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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Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Top Stories
Why California homeowners stay put longer than almost anywhere else
RENE RAY DE LA CRUZ, Desert Sun
Richard and Mary Barrett held on to their Southern California home for 22 years before recently selling and moving out of state.
“We waited until our house reached peak value, sold it, then hightailed it to Utah,” said Richard Barrett, a former resident of Los Angeles County. “Goodbye, high taxes and gas prices.”
Richard’s story reflects recent data from Redfin Real Estate, which revealed homeowner tenure is the longest in California, with people in Los Angeles typically hanging on to a house for 20 years and about 19 years in San Jose.
National News
How Federal Housing Reform Could Impact Californians
KEITH MIZUGUCHI, KQED
As California’s housing crisis spreads across the country, Congress is finalizing a package of bills to forestall the worst of the Golden State’s fate by proposing what some national experts say are among the most significant federal housing reforms in years. The proposed bills attack the country’s housing shortage at multiple angles: from innovating construction methods to simplifying federal programs to encouraging localities to plan for more housing.
Local housing activists say Congress’ bills are unlikely to result in big changes here, but that some could support California’s goal of building 2.5 million homes by 2030 by jumpstarting construction innovation and further streamlining existing laws. “The federal government could be doing a lot more to really put the pedal to the metal, but this is a good first step,” said Laura Foote, executive director of YIMBY Action.
California News
'Craziest time I've ever seen:' Calif. real estate agents feeling whiplash amid global uncertainty
TESSA MCLEAN, SFGATE
California real estate was poised to pick up during what’s normally the busy spring season, but experts suggested the market could slow with significant hurdles ahead.
Mortgage rates dipped to their lowest level in three years at the end of February at just under 6%, only to tick back up to around 6.3% last week. That may seem like a minor shift, but it’s part of a “huge amount of volatility,” largely driven by the conflict in Iran that’s pushing more economic instability, Chen Zhao, the head of economics research at Redfin, told SFGATE.
San Francisco’s homelessness chief steps down, giving Lurie greater sway on key issue
J.D. MORRIS, ALYCE MCFADDEN, San Francisco Chronicle
Shireen McSpadden, the head of San Francisco’s homelessness agency, will step down from her role this summer, the Chronicle has learned. The vacancy will present Mayor Daniel Lurie with an opportunity to make a crucial appointment and wield greater influence over the city’s approach to homelessness.
McSpadden plans to retire as executive director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing effective June 30, according to letters she sent Monday to community partners and the heads of other city departments. She was appointed in 2021 by then-Mayor London Breed.
Industry News
When home insurance fails, California’s families and communities feel the fallout (Commentary)
MARCELLA CRANFORD, CalMatters
I didn’t lose my home to a wildfire. I lost my homeowners’ insurance to one.
The letter arrived without much explanation, a notice from my insurance company saying my policy would not be renewed. The reason, they said, was straightforward: the program was no longer available in California because of the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires. No appeal. No alternatives offered. Just a deadline and a warning that coverage would soon disappear.
Real Estate Technology
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Property News
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In Case You Missed It
Why this O.C. city has the most expensive real estate in California
KEVINISHA WALKER, Los Angeles Times
Tech billionaires and major corporations are fleeing the Golden State. But for the wealthiest Californians who remain, they’re buying some of the highest-valued homes right here in Southern California.
According to a new Times analysis of the highest home values in California, seven of the state’s 10 richest ZIP Codes are now in Southern California.
Resources, Webinars, and Other Items of Interest
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