Housing Finance & Credit: Blackstone’s mortgage platform is positioning for more homebuilding lending, with Blackstone Mortgage Trust shifting toward multifamily and industrial credit while staying heavily performing. REIT & Capital Markets: Megaworld’s MREIT approved a ₱27B property-for-share swap (Wave 5), adding major retail and hospitality exposure and reducing office dominance as it targets a near-1M sq m portfolio. Retail Real Estate: India’s Grade A mall supply is lagging badly—leasing in top seven cities ran about 4.5x new completions in H1 2026, pushing vacancy to 6.7%. Policy & Affordability: Korea’s prime minister is pushing a broad public input process on housing, citing real estate as ~72% of household net worth. Market Signals (Australia): Sydney dwelling prices fell for a third straight month in June, with NAB expecting further declines into 2026. Risk & Insurance: Reuters highlights why El Niño’s “quieter hurricane season” may still mean big insurer losses as coastal exposure and rebuilding costs keep rising. Buyer Behavior: A Tokyo survey shows single-room condo rents hitting a record for the 25th month. Local Governance: Low turnout continues in Cook County property tax referendums, with many voters letting costly measures pass.