Middle East Investment: Abu Dhabi residential sales reached AED 21.5 billion in the third quarter, while Dubai property investment totaled $185 billion in 2025, according to recent reports. Dubai also unveiled a new DIFC development. Housing Costs: US homebuilder sentiment fell to its lowest level since 2012, with mortgage rates near 7% and affordability weighing on buyers. A new 56-home mixed-income neighborhood in Wisconsin will combine market-rate homes with 17 zero-interest mortgages for eligible buyers. Building and Insurance: A new analysis argues that lengthy permitting processes are driving up housing costs by slowing construction. Meanwhile, rising home-insurance premiums threaten affordability in disaster-prone areas and could put property values and mortgage markets under pressure. Policy Watch: Australia research suggests replacing stamp duty with an annual land-value tax could encourage more home purchases. Texas proposed rules would add reporting and diligence duties for some real estate participants under its restrictions on certain foreign property acquisitions. Global Housing: Reports highlight widening affordability pressures, from Spain’s housing crisis to high costs in Iraq, where housing can consume about a decade of family income.