Canadian Housing Starts Down by 15%

by Phil Hall | Feb 16, 2026 | Current News & Events, International Real Estate News, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

The seasonally adjusted annualized rate of Canadian housing starts declined by 15% in January to 238,049 units from a revised figure 280,668 units in December, according to data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Actual housing starts were up 1%...

NYC Mayor Mamdani Bans Public Housing Tenants from Speaking at ‘Rental Ripoff’ Hearing

by Phil Hall | Feb 16, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first “rental ripoff” hearing scheduled for Feb. 26 will not permit tenants in the city’s public housing projects to detail their complaints about the quality of their housing. The New York Post reports that only renters and...

North Korea Opens Housing District for Families of Soldiers Killed Fighting with Russia in Ukraine

by Phil Hall | Feb 16, 2026 | Current News & Events, International Real Estate News, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

North Korea has opened a housing district in the capital of Pyongyang for the families of soldiers killed while fighting with Russian forces in Ukraine. According to combined media reports, Kim Jong-un was front and center at the opening, cutting a red ribbon and...

HUD Launches Investigation of Muslim-Only Community Proposed in Texas

by Phil Hall | Feb 16, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has directed its Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) to investigate a Texas mixed-use real estate development that has been accused of seeking to become a Muslim-only community operating under...

Vermont Credit Union Debuts Islamic Home Financing Program

by Phil Hall | Feb 16, 2026 | Current News & Events, Mortgage Information, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

A credit union in Vermont has introduced a home financing program aligned with the principles of Islam. The Burlington Free Press reports NorthCountry Federal Credit Union has partnered with Guidance Residential, an Islamic home finance provider, that adheres to the...