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The Federal Reserve’s impact on mortgage rates
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Economic Trends in California Real Estate
Learn the 25 economic factors that drive California’s real estate market.
Stay current on the latest news, videos, forms, and updates for Economic Trends in California Real Estate.
Recent updates to the course e-book
06/25: The 2025 rules for buyer representation and fee-splitting avoidance are currently being edited into this e-book.
Newly published related content
California’s shifting residential vacancy rates tell a story
Residential vacancy rates – along with jobs and residential construction – held steady.
Streamlined post-entitlement phase permit process in California
State departments may now approve housing plans, and all agencies now have tighter review timelines, or a building permit application is deemed complete.
Foreclosures on the rise in 2026
The time is fast coming for real estate agents to refresh their knowledge on foreclosure sales and alternative lender conduct.
California’s for-sale inventory growth: buyer caution rises faster than owner need to sell
In early 2025, low-tier priced housing has the lowest level of inventory available for sale or rent.
Buyer Purchasing Power Index remains positive in Q1 2026
The BPPI in Q1 2026 tells us a homebuyer with the same income is able to borrow 2.1% more purchase-assist money than a year ago.
Home sales volume impacts sales agent licensing and renewals
View California sales agent trends from 2002-present, and examine the effect of home sales volume on licensing.
Form-of-the-Week: Purchase Agreement with Short Sale Contingency, and Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure — Forms 150-5 and 406
Alternative methods to a foreclosure sale on mortgaged property include a short sale and a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. RPI Form 150-5 allows a buyer to purchase a property when the mortgage holder agrees to take a reduced payoff to satisfy the debt and clear title. RPI Form 406 allows an owner to deed their property directly to their mortgage holder.
Sales volume: a powerful magnet for home prices
Home sales volume movement impacts tomorrow’s home prices.