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.
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Copyright © , California Department of Real Estate
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Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Top Stories
Stable Credit Scores Mask Growing Mortgage Affordability Divide
CZARINNA ANDRES, National Mortgage Professional
The average American’s credit score is holding steady. Beneath that stability, however, the divide between financially secure consumers and borrowers struggling with housing costs is widening. First-time buyer mortgage payments have increased 57% since 2019, making payment capacity a bigger obstacle than creditworthiness for many consumers.
Cash is no longer king in home sales
DIANA OLICK, CNBC
As the residential real estate market continues to lose steam, competition is weakening, and cash is no longer necessary to win a deal. The share of cash sales during the first four months of this year was 31.4% down from 32.3% during the same period a year ago, according to Realtor.com that looks at both new and existing homes. Buyers using mortgages are getting a boost from cooler prices, higher inventory and less confidence among sellers.
National News
New home sales retreat in July
LIEZEL ONCE, Mortgage Professional America
Sales of new single-family homes fell in July, erasing much of the momentum the sector tentatively rebuilt and extending a year-over-year slide that has become a defining feature of the US housing market. With the rate environment offering little near-term relief and supply continuing to accumulate, the second half of 2026 looks less like a recovery and more like an extended holding pattern for buyers and builders alike.
Hard To Scale, Impossible To Ignore: Housing Innovation
JENNIFER CASTENSON, Forbes
Home energy costs are rapidly increasing nationwide, exceeding inflation, due to rising demand from data centers and home electrification, compounded by a strained grid and reduced federal green energy support. Innovative companies are developing solutions, but scaling them faces significant challenges in a highly regulated, risk-averse industry.
Why Big Banks Are Pouring Billions Into Reviving the Housing Market
TRISTAN NAVERA, Realtor.com
JPMorgan Chase, the nation's largest bank, is a name typically attached to big numbers. But a new plan to invest $750 billion into housing market initiatives in the next decade stands out. It's not alone. Wells Fargo, Citibank, and Bank of America—which, with JPMorgan, comprise the "big four" of American finance—have each announced major housing initiatives. And, like the $5 trillion JPMorgan Chase, they're directing tens of billions toward the problem.
California News
Few California municipalities have met new housing goals
BEN CHRISTOPHER, KALW Bay Area
Governor Newsom set a goal to add 2.5 million new units to California’s housing stock by 2030. When local governments plan for this housing, they’re also supposed to meet a range of four affordability targets, spanning from market-rate housing to housing that people with very low incomes can afford. Critics of the state’s planning process have said the targets are unrealistic.
Multifamily sales helps push LA County commercial investment up nearly 30%
CHRIS MALONE MENDEZ, The Real Deal (Subscription)
As the summer gets hotter in Los Angeles County, commercial real estate investment sales are also heating up. Nearly 7.3 million square feet of commercial property traded hands last month for a total sales volume of $2.1 billion, Commercial Observer reported, citing findings by NAI Capital and CoStar. The sales represent a 22 percent increase in square footage sold compared to July 2025, as well as a 28.5 percent rise in dollar volume from the same period.
Industry News
Real completes REMAX takeover to form 180K-agent real estate giant
AJ LATRACE, Inman (Subscription)
The Real Brokerage has completed its $880 million acquisition of REMAX Holdings, bringing one of the real estate industry’s best-known franchise brands under the same corporate umbrella as the fast-growing cloud-based brokerage.
Compass rentals lawsuit dismissed, refiled with new plaintiff
AMIE FISHER, Real Estate News
Compass was momentarily off the hook when a lawsuit filed Aug. 19 was voluntarily dismissed three days later — but the complaint was quickly refiled by a new plaintiff. On Aug. 22, Peter Castaneda and Haley Gelfand dismissed their rental monopoly claims against Compass with prejudice, meaning they cannot sue the brokerage again over the same allegations. A new plaintiff, Charles Lieberman, then filed a slightly revised version of the suit on the same day.
Real Estate Technology
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Property News
Mountain lions stall plan to build 400 residences on Woodland Hills golf course
ROGER VINCENT, Los Angeles Times (Subscription)
The mountain lions have won the day in Woodland Hills, as opposition to building nearly 400 residences on a local golf course stalled a real estate developer’s plan to turn the private club into a residential community.
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