Homeownership rate grows to 65.7%

⏰ Good Tuesday morning. Today's newsletter is 654 words — a 2.5-minute read.

1. Redfin brings its home search to ChatGPT

Redfin has integrated its home search platform into ChatGPT, allowing users to browse property listings and market data through conversational queries on the AI platform.

The feature, available this week for web and iOS users, lets homebuyers ask natural-language questions about properties, neighborhoods, commute times and local pricing trends without repeatedly entering search criteria. Users can refine searches through follow-up questions in the same conversation.

2. Zillow can continue enforcing private listing ban

A federal judge on Friday declined to immediately block Zillow from enforcing its ban on real estate listings that are advertised first on other platforms, a policy that competitor Compass argues is part of an anticompetitive and illegal conspiracy.

Judge Jeannette Vargas said Compass failed to show that Zillow engaged in anticompetitive behavior when communicating with rival Redfin about the policy, or that Zillow holds monopoly power in the home search market.

Zillow countered that Compass was attempting to withhold inventory to build its own private listing network, a move the company says would fragment the market and limit consumer access to available homes.

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3. Catch up quick

🏗️ High mortgage rates remain the top concern for home builders. (NAHB)

😬 Survey: 94% of buyers will delay or downsize if mortgage rates don’t fall. (Clever)

🏡 Three of four Texas homes sold below asking price last year. (TRD)

🏈 Inside this year’s real estate Super Bowl ads. (BAM)

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4. Homeownership rate grows to 65.7%

According to new Census data, the U.S. homeownership rate rose to 65.7% in Q4 of 2025. While this marks a positive increase from the previous quarter’s rate of 65.3%, it remains below the 25-year average of 66.3%.

Meanwhile, the rental vacancy rate climbed to 7.2% in Q4 2025, up from 7.1% in the prior quarter and 6.9% a year earlier.

By age group, homeownership increased in only two segments: those under 35, rising to 37.9%, and adults ages 55–64, increasing to 76.7%. The largest decline occurred among homeowners ages 45–54, with the rate falling from 71.0% to 69.5%.

5. Austin housing market hits slowest pace in the US

A new Redfin report found that homes in Austin sat on the market for an average of 106 days before going under contract in December, up from 91 days in the same month last year, a 16.5% increase.

This marks the slowest pace Austin has recorded since 2012, making it the slowest market among the 50 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas.

Nationwide, the typical home went under contract in 60 days in December, up from 54 days a year earlier.

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