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August 13, 2026

Oct 6
2 min read

Capital Gains Exclusion Bill Draws More Backers in Senate, House

Real Estate News

A bipartisan proposal to increase the capital gains tax exclusion on the sale of a primary residence continues to gain momentum in Congress. The More Homes on the Market Act would raise the exclusion to $500,000 for individual filers and $1 million for married couples filing jointly, while also indexing the amounts for inflation. The bill recently added new co-sponsors in both the House and Senate, bringing total support to 174 lawmakers. Advocates say the measure could encourage more homeowners to sell, potentially increasing housing inventory.



New Federal Rules Could End Mortgage Escrow Interest for Some Homeowners. States are Suing to Block Them

CNBC

A coalition of 10 states, including California, has sued the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency over new federal rules that exempt national banks from state laws requiring interest payments on mortgage escrow accounts. The states argue that the agency exceeded its authority and weakened consumer protections, while the OCC maintains that federal banking law allows federally chartered institutions to determine their own escrow account terms. The outcome could affect whether some homeowners earn interest on funds held for property taxes and insurance.



Buyers are Being Watched at Showings and it's Costing Deals

Mortgage Professional Magazine

A new LendingTree survey found that cameras and recording devices have become common during home showings, with nearly three-quarters of recent buyers reporting they noticed surveillance. The survey found that 19% of buyers left a showing because of recording devices, while 18% decided not to make an offer. Many buyers also said they changed their behavior during showings, avoiding discussions about budgets, offer strategies, or their opinions of a property.


The report suggests that visible surveillance may affect both buyer comfort and negotiations. Analysts advise agents to remind clients to assume they may be recorded during showings and to save discussions about pricing or strategy until after they leave the property



Record Home Prices and High Mortgage Rates Send Buyers to the Sidelines

Los Angeles Times

U.S. existing-home sales fell 1.7% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million, although sales were 0.7% higher than a year earlier. The national median sales price rose 2% year over year to $434,100 as limited inventory and elevated mortgage rates continued to constrain the market. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 6.69%, its highest level in more than a year. Meanwhile, first-time buyers accounted for 29% of sales, well below the historical average of about 40%



Mortgage Rates Dip Slightly for the First Time in Six Weeks

Associated Press

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell slightly for the first time in six weeks on Thursday, marking a glimpse of relief for prospective homebuyers — although borrowing costs remain steeper than they were a year ago.


The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate tumbled to 6.67%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday, down from 6.69% reported last week. Still, by comparison, the average rate was 6.58% at this time in 2025.


 
 
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