The housing market continues to evolve as affordability challenges, shifting demographics, and legacy-driven generosity reshape the landscape. This week’s focus keyword is housing accessibility—and each featured story speaks to how access is being won, lost, or redefined. From a Wisconsin landlord’s donation that expands affordable housing, to a bilingual training initiative combating HUD’s English-only policy, and from Zillow’s affordability insights to Miami’s all-cash dominance, we’re covering key movements that matter. Whether you’re advising clients or planning your next strategy, these developments point to both opportunity and urgency in expanding who gets to participate in homeownership.
Appleton Landlord Leaves Behind 20-Unit Legacy to Fight Homelessness
Read the Full Story → FOX11News
Richard “Dick” Reetz, a lifelong Appleton WI landlord, made a transformational gift upon his passing: he donated 10 rental properties—20 units in total—to the nonprofit Pillars to help combat homelessness. The gift increases the organization’s property portfolio by 26%.
Pillars plans to use the homes to house at least 40 individuals and families in need. The donation marks the nonprofit’s largest property addition since 2017 and aligns squarely with their mission to reduce homelessness through housing access.
Reetz’s legacy demonstrates how individual generosity can contribute significantly to housing accessibility at the local level—providing a model for impact through estate planning and community partnerships.
In Miami Luxury Real Estate, Cash Still Rules
Read the Full Story → Realtor.com
Miami’s high-end market remains one of the most cash-driven in the country. More than 50% of homes over $1 million are sold without financing, and for properties above $10 million, nearly 59% are all-cash transactions, according to new data from Realtor.com.
This trend is pushing prices higher and extending time on market, yet sellers are showing little fear. With minimal mortgage dependency, delisting is more common than price reductions. In July, 59 homes were delisted for every 100 new listings—far outpacing other major markets.
Global wealth continues to flow into Miami, buoyed by tax advantages and international appeal. This solid cash foundation creates a uniquely stable—if exclusive—real estate climate that reinforces housing accessibility for the ultra-wealthy while creating barriers for financed buyers.
Zillow: Affordable Listings Rise—But Real Affordability Still Lags
Read the Full Story → Zillow
In July 2025, Zillow reported that affordable home listings reached their highest count since August 2022, with roughly 439,000 homes qualifying as affordable to median-income buyers. That’s a 20% year-over-year increase, signaling a slight inventory recovery.
Still, only 31.7% of active listings are truly affordable, down from over 50% in 2020. While Midwest metros like Buffalo and Pittsburgh offer over 50% affordability, coastal cities like Los Angeles remain dire, with just 3% of listings falling within reach of the average buyer.
Zillow warns that significant affordability improvements will require large-scale policy changes or a major economic shift. For now, the modest gains in housing accessibility remain regionally dependent and highly uneven.
New Training Platform Empowers Spanish-Speaking Loan Officers.
Read the Full Story → Scotsman Guide
In response to HUD’s recent elimination of translated documents, the nonprofit HOME (Hispanic Organization of Mortgage Experts) has launched a bilingual training system for Spanish-speaking loan officers. The platform, HOME Certified, is designed to help diversify the industry and increase cultural accessibility for Hispanic borrowers.
The self-paced platform covers everything from credit analysis to compliance and is paired with an AI-powered search tool that matches borrowers with 150 wholesale lenders. HOME aims to close the representation gap—only 1% of loan officers today are Hispanic—and make homeownership more accessible for Spanish-speaking communities.
This initiative underscores how technology and education can play a major role in improving housing accessibility across underserved populations.
Loan Officer Perspective
Housing accessibility isn’t just a consumer issue—it’s a strategic opportunity. With affordable listings climbing and bilingual tools expanding, now’s the time to position yourself as an advocate and educator. Share updates on regional affordability and promote your ability to work with diverse client bases. New tools like HOME Certified show where the industry is headed: more inclusive, tech-enabled, and ready for growth.
Real Estate Agent Perspective
This week’s stories spotlight multiple ways to connect with clients: from affordable markets in the Midwest to luxury listings in Miami. Build relationships with landlords who may want to create legacy impact, like Dick Reetz. Educate clients on shifting affordability, and highlight your network’s reach—including trusted Spanish-speaking partners. The more you know about access issues, the more value you offer.
Home Buyer & Seller Perspective
Whether you’re entering the market or selling, housing accessibility affects your timeline, options, and financial strategy. More listings are affordable—but challenges remain. Sellers in hot markets can still hold firm, while buyers need strategic guidance to act confidently. That’s why your loan officer or agent is so valuable. Reach out today to discuss your next move or clarify what’s possible in your budget.
Frank’s Corner
Let’s take a breather from housing headlines and get weird—in a good way. Ever heard of Chocolate Salami? It’s a no-bake, slice-and-serve dessert that looks like salami but tastes like rich, fudgy heaven. This thing’s got cocoa, crushed cookies, and nuts—and it’s as fun to make as it is to eat.
Trust me: serve it at an open house and you’ll have buyers staying an extra 15 minutes just to ask for the recipe. No oven required. Just chill it, slice it, and enjoy the laughs. Curious? Check out the Chocolate Salami recipe here.
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