U.S. Market: October listings grew, but buyers pulled back: homes under contract fell 10.5% year over year, while the median asking price dropped 2.2% to $415,000. Price cuts appeared on 20.5% of listings, and 30-year mortgage rates averaged 7.33%. Mortgage Planning: Rate locks can protect buyers from rising rates, but timing depends on the closing schedule, budget and risk tolerance; common lock periods run 30 to 60 days. California Help: Proposition 37 passed with more than 60% of the vote, creating a program for eligible middle-income buyers to put 3% down on qualified new homes. Canadian Policy: Ottawa proposes extending its ban on foreign purchases of existing homes to 2029 while exempting new homes; the change is not yet law. Buyer Protection: Three people were arrested in Tenerife over an alleged property scam that left 28 buyers out €114,900 in deposits. Global Affordability: In Limassol, 3,013 new apartments remain unsold and asking prices for older apartments fell 9% from February to September. Across the EU, house prices have risen 6.8% faster than household incomes over the past decade.