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 25, 2026
Top Stories
Mortgage rates reach lowest since 2022, boosting refinancing
VINCE GOLLE, National Mortgage News
The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped 8 basis points to 6.09% in the week ended Feb. 20, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. However, the near quarter-point decline in mortgage rates this year has yet to inspire buyers, illustrating a housing market still struggling to gather momentum.
Supply Surge Leaves Sellers Competing As Buyer Demand Weakens
National Mortgage Professional
A widening imbalance between home sellers and buyers has shifted the U.S. housing market decisively in favor of buyers, as elevated mortgage rates and affordability pressures continue to suppress demand.
National News
Nearly 1 in 7 Home Sales Are Falling Through, a Record For This Time of Year
DANA ANDERSON, Redfin News
Nearly 40,000 home-sale agreements nationwide were canceled in January, equal to 13.7% of homes that went under contract that month. That’s up from 13.1% a year earlier, and the highest January share in records dating back to 2017.
State bill could end tax break for large digital lenders
SPENCER LEE, National Mortgage News (Subscription)
A proposed Washington State bill that aims to replenish lost wildfire prevention funding could end up removing a tax break currently benefiting large digital lenders.
California News
Newsom and Trump have vowed to crack down on corporate home buying. A new bill aims to curb it
JACK FLEMMING, Los Angeles Times (Subscription)
Assembly Bill 1611 would eliminate a tax loophole used by corporations to outbid individual home buyers, banning companies that own at least 50 homes from using the strategy.
#VALUE!
ZAIN KHAN, Realtor.com
The County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office said 686 parcels will be offered during the annual online sale, scheduled for March 13 through March 18, Fox 5 San Diego reported. To take part, prospective buyers must complete the online registration process by March 3.
Industry News
Referral fees keep real estate commissions high, CPC says
BROOKLEE HAN, HousingWire (Subscription)
The Consumer Policy Center says referral fees, including portal programs that take up to 40% of commissions, can keep commissions near 3% and limit consumer choice. CPC cites a 1,016 person survey where 55% expect higher commissions from 40% fees and 84% support upfront disclosure.
Real Estate Technology
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Property News
S.F.’s iconic Transamerica Pyramid to be sold — for the second time in six years, report says
LAURA WAXMAN, ROLAND LI, San Francisco Chronicle (Subscription)
Bloomberg is reporting the building that has been a defining aspect of the city’s skyline for nearly 50 years is being sold to Yoda PLC, an investment firm from Cyprus. It would be only the second time the Pyramid has been sold since it was built in 1972 by its namesake Transamerica Corp.
Your backyard could be a home. Here’s how to build one.
MICHAEL J COREN, Washington Post (Subscription)
Proposing new homes in existing neighborhoods once amounted to political suicide for local officials. Today, politicians can’t get enough of accessory dwelling units (ADUs): small backyard and attached homes that are gaining popularity across the nation.
In Case You Missed It
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