Real Estate 19 February 2026 - 1 April 2026

UK Mortgage Rates Stay High Despite Iran Ceasefire as Remortgage Pain Deepens
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UK Mortgage Rates Stay High Despite Iran Ceasefire as Remortgage Pain Deepens

Average UK two-year fixed mortgage rates rose to 5.90% in April from 4.83% in early March, according to Moneyfacts. Halifax reported house prices fell 0.5% in March to £299,677, with annual growth slowing to 0.8%. Lenders say the recent U.S.-Iran ceasefire has eased market pressure but is unlikely to bring quick relief for borrowers. Buy-to-let landlords also face new tax and rental regulations from April and May.
April 8, 2026
UK Mortgage Rates Jump, Homebuyers Retreat as Iran War Threatens House Price Rebound
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UK Mortgage Rates Jump, Homebuyers Retreat as Iran War Threatens House Price Rebound

UK house prices rose 0.9% in March, the biggest monthly gain since December 2024, according to Nationwide, lifting the average to £277,186. Mortgage rates jumped, with average two- and five-year fixes above 5.3%, and buyer enquiries in March fell 13% from a year earlier, Zoopla said. Regional price growth varied sharply, with Northern Ireland up 9.5% and East Anglia down.
April 1, 2026
Aviva plc makes £100 million UK rental homes bet with National Housing Bank
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Aviva plc makes £100 million UK rental homes bet with National Housing Bank

Aviva and the National Housing Bank will invest £100 million to build family rental homes in Liverpool and Manchester, with plans to expand to 3,300 homes nationwide. The partnership is among the first backed by the new government housing bank, which launches Wednesday with up to £16 billion in funding. About 300 homes will be built initially, including 135 in Liverpool and 150 in Manchester. Aviva Investors will manage the assets.
March 31, 2026
NatWest Group Plc Raises Mortgage Rates Again as UK Home Loan Costs Climb
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NatWest Group Plc Raises Mortgage Rates Again as UK Home Loan Costs Climb

NatWest Group will raise mortgage rates across new and existing deals from March 31, its second increase in a week. Many rates will rise by 0.28 percentage point, with a two-year fixed purchase at 60% loan-to-value moving to 5.02%. Barclays, HSBC, and Santander have also raised rates since early March. The average UK mortgage rate reached 5.50% on March 25, the highest since August 2024.
March 30, 2026
Bellway Share Price Sinks Nearly 12% as Margin Cut Overshadows Higher 2026 Home Target
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Bellway Share Price Sinks Nearly 12% as Margin Cut Overshadows Higher 2026 Home Target

Bellway cut its full-year 2026 operating margin guidance to about 10.5% from 11%, sending shares down nearly 12% on Tuesday. The homebuilder raised its 2026 completion target to 9,300–9,500 homes and kept profit guidance at £320 million–£330 million. Incentives averaged 4.5%–5% of selling prices in the first half, up from 4% a year earlier. Forward order book fell to 5,311 units worth £1.55 billion.
March 24, 2026
Mortgage Rates Today: 30-Year Fixed Stays Near 6% as Spring Buyers Edge Back
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Mortgage Rates Today: 30-Year Fixed Stays Near 6% as Spring Buyers Edge Back

U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rates hovered near 6% this week, with Bankrate reporting 6.21% and Freddie Mac at 6.00%. Existing home sales rose 1.7% in February to a 4.09 million annual rate, as affordability improved from a year earlier. The 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.102% after oil prices dropped. Economists warned affordability remains a challenge despite recent gains.
March 10, 2026
Opendoor Technologies’ 4.99% Mortgage Bet Puts Turnaround Under Fresh Pressure
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Opendoor Technologies’ 4.99% Mortgage Bet Puts Turnaround Under Fresh Pressure

