▪ US housing inventory increased 3.2% annually, with nearly 1.2 million homes listed for sale in early August. This marks the fastest growth since April, offering buyers more choices.

▪ Home price decreases in the US are moderating, with the 1.2% annual decline in early August being the mildest observed since April. This indicates a potential stabilization trend in the market.

▪ US home sales are occurring at the same pace or faster than a year ago for the eleventh consecutive week, despite a modest decrease in new listings. This reflects a consistent demand in the market.

▪ The Realtor.com forecast for 2026 projects a modest 1.2% home-price growth, below the expected 3.4% inflation rate. This suggests real, inflation-adjusted prices may still decline.

▪ The national median listing price in the US was $428,950 in July, a 2.4% decrease year-over-year. This marks the ninth consecutive month of annual listing-price declines.

▪ Twenty percent of active US listings carried a price reduction in July, an increase from June. This indicates growing buyer leverage and sellers adjusting expectations in the market.

▪ Markets anticipate one or two quarter-point Fed rate hikes before year-end, rather than cuts previously expected. This shift in expectations has kept mortgage rates in the mid-6% range.

▪ The US housing market in August 2026 shows buyers becoming more selective and homes facing increased competition from other listings. Sellers need to prioritize pricing and presentation.

▪ Existing-home sales in the US declined 1.7% from June to July but remained 0.7% higher than July of the prior year. This reflects stable activity despite higher borrowing costs.

▪ Mortgage rate predictions suggest rates will hover in the low 6% range throughout 2026, with even a 1% drop potentially expanding the buyer pool significantly. Lower rates could reduce monthly payments.

▪ Dubai's real estate market is on track for a significant surge, with 90,000 new residential units projected by 2026. This boom is driven by population growth and foreign investment.

▪ A record 41,800 homes are anticipated for delivery in Dubai in 2025, followed by 48,400 units in 2026. This reflects sustained demand for both luxury and affordable housing.

▪ Dubai's real estate transactions saw a 15.4% year-over-year increase, totaling 12,695 sales. Property prices also experienced a modest rise of 0.38%.

▪ Demand for affordable properties in Dubai, priced under AED 1 million, has increased significantly, accounting for a larger share of total sales. Jumeirah Village Circle led transaction activity.

▪ Saudi Arabia has initiated a landmark policy shift, allowing foreign nationals and companies to own property starting January 2026. This move aims to attract international investment as part of Vision 2030.

▪ The Saudi Vision 2030 annual report for 2025 indicated mixed results, with non-oil activity climbing to 55% of GDP. Homeownership reached 66%, and tourism surpassed the 100-million mark.

▪ Dubai property sales increased in July, with transaction volumes rising 3.8% to 9,217 deals and value climbing 5.2% to AED 34.9 billion. This growth was driven by the secondary market.

▪ Apartment sales in Dubai gained ground over villas and townhouses, driven by demand for studios and one-bedroom units. This indicates a stronger investor appetite for higher-yield properties.

▪ Mortgage transactions in Dubai rose from 9% in June to 12.8% in July, reflecting a return of investor confidence. These mortgages primarily involved middle-income bands.

▪ Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is experiencing a boom, with international visitors spending nearly $13.16 billion in the first three months of 2025. This surge is fueled by Vision 2030 investments in giga-projects.

▪ South Africa's residential property market shows resilience with lower interest rates and improving affordability. This presents new opportunities for upmarket buyers and renters.

▪ Rate cuts since late 2024 are providing relief for bondholders and new buyers in South Africa, making high-value home loans more manageable. This boosts buyer confidence.

▪ National house price growth in South Africa remains measured at 4.5% to 5%, allowing buyers time to capitalize before stronger appreciation. Analysts anticipate a robust, measured recovery.

▪ The Western Cape is a strong regional hotspot in South Africa, with persistent stock shortages driving demand from local and semigrating buyers. This contrasts with other inland areas.

