Hear Gardner’s takes — and a few predictions of his own — in this exclusive interview.

President Trump’s proposal to ban investment firms from buying single-family homes is unlikely to have a major impact on affordability, observers said.

Compass, Inc. and Anywhere Real Estate Inc. have officially completed their all-stock merger and will now operate as Compass International Holdings (CIH), led by chairman and CEO Robert Reffkin. 

Stockholders of both Compass, Inc. and Anywhere Real Estate Inc. have overwhelmingly approved all proposals tied to the companies’ previously announced merger, signaling strong investor support for the $1.6 billion deal.

Pearl assigned a Pearl SCORE to every one of the 92 million single-family homes in the U.S., rating them on how well each performs across five factors of home life: safety, comfort, operations, resilience and energy.

The push toward private or off‑MLS “test” listings delivers little proven pricing premiums, sells a small share privately and often lengthens time to sell despite industry claims, writes Jonathan Miller, co-founder of property appraisal firm Miller Samuel.

Contract signings were up in all four U.S. regions. 

Evidence points to home shoppers prioritizing the experiences they’ll have in their home over the style or size, Zillow said.

The NAHB’s monthly survey found the nation’s homebuilders remain optimistic about home sales next year. 

Midwestern and southern metros may dominate buyer interest in 2026, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

The move was expected, but came amid increasing dissention among Fed officials, who voted for the cut by the sharpest division in six years.

The average commission was up from a recent low in third quarter 2024 that followed the NAR settlement. 

Geographically, trends varied widely, with formerly hot areas like Florida and the Southeast posting the deepest declines and formerly cool areas, like the Midwest, showing healthy gains.

Spa-style amenities, customizable lighting options, integrated technology, storage solutions — and ample space for these features — all surfaced as top trends.

By region, sales rose in the Midwest, Northeast and South but fell in the West. 

Inside, the house includes original retro features like wood paneling, built-in bookshelves, a brick fireplace and an eat-in kitchen perfect for enjoying Eggos.