All stories
Everything published in Agents Estate, newest first.
US condo values up 1% in four years as houses gain 6%, Inman finds
An Inman analysis of Zillow data, published on 5 October, finds condos lagging houses in 91 of 97 large US metros over the past year and taking 73 days to go under contract.
US residential construction spending rose 1.1% in August 2026
Census Bureau figures published on 1 October put private residential construction at US$882.3 billion a year in August, up on July and 4.8% below August 2025.
Twelve US states now have deed-theft laws as Maryland's takes effect
Maryland's deed-fraud law took effect on 1 October and Alabama's at the start of the month. HousingWire relays a vendor scorecard that counts twelve states with dedicated laws.
US brokerage Fathom and Bed Bath & Beyond parent call off their merger
Fathom Holdings and Neighborhood Intelligence, the former Bed Bath & Beyond, ended their all-stock merger on 5 October. What was agreed, what each side said and what stays open.
Fed minutes describe US mortgage financing as somewhat restrictive
The Federal Reserve's minutes of its September meeting, released on 7 October, record a unanimous rate rise and a short, sober reading of home lending in the United States.
USA: how HUD, Freddie Mac and IRS homes are sold by bid or auction
Federal sellers in the United States each have their own way of selling a home. HUD takes sealed bids, Freddie Mac takes offers, the IRS calls an auction. The rules, source by source.
USA: how FHA loans and the VA funding fee work for buyers in 2026
Two federal routes let Americans buy with little or no money down. What an FHA loan costs and how far its 2026 limits reach, and how the VA funding fee is set, waived, paid and refunded.
US: FHFA reported to plan two-bureau credit reports at Fannie, Freddie
HousingWire, relaying Bloomberg, reports that the FHFA will tell Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to accept credit reports built from two bureaus. Nothing is announced yet.
FIRPTA in the United States: what a buyer withholds from a foreign seller
When a foreign person sells American real estate, the buyer must usually hold back 15 per cent of the price for the IRS. How the rule works, and when the rate falls to 10 per cent or to nothing.
US home flippers' typical margin slips to 21.5% in second quarter
ATTOM's second-quarter 2026 report counts 77,991 flipped homes in the United States, with the typical gross margin down to 21.5% and wide gaps between metro areas.
US home prices slipped 0.1% in August as annual growth edged up
Cotality's 6 October release shows US home prices down 0.1% on the month in August. Its text puts the annual rise at 1.8%, its page summary at 1.7%.
What US homeowners can deduct: mortgage interest, points and SALT
A guide to the federal deductions tied to owning a home in the United States: the mortgage debt limits, how points are deducted, real estate taxes and the SALT limit, from IRS publications.
USA: HouseCanary signs Google listings deal during Chapter 11 fight
Inman reports that HouseCanary has a national listings agreement with Google while it asks a bankruptcy court to value a US$43 million lender claim at US$85,061.56 secured.
US judge keeps housing counselling funds alive as buyer aid is debated
A federal judge in Washington has stopped US$57.5 million of housing counselling money from expiring while ten nonprofits challenge its cancellation. The government answers on 9 October.
How Agent Commission Is Set, Offered and Paid in the USA Today
Since 17 August 2024, offers of pay to a buyer's broker have left the MLS in the United States. Who sets the fee, who may offer it, and who pays it at closing.
US Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure: deadlines and cost limits
Federal rules fix when a US mortgage borrower receives the Loan Estimate and the Closing Disclosure, and how far closing costs may rise between the two. The deadlines, explained.
US mortgage applications fall 4.2% as lenders tighten credit slightly
The Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey shows US home loan applications down 4.2% in the week to 2 October, while its credit availability index slipped in September.
USA: Mortgage Connect buys a majority of eClosing platform Stavvy
Mortgage Connect said on 6 October it had bought a majority of Stavvy and will merge it with its own eClosing tool. What the deal joins, and what the rules allow.
US report: one salary buys a typical home in 14% of job-metro pairs
A National Housing Conference report released on 7 October finds a single worker's pay covers a typical home in 14% of occupation and metro pairings, and two pay cheques in 54%.
US real estate AI this week: an MLS assistant, new data, title rules
Realtor.com put its AI assistant inside its MLS platform, Inside Real Estate added property data to Streams, and a title insurer automated refinance commitments.