▪ Many inland areas in South Africa, including Gauteng, offer better value per square meter and more negotiable asking prices. This caters to different buyer segments.

▪ Property analysts suggest 2026 is an opportune time to sell in South Africa, citing low stock levels and renewed buyer activity. Realistic pricing and good presentation are key for sellers.

▪ Home loan approvals continue to grow in South Africa despite higher deposit requirements. This reflects sustained demand from homebuyers, supported by stable interest rates.

▪ First-time homebuyers in South Africa reached a record average purchase price in August 2026, highlighting continued demand in the residential property market.

▪ Easing inflation in South Africa is improving the outlook for homebuyers. The prime lending rate remains steady, contributing to market stability.

▪ Stable interest rates and rising household incomes are supporting buyer confidence in South Africa. This resilient market offers encouraging opportunities for the months ahead.

▪ A massive influx of 13,480 HDB flats is set to reach their 5-year Minimum Occupation Period in Singapore in 2026. This nearly doubles the supply seen in 2025.

▪ This significant increase in HDB supply in Singapore could potentially cool down resale prices. This creates new dynamics for buyers and sellers in the public housing market.

▪ Lower consent thresholds for aging condominiums in Singapore could reignite the en bloc market. This offers new opportunities for owners of older developments.

▪ Singapore's commercial real estate market is heading for a record year in 2026, with US$10.3 billion in deals already sealed in the first half. This reflects strong investor confidence.

▪ Singapore's GDP growth forecast for 2026 has been raised to 4.5–5.5%, driven by AI investments. This positive economic outlook supports business sentiment and space demand.

▪ Space for Singapore's startup ecosystem is set to double with the rezoning of One-north for a new AI park. This will provide thousands more square meters of business space.

▪ Property industry leaders in Singapore are calling for a "calibrated rollback" of cooling measures to aid first-time buyers and seniors. They propose raising the household income ceiling for ECs.

▪ The proposed household income ceiling for Executive Condominiums (ECs) in Singapore is suggested to rise from $16,000 to $18,000, and eventually $20,000. This aims to help the "sandwich class."

▪ Property price growth in Singapore has moderated, and housing supply is becoming more visible across public and private segments. These shifts are shaping the 2026 housing market.

▪ A slower market in Singapore demands more discipline from buyers, as mistakes in entry price or location can have long-term consequences. Stability now often outweighs size or prestige.

▪ India's residential real estate market recorded stable activity in Q2 2026, with 79,361 units launched, a 0.5% increase year-on-year. Housing demand rose by 3% across major cities.

▪ Pune, India, reported a 70% increase in new unit launches to 20,881 units during Q2 2026. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region saw a 20% rise to 27,260 units due to redevelopment.

▪ Hyderabad experienced a significant decline in unit launches in Q2 2026, falling to 1,170 from 9,246 units a year prior. Bangalore, Chennai, and NCR also saw declines.

▪ Property prices increased across all major Indian cities in Q2 2026, influenced more by supply conditions than demand growth. Bangalore recorded a 16% rise.

▪ Average prices in Bangalore reached INR 11,037 per sq ft, while Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) rose to INR 16,120 per sq ft. National Capital Region (NCR) saw prices increase to INR 12,323 per sq ft.

▪ A mismatch exists between supply and demand in India, with new launches concentrating on larger units despite stronger demand for smaller configurations in many cities.

▪ Pune and MMR showed a closer alignment between supply and demand for smaller units, whereas other Indian markets continued to reflect this gap in Q2 2026.

▪ Australia's housing downturn became national in July, with the Cotality Home Value Index falling 0.7%, the largest monthly drop since December 2022.

▪ Brisbane and Adelaide now record consecutive monthly declines, with over three-quarters of capital city suburbs posting value falls in the past three months.

▪ The premium end of the Australian market is absorbing the majority of the correction, with upper quartile values nationally down over 3% in three months.

