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, February 18, 2026
Top Stories
US single-family housing starts rebound in January, building permits decline
REUTERS
WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. single-family homebuilding rebounded in December, but a decline in permits for future construction pointed to underlying weakness amid higher mortgage rates and material costs.
Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, rose 4.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 981,000 units in December, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said on Wednesday. Starts increased to a pace of 942,000 units in November from a 894,000-unit pace in October.
National News
California among states with highest property taxes in 2026
DANIEL MILLER, FOX 11 (Los Angeles)
LOS ANGELES - Nationwide property taxes are putting a strain on the finances of many Americans. And whether it's taxes on a home or vehicle, those costs add up quickly and can be overwhelming. But residents in some states are affected more by high property taxes for their homes and cars.
California News
California offers up to 20% down payment aid for first-time homebuyers
ESMERALDA PEREZ, KFMB (San Diego)
California is offering down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers through the California Dream for All Program. The program provides substantial financial support to eligible applicants. It offers up to 20 percent assistance for down payment or closing costs, capped at $150,000 per applicant. Unlike traditional first-come, first-served programs, qualified applicants will be selected through a randomized drawing process.
Two lawsuits challenge San Francisco’s new housing plan from opposite poles
PATRICK HOGE, San Francisco Examiner
Two lawsuits filed against San Francisco’s recently-approved plan to accommodate more housing are polar opposites — one alleging The City’s plan doesn’t go far enough, the other that it threatens neighborhoods and needs further study.
But the lawsuits share the contention that city officials veered away from The City’s housing element, an important instrument the state approved in 2023 that laid the groundwork for Mayor Daniel Lurie’s Family Zoning plan — and in the process added new features vulnerable to legal challenge.
Industry News
Mortgage rates sink to the lowest level in a month, sparking more refinance demand
DIANA OLICK, CNBC
Mortgage interest rates dropped last week to the lowest level in a month, prompting more current borrowers to seek savings in a refinance. While lower rates didn’t give potential buyers much incentive, the run on refinances was enough to push total mortgage demand 2.8% higher compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $832,750 or less, decreased to 6.17% from 6.21%, with points remaining unchanged at 0.56, including the origination fee, for loans with a 20% down payment.
What You Gain From Buying a Home That You Never Plan to Pay Off
MAURIE BACKMAN, U.S. News & World Report
When people think about buying a home, they might imagine a day when the mortgage is paid in full and they can enjoy the freedom of not having to make those monthly payments. But you don't necessarily have to shed your mortgage in your lifetime for a home purchase to be worth it. Here's what you could gain from buying a home, even if you never end up owning it mortgage-free.
Real Estate Technology
Residential real estate’s AI honeymoon is over
AJ LATRACE, Real Estate News
Artificial intelligence is no longer residential real estate's shiny new toy — it has become an indispensable tool for many agents' businesses. From writing listing descriptions and drafting marketing emails to polishing social posts and enhancing listing photos, AI is now ubiquitous. That flood of AI-generated marketing — LinkedIn posts that read eerily similar, doctored listing photos and videos with a flat, uncanny-sounding voice — has sparked a new buzzword inside and outside the industry: AI slop.
But for brokers and consumer watchdogs, the issue runs deeper than repetitive content. As AI becomes embedded in the transaction itself, the industry is confronting harder questions around trust, disclosure, liability and consumer protection. In other words: The AI honeymoon is over.
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