Regulatory Shake-Up (Australia): The ACCC has forced REA Group’s realestate.com.au to drop contract clauses that pushed agents to list exclusively, giving agencies more choice for selling and renting. Tenant Screening Scrutiny (US): A new analysis says many tenant background checks are failing landlords, with inaccurate or misleading eviction and conviction data potentially blocking renters unfairly. Housing Policy Vote (California): Redwood City voters will decide in November on Measure E, a rent-control and tenant-protection ballot measure that pits renter advocates against city leaders and housing providers. Mega-Project Backlash (Hong Kong): Hong Kong’s “Northern Metropolis” tech hub plan faces warnings over environmental and community costs as villages and wetlands make way for new homes and jobs. Local Housing Preservation (Virginia): Virginia Union University says it will amend permits to prevent demolition of the Richmond Community Hospital building while it pursues up to 100 multifamily units. Severe Weather & Repairs (Texas): Regent Restoration expands storm-damage response as Denton County logs frequent hail events, driving demand for roof and structural recovery. China Property Finance Pressure: Beijing’s land auction was scrapped after weak bidding, highlighting strain on local government revenue as reforms curb pre-sales. Short-Term Rental Debate (Croatia): A family-host group argues new restrictions on Croatian short-term rentals won’t fix the housing crisis without solid data. Market Watch (UK): Zoopla reports higher mortgage rates are tightening rental supply and pushing rents up again.