Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac says the 30-year fixed jumped to 6.71% (highest in 13 months), adding roughly $350/month for typical borrowers and pushing buyers to rethink pricing and presentation. Affordability Pressure (Australia): realestate.com.au reports a median-income household can afford only 12% of homes sold nationally in FY26—the lowest since FY95—underscoring how tight supply and prices are squeezing buyers. Multifamily Dealmaking: Mandel Group and Cottonwood Communities are merging parts of their portfolios in a $600M-plus transaction, creating a larger platform with expanded scale and management reach. Property Management & Risk: Opendoor Home Loans exits beta with more fixed and adjustable mortgage terms as rates rise, while a separate InsurTech story warns that fast AI growth without operational discipline can increase compliance and risk exposure for property managers. Local Housing Disruption: Perry Street Lofts in Richmond County, Va. saw water shut off after a sewage backup and pump failure, with residents reporting unclear relocation support. New Supply (US): Spartanburg, S.C. breaks ground on a $70M, 275-unit apartment project at the old Beaumont Mill site, including workforce units. Brokerage/Industry: Postal Realty Trust earns a new BBB rating from Fitch, potentially improving access to unsecured debt as the USPS-lease portfolio stays highly occupied.