Plan a Columbia-area home search with clear location priorities, property questions and flood-risk checks across Ethos’s planned South Carolina communities.
Articles by ethosjd
Central Alabama Real Estate: What to Check This Fall
September 2026 Central Alabama housing figures and a practical approach to comparing Greater Birmingham homes, inspections and listing preparation.
California Housing Market: A Clearer Plan for Fall 2026
September 2026 California housing data, plus practical questions for buyers and sellers comparing homes, ownership costs and local market conditions.
Mortgage Rates Moved Back Near 7%. More Inventory Does Not Fix the Payment.
The 30-year mortgage average moved back near 7% in September while national housing inventory continued to improve. Buyers have more homes to compare, but the monthly payment still decides what works.
California Prices Rebounded in August. Buyers Still Gained a Little Time.
California’s median home price returned above $900,000 in August while sales improved from July. Buyers also gained a little more time and inventory, but higher mortgage rates kept affordability tight.
Alabama’s Fall Market Has More Choices Without Losing Momentum
Alabama’s summer market cooled on schedule in August, but sales remained ahead of last year and inventory continued to improve. In Birmingham, the July median was nearly flat year over year, while August pending contracts were 4.0% above last year.
Price the Insurance Before You Write the Offer
Premiums, deductibles, and exclusions can change the real cost of a home. Get an address-specific quote before key contract and loan deadlines.
Greater Birmingham Has More Choices. Sellers Need to Get the Launch Right.
Birmingham metro listings rose 8.5% while the median asking price fell 3.1%. Buyers have more choice, but well-positioned homes can still compete.
California’s Market Softened in July. Inventory Is Still Tight.
California’s median fell to $887,680 in July and inventory improved from June, but supply remained tighter than a year ago. Local markets are still split.
What the Housing Market Is Actually Doing in August 2026
July brought more price cuts and softer asking prices, but pending activity still grew and inventory remained below pre-pandemic levels. Here is what buyers and sellers should know.