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Investors’ share of U.S. home buying remains elevated — and local concentration is the affordability flashpoint

New 2026 data points show investor activity remains elevated in U.S. housing, with the biggest affordability impact where investors concentrate in entry-level homes.

Investor Buying Stays Elevated: What 2025 Data Says About 2026 Homebuyer Competition

Investor participation in single-family homes stayed elevated through late 2025. Here’s what the latest data shows nationally and in markets like Miami and California’s Central Valley.

Assumable Mortgages in 2026: How Buyers Can Get Sub-3% Rates—and the Tradeoffs

Assumable FHA and VA mortgages can let buyers keep ultra-low pandemic-era rates, but equity gaps, qualification rules, and slow processing limit who can use them.

Investors Held About 30% of U.S. Home Purchases in 2025—What That Means for Buyers

Cotality data summarized by HousingWire show investors held about 30% of U.S. single-family home purchases through 2025, with big differences by metro.

Existing-Home Sales Slumped in January 2026 Even as Affordability Improved: What the Data Says

January 2026 existing-home sales fell sharply even as affordability improved. Here’s what NAR’s data says about rates, inventory, and demand.

Existing-Home Sales Drop 8.4% in January, Even as Affordability Improves: What It Means for Spring 2026

Existing-home sales fell 8.4% in January, but affordability improved to its best level since March 2022 as rates eased and income growth outpaced prices.

Why investor-ban headlines may still lead to more renting (built-to-rent carve-outs explained)

Investor restrictions may curb competition for existing homes, but built-to-rent carve-outs can steer capital toward new rental neighborhoods instead of starter homes.

What the Housing for the 21st Century Act could change for homebuilding costs in 2026

The House passed the Housing for the 21st Century Act as lawmakers focus on lowering build costs, streamlining reviews, and offsetting impact fees to boost supply.

What the Housing for the 21st Century Act Would Change for Housing Supply (Permits, Zoning, Finance)

The House advanced the Housing for the 21st Century Act, a supply-focused package targeting permitting delays, program updates, and financing rules that can unlock more homes.

Is the Housing Affordability Crisis Really a Supply Shortage? New Research Points to Demand and Income

New SF Fed research suggests home prices track income-driven demand more than unit counts, even as inventory improves and rates hover near 6%.

States and cities move from housing targets to tools: faster permits, missing middle, and gap financing

States and cities are tightening housing affordability tools: faster approvals, missing-middle reforms, gap financing, and new investor guardrails in early 2026.

Entry-Level “Trump Homes,” Rent-to-Own, and Investor Caps: What They Mean for U.S. Housing Supply

Builders are pitching entry-level supply and rent-to-own concepts as cities test investor caps and factory-built homes promise faster delivery.

What “Trump Homes” Means for Affordability: Rent-to-Own Claims, Builder Pushback, and the Rate Risk

A rent-to-own “Trump Homes” concept is in the news, but builders say no coordinated national program is underway. Here’s what it could mean for prices, rates, and supply.

Can Mortgage-Rate Relief Lower Payments Without Driving Home Prices Higher?

A proposed $200B mortgage-bond purchase aims to lower mortgage rates, but analysts warn cheaper financing can lift home prices when inventory is tight.

Buyer Power Slowly Returns as Regional Price Growth Cools

Regional cooling is improving buyer leverage: more listings, more price cuts, and softer conditions in parts of the West and Southwest Florida, while some ZIP codes still rise.

Local Housing Policy Experiments: What’s Working to Add Supply (and What May Raise Prices)

Cities and states are testing smaller-lot zoning, property-tax relief, adaptive reuse, tiny homes, and sweat-equity programs to improve housing affordability.

Why ‘Keeping Home Prices High’ Conflicts With Affordability—and What Actually Moves Payments

Home values and affordability often pull in opposite directions. With 30-year rates near 6%, 2026 relief may come from slower price growth and easing borrowing costs.

Why “Keep Prices High, Cut Rates” Keeps Housing Affordability Stuck

Keeping home prices high while relying on lower mortgage rates may protect owner equity but leaves first-time buyer affordability constrained without more supply.

Luxury housing stays strong while the rest of the market cools: what the split means in 2026

Mainstream buyers face affordability strain, but luxury demand is more resilient. Here’s what the split market means for pricing and new construction.

Record Homebuyer Deal Cancellations, but Prices Still Rise: What the Data Say Heading Into 2026

Redfin data show December home-purchase cancellations surged, while Case-Shiller and FHFA still report modest home price gains heading into 2026.

