Mortgage & Affordability: Freddie Mac says the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 6.55%, the highest in nearly a year, while pending sales slipped—first-time buyers are still squeezed by rates and limited options. Starter-Home Pressure: Realtor.com reports the typical starter home cost rose from $256k (2019) to $344k, and the share of listings under $350k fell sharply, even as some affordability improves in select markets. Distressed Sales Watch: Short sales are still a small slice (0.6% of conventional closings in 2025) but are rising again, with a 16% jump in the past four months. Local Market Snapshots: In Phoenix’s Ahwatukee, June sales rose year over year but median prices dipped and days on market stretched. Inventory Signals: Minnesota Realtors says home inventory hit a seven-year high, with more listings and sales rising, though prices remain elevated. Policy & Development: Nebraska moved to curb state incentives for large data centers, citing property tax exemptions and community concerns; in Florida, home sales kept climbing in June. Real Estate Crime & Legal Shock: A CT buyer discovered three dead bodies in a foreclosure purchase, and Texas authorities arrested a real estate agent tied to a 2012 Arlington cold case murder. Global/Commercial: Bankruptcy court looks poised to confirm the $470M Oceanwide Plaza sale in downtown LA. Homebuyer Costs Beyond the Sale: A new report highlights how capital-gains tax thresholds are catching more homeowners as home values rise.