▪ New listings are deteriorating as Australian vendors choose to delay selling into weak conditions. This, combined with constrained new construction, could stabilize values.

▪ The Australian housing downturn is no longer a two-city story, with weakness reaching almost every corner of the country in July 2026.

▪ Regional Australia, which previously outperformed capitals, joined the shift with a 0.2% decline in July, its first monthly fall since January 2023.

▪ The national median house price dropped 1.2% in the most recent quarter, pushing annual growth to its lowest since 2012. Further falls may be ahead.

▪ Experts anticipate a national house-price correction in Australia lasting two to four years, potentially trimming about 10% from current levels.

▪ Sydney and Melbourne property prices could see further declines this year, with some economists expecting around a five percent "haircut."

▪ Despite weak sentiment, supply is aggressively responding in Australia, with building approvals for total dwellings up 29.7% month-on-month in February 2026.

▪ Kazakhstan distributed 8,649 rental apartments in the first half of 2026, with 5,361 units privatized. Over 980,000 citizens need housing.

▪ State support in Kazakhstan includes rental housing and preferential mortgage loans for citizens in need. Rental housing is provided based on queue position and family size.

▪ Twenty percent of rental apartments in Kazakhstan are allocated to orphaned children, and 50% to seven categories of priority citizens. The rest are for other registered individuals.

▪ Citizens acquiring other property must return rental housing to communal ownership. Privatization allows purchasing at residual value or through installments up to 15 years.

▪ Preferential mortgage loans in Kazakhstan are issued through Otbasy Bank at rates of 2% and 5%. Loans at 2% are for specific categories, including veterans and disabled persons.

▪ Non-repayable housing certificates are also provided in Kazakhstan to cover down payments. In the first half of the year, 1,976 such certificates were issued.

▪ Primary housing prices in Kazakhstan continued to rise in July 2026, reaching KZT 621.9 thousand per square meter. This is a 0.7% monthly and 14.6% annual increase.

▪ Transaction activity in Kazakhstan's housing market weakened in July, with 37.2 thousand purchase and sale transactions recorded, down 4.9% monthly.

▪ Mortgage lending in Kazakhstan remained strong in June, with the volume of loans reaching KZT 262.9 billion, a 42.6% year-on-year increase.

▪ Astana's rental market expects a spike in August due to academic year demand for one-bedrooms. Investors can rent at peak rates before the autumn revival.

▪ UK property sales rebounded in the week ending August 16, 2026, with 24,400 homes sold, up from 21,700 the previous week. This suggests a recovery from seasonal slowdowns.

▪ Year-to-date UK home sales reached 786,000, a 7.1% decrease from 2025 but still 6% higher than the pre-pandemic average. New listings totaled 32,600 for the week.

▪ UK market data reveals continued price sensitivity, with about half of homes withdrawing unsold in July 2026. Four out of five homes sold without price reductions.

▪ The average difference between initial listing prices and agreed sale prices in the UK stood at 9.9%, significantly below the long-term average. Properties sold averaged £345.41 per square foot.

▪ Average rents in the UK reached £1,805 per calendar month in August 2026, marginally higher than in August 2025. Available rental stock increased to 323,000 properties in July.

▪ UK house prices saw a larger-than-usual fall in August, decreasing 2.0% month-on-month. The average asking price for newly-listed properties was £364,999.

▪ Average UK house prices declined 1.0% year-on-year in August, the largest annual fall since December 2023. The number of available homes for sale reached a 12-year high.

▪ The UK's average house prices increased 2.0% to £272,000 in the 12 months to June 2026, a slowdown from May. Average UK monthly private rents increased by 3.7% to July.

▪ Housing price growth in England rose 0.2% since May 2026, with an annual increase of 1.8%, bringing the average property value to £293,000. London saw a 2.5% decrease.

▪ The North West of England experienced the greatest annual price rise, up by 4.7%, while the East Midlands saw the biggest monthly price fall.