U.S. Home Prices Pick Up Again—But Regional Divergence Is Now the Main Story

FHFA and Case-Shiller show November home prices rising again, but gains are concentrating in the Midwest and Northeast as parts of the South and West cool.

Mortgage-rate stimulus vs. supply fixes: what the newest housing-cost proposals could mean

New housing-cost proposals split between faster mortgage-payment relief and slower supply expansion. Here’s what each could mean for affordability and inventory.

Investor scrutiny on single-family home buying: why build-to-rent may be the near-term winner

A new executive order increases scrutiny of bulk single-family home buying, potentially shifting competition in starter-home markets and supporting build-to-rent development.

Home Prices Are Flat in Some Metros—So Why Does Affordability Still Feel Worse?

Prices may be flat in some metros, but high rates and an entry-level supply gap keep U.S. homeownership affordability strained.

Institutional Landlords Face Growing Scrutiny in Single-Family Rentals—What the Data Actually Shows

Institutional landlords are under renewed scrutiny. Research finds mixed impacts, with ownership concentrated in certain metros and neighborhoods.

Rent caps, disclosure mandates, and enforcement: the new front line in U.S. rental housing

Rent caps and tenant disclosure rules are tightening in key U.S. markets. Here’s what changes in LA, NYC, and Washington mean for rents and operations.

Algorithmic Rent-Setting Is Under Pressure: What New Settlements and State Bans Mean

Settlements and new state rules are tightening how rent-setting algorithms can use nonpublic competitor data and shape pricing in U.S. apartment markets.

Rent rules tighten nationwide: caps, fee limits, and enforcement raise landlord compliance stakes

U.S. cities and states are tightening rent rules with updated caps, fee limits, and more enforcement, increasing compliance demands for landlords.

States and cities crack down on illegal rent hikes, rent caps, and fee workarounds

States and cities are enforcing rent caps and fee rules with refunds, settlements, and tighter rent-stabilization limits that raise compliance stakes.

Small and ‘Accidental’ Landlords Are Reshaping U.S. Rental Supply

Small landlords still own a large share of U.S. rentals, especially 1–4 unit properties. Here’s how their costs and decisions affect rents, quality, and supply.

Landlords Face a New Squeeze: Cooling Rent Growth Meets Rising Operating and Compliance Costs

Rent growth is cooling nationally, but operating costs and new compliance rules are rising—squeezing landlord margins even as tenants remain cost-burdened.

Algorithmic Rent-Setting Crackdown: What New Bans and Settlements Mean for U.S. Apartment Pricing

Bans and settlements are limiting rent-setting algorithms that use competitors’ nonpublic data, reshaping U.S. apartment pricing, compliance, and documentation.

Cooling and Appliance Requirements Are Redefining Rental Habitability Standards

California and Los Angeles County are expanding rental habitability rules to include core appliances and indoor cooling standards, changing landlord compliance obligations.

Cities escalate enforcement against big landlords: hearings, fines, and rent-setting scrutiny

Cities and states are escalating enforcement against large landlords—through hearings, fines, and settlements focused on rent practices and housing conditions.

Rent enforcement is escalating: refunds, penalties, and new limits on algorithmic rent-setting

Enforcement actions are driving rent refunds, penalties, and new limits on algorithmic rent-setting tools tied to alleged coordinated pricing.

NYC’s ‘Rental Ripoff’ Hearings: What They Are, What They Can Change, and What to Watch

NYC is launching “Rental Ripoff” hearings in all five boroughs to collect tenant testimony on fees and conditions, then publish a report aimed at guiding enforcement.

Rental Fees Are the New Front Line: How Local Rules Are Changing the True Cost of Renting

Cities and states are targeting add-on rental charges and rent hikes, pushing clearer all-in pricing and changing how owners structure leases.

How New Rent Control And Rent Cap Reforms Are Reshaping Local Rental Markets

Local rent caps and rent control updates in cities like Los Angeles and states like Washington are reshaping how U.S. landlords set rents and how stable tenants’ costs can be.

Rents Are Outpacing Inflation While Landlords Say They’re Squeezed: What’s Really Going On?

Rents are rising faster than inflation nationwide even as many landlords report higher costs, highlighting mounting affordability and cash-flow strains in pricey U.S. cities.

How Regulators Are Cracking Down on Rent Price Fixing Beyond Algorithms

Federal and state regulators are expanding rent price-fixing enforcement, combining algorithm cases with broader crackdowns on landlord data-sharing and coordination.

How New City Rules on Short Term Rentals Could Reshape Local Housing Markets

Many U.S. cities are tightening short term rental rules with primary-residence limits, caps on investor units, and tougher enforcement, reshaping local housing markets.

