US Mortgage Rates Tick Down Slightly as German Residential Prices Continue Upward Trend.
Cross-border real estate sees varied movements, with US mortgage rates easing slightly while key European markets show price growth and Canada anticipates a subdued period.
The story
In the US, mortgage rates offered a slight reprieve this week. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.67% as of August 13, a marginal dip from 6.69% last week, according to Freddie Mac.
This comes as median list prices in the US fell 2.4% year-over-year in July, with 20% of active listings seeing price cuts, as reported by Churchill Mortgage on August 14. Meanwhile, Germany's residential property market continued its upward trajectory, with prices in the second quarter of 2026 rising 1.9% year-on-year, according to the Association of German Pfandbrief Banks (vdp) on August 13.
Rents for new tenancies across Germany were 3.2% higher in Q2 2026 than a year earlier, leading to an increase in measured yield. Across the Atlantic, Canada's housing market is expected to remain subdued for the rest of 2026, with new home starts projected to decrease as builders adjust to weaker demand and elevated inventories, as per a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. report on August 13.
G20 + UAE this cycle
| Country | Price Yoy Pct | Prime Yield Pct | Mortgage Rate Pct | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | ||||
| Australia | -0.7% | easing | ||
| Brazil | ||||
| Canada | subdued | |||
| China | ||||
| France | ||||
| Germany | 1.9% | easing (yield) | ||
| India | ||||
| Indonesia | ||||
| Italy | ||||
| Japan | ||||
| Mexico | 7-8% | tightening | ||
| Russia | ||||
| Saudi Arabia | ||||
| South Africa | flat | |||
| South Korea | tightening/easing | |||
| Turkey | ||||
| United Kingdom | -30% (balance) | subdued | ||
| United States | -2.4% | 6.67% | easing | |
| UAE | tightening |
UAE corner
Abu Dhabi's residential sales have already surpassed 2025's total, reaching $23.5 billion (AED 86.3 billion) by mid-August, according to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) on August 13. Dubai's property market remained active in early August, with weekly sales values ranging between AED 7 billion and AED 7.7 billion, and transaction volumes between 3,000 and 3,600 deals each week. The average price per square foot in Dubai hovered near AED 1,700, with off-plan properties continuing to lead in transaction numbers.
India corner
India's 11 listed real estate developers are projected to see their combined pre-sales increase by 22.3% year-on-year, from ₹1.49 lakh crore in FY26 to ₹1.82 lakh crore in FY27, according to an ANAROCK report released on August 12. Oberoi Realty and Puravankara are expected to be among the top performers.
Additionally, the Haryana RERA has granted a four-month extension to real estate projects, a move welcomed by developers amid the West Asia crisis. Luxury floor prices in South Delhi also saw a rise of 6-21% in Q2 2026, driven by redevelopment, high-net-worth individual (HNI) and NRI demand, and limited supply.
Residency-by-investment
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
Country: Malta
Threshold: €169,000 (rental route)
What Changed: Malta's Citizenship by Investment program officially ended in 2025 following a European Court of Justice ruling, but the MPRP remains fully operational, offering immediate permanent residence.
Greece Golden Visa
Country: Greece
Threshold: €250,000 / €400,000 / €800,000
What Changed: Law 5275/2026, effective February 6, 2026, changed the five-year validity period to commence from the date the residence card is issued, rather than the application submission date.
UAE Golden Visa (Property Route)
Country: UAE
Threshold: AED 2 million
What Changed: No new changes to the property threshold or salary requirements were reported this week, but existing rules continue to be clarified.
Spotlight country
Canada's housing market is expected to remain subdued for the remainder of 2026, according to a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) report released on August 13. CMHC anticipates new home starts will decrease as builders contend with weaker demand, elevated inventories, and higher construction costs.
Mortgage rates are forecast to remain steady or even increase slightly over the next two years. Despite this national outlook, Ontario saw new home sales jump 130% in the second quarter, reaching 8,410 units, following the province's enhanced HST rebate on new homes, which took effect on April 1. However, this recovery is uneven, with condo sales lagging significantly.
The contrarian view
Realtor.com reported on August 11 that US asking prices fell 2.5% year-over-year, marking the steepest annual decline in its data since 2017. Danielle Hale of Realtor.com noted that sellers are now pricing homes more realistically from the outset, rather than listing high and cutting later, indicating a shift in market dynamics.
What we'll be watching
- FHFA House Price Index for Q3 2026 (November 24, 2026)
- FHFA Monthly House Price Index for October 2026 (December 29, 2026)
- Potential Federal Reserve interest rate hike later this fall
- Bank of England's monetary policy decisions, with expectations for rates to hold steady until 2027
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.