2026-05-21: Mortgage rates reversed Tuesday's spike, falling back below 6.75% on Iran peace hopes

2026-07-23: 30-year fixed hit 6.77%, the highest since July 2025

SHOW NOTES - 2026-07-23 STORIES COVERED * Today: * Mortgage rates reach 11-month high at 6.77%. [https://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/markets/mortgage-rates-07222026] [Market Pulse] * Mortgage applications tick up 1.9% despite rate headwinds. [https://www.rismedia.com/2026/07/22/mortgage-applications-see-modest-rise-amid-rate-hikes/] [Market Pulse] * National active inventory holds above 1.1M for fifth consecutive week. [https://www.realtor.com/research/weekly-housing-trends-view-data-week-july-18-2026/] [Market Pulse] * Affordable metros outperforming as demand softens nationally. [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/housing-market-affordable-markets-resilience/] [Market Pulse] * NAHB: single-family starts down 5% YTD, builder confidence at 34. [https://www.nahb.org/blog/2026/07/inflation-risks-rise] [Market Pulse] * Inflation risk rising again from Iran war. [https://www.nahb.org/blog/2026/07/inflation-risks-rise] [Market Pulse] * UGA 40 Under 40 signals strong alumni network engagement. [https://news.uga.edu/ugas-40-under-40-spotlights-the-next-generation-of-leaders/] [UGA & Student Housing] * Relistings: UGA professor's research shows pricing strategy matters more than stigma. [https://www.rismedia.com/2026/07/22/relistings-impact-sale-academic-on-the-ground-investigation/] [Deal Flow] * New home lot sizes near historic lows nationally. [https://www.nahb.org/blog/2026/07/median-lot-sizes-new-homes-2025] [Deal Flow] * Multifamily loan balances up 53% since 2019. [https://commercialobserver.com/2026/07/multifamily-loan-balance-cred-iq/] [Commercial & Investment] * Michigan signs single-stair reform for buildings up to 6 stories. [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/whitmer-signs-single-stair-legislation/] [Commercial & Investment] * Small landlords pulling back on renovation spending, shifting to operational efficiency. [https://rentalhousingjournal.com/how-small-landlords-are-reshaping-property-management/] [Property Management & Rentals] * Most mom-and-pop landlords lose money. [https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/most-mom-and-pop-landlords-lose-money] [Property Management & Rentals] * Climate risk drives higher HOA fees and insurance gaps. [https://www.realtor.com/research/climate-risk-2026/] [Property Management & Rentals] * NYC landlords sue over rent freeze; precedent to watch. [https://commercialobserver.com/2026/07/nyc-landlords-sue-rent-guidelines-board-rent-freeze/] [Industry & Legal] Read the full brief [https://carolinacleartech.com/athens-real-estate/2026-07-23/]

2026-07-22: 30-year fixed hit 6.75% for the third time this year as fuel prices spike