How Rental Inspection Mandates and Registries Are Reshaping U.S. Landlord–Tenant Rules

Cities nationwide are expanding rental inspections, fees, and registries to tackle unsafe housing, while landlords raise legal and cost concerns.

How New Cooling Mandates and Habitability Rules Are Rewriting Rental Landlord Obligations

Local governments are tightening cooling, appliance, and inspection rules, raising landlord costs while aiming for safer, healthier rental housing.

Inside DC’s RENTAL Act: How a sweeping eviction and rent-debt overhaul could reshape the rental market

DC’s proposed RENTAL Act would extend eviction timelines, curb late fees and add paperwork for landlords, raising questions about rental supply and tenant stability.

How NYC’s New Broker-Fee Rules Could Reshape Rents, Leasing, and Affordability

NYC’s new broker-fee rules shift commissions from renters to landlords, cutting move-in costs but raising questions about how much of that expense will flow into rents.

Local Rent Control Is Entering a New Phase: Tighter Caps, Tougher Enforcement, and Bans on Rent Algorithms

States and cities are tightening rent caps, ramping up enforcement, and banning some rent algorithms, reshaping the risk calculus for landlords, investors, and renters.

How LA’s New 82°F Cooling Mandates Could Rewrite Rental Housing Standards

LA city and county are moving to cap indoor rental temperatures at 82°F, making cooling a habitability standard that could reshape landlord costs and tenant protections.

Rents Keep Climbing While Landlords Say They’re Squeezed: What’s Really Happening in the U.S. Rental Market?

Rents are still rising faster than inflation, yet many U.S. landlords say higher costs and tighter rules are shrinking margins. Here’s how that tension plays out.

How New Rules On Deposits, Fees, and Evictions Are Rebalancing U.S. Rentals

Cities and states are rewriting rules on deposits, rental fees, and nonpayment evictions, reshaping who carries risk and upfront costs in U.S. rentals.

Regulators Escalate Crackdown on Alleged Landlord Rent Collusion, With and Without Algorithms

Recent cases in DC, NC, NJ and CA show regulators cracking down on landlords accused of coordinating rents through shared data and algorithmic pricing tools.

How New Rent Caps, Fee Limits, and Pricing Rules Are Reshaping Life for Small Landlords

From rent caps to fee limits and broker-fee shifts, new rules are squeezing small landlords’ margins and changing how they screen, invest, and decide whether to stay in the market.

How Crackdowns on Rent Algorithms Are Reshaping Multifamily Pricing for Big Landlords

Federal and state actions against RealPage-style rent algorithms and major landlords like Greystar and Cortland are reshaping how multifamily rents can be set.

How Local Rent Relief and Disaster Programs Are Propping Up Small Landlords and Tenants

Local rent relief and disaster recovery programs are tying landlord support to tenant stability, from Renew NC’s Helene repairs to L.A. County’s fire-related rent grants.

How New Health and Safety Standards Are Raising Operating Costs for Landlords

New health and safety standards for rentals – from appliances to cooling and lead safety – are raising operating costs for landlords and squeezing bare-bones units.

How Local Landlord Registries and Inspection Mandates Are Reshaping U.S. Rentals

Cities from Jackson to Pasadena are rolling out landlord registries, per-unit fees, and proactive rental inspections that are raising compliance stakes for rental owners.

How Local Incentives Are Pulling Landlords Into Rental Code Compliance

Cities are testing grants, bonuses, and online tools to bring landlords into rental code compliance without shrinking tight housing supply.

Why Landlords Feel Squeezed Even as U.S. Rents Keep Climbing

Rents are rising faster than inflation, yet many U.S. landlords say higher expenses, concessions and payment risk are squeezing margins.

State Attorneys General Are Redrawing the Lines on Rent Hikes and Algorithmic Pricing

State attorneys general in NC, OR, WA and DC are forcing big landlords to refund illegal rent hikes, obey rent caps, and curb algorithmic rent-setting.

How Accidental Landlords and Wall Street Investors Are Rewriting the U.S. Rental Market

Locked-in homeowners are becoming accidental landlords, adding single-family rentals and new competition for big investors while rent growth still outpaces inflation.

From Heat Waves To Habitability: How Cities Are Tightening Cooling Rules And Rental Inspections

As extreme heat and safety concerns grow, cities like Los Angeles, Detroit and Parkersburg are tightening rental cooling, inspection and habitability rules.

How New Local Rental Rules Are Reshaping the Landlord–Tenant Balance Across U.S. Cities

Cities and states are tightening rental rules on inspections, rent caps, fees, and cooling, raising compliance costs and forcing landlords to rethink where and how they invest.

