Appraisal Now

Farm Bureau | U.S. farmland values hit record highs in 2026 (an average of $4,500 per acre, reflecting an increase of 3.4%), but growth is slowing. Cropland reached $6,020 per acre, and pasture reached $2,000 per acre. Cash rents held near-record levels. Values are up  about 44% since 2020, squeezing renters and beginning farmers despite weaker crop margins.

CNBC | Foreign buyer sales of existing U.S. homes fell 14% (units) and 19% (dollars) year over year according to the National Association of REALTORS®—the second-lowest total since 2009. But luxury home builders like Toll Brothers still see strong international demand, especially from Chinese buyers in California. Canadians lead overall foreign purchases.

Investopedia | Federal data shows that homeowners' median net worth ($396,500 in 2022) is nearly 38 times renters' median net worth ($10,410), with the gap widening over time. Homeowner wealth grows sharply with age, from $151,000 for those under 35 to about $500,000 for those ages 55-64, while renters' net worth stays flat around $10,000-$13,000 regardless of age.

Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy | In 2026, facing fiscal strain, some localities (NYC, Hawaii County, Chicago) are adopting new taxes on wealth/real estate for revenue, while many states (Florida, Iowa, Wyoming, and others) push property tax cuts that critics warn will undermine budgets and favor the wealthy.

CNBC | Foreign buyer sales of existing U.S. homes fell 14% (units) and 19% (dollars) year over year according to the National Association of REALTORS®—the second-lowest total since 2009. But luxury home builders like Toll Brothers still see strong international demand, especially from Chinese buyers in California. Canadians lead overall foreign purchases.

Montana Free Press | Montana's 23-year-old "land banking" program hasn't purchased replacement trust land since 2018 due to hot real estate markets and bureaucratic constraints, even as it has sold 225 cabin/homesite parcels since then, prompting concerns from advocates about losing public land access opportunities and $5.5 million funds diverting away in 2028.

Newsweek | As baby boomers (holding about $18-19 trillion in real estate) approach their "silver tsunami" of downsizing, selling, or passing on homes, experts say the transfer will be gradual, not sudden, with homes located in job centers staying valuable while retirement-destination properties may struggle to sell.

Fresno State Today | A Fresno State study found solar panels' effect on home prices depends on marketing: Listings specifying ownership (owned/leased/power purchase agreement) raised prices by about12%, while vague mentions without ownership details lowered prices nearly 5%.

Golf Digest | Golf's priciest land: Indian Creek Country Club in Florida's ultra-exclusive "Billionaire's Bunker" is valued at $3 billion to $5 billion. LACC, Pebble Beach, and Wynn Golf Club also rank high. Analysts argue these courses preserve, not threaten, surrounding luxury real estate values.

Fortune | Homeownership costs extend far beyond mortgage rates: 76% of surveyed homeowners say property taxes exceeded budgets, insurance premiums rose 46% since 2021, and hidden costs (taxes, insurance, maintenance) now total over $21,000 annually nationally.

Observer Research Foundation | Real estate is regaining favor as an inflation hedge amid geopolitical and fiscal turmoil. Key themes shaping the next investment cycle: rising capital costs, generational wealth transfer, trade realignment, demographic shifts, urban agglomeration, and climate resilience, which will require new strategies beyond traditional

ABP Daily | Canadian farmland values keep rising (9.3% nationally, 11.4% in Alberta in 2025), driven by cropland demand and scarcity. Rural real estate experts explain valuation factors such as soil, location, and leases, and offer tips on buying, selling, and succession planning.

Situs Group | Adjusting the $10 million "large deal" threshold for inflation reveals real shifts: industrial's move toward large deals is genuine, office's apparent rise was mostly bracket creep (real share fell), multifamily shows long-term growth interrupted by rate hikes, and retail remains a midmarket ($1 million to $10 million) story.