities: Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized House Republicans for their inaction on housing costs, contrasting it with the Trump administration's luxury renovations at the White House, highlighting a perceived neglect of essential needs.
Political Threat Ahead of Midterms: Warren warned that if House Republicans continue to block housing cost legislation, Democrats would push for it themselves if they regain control of Congress in 2026.
Call for Action on Housing Crisis: Senator Tim Scott emphasized the urgency of addressing the housing affordability crisis, stating that families are suffering from rising costs and urging his colleagues to support the stalled legislation.