How New Tenant Protection Laws Are Reshaping U.S. Rental Housing

Cities and states are expanding tenant protections – from rent caps and cooling mandates to inspections and fee limits – reshaping risks for renters and landlords.

Investors Now Buy Nearly One in Three U.S. Homes: What It Means for Prices, Renters, and First-Time Buyers

Investors now buy close to 1 in 3 U.S. single-family homes, reshaping competition for buyers as domestic and international capital targets rental demand.

When Rent Eats Everything: How Extreme Renter Cost Burdens Are Undermining US Household Finances

Harvard's latest research shows 65% of working-age U.S. renters can't cover basic necessities after paying rent, reshaping budgets, savings, and housing prospects.

How Short-Term Rental Management Firms Are Reshaping Hosting Across U.S. Markets

Tech-enabled short-term rental management firms are expanding across U.S. markets, professionalizing hosting and changing how investors and small owners participate.

Greystar’s $24 Million Junk-Fee Settlement: What It Means for U.S. Renters and Landlords

A $24 million federal settlement with Greystar over alleged rental junk fees could force clearer, all-in rent pricing across large U.S. multifamily landlords.

2026 Housing Outlook: Why At Least 22 U.S. Cities May See Home Prices Fall Even as the Nation Edges Higher

New 2026 housing forecasts point to modest national price gains but nominal declines in at least 22 U.S. metros, reflecting a localized reset driven by affordability and inventory.

How Wall Street’s Push Into Single-Family Rentals Is Reshaping Long-Term Renting in America

Large investors are expanding single-family rentals and build-to-rent communities as long-term rentership rises and affordability keeps more households renting.

Long-Term Renting Is Reshaping U.S. Housing: Affordability, Investors and the New Normal

High housing costs and inflation are adding millions of long-term renters, boosting single-family rentals and reshaping how investors and retailers navigate U.S. housing.

2026 U.S. Housing Market Forecast: Stable Mortgage Rates, Slower Price Growth and Stubborn Costs

Housing forecasts for 2026 point to mid‑6% mortgage rates, slower price growth and a rebound in sales—but rising insurance, taxes and other costs keep affordability tight.

Oops, We Slept Through Black Friday… Enjoy 50% Off Anyway!

Your 50% discount is live for a limited time. New users can save big on REI Lense this weekend — offer ends Monday, Dec 1st 2025 at 11:59 PM. Use promo code "INVEST2025" at checkout to apply your discount

Why All-Cash Buyers Now Dominate New York City Home Sales — And What It Means for Affordability

More than 60% of NYC home sales in early 2025 were all-cash, far above the national share, reshaping affordability and competition for mortgage-dependent buyers.

Santa Fe’s New Minimum Wage Formula: Linking Paychecks to Local Rents

Santa Fe is the first U.S. city to link its minimum wage to local rents, using a blended inflation–rent formula to tackle housing affordability.

VA Home Loans: The Underused Zero‑Down Benefit That Helps Veterans Buy Years Sooner

Realtor.com’s new analysis shows VA home loans can help qualified veterans buy homes more than four years sooner on average by removing the down payment hurdle.

How Fed Rate Cuts and Cheaper Mortgage Costs Are Slowly Thawing the U.S. Housing Market

Recent and expected rate cuts are lowering mortgage and home equity costs, nudging buyers, refinancers, and renovators toward a slow thaw in the U.S. housing market.

50-Year Mortgages in the U.S.: Lower Payments Today, Bigger Risks Tomorrow

A look at proposed 50-year mortgages in the U.S., how much they really cut payments, and why they may increase total interest and risk without fixing housing affordability.

How Creative Financing and Hybrid Short‑Term Rental Loans Are Changing the Game for Small US Investors

Hybrid short-term rental loans and smarter rate strategies are helping small U.S. real estate investors qualify, buy rentals, and manage cash flow despite higher rates.

Refinance Wave Builds as Mortgage Rates Fall: What It Means for Homeowners and the Housing Market

As US mortgage rates fall into the low‑6% range, refinance demand is surging while housing turnover and home sales remain historically subdued.

Portable Mortgages in the U.S.: How Taking Your Rate With You Could Reshape Housing

The U.S. is studying portable mortgages that let borrowers take their low rates to a new home, aiming to ease the housing lock-in effect and reshape mobility.

How Corporate and Institutional Investors Are Reshaping Local Homeownership in U.S. Markets

Investor buyers are capturing a growing share of U.S. homes, from Philly rowhouses to Orlando multifamily deals, reshaping rental supply and access to homeownership.