SHOW NOTES - 2026-07-22 STORIES COVERED * Today: * Mortgage rates match 2026 highs at 6.75%. [https://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/markets/mortgage-rates-07212026] [Market Pulse] * Purchase apps up 6% despite rate pressure. [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/22/mortgage-rates-are-rising-again.html] [Market Pulse] * New home sales fell for the second straight month; cancellations spiked 50%. [https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxNYVBJVjVSVWd3aS03ejY5MDJYcndob2pPTkxHNko4TlZYT3B1MDBmVEV4cXZVLXdMQmJhbjhOZlRuYUN1VVBkOXZ5eE5tTWRiZmlieGs3Nzh2Wmk3TGo0Yi1xNTNaZXFScjRRY3MtYmEyXzMwSjlQZnFhOUgxUmFGamlxNVFrVkwxMlp6cnpsMjFGQkoxUHBzMjQ3OGh4RVNucWpzTWh0LVBnSzlEZVF6VkVOV1VCcExV?oc=5] [Market Pulse] * Seller concessions hit near-record 46.2% of U.S. home sales. [https://www.redfin.com/blog/seller-concession-examples/] [Market Pulse] * Multifamily housing starts boosted June construction nationally. [https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxPM2JrOEVTc2wwTUtFQ2c5R2FBcE1rdk0xYTJBWWQ3RjFDUTJudjlJNG9faVpJQUZjTDdzYVpVVk1vZ3F4X1lOaGtwTUg5XzVQMHVaSzNJX3dsdnVKakJRRHNtbWMzUWtYT254RFJvbV9VXzVxMm5Yek01QzJMYmVnN2c2YjhlNUs3X2gwY3pKZ2NMdjJkdVE?oc=5] [Market Pulse] * Georgia WR Dowdell sidelined indefinitely after off-campus accident. [https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxQa0Z4Q3lVa1R4OTFRMXZKNHkyVTFfbktqZGdJbDVVSUw1UXBXaHl4ME9MWkRxOFRGNGFrTWVXek10cGIzYUNNS205WXpxRGxEcFVIa1dwLWZKcFBHSi1KMjd2c0VUaGM2VUx6ZzBNcm1HclhDbVdmWlV3OUZyeU9fZnAyZUFvR1JKOGRVbmgxY3BFeFRQSHJLcDRsMWE0cHdROHB5TGZaVzFFLU9MZXc?oc=5] [UGA & Student Housing] * Georgia Museum of Art hosting major Edmonia Lewis exhibition Aug 8 - Jan 3. [https://news.uga.edu/edmonia-lewis-said-in-stone-is-coming-to-georgia/] [UGA & Student Housing] * Institutional investors doubling listings after ROAD to Housing Act. [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/21/wall-street-selling-homes-real-estate.html] [Deal Flow] * 211 Oconee River Circle, Athens, 30605 listed. [https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxQXzBydVV1S0ZzZ2w3MUxhQ0hNTXJTa254dHpoVmZvdWs5ZURhczZLbUxTQWpTMTFVdjV4dFJBNHJaa3pqUTNtNmJJUmgwZkJOVDVxczBiN1VwcUF0Zk9NUnFKYTV1Ym5JaE5GV2hwemhkZkJiQkttSW9iVS1OQXhzMWp1V3JaTkVCVWlRRnd0R2hZZEU?oc=5] [Deal Flow] * Canadian tariffs add uncertainty to construction costs. [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/canada-tariffs-trump-homebuilders/] [Commercial & Investment] * Institutional sell-off could shift rental dynamics in Georgia. [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/21/wall-street-selling-homes-real-estate.html] [Property Management & Rentals] * Georgia property tax ballot measure coming in November. [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/21/property-taxes-midterm-elections-ballots-issues.html] [Industry & Legal] * FHA proposes Reinstatement Advance Payment (RAP) to replace partial claim subordinate liens. [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/fha-rap-end-subordinate-liens/] [Industry & Legal] * Equifax locks in $1 VantageScore through 2027. [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/equifax-1-vantagescore-2027/] [Industry & Legal] * Building code reform debate gains momentum. [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/model-building-codes/] [Industry & Legal] Read the full brief [https://carolinacleartech.com/athens-real-estate/2026-07-22/]

2026-07-21: 30-year fixed climbed to 6.71%, multifamily construction surged while single-family permits fell

SHOW NOTES - 2026-07-21 STORIES COVERED * Today: [https://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/markets/mortgage-rates-07202026] Read the full brief [https://carolinacleartech.com/athens-real-estate/2026-07-21/]

2026-07-20: Housing starts surged 19% nationally but single-family construction stayed flat

SHOW NOTES - 2026-07-20 STORIES COVERED * Today: [https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMibkFVX3lxTFBBTEtmSURrVE9USV9MMUNOWTVHeTYtUzJZclBlVk5wYXZFSC1jcG5mTmdIcmVHcWltZjRMWmh4cFk3QXBNWWRfeFUxeDI2QUZsRl9PS01CWmdKa0N1NlI2RVlPY1BJNHh4Y3lOcV9B?oc=5] [July 20, 2026] Read the full brief [https://carolinacleartech.com/athens-real-estate/2026-07-20/]

2026-07-19: National single-family housing starts fell while permits hit a 10-month low

SHOW NOTES - 2026-07-19 STORIES COVERED * Today: [https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxNUG82bHIySEIxbzhUTFhWOXhtSDZJcXRqMHVGcjJLNi1uU01mZU5jMXdpRUx5dGxRN1hBYXJvRlA4ME10Qmo1R3lVV3VGb1hTaTdFRzlOa3hDSWF5MDJBZjJaX0hfdjViMHdMZzJ6ZDVLdHlCMThfdXBLU3piOE1WYTAwcVFWTE1VZERianNXdC11YUpJQ3FLZDh5dTB2ZjBlRnJFNmREZFJJeUl2RDU1c25zR3E1eHFZc2E0?oc=5] Read the full brief [https://carolinacleartech.com/athens-real-estate/2026-07-19/]