Builder confidence in the single-family housing market slipped again in February, according to the latest Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders. The index fell to 36, marking the second straight monthly decline and signaling continued weakness in builder sentiment.

Affordability remains the biggest challenge. High home price-to-income ratios, elevated land costs, and stubborn construction expenses are keeping many buyers on the sidelines. Even with incentives widely available, buyer traffic remains low.

In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what falling builder confidence means for housing supply, pricing power, remodeling demand, and real estate investors in 2026. If inflation eases and mortgage rates follow, conditions could improve — but for now, affordability continues to shape the market.

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.Realwealth.com/Deals

Sources: https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2026/02/builder-sentiment-edges-lower-on-affordability-concerns

The Supreme Court has struck down many of President Trump's tariffs, ruling that the emergency law used to impose them does not authorize broad trade taxes.

In this breaking news update, Kathy Fettke explains what the decision means for inflation, construction costs, and the housing market. Some tariffs remain in place, but others may be reversed — and billions in potential refunds could follow.

How could this impact builders, mortgage rates, and real estate investors? We break it down in simple terms and explain what to watch next.

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.NewsforInvestors.com

Sources: : https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-strikes-trumps-tariffs-major-blow-president-rcna244827
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/20/us/trump-tariffs-supreme-court

A new study is challenging one of the biggest narratives around tariffs — and the implications could directly affect inflation, interest rates, and your real estate portfolio.

Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York finds that Americans are paying nearly 90% of recent tariffs, not foreign exporters. In other words, higher import taxes are largely flowing through to U.S. consumers and businesses.

Why does that matter?

Because when prices rise, inflation stays elevated. And when inflation runs hot, the Federal Reserve may delay rate cuts — keeping mortgage rates higher for longer.

In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what the data actually says, how tariffs influence Fed policy, and what it means for borrowing costs, housing demand, and real estate investors in 2026.

🏘️ Want to learn more? Visit www.NewsforInvestors.com

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ny-fed-report-says-americans-pay-almost-all-trumps-tariffs-2026-02-12/

New data from the Federal Reserve shows U.S. household real estate wealth dipped slightly in the third quarter of 2025 — but the bigger story is homeowner equity.

In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke breaks down the latest Fed Z.1 Financial Accounts report, including the decline in total housing asset values to $48 trillion, rising mortgage balances, and why owners' equity remains above 70% for the 15th straight quarter.

Is the housing market cooling? Are homeowners still in a strong financial position? And what does this mean for real estate investors heading into 2026?

Tune in for a concise update on housing market trends, real estate wealth, mortgage debt, and the overall strength of U.S. household balance sheets.

Commercial real estate could be a major story in 2026.

In this episode of Real Estate News for Investors, Kathy Fettke breaks down CBRE's 2026 Commercial Real Estate Outlook and why investment activity is expected to rise 16% — even as GDP growth slows.

We cover what's ahead for cap rates, income-driven returns, and key sectors including office, industrial, retail, multifamily, and data centers. With two expected Fed rate cuts and easing inflation, how could financing conditions impact commercial property performance?

If you're looking for data-backed insight into where commercial real estate is headed in 2026, this episode outlines the risks, opportunities, and what investors should watch next.

Want to learn more? Listen to our other podcast: www.Realwealthshow.com

Source: https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/us-real-estate-market-outlook-2026

The U.S. House has overwhelmingly passed the Housing for the 21st Century Act in a 390–9 vote, advancing a bipartisan effort aimed at addressing America's housing affordability crisis. The sweeping package focuses on boosting housing supply, streamlining development regulations, expanding financing for manufactured and multifamily housing, and modernizing federal housing programs.

Now, the bill heads to the Senate, where lawmakers must reconcile differences with the previously proposed ROAD to Housing Act. Will Congress deliver meaningful housing reform — or will negotiations stall?

In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what's in the bill, what happens next, and what it could mean for housing supply and affordability nationwide.

Want to learn more? Visit www.Newsforinvestors.com.

Sources: https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/housing-for-the-21st-century-act-bill-affordability/
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/09/congress/house-approves-housing-bill-setting-stage-for-tough-senate-negotiations-00772552

The January jobs report is in — and it came in stronger than expected.

The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs to start 2026, while the unemployment rate edged down to 4.3%. Hiring was concentrated in health care, social assistance, and construction, even as some sectors saw losses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also released updated benchmark revisions confirming that 2025 job growth was softer than previously reported.

In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down what the latest employment data signals about the strength of the labor market, wage growth, and what it could mean for Federal Reserve policy and interest rates moving forward.

Want to learn more? Visit www.Newsforinvestors.com

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/11/jobs-report-january-2026-.html

Apartment demand cooled across much of the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a return to more typical seasonal patterns after several years of unusually strong growth. But the slowdown wasn't universal.

In this episode, Kathy Fettke breaks down which U.S. apartment markets continued to see positive demand in Q4 and why those metros stood out as others experienced net move-outs. We look at absorption trends in major markets like New York, Phoenix, Fort Worth, and Newark, and what tight occupancy levels in select regions may signal for multifamily investors heading into 2026.

You'll learn how shifting demand patterns reflect a broader normalization in the apartment market—and why local fundamentals matter more than ever for investors evaluating multifamily opportunities in today's changing real estate environment.

📊 Want to learn more? Just visit www.RealWealth.com/Syndications.

Source: https://www.realpage.com/analytics/apartment-demand-4q25/?utm_source=bestever.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=uber-founder-makes-a-big-multifamily-bet&_bhlid=34388c211e9bfd212d4183edf51a29e638bdde3a