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MBA News | FHA delinquencies hit 11.52% (the highest since 2021), driving overall mortgage delinquency up 28 basis points year-over-year to 4.26%. Serious delinquencies rose across all loan types, with pandemic-era relief expiration and labor market disparities cited as key factors.

MarketWatch | While 2026 isn't the ideal time to buy a home, conditions are improving. Mortgage rates are stabilizing near multiyear lows, price growth is cooling, and buyers have more negotiating power. However, high insurance costs and elevated prices remain challenges.

Farm Progress | Kansas agricultural land values are stabilizing after years of rapid appreciation, shaped by profitability pressures, interest rates, and nonagricultural uses like hunting and energy development. Recent auction sales show wide price variation across the state.

Middle East Briefing | Vacation rentals in Egypt are taxed based on actual use, not property classification. Recurring short-term rental income may trigger income tax, value added tax, and property tax. Proper licensing, record-keeping, and professional advice are essential to avoid penalties.

Rochester Business Journal | Rochester's commercial real estate lenders report higher equity requirements reshaping deals. Borrowers need more cash up front due to rising interest rates and costs. Loan-to-value ratios remain steady, but debt-service requirements mean smaller loans. The multifamily market stays strong; while the office market faces pressure.

New York Times | Trump faces a housing dilemma: protecting the wealth of homeowners while making homes affordable for buyers. Economists say the US needs 4-7 million more units. His proposals focus on easier mortgages, not supply. After decades of NIMBYism, bipartisan support for building more housing is emerging.

WBEZ | Chicago's housing market faces tight inventory and rising prices, with median home prices up 45% since 2019. Strong demand and limited supply mean more competition for buyers. First-time buyers struggle against cash offers. Experts predict modest improvements, but affordability remains a key challenge.

Brownfield Ag News | Northern Illinois farmland values vary widely across counties, says Compeer Financial appraiser Deanne Phelps. While some markets remain strong, others have stabilized or declined slightly. Most properties in her five-county region are steady, according to Compeer's yearly benchmarks.

Post Independent | Colorado's SB 26 would expand agricultural property tax cuts to livestock producers who raise pigs and chickens, not just cattle. The bill aims to help small farms amid rising costs. The fiscal impact is minimal, with revenue impacts expected in the tens of thousands of dollars. The bill passed the committee unanimously.

AOL | Kansas City joined a growing trend of restricting data center construction, eliminating "by-right" building status and requiring special permits. Despite a data center boom worth trillions, areas like Loudoun County, Virginia, are also adding restrictions amid backlash. Critics claim environmental harms are overstated; data centers are low-impact facilities that should be regulated like offices, not strangled by zoning barriers.

New York Times | China's economy grew 5% in 2025 despite a severe housing crash. Home prices have fallen at least 20% since 2021, with sales at 15-year lows. An export boom masks weak consumer spending and plummeting household confidence. The real estate downturn, once 25% of the GDP, continues to worsen.

Cotality | New Zealand residential building costs rose 0.9% in Q4 2025, the largest gain since Q3 2024. Annual growth reached 2.3%, which is well below the 4.1% long-term average and far from the 10%+ post-COVID peak. Dwelling consents are rebounding to 35,500, signaling sector recovery ahead in 2026.

CNBC | Data center executives dismiss bubble fears despite massive expansion. The Digital Realty CEO cites strong demand with 15-year contracts. JLL forecasts capacity to double by 2030, requiring a $3 trillion investment. Some concerns exist about tenant creditworthiness, but sector fundamentals remain solid.