Carriage House Real Estate

10/22/2026

HUD has announced that its Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is expanding access to rental housing by allowing build-to-rent (BTR) communities to qualify for FHA-insured financing under two of its multifamily mortgage insurance programs.

The update, which is effective immediately, should make it easier to finance new rental homes and helps increase the supply of rental housing, particularly in light of manufactured housing innovation, HUD says.

“America needs more affordable housing. We’re eliminating barriers to spur development, expand rental options, and improve housing affordability for hardworking American families,” said secretary Scott Turner.

Through the updated policy, BTR communities will now be treated under the same terms and conditions as traditional multifamily rental developments, subject to the specific requirements outlined in HUD’s Mortgagee Letter.

“Expanding housing supply, including new rental housing, is essential to improving affordability,” said Joe Gormley, currently overseeing the FHA and Office of Housing. “Combined with other initiatives we are working on at HUD, including chassis removal in our manufactured housing programs, we are unshackling the market to deliver housing where it’s needed most.”

HUD says FHA’s updated policy reflects growing demand for single-family, duplex, and triplex rental housing, as well as the expanding presence of professionally managed BTR developments. The policy applies to FHA’s Section 221(d)(4) program for new construction and Section 223(f) program for acquisition or refinancing of recently developed rental communities, HUD points out.

10/21/2026

Understanding who today’s households are, and where they sit on the income spectrum, remains critical as builders navigate an increasingly segmented housing market. National-level data from Zonda’s Consumer Segmentation model and household income forecasts highlight a consumer landscape defined by diverse life stages, financial profiles, and housing preferences.

Among the roughly 106.8 million U.S. households tracked in Zonda’s segmentation framework in 2024, renters represented the largest individual segment, accounting for 14.5% of households. Close behind were affluent elite households at 12.6% and active adult feature and location households at 11.5%. Entry-level suburban households and renters near-term buyers each represented nearly 9% of the market.

The rankings illustrate how housing demand extends well beyond traditional first-time buyers. Affluent households, active adults, families with children, and renter households each make up meaningful portions of the market, reinforcing the need for targeted product positioning and community design.

Income data also reveals a growing concentration of higher-income households among Americans in their prime earning years. In 2024, households aged 35 to 54 represented a large share of households earning $200,000 or more annually, while those aged 55 to 64 also maintained a significant presence within top income brackets.

The trend is expected to strengthen over the next several years. By 2029, households aged 35 to 54 are projected to account for an even larger portion of high-income households, reflecting ongoing income growth among established professionals and move-up buyers.

“This concentration of purchasing power among middle-aged households could continue to support demand for larger homes, lifestyle amenities, and move-up product offerings in many markets,” said Ali Wolf, chief economist for Zonda and NewHomeSource.

While high-income households remain concentrated in middle age, lower-income households are disproportionately represented among older age groups. In 2024, households aged 65 and older accounted for a notable share of households earning less than $50,000 annually.

At the same time, the overall household population continues to age. By 2029, households aged 65 and older are projected to represent a larger share of total U.S. households than they do today.

The aging of the population reinforces the importance of active adult communities, lower-maintenance housing options, and product designs that help residents age in place. Notably, active adult-related consumer segments already account for more than one-fifth of all households in Zonda’s segmentation model.

A More Targeted Approach Is Essential

The latest consumer segmentation and household income data underscore a simple reality: the housing market is not moving in a single direction. Renters remain a substantial audience, affluent households continue to gain purchasing power, and demographic aging is creating new housing needs across the country.

10/21/2026

10/20/2026

California’s housing market slowed in September as higher mortgage rates and affordability challenges continued to limit buyer demand, according to C.A.R.’s September home sales and price report. Existing single-family home sales declined 3.4% from August and 6.5% from a year ago, while the statewide median home price remained relatively stable at $899,720, up 1.7% year over year.

Limited inventory continues to support home prices even as sales soften. With buyers facing elevated borrowing costs, the market is expected to remain subdued through the end of the year, although reduced competition may create opportunities for well-prepared buyers.

10/19/2026

Mortgage rates held steady last week, keeping the average long-term U.S. home loan rate at its highest level in nearly three years.

The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was unchanged from last week at 7.40%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.27%.

The latest reading ends a seven-week climb for the average rate, which is at the highest level since Nov. 16, 2023, when it was at 7.44%.

10/17/2026

Many seniors want to age in place. Many families want to buy homes. Many local governments in California want to make those things possible.

A new program in Alameda County has a creative solution: Help older homeowners build accessible backyard ADUs, then move in, split the lot and sell their original home to help pay for the construction.

10/16/2026

Thousands of homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages may soon face a potential spike in the interest rate that’s applied to their loan.

About 150,000 borrowers with ARMs are scheduled to see their interest rates adjust for the first time this year, with another 186,000 facing their first adjustment in 2027 and 155,000 doing so in 2028, according to ICE Mortgage Technology, a mortgage data and technology company. Of this year’s total, ICE data provided to CNBC shows about 64,000 were scheduled for their first adjustment between August and December.

10/13/2026

California's housing market is expected to continue its gradual recovery in 2027, according to C.A.R.'s 2027 Housing Market Forecast. Existing single-family home sales are projected to increase 3.7% next year, reaching 277,900 units, as improving inventory conditions and stable affordability encourage more buyers and sellers to reenter the market.

C.A.R. projects the statewide median home price will rise modestly to $894,400 in 2027, up 1.4% from a projected $882,200 in 2026. Housing affordability is expected to remain unchanged at 20%, while inventory is anticipated to improve as market conditions normalize.

The forecast also calls for steady mortgage rates, with the average 30-year fixed-rate loan expected to remain at 6.6% in 2027. C.A.R. Chief Economist Jordan Levine said buyer demand should improve as economic uncertainty eases, although the mortgage lock-in effect will continue to limit the number of homeowners willing to sell.

Overall, the outlook points to a more balanced market in 2027, with modest sales growth, stable af