Mortgage rates have officially dropped below 6% for the first time in more than three years. The average 30-year fixed rate is now 5.98%, according to Freddie Mac — a key psychological and financial shift for the housing market.

In this episode, Kathy breaks down what lower rates mean for buying power, inventory levels, and home prices. Zillow reports that the median-income household has gained more than $30,000 in purchasing power compared to last year, putting over 80,000 additional homes within reach. But with prices still up roughly 50% since 2020 and rising for the 31st straight month, affordability remains a challenge.

Will sub-6% rates bring buyers back into the market? Could it loosen the lock-in effect and increase listings? And what does this mean for real estate investors in 2026?

We'll explain what's changing — and what isn't.

🏡 📈 If you want to learn more about working with an investor friendly lender visit www.Realwealth.com/Lender to learn more.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/26/economy/mortgage-rate-falls-below-six-percent

The White House is proposing a new housing policy that could limit how many single-family homes some investors can own.

Under the proposal, investors who own more than 100 single-family rental properties could be restricted from buying additional homes. That's a much lower threshold than many in the industry expected.

In this episode, Kathy breaks down what the 100-home cutoff means, how many investors it actually affects, and where those properties are concentrated. She also looks at the data on what these mid-sized operators are buying — including workforce housing — and how much of the overall housing stock they control.

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.NewsforInvestors.com

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-state-of-the-union-institutional-investor-ban-housing-affordability/

Artificial intelligence is starting to rattle another major industry — commercial real estate.

In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down why shares of major brokerage firms like CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, and Newmark recently fell despite strong earnings. Investors are questioning whether AI could shrink brokerage commissions, automate appraisal work, and compress margins across the industry.

But the bigger concern may be office demand. If AI allows companies to operate with fewer employees, will they need less office space in the future?

Kathy explains what executives are saying, where AI may have the biggest impact first, and what real estate investors should be watching next.

Is this short-term market fear — or the beginning of a structural shift in commercial real estate?

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.NewsforInvestors.com

Sources: https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/commercial/ai-anxiety-has-found-its-way-to-real-estate-brokers-2cf4d256?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqcKksgp13sa5Fw9OLZO7hsAflKnkAoDAULJd2RtaPo2I4Bei_Yi0AX0W03DNpw%3D&gaa_ts=699d0201&gaa_sig=AOJgjD2rtGMyIjL_uUf0yn5hZr5fCPt7Ae-LiBzHIPwU5RnYpdV6evacSt5WZxdLntEUCpyjE9RlsM9saO_wTA%3D%3D

Is 2026 shaping up to be the best year for short-term rental investing since 2021?

In this episode, Kathy breaks down AirDNA's 2026–2027 short-term rental outlook, including where occupancy is headed, why ADR growth may slow before rebounding, and how the STR premium is improving as mortgage rates stabilize near 6%.

We'll cover supply growth, demand forecasts, home price declines in coastal and urban markets, and what RevPAR trends mean for investors. If you're considering buying, expanding, or repositioning a short-term rental, this episode explains where opportunity may be emerging before competition increases again.

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.Realwealth.com/Deals

Sources: https://www.airdna.co/outlook-report

Builder confidence in the single-family housing market slipped again in February, according to the latest Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders. The index fell to 36, marking the second straight monthly decline and signaling continued weakness in builder sentiment.

Affordability remains the biggest challenge. High home price-to-income ratios, elevated land costs, and stubborn construction expenses are keeping many buyers on the sidelines. Even with incentives widely available, buyer traffic remains low.

In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what falling builder confidence means for housing supply, pricing power, remodeling demand, and real estate investors in 2026. If inflation eases and mortgage rates follow, conditions could improve — but for now, affordability continues to shape the market.

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.Realwealth.com/Deals

Sources: https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2026/02/builder-sentiment-edges-lower-on-affordability-concerns

The Supreme Court has struck down many of President Trump's tariffs, ruling that the emergency law used to impose them does not authorize broad trade taxes.

In this breaking news update, Kathy Fettke explains what the decision means for inflation, construction costs, and the housing market. Some tariffs remain in place, but others may be reversed — and billions in potential refunds could follow.

How could this impact builders, mortgage rates, and real estate investors? We break it down in simple terms and explain what to watch next.

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.NewsforInvestors.com

Sources: : https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-strikes-trumps-tariffs-major-blow-president-rcna244827
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/20/us/trump-tariffs-supreme-court

A new study is challenging one of the biggest narratives around tariffs — and the implications could directly affect inflation, interest rates, and your real estate portfolio.

Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York finds that Americans are paying nearly 90% of recent tariffs, not foreign exporters. In other words, higher import taxes are largely flowing through to U.S. consumers and businesses.

Why does that matter?

Because when prices rise, inflation stays elevated. And when inflation runs hot, the Federal Reserve may delay rate cuts — keeping mortgage rates higher for longer.

In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what the data actually says, how tariffs influence Fed policy, and what it means for borrowing costs, housing demand, and real estate investors in 2026.

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.NewsforInvestors.com

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ny-fed-report-says-americans-pay-almost-all-trumps-tariffs-2026-02-12/

New data from the Federal Reserve shows U.S. household real estate wealth dipped slightly in the third quarter of 2025 — but the bigger story is homeowner equity.

In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke breaks down the latest Fed Z.1 Financial Accounts report, including the decline in total housing asset values to $48 trillion, rising mortgage balances, and why owners' equity remains above 70% for the 15th straight quarter.

Is the housing market cooling? Are homeowners still in a strong financial position? And what does this mean for real estate investors heading into 2026?

Tune in for a concise update on housing market trends, real estate wealth, mortgage debt, and the overall strength of U.S. household balance sheets.