| | Which South Carolina cities rank among America’s best for renters? | | - | Greenville, SC, ranked 10th and Charleston, SC, ranked 11th among America's best cities for renters. Rents were 9.5% below the national average in Greenville and 3.8% lower in Charleston. | | - | Columbia, SC, ranked 83rd, with its local economy score as the main drag. |
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| | THE AI LAYER | AI + REAL ESTATE |
| | Most agents say their clients now use AI to buy homes | LINK | | -Among surveyed agents, 78% said clients use AI for home research at least occasionally, while 23% have seen clients challenge valuations with it. Agents now need to verify AI-generated research rather than ignore it. | | 82% of homeowners would pay more for AI-powered security | LINK | | -Among homeowners, 82% would pay more for security that can deter an intruder instead of merely recording one, creating room for higher-priced AI cameras and subscription plans. | | TOOLS TO KNOW | | Vivint AI-powered home security cameras detect threats and activate lights and audible warnings to help deter intruders. |
| | CubicUp, an italian home reno mgmt tech, raised €2 million, with SumaCapital leading the round. | | HomeExchange, a french home-swap platform, received funding in a round led by Verlinvest. | | Sela, an AI agents for mortgage sales calls, raised $21 million in Series A funding, with Costanoa leading the round. | | Mojave, a HVAC systems for CRE, raised $19 million in Series B funding, with Fairtree leading the round. | | Trebellar, a property mgmt tech for Offices, raised $18 million in Series A funding, with Blossom leading the round. | | Dextr, an AI workforce for hotels, raised $6.7 million in seed funding, with Elevation leading the round. |
| | | | Adjustable mortgages look cheaper as fixed rates rise. Is the risk worth it? | | - | A 6.47% ARM on a $320,000 mortgage saves $178 a month versus a 7.30% fixed loan, putting the borrower about $11,900 ahead before the first reset. | | - | For owners who stay put, early savings may not justify the reset risk. In the modeled worst case, payments reach $3,023 and erase the savings in six years and nine months, short of the 11-year median seller tenure. |
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| | | Senior housing is running short where the middle market needs it most | | - | Senior housing occupancy is above 90% as a thin development pipeline limits new options. Rents are rising 4% to 5% a year, putting more pressure on middle-income seniors. | | - | Institutional investors are responding by teaming with experienced local operators on lower-cost active adult housing with supportive services. |
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| | | Apartment demand is just 13,000 units short of new supply | | - | Renters absorbed 304,800 apartments over the past year, just 13,200 fewer than the 318,000 completed. That was the narrowest gap between supply and demand since late 2015. | | - | The narrower gap pushed annual rent growth above zero for the first time since mid-2025, though excess Sun Belt supply is still holding rents down. |
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| | | Berkshire’s new CEO keeps buying into U.S. homebuilders | | - | Under its new CEO, Berkshire nearly doubled its Lennar stake in the third quarter and now owns about 11%. It also bought Taylor Morrison and a smaller South Carolina builder through Clayton Properties. | | - | The purchases deepen Berkshire's bet during a downturn. Lennar shares are 49.7% below their October 2024 high, and its average sale price is 24.2% below its 2022 peak. |
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| | | The silver tsunami could solve inventory and create a demand problem | | - | If older owners list 45% of the homes projected to turn over in 2027, inventory could return to pre-pandemic levels. In total, 13.9 million homes are projected to change hands through 2036. | | - | Projected annual turnover equals 67.2% of recent large-home listings but only 3.2% of starter-home listings. That imbalance could weaken demand for larger homes while starter-home supply stays tight. |
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| | | UNREAL REAL ESTATE |  | | An 1824 Maine Mansion With a Time Capsule Kitchen | | This 1824 riverfront mansion in Waldoboro, ME, is listed for $489,000 and retains a striking 1940s kitchen, dining room, and bathrooms. LINK |
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