REI Lense Blog – page 11
Build-to-Rent Selloff Rules Are Back: What a 7-Year Mandate Could Mean for Prices and Supply
A proposal would set a seven-year timeline for some build-to-rent homes to be sold to buyers, potentially affecting inventory, new construction, and renter stability.
6 min read
Senate proposals target institutional single-family landlords: what the bills do and who feels it
Two Senate proposals would curb large investors in single-family rentals via purchase restrictions and tax changes that reduce incentives for big portfolios.
6 min read
Investors Feel the Squeeze as Home Prices Outpace Rents in 2026
February 2026 data show home values rising again while rent growth cools, tightening single-family rental yields as a housing supply gap keeps entry prices firm.
6 min read
Home Prices vs. Rents in 2026: Why Rental Yields Are Tightening for Investors
New 2026 data show home prices staying high while rent growth cools in many areas, tightening single-family rental yields and pushing investors toward more selective deal underwriting.
7 min read
America’s 7.2M affordable-rental shortfall: what’s driving it and which fixes are scaling
The U.S. is short 7.2M affordable rentals for very-low-income households. Here’s what supply packages and local programs are doing to close the gap.
6 min read
High home prices—not mortgage rates—are the top barrier for U.S. buyers in early 2026
Even as mortgage rates dip below 6%, new survey and market data show high home prices and thin inventory remain the main barrier for U.S. buyers.
7 min read
U.S. housing is still short ~4.03 million homes—why build-to-rent is growing (and what could slow it)
Realtor.com estimates the U.S. ended 2025 short about 4.03 million homes. Build-to-rent is growing, but input costs and tariffs can slow new supply.
7 min read
America’s housing supply gap just passed 4 million homes—why affordability is still tight in 2026
Realtor.com estimates the U.S. remains short just over 4 million homes, keeping affordability tight even as some markets cool and forecasts turn modest.
6 min read
Refreshing an Investment Property: Practical Upgrades That Boost Appeal and Value
Investment property owners—whether you rent long-term or list short-term—compete on comfort, function, and “this feels easy to live in.” A refresh doesn’t have to mean a full gut remodel; it can be a series of smart improvements that reduce tenant friction, cut maintenance headaches, and make the place photograph well. The trick is choosing upgrades that look good and hold up under real use.
4 min read
Is the Housing Shortage the Real Driver of High Home Prices? What New Fed Research Says
New Fed research suggests home prices track average income growth more than housing-unit growth across metros, complicating the usual housing-shortage narrative.
7 min read
What the Housing for the 21st Century Act and other housing packages could change for supply
Federal housing proposals emphasize faster permitting, updated grants, and manufactured housing support to boost supply, with affordability gains likely to be gradual.
7 min read
Buyer Power Returns as Listings Rise: What a More Balanced 2026 Housing Market Looks Like
Inventory is rising, homes are taking longer to sell, and rates near 6% are improving affordability at the margin—shifting leverage back toward buyers in 2026.
6 min read
Mortgage rates fall to 5.98%—why many buyers are still priced out
Mortgage rates hit 5.98% on Feb. 26, 2026, but high prices, tight entry-level supply, and low turnover mean affordability remains strained.
6 min read
Why the Frozen Housing Market Is Dragging on Home Depot, Remodel Demand, and 2026 Turnover
U.S. housing turnover remains near multi-decade lows, rippling into big-ticket remodel demand and home-improvement retail even as mortgage rates ease.
7 min read
Home prices are barely rising — but inflation and rates keep housing affordability strained
Late-2025 data show home-price growth slowing and turning negative in real terms, while affordability metrics remain challenging across much of the U.S.
7 min read
Investor limits on single-family homes: how purchase caps and tax changes could ripple through local markets
Proposals to limit large investors in single-family homes could affect prices, rents, and inventory—mostly in metros with concentrated SFR portfolios and depending on thresholds and exemptions.
7 min read
How U.S. communities are responding to housing affordability: education, senior housing, and zoning bottlenecks
Local affordability responses range from homebuyer education to senior housing pipelines and zoning/approval debates as rate-sensitive demand shapes early 2026.
6 min read
New Home Sales Stayed Elevated in Late 2025 — But the 2026 Construction Pipeline Looks Fragile
New-home sales ended 2025 near a 745,000 annual pace, but weaker single-family permits and starts point to a fragile 2026 supply pipeline.
7 min read
A proposed 100-home cutoff for institutional buyers: what it could mean for single-family inventory
Draft language would restrict some large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes at a reported 100-home threshold, with exemptions like build-to-rent shaping the impact.
6 min read
What a 100+ home investor buying cap could mean for single-family prices, rentals, and supply
Draft language would limit single-family home purchases by large investors (100+ homes), with carve-outs for build-to-rent and major rental rehabs. Here’s what could change.
7 min read
States advance pro-building policies to boost housing supply and lower per-unit costs
States and localities are advancing supply-side housing policies—ADUs, duplex zoning, parking caps, and targeted funding—to expand attainable housing.
6 min read
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.
7 min read
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.
6 min read
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.
6 min read