Opendoor Technologies is piloting 4.99% 30-year fixed mortgages for buyers of its own homes, nearly a full point below the U.S. average, as it resumes direct lending. The offer, announced by CEO Kaz Nejatian, comes with no points and limited availability. Shares dropped 7% after the news but later rebounded. Analysts warn the discount could pressure Opendoor’s margins and balance sheet.
March 6, 2026
Macquarie Rolls Out PayID on DEFT, Taking Aim at Rent Fees as NSW Rules Tighten
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Macquarie Rolls Out PayID on DEFT, Taking Aim at Rent Fees as NSW Rules Tighten

Macquarie Bank has added PayID to its DEFT payments platform, letting tenants pay rent in near real time without third-party fees. The move comes days after New South Wales banned landlords from forcing tenants onto specific apps and required a free electronic payment option. DEFT serves over 1,200 agencies and processes 1.2 million rental payments monthly. Macquarie says most DEFT reference numbers are being auto-enrolled for PayID.
March 6, 2026
Mortgage rates today hold near 6% as refi demand jumps; Rocket stock slips in US trade
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Mortgage rates today hold near 6% as refi demand jumps; Rocket stock slips in US trade

U.S. mortgage applications rose 11% last week, driven by a 14.3% jump in refinancing as 30-year fixed rates held at 6.09%, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. Mortgage News Daily reported the top-tier 30-year rate at 6.07%. Housing stocks fell, with Rocket Companies down 0.8%. Treasury yields firmed after strong service-sector data, while Fed officials warned of persistent inflation risks.
March 4, 2026
UK Mortgage Approvals Set to Rise in H1 2026 as Broker Flags “Positive Momentum”
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UK Mortgage Approvals Set to Rise in H1 2026 as Broker Flags “Positive Momentum”

Alexander Hall forecasts UK mortgage purchase approvals to average 62,286 in Q1 and 64,196 in Q2 2026, with remortgage approvals rising to 48,257 by Q2. The firm cites competitive pricing and more deals as drivers. UK Finance says 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages are set to expire. The Bank of England held its rate at 3.75% in February, with future moves uncertain.
February 27, 2026
Mortgage rates today dip to 6.04% — but housing stocks slide as Fed watch intensifies
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Mortgage rates today dip to 6.04% — but housing stocks slide as Fed watch intensifies

U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rates fell to 6.04%, the lowest since 2022, Bankrate reported Wednesday. Mortgage applications rose 0.4% last week, driven by a 4% jump in refinancing, while home purchase applications dropped 5%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Homebuilder stocks slid, with the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF down 3.4%. The 10-year Treasury yield hovered near 4.05%.
February 25, 2026
Mortgage Rates Dip Toward 6% Again — Here’s What It Means for Buyers and Refi Hopes
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Mortgage Rates Dip Toward 6% Again — Here’s What It Means for Buyers and Refi Hopes

U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rates fell to 6.04% on Feb. 25 from 6.19% a week earlier, Bankrate reported. Zillow showed a lower average of 5.76% for the same loan type on Feb. 24. NAHB said a 0.25-point rate drop to 6% could make a median-priced new home affordable for 1.42 million more households. The Federal Reserve has not ruled out a rate hike, according to recent FOMC minutes.
February 25, 2026
Mortgage rates today: 30-year slips to 6.01% as inflation test nears; housing stocks fall
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Mortgage rates today: 30-year slips to 6.01% as inflation test nears; housing stocks fall

Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.01%, its lowest since September 2022. Mortgage applications rose last week, driven by a jump in refinancing, according to MBA data. Homebuilder stocks and housing ETFs traded lower as investors awaited Friday’s inflation data. Pending home sales dropped in January despite improved mortgage affordability.
February 19, 2026
CWK stock falls after Cushman & Wakefield earnings: record revenue, Greystone write-down rattles shares
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CWK stock falls after Cushman & Wakefield earnings: record revenue, Greystone write-down rattles shares

Cushman & Wakefield shares fell 4.2% after the company reported a $22.4 million quarterly loss, driven by a $177 million write-down on its Greystone joint venture. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 11% to $2.9 billion, with adjusted EPS of $0.54 matching forecasts. Investors are watching for 2026 outlook and signs of sustained capital-markets activity.
February 19, 2026
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