Today’s Top News: Housing starts climb in Boston

National News

NAHREP: Hispanic families drive US household, homeownership growth

Since the Hispanic Wealth Project’s founding in 2014, Hispanic household wealth has more than tripled across the U.S.

NAR: Existing-home inventory jumps to multi-year high in August as sales pace slows

At the same time, the median-sales price rose again, as months’ supply of homes for sale hit a 10-year high. 

New construction slows amid shifting demand, affordability

The reports show higher mortgage rates taking a larger share of household income while applications for new-home purchases are falling.

mortgage applications
MBA: Purchase applications boost weekly mortgage activity

The increase in purchase activity offset a decrease in refinancings. 

REMAX Co-Founder Gail Liniger dies at 81

Since Gail and Dave Liniger founded the brokerage in 1973, it has expanded to over 145,000 agents operating in more than 120 countries.  

New construction could mean lower insurance costs

Homes built in 2020 or later cost 10% to 15% less to insure per square foot than homes built between 1980 and 2010.

Case-Shiller: Boston home-price growth jumps in June

The pace of home-price growth rose nationally but with significant regional differences.

Fannie, Freddie condo-lending changes begin rolling out in earnest

The updated underwriting guidelines have caused consternation among many in the housing industry. 

Are buyers over the ‘dream home’ sales pitch?

Buyers are reportedly looking for homes that reflect how they actually live, not how they could be living.

The United States’ ‘K-shaped’ housing market

Active buyers are looking for more expensive homes, while price-constrained buyers are looking at fewer homes altogether.

Builder confidence rises in August

The move was an improvement over July, but sentiment still remained in negative territory. 

Cotality: Midwest, Northeast markets drive overall US home-price growth in June

Looking ahead, Cotality expects the median price of a home to increase 1.5% through June 2027. 

Is the data center boom affecting residential real estate?

Three years after the opening of a large center, ZIP codes retained 66% of their pre-opening active listings, compared to 43% in similar areas without a data center.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren questions Compass-MRED partnership over fair housing, antitrust concerns

Just last month, the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust began looking into the relationship between Compass and MRED.

Why new homes are no longer always more expensive than existing-homes

New builds are about the same price as existing homes on the market, but that is not due to rising regulatory costs builders have to pay.

Case-Shiller: Boston home-price growth declines in May

Nationally, home-price growth topped 1% for the first time in 2026.