Housing Demand Softens: RICS says buyer inquiries and agreed sales are still down, but May was the first month since January where demand didn’t sink further; listings-to-completion stretched to 21.5 weeks and prices are slipping, with some surveyors expecting a steadier year ahead. Mortgage Readiness: ING is rolling out more AI to speed mortgage applications by collecting and checking documents, while lenders’ “four C’s” (capacity, capital, collateral, credit) remain the core checklist for approvals. First-Time Buyer Pressure (UK): Rightmove flags “coldspots” where first-time buyer asking prices fell most, with Exeter leading the drop, while Oxford remains among the priciest cities for starters. Local Market Reality (Canada): Milton’s market is cooler, with homes taking 27–39 days to sell and buyers leaning harder on contract and title checks. Buyer Safety Online: Facebook Marketplace scams and theft rings are targeting home shoppers and sellers—one case involved a Marketplace ambush for passwords, another a sting that netted suspects selling stolen Home Depot equipment. Homeownership Costs Trap (UK): A retirement flat with a £9,000 service charge can become effectively unsellable, pushing owners toward offloading the liability rather than chasing price. New Supply (UK): Bradford’s Low Moor is getting a 173-home development, with first moves expected this autumn.