Nearly 1 in 5 homes sell within a week

🌮 Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Today’s newsletter is 756 words—a 2.5-minute read.

1. HUD accuses NAR of ‘misguided advice’ to agents

In an April 24 letter to realtors, HUD sought to clarify “the proper understanding of steering as a form of intentional discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.” The agency stated that agents do not violate the law “merely by discussing with prospective homebuyers or renters the prevalence of crime or the quality of schools in neighborhoods.”

HUD also accused NAR of creating confusion around the law by “imposing a professional gag order,” citing examples where agents were advised to avoid offering opinions on crime rates or school quality and instead direct clients to third-party sources, such as school websites.

According to HUD, NAR’s position shifted after guidance was issued during the Biden administration, which President Trump later rescinded.

NAR responded in an April 29 blog post, saying its position on crime data and school quality “has been consistent for decades.”

2. Nearly half of Americans oppose AI data centers nearby

Nearly half of Americans (47%) oppose the construction of an AI data center in their neighborhood, while 38% support it, according to a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos.

Opposition to data centers is higher than resistance to other types of development. Just 37% of respondents oppose a new apartment complex in their neighborhood, while 31% oppose a new mixed-use development.

Opposition to converting single-family homes into multi-unit dwellings came closest to data center resistance, at 46%.

Younger Americans are more likely to support nearby data centers. Half of millennials and 48% of Gen Z respondents said they support data center construction in their neighborhoods, compared with 38% of Gen Xers and 22% of baby boomers.

A MESSAGE FROM DAVE YOUR MORTGAGE GUY

She didn't know she qualified for a VA loan.
Her husband was a veteran. 100% disabled until he passed. She assumed the benefit died with him. It didn't.
Surviving spouses may still qualify if:

• The veteran was 100% disabled until end of life

• The veteran passed away in service or from a service-related disability

• The spouse has not remarried

The no-remarriage rule is the one that catches people off guard — and it has a planning move attached to it.
In Texas, the property tax exemption may also still apply on a new purchase — as long as they haven't remarried.

3. Catch up quick

🚨 Man who forged deed to steal $755K home gets prison time. (Inman)

🚧 Housing pipeline splits as starts rise, permits fall. (Census)

🚀 SpaceX sued for South Texas home damage. (myRGV)

🏘️ 47.6% of renter households were cost-burdened in 2024. (Zillow)

A MESSAGE FROM THE RUNDOWN AI

How 2M+ Professionals Stay Ahead on AI

What’s the secret to staying ahead of the curve in the world of AI? Information. 

Luckily, you can join 2,000,000+ early adopters reading The Rundown AI — the free newsletter that makes you smarter on AI with just a 5-minute read per day.

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4. Nearly 1 in 5 homes sell within a week

According to a Zillow analysis, 18.5% of homes nationwide went pending within seven days or less in February 2026. In the fastest-moving markets, more than 1 in 3 homes sold that quickly.

Homes that went pending within a week were 2.6 times more likely to sell above asking price than the typical listing. Among these fast-selling homes, 44.3% sold above list price, compared to 17.1% of all homes in February.

However, Sun Belt markets where inventory has surged — including Austin and San Antonio — saw fewer than 1 in 10 homes sell that quickly. Buyers in these markets have more options and less pressure to make immediate offers.

5. Spring housing market holds as inventory climbs

According to Realtor.com’s April report, new listings rose 8.7% month over month and 1.1% year over year in April. Gains were especially strong in the Northeast (+9.4% YoY) and Midwest (+6.6% YoY).

Here are some other key takeaways:

• The national median list price reached $425,000 in April, up 2.3% from March but down 1.4% from a year earlier.

• Active listings climbed 4.6% annually to 1,002,935 in April, though growth moderated from last month’s 8.1% increase.

• National inventory remained 11.8% below typical pre-pandemic 2017–2019 levels, improving from a 13.8% deficit the previous month.

• Homes spent a median of 52 days on the market, two days longer than a year ago.

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