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, June 15, 2026

Top Stories

The World Cup has arrived. Which real estate markets are cashing in?

MIKE ROMANO, The Real Deal (Subscription
For years, cities have treated the World Cup as an economic development tool disguised as a sporting event. Now that the tournament is underway across North America, the real estate industry is getting a clearer picture of which markets are actually prepared to capitalize on it.

Why housing demand is up and inventory is down in 2026

LOGAN MOHTSASHAMI, HousingWire (Subscription)
Weekly pending sales and purchase apps are up year over year as mortgage rates have stayed under 7% and spreads improved. Inventory growth flipped negative, while new listings remain below normal and price cuts are down 2% year over year. 

National News 

Housing Affordability Divide Widens As Midwest And South Pull Ahead

CZARINNA ANDRES, National Mortgage Professional
The gap between America's most affordable housing markets and its least affordable ones is growing wider, according to Realtor.com's second annual Housing Affordability & Homebuilding Report Cards.

Builder pessimism streak longest since foreclosure crisis: NAHB

MATT SEXTON, Mortgage Professional America’
Builder confidence in the new home market slipped again in June, marking more than a year of persistently weak sentiment as rising material costs, elevated mortgage rates, and an affordability crunch continue to squeeze the economics of new construction. The data signals that new home inventory is unlikely to offer much relief anytime soon.

California News

California home insurance costs to rise 16% in 2026, largest jump in U.S.

JONATHAN LANSNER, San Diego Union-Tribune (Subscription)
California property owners can expect the nation’s steepest insurance premium hikes this year. Nevertheless, that surge will leave California property owners paying below U.S. norms.

San Francisco housing inventory shrinks as buyer demand lifts home sales

CHRISTIAN LEONARD, San Francisco Chronicle (Subscription)
The number of homes for sale in San Francisco dropped to its lowest May figure since before the pandemic, even as sales rose at one of the fastest paces among major U.S. cities.

Industry News 

After nixing IDX, Hoby Hanna says whole industry should follow 

MEGHAN ROOS, Real Estate News
Howard Hanna’s CEO says the MLS has value, but he thinks data sharing should be a “business decision,” not a mandate, and he believes the CCP was “a mistake.”

Securitized market stepping up preparations for new scores

BONNIE SINNOCK, National Mortgage News
Rating agencies and others are secondary market participants increasingly looking more closely at how to handle modernized credit scores for residential mortgage-backed securities now that government-related agencies have committed to the metrics.

Real Estate Technology 

Brokerages say 97% of real estate agents use AI, the results tell a different story

DARRYL DAVIS, HousingWire (Subscription)
Ninety-seven percent of brokerage leaders now report that their agents use AI, up from 80% in 2024. Non-adoption at the brokerage level has fallen to about 4%, and only 2% of brokerage leaders said they do not plan to adopt AI in 2026. The market has moved from curiosity to capability, with AI now embedded in the average agent’s daily workflow.

Property News 

Starter Homes That Cost $1M Have Spread to More Than Half of States

KARA NG, Zillow Research
The pandemic reset the cost of buying a home, spreading million-dollar starter homes from a handful of coastal states to more than two dozen across the country. Now, a record 242 cities across 26 states have starter homes valued at $1 million or more. 

In Case You Missed It 

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Resources, Webinars, and Other Items of Interest 

DFPI Warns Homeowners About Home Equity “Investment” Risks

California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
Consumers should be aware of a relatively new type of financial product called a Home Equity “Investment” (HEI), also referred to as a shared appreciation or shared equity product. These products are often marketed as a way for homeowners to access cash without taking on additional monthly payments. However, in exchange for upfront funds, you must pay the HEI provider a share of your home’s future value.