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.

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Top Stories

Relistings Jump as Home Sellers Bet on Stronger Spring Market

LILY KATZ, ASAD KHAN, Redfin News
Nearly 45,000 U.S. homes that were delisted last year were relisted for sale in January 2026—the highest January figure in records dating back to 2016. That represents a record 3.6% of homes that were on the market in January. Home delistings jumped last year because it was—and still is—a buyer’s market. Buyers retreated due to high housing costs and economic uncertainty, which meant sellers far outnumbered buyers.

Class action targets UWM over brokers' unsolicited text campaign

TEZ ROMERO, Mortgage Professional America
UWM faces a class action alleging it should answer for brokers' unsolicited marketing texts — sent, the suit claims, using the lender's own tools. But this is not just another telemarketing gripe. The case raises a question that should catch the attention of every wholesale lender and broker in the country: when brokers use a lender's tools, follow its training, and operate almost exclusively within its ecosystem, does the lender own the liability too? 

National News 

Homebuyers have another thing to worry about. This time, it's 'housefishing.'

JORDAN PANDY, Business Insider
Just as showing up for a date with someone whose profile photos don't match their appearance can be frustrating, so, too, can arriving at a house that looks nothing like its listing. Sellers usually aim to spruce up their properties to make them look as appealing as possible — tidying up, correcting a bad paint job, and sometimes even renting furniture to stage it. But now that those quick fixes can easily be done digitally with the advent of AI, the line between helping someone imagine a home's potential and deceiving them before they open the door is blurred.

See which states are looking to limit private real estate listings

TAYLOR ANDERSON, Inman (Subscription)
So far, at least one state has passed legislation requiring properties to be marketed to the general public within a day of getting a listing or lease agreement signed. Lawmakers in four other states have proposed similar bills, at least one of which is supported by Zillow and several others by state Realtor organizations.

Lenders offer pricing promos in anticipation of a hot market

BRAD FINKELSTEIN, National Mortgage News (Subscription)
Mortgage lenders are rolling out new promotions as they compete for borrowers in a fluctuating rate environment, with both refinancing and purchase incentives becoming more common.

Home Insurance Premiums Up 24% As Coverage Gaps Widen Nationwide

ERIC C. PECK, National Mortgage Professional
A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) warns that millions of Americans are being priced out of homeowners insurance as climate-driven disasters drive premiums higher, creating an escalating insurability crisis.

California News

Southern California homeowners stay put the longest in US, stifling housing market

PRASHANGT GOPAL, Orange County Register (Subscription)
The typical homeowner has stayed in their home for 12 years as of December, almost double the median tenure of two decades ago, according to a new report from brokerage Redfin. Homeowners in California’s major metropolitan areas stayed put the longest, largely because of state laws that let them keep relatively low property-tax bills until they sell. 

Industry News 

MLS, local association counts drop as consolidation accelerates 

SYDNEY JACKSON, Real Estate News
The number of multiple listing services and local Realtor associations operating in the U.S. fell sharply in 2025, according to the newly released Organized Real Estate Indices from T3 Sixty's Real Estate Almanac. Advanced organizational consolidation has trimmed the MLS and association landscape in recent years, while smaller organizations have struggled to adapt. But 2025 saw the steepest percentage decline since at least 2018, when T3 Sixty began tracking this data.

Real Estate Technology 

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Property News 

‘Brady Bunch’ house declared a historic landmark

JACK FLEMMING, Los Angeles Times (Subscription)
Here’s the story…of how a seemingly non-descript home in the San Fernando Valley turned into an L.A. landmark.
The L.A. City Council voted to designate the “Brady Bunch” house as a historic-cultural monument on Wednesday, enshrining the Studio City Midcentury as a piece of the city’s history.

In Case You Missed It 

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Resources, Webinars, and Other Items of Interest 

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