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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Thursday, February 12, 2026
Top Stories
US homes sales fell sharply in January, even as mortgage rates continued to ease
ALEX VEIGA, San Diego Union-Tribune (Subscription)
Existing home sales sank 8.4% last month from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. That’s the biggest monthly decline in nearly four years and the slowest annual sales pace in more than two years.
What consumers think is causing the housing affordability crisis
SYDNEY JACKSON, Real Estate News
A majority of Americans think that people aren’t making enough money to afford homes — and high mortgage rates aren’t helping, according to a Bright MLS survey.
National News
Mortgage rates slip back toward three‑year lows
LIEZEL ONCE, Mortgage Professional America
Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed the average 30‑year fixed mortgage rate at 6.09% as of February 12. That's down from 6.11% a week earlier and well below 6.87% a year ago.
Realtors report a ‘new housing crisis’ as January home sales tank more than 8%
DIANA OLICK, CNBC
High home prices, faltering supply and weaker consumer confidence in the economy all continue to weigh on the U.S. housing market. The chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, Lawrence Yun, is calling it “a new housing crisis.”
Pending Home Sales Decline in All But 5 Major U.S. Metros
DANA ANDERSON, Redfin News
The typical home that sells takes 66 days to do so–the longest span in seven years–as buyers take their time looking at their options and negotiating with sellers.
California News
California housing prices soften but likely to rebound in 2026, analysts say
NBC 7 San Diego
Housing affordability slightly improved in California in the fourth quarter of 2025, as moderating prices and cooling market competition lowered borrowing costs and allowed more Californians to qualify for mortgages, the California Association of Realtors announced Tuesday.
Rampant post-fire price gouging went unpunished, report alleges
JACK FLEMMING, Los Angeles Times (Subscription)
When the Palisades and Eaton fires displaced thousands of tenants last year, landlords across L.A. jacked up rental prices while the flames were still burning. Officials were quick to respond, vowing crackdowns on price gouging. A new report asserts that many of those threats were toothless.
Industry News
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Real Estate Technology
You’ve Tried AI, But Can You Trust It?
Realtor.com
Most real estate pros are using AI, but they have questions about accuracy, compliance and client-facing use, an RPR survey shows.
Property News
These inventory-strapped housing markets just can’t catch a break
DANIEL HOUSTON, Inman (Subscription)
It's not just the biggest inventory gainers that have seen their stream of for-sale homes slow. Some of America's most listing-starved metros are once again losing ground. Dive deeper with Inman Market View's interactive maps and charts
In Case You Missed It
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Resources, Webinars, and Other Items of Interest
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