Residential vacancy rates – along with jobs and residential construction – held steady.
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Browse the latest news, articles, marketing materials, videos, and forms impacting California’s real estate market today.
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.
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.
California home sales volume
What’s a broker to do until home sales volume takes off?
Construction starts are below their historical average — and have been since 1990
Construction starts have been far below California’s historical average most years since 1990.
To buy in 2026? Consumer and builder sentiment are both down, a dilemma
Find out what homebuyers and builders have in mind for 2026 and how to make their expectations work for you and your agents!
Mortgage origination volume rises in 2025 — that’s the good news
Even as California’s real estate market is stabilizing, cracks are appearing. This includes higher shares of subprime lending in 2025.
The 20% solution: Personal savings rate and homeownership as agent advice
Over the last few decades, savings has followed a path conversely proportionate to consumer confidence.
Context is key
Learn the 25 factors that drive California’s real estate market to better understand today’s top news stories.
Click to download Economic Trends in California Real Estate: Realty Almanac 2022-2024
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