MarketWatch: Weekly Real Estate Update for Riverdale, Bronx – 7/20/2026 – 7/27/2026

Did You Know?

A new data study published by Compass International Holdings Chief Economist Mike Simonsen and Chief Data Officer Dave Crosby found sellers who used a phased marketing approach by first listing as a Private Exclusive or Coming Soon saw three measurable advantages over going directly to the MLS and portals:

• 4.6% higher sale price than comparable homes listed directly on the MLS and portals
  
• 34% faster time to contract once the home went active
  
• 29% less likely to have a price cut once the home went active. Based on the U.S. median existing-home sale price of $430,000, a 4.6% premium puts nearly $20,000 directly into the average homeowner’s pocket.

Independent research points the same direction. Dr. Darren Hayunga, a professor at the University of Georgia, studied 20 years of Dallas-Fort Worth home sales and found that sellers who avoided the “negotiation discount” from being on the MLS and Portals sold for 1.7% more, with the premium jumping to over 8% for luxury properties.

Phased marketing helps homeowners test price, receive feedback, build buyer interest and create buyer urgency before the clock starts, so the home launches with demand already built and no negative history working against it, reducing risk.

* Throughout the late 1900s, Tucson, AZ replaced many grass lawns with Sonoran desert landscaping, which includes natural rock formations and native plants that require less water. Despite substantial population growth, the city uses the same amount of water as it did in the late 1980s. (USA TODAY)

* The “broken-concept” floorplan layout is a hybrid approach that strikes a balance between openness and defined closed rooms, delivering the airy feel people love while maintaining a sense of comfort, purpose, and privacy, encouraging connection between spaces like the kitchen and living room, without the common downsides of open plans, such as noise, clutter, or a lack of privacy. Instead of doors, broken-concept layouts rely on thoughtful design elements—half walls, built-ins, changes in floor level, or strategic furniture placement—to distinguish one area from another. (House Beautiful)

* Air B&Bedlam? A condo in Miami is experiencing what some have experienced around the globe : abusive AIRbnb guests with little to no respect for neighbors. Laws are only meaningful if enforced.

* Social Security is not invested in the stock market or private companies. By law, any surplus tax revenue collected by the Social Security Administration is invested exclusively in special interest-bearing U.S. government obligations and Treasury securities managed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Had these funds been invested in the DOW, they would be worth over 5X more over the past 35 years.

Mortgage Rate Updates:

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage in the US edged up to 6.58% as of July 23, 2026, from 6.55% the previous week, marking the fourth consecutive weekly increase, according to Freddie Mac. “As market conditions continue to evolve, borrowers should remember that shopping around for a mortgage rate can make a meaningful difference, potentially saving them thousands over the loan’s lifetime,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. A year earlier, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.74%. Meanwhile, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 5.96% from 5.93% the previous week.

Source: Freddie Mac