How Soaring Home Insurance Costs Are Quietly Reshaping the U.S. Housing Market

Rising homeowners insurance premiums are taking a record share of U.S. housing payments, reshaping affordability, demand, and real estate underwriting.

The Crackdown on Rent-Setting Software: How New Rules Could Reshape U.S. Rents

A Greystar settlement and Portland’s proposed ban on algorithmic rent-setting signal a new era of scrutiny for how U.S. landlords use software to price rentals.

How Older Repeat Buyers Are Quietly Reshaping U.S. Homeownership

Older repeat buyers and cash-rich boomers now dominate U.S. home purchases, pushing the typical first-time buyer age to 40 and widening the homeownership gap.

The Real Cost of Owning a Home in 2025: Hidden Expenses Now Near $16,000 a Year

Zillow and Thumbtack say hidden homeownership costs now average $15,979 a year as mortgage rates hover near 6.24%, tightening U.S. housing budgets.

Mortgage Lock‑In: Why Homeowners Aren’t Moving—and How It’s Freezing Supply

Fed and FHFA research show mortgage rate lock‑in stalled moves and sales. With the 30‑year fixed near 6.24%, listings stay tight even as applications rise.

Affordability Squeeze Is Reshaping U.S. Housing: Price Cuts, Delistings, and a Shift to Cheaper Metros

Affordability is steering U.S. housing: price cuts and delistings are up as buyers shift to cheaper metros like Pittsburgh and parts of Florida.

50-Year Mortgages in the U.S.: What They’d Really Do to Payments, Prices, and Risk

A 50-year mortgage would trim monthly payments but raise total interest, slow equity, and faces big QM and GSE hurdles. Here’s what U.S. buyers should know.

Are Investors Really Buying One-Third of U.S. Homes? The 2025 Housing Investor Boom, Explained

Investor share of home purchases is elevated in 2025. Builders court small landlords, fractional platforms add trading, and rents look flat-to-stabilizing.

Low-6% Mortgage Rates Bring Refi Revival and Builder Buydowns—While 50-Year Loans Loom as a Debate

U.S. mortgage rates hover near 6%. Refinances are back, builders are buying down rates, and 50-year loans are being debated. What buyers and owners should know now.

REI Lense for iOS — See Investment Metrics Inside Your Favorite Real-Estate Apps: Zillow, Redfin, Realtor, and Maps!

The brand-new REI Lense app brings instant investor insights (Rent, Cashflow, Cash on Cash, Cap Rate) directly into other mobile apps: Zillow, Redfin, Realtor, Google Maps, and Apple Maps!

REI Lense iOS App: Full Property Analysis Now Just One Tap Away

Discover the new REI Lense iOS app that delivers full real estate investment analysis instantly. Share any property from Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor and get cash flow, ROI, comps, and charts without leaving your favorite apps.

Passive Income Through Real Estate – Myth Or Reality

Passive real estate in 2025: higher rates, tight inventory and rising costs raise the bar. Get realistic ROI, risks, and ways to make ownership low-touch.

10 Upgrades That Boost Rental Value Without Breaking the Bank

Discover 10 budget friendly rental renovations to increase rental property ROI. Affordable home upgrades and cheap improvements to attract tenants fast.

The 1% Rule, 50% Rule, and Why Real Estate Investing Metrics Are Not One-Size-Fits-All

Learn how the 1% rule, 50% rule, and 70% rule apply to rental properties and house flipping. Smart investing starts with understanding the right metrics.

What Are Units in Multi-Family Properties?

Multi-unit properties offer more income and stability. Learn what “units” mean and how REI Lense helps you evaluate deals with real numbers.

How to Find Off-Market Properties Faster Than Your Competition

Learn how to find off-market properties before your competition. Discover proven strategies, tools, and tips to uncover hidden real estate deals fast.

How Rental Property Taxes Shape Your Investment Returns

Explore tax rules for rental property income, deductions, and depreciation. See how planning ahead helps you keep more of your investment returns.

What Does a Real Estate Agent Do?

What do real estate agents do for buyers vs sellers? Learn how agents guide you through the real estate process, from listing to closing.

Key Metrics for Real Estate Investing

Learn the six key real estate metrics – Annual Revenue, NOI, Cash Flow, Cash-on-Cash, Cap Rate & DSCR – to evaluate rental deals and secure optimal financing.

DTI Holding You Back? How DSCR Helps Real Estate Investors Get Approved

Learn how the DSCR lets real estate investors qualify for financing when traditional DTI limits block them. Understand, calculate, and improve DSCR for rental property success.