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2026-07-16
Today: Georgia foreclosures jumped 52% in the first half of 2026, CCI Real Estate opened preleasing for 353 beds near UGA, and short sales are making a slow comeback as an alternative to foreclosure.
Mortgage rates showed volatility this week before settling at 6.64%, the lowest level in just over a week. Both the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index came in lower than expected, with June inflation dropping to 3.5% annually (down from 4.2%). Despite the improved inflation data, rates have been climbing back toward 7% due to factors beyond the Federal Reserve. National inventory held above 1.1 million properties for the fourth consecutive week, the longest streak since November 2019. Active inventory climbed 2.2% year over year while median list prices fell 2.3% annually for the third consecutive week. Mortgage News Daily, Realtor.com Research
For Clarke County brokers: the rate environment remains unstable. Clients locking rates should understand that June's lower fuel prices drove the inflation improvement, and July has already shifted back toward higher prices. Price reductions crossed 100,000 nationally for the first time in 2026, though still below last year's levels. Homes are selling at the same pace as a year ago. Adjust pricing strategies accordingly and contact buyers who paused searches in May when rates spiked above 7%.
Building permit activity remains mixed nationally. Regional data shows slight declines expected in near-term forecasts, though the articles provided limited specifics for Georgia or the Athens market. Multiple sources on building permits
CCI Real Estate is underway on a 353-bed student housing development near the University of Georgia campus. The company also opened preleasing for the 290 Lumpkin student housing project. No timeline details were provided in the truncated articles. REBusinessOnline, Construction Owners
For brokers working the UGA market: this adds 643 beds to the pipeline. Contact investor clients with properties near these developments to discuss repositioning or exit strategies before preleasing volumes become public. Greek housing and off-campus demand remain strong fundamentals, but new supply will compress per-bed rental rates for lower-tier properties.
UGA reported $324.4 million in donor contributions for fiscal year 2026, including a $20.5 million gift to the School of Nursing and ongoing momentum for the School of Medicine. The university extended 64 admission offers for its inaugural medical school class after receiving over 2,000 applications. UGA also expanded its Small Business Development Center presence to Buckhead with a new office at the Terry Executive Education Center. UGA Today, UGA SBDC announcement
Watch for: enrollment growth signals tied to the medical school launch. Healthcare program expansion typically drives demand for graduate and professional housing within commuting distance. The SBDC expansion into Buckhead signals UGA's continued Atlanta metro integration, which may shift where out-of-state students and faculty choose to live.
Georgia foreclosures increased 52% year over year in the first half of 2026, according to data reported by Savannah Business Journal. The article did not break down figures by county or provide Clarke County specifics. Savannah Business Journal
For investor clients: this is a significant jump. Contact your foreclosure attorney and title contacts to confirm local pipeline volume. A 52% statewide increase does not guarantee Clarke County mirrors the trend, but probabilities favor elevated activity. Watch for REO listings hitting MLS in Q3 and Q4. Pre-foreclosure outreach to distressed owners may generate off-market opportunities before properties hit auction.
Short sales are making a comeback after years of decline, rising 4% from 2023 to 2024, nearly 10% from 2024 to 2025, and about 16% year over year in Q1 2026. Nearly 30,000 short-sale transactions took place in the U.S. in 2025, accounting for roughly 0.6% of all conventional sales and 28% of distressed home sales. Short sales are rising fastest in midpriced markets like the West and Florida, though they remain rare everywhere. As of 2025-26, the typical short-sale listing took about two months longer to sell than a comparable home, reflecting the slow and uncertain approval process. Short sales now sell at a smaller discount than foreclosures for the first time in years. Realtor.com Research
Action item: train your buyer clients on short-sale mechanics if you have not already. Expect longer timelines and uncertain outcomes, but these properties offer an alternative to REO competition. Sellers with thin equity who bought near the 2021-2022 peak are the most likely candidates. If you represent struggling sellers, position short sales as a faster exit than foreclosure with less credit damage. Coordinate with experienced short-sale processors and get lender approval before listing.
The Making Condos Safer and Affordable Act was reintroduced in Congress by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) around the anniversary of the 2021 Surfside collapse. The bill would expand access to low-interest, government-backed loans for structural and life-safety work in condominium buildings, allowing associations to spread repair costs over time instead of relying on large special assessments. The bill stalled in committee in 2023 but may have an easier path this time as roughly 18 states have introduced condo safety and reserve legislation since Surfside. Florida created statewide milestone inspections for older buildings and required structural integrity reserve studies. HousingWire
Georgia impact: limited. Georgia has not enacted Florida-style condo safety mandates. Watch for spillover effects if the federal bill passes and creates financing options that make reserve funding more attractive to Georgia condo boards. Older condo inventory in Athens is minimal compared to coastal markets, but any client considering condo investment should understand the reserve funding risk.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed Congress, removing provisions that would have denied build-to-rent (BTR) communities an exemption from the institutional investor ban. Earlier Senate language added in March would have imposed a seven-year sell-off requirement on new BTR developments, which largely froze capital investment in new BTR projects for months. The final bill stripped those provisions, and capital is now flowing back into BTR. Developers report at least five projects able to move forward, creating close to 1,200 new housing units in the next 18 to 24 months. HousingWire
Watch for: BTR development activity resuming in Athens suburbs and Oconee County. Institutional capital sat on the sidelines for months. Now that legislative uncertainty is resolved, expect land acquisition to accelerate for BTR communities targeting UGA commuters and young professionals. This will compete with traditional single-family inventory and affect rental rates in neighborhoods adjacent to new BTR projects.
Fairway Home Mortgage launched Fairway SAFE (Senior Advocacy & Financial Education), a nonprofit focused on helping seniors and their families recognize, prevent, and respond to financial scams and exploitation. The initiative will offer free programming, resources, and partnerships. Fairway will host a free national webinar, "Stay Safe: Protecting Yourself from Scams & Financial Abuse," on July 29. HousingWire
For brokers working with senior clients or reverse mortgages: share this resource. Elder financial exploitation is climbing, and clients will appreciate the referral. Consider attending the webinar to better recognize warning signs when working with older sellers.
A Georgia housing agency was victimized in a $2.5 million fraud scheme involving false invoices, kickbacks, and fraudulent payments over a four-year period, according to prosecutors. The article provided no details on which agency or counties were affected. HousingWire
No immediate action required, but monitor for additional reporting. If the scheme involved down payment assistance programs or affordable housing allocations, clients using those programs may face delays or tighter documentation requirements.