Real Estate

• [New] Without more supply to reduce the gap between what housing costs and what households can afford to pay, we will struggle to make housing more affordable for anyone, let alone the poorest Australians. Grattan Institute
• [New] Reform of Companies House in the UK, now imminent, will result in Companies House being able proactively to share data about suspicious activity on the register with enforcement agencies and use intelligence provided by law enforcement. Lexology
• [New] HUD will award Indian Housing Block Grant funding to Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities to finance the construction of new affordable housing in Indian Country, and also make historic levels of annual IHBG formula funding available to them. The White House
• [New] Erie, Pennsylvania will use $6.5 million to preserve and expand the supply of quality affordable housing, creating 100 units of new affordable housing, helping homeowners and small businesses bring their properties up to code, and providing low-interest loans for new homeowners. The White House
• [New] Double-digit house price growth is expected to slow to single digits by the end of the year as mortgage rates rise, the cost of living crisis continues, and supply increases. Mortgage Strategy
• [New] The shortfall of affordable housing hurts America's businesses and the broader economy by preventing workers from living in areas with economic opportunities but high housing costs. WSJ
• [New] COVID-19 cases are rising again in many states, and the White House recently warned that the U.S. could see 100 million COVID-19 infections this fall and winter if additional funding for COVID-19 preparedness is not secured. American Hospital Association | AHA News
• [New] The rising cost of housing in Ireland could pile pressure on small employers, amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, representatives of small and medium-sized companies have warned. The Irish Times
• [New] In a new survey of real estate professionals, 92% of executives anticipate increasing spending on location technology in the next two years. Commercial Observer
• [New] While house price growth is expected to moderate from the rapid pace of 2021, strong home buyer demand against a backdrop of historically tight inventory of homes for sale will likely keep appreciation positive in the coming year. Simplifying the Market
• [New] Housing markets in Britain and France will fare better in the short term but look exposed if rates rise further. The Economist
• [New] Home values in 97% of U.S. cities are overvalued, and real estate in some of the most overpriced regions could fall by 10% over the next few years. CBS News
• The White House is stepping up its warnings about a coronavirus surge this fall and winter, and is making contingency plans for how it will provide vaccines to the American public if Congress does not allocate more money for the Covid-19 response. The New York Times
• With interest rates on the rise and inflation further squeezing household budgets, it remains likely that the rate of house price growth will slow by the end of 2022. BBC News
• In a context where mortgage refinancing is now impossible, the new credit conditions generated by the Fed's change threaten to collapse demand in a real estate sector that was previously resistant to inflation. TalkMarkets
• The White House has increased military support for Ukraine, raising concerns that it could provoke Russia to use weapons of mass destruction. PBS NewsHour
• Australia's housing pipeline took a turn for the worse in March, with new dwelling approvals falling a more than expected 18.5% even before an interest rate rise that economists say will lower prices and further depress demand for new housing. Australian Financial Review
• The White House, which has set a goal of 50% electric vehicle sales by 2030, is working to construct a national network of EV charging stations and to create tax incentives for consumers who buy EVs. CNBC
• If only a handful of the 15 lower house teal candidates get elected and deny the Coalition power, they will reshape politics in Australia. Neos Kosmos
• Converting empty or underutilized strip malls and shopping centers into mixed-use residential and retail developments could help solve California's housing shortage crisis and allow stores to stay afloat amid the shift to online shopping. Smart Cities Dive
• The U.S. dollar is strengthening against all other FIAT currencies and will continue to do so as the U.S. continues to be the nicest house in a rough neighborhood. Kitco News
• In 2021, North Carolina enacted House Bill 951 to attain carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's 2019 Clean Energy Plan. EPA

Last updated: 21 May 2022