Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2025-12-26 - Daily Global Real Estate & Economy Brief

🌍 At a Glance

Our Favorite Home-Buying Stories of 2025 — In 2025, home buyers across 17 states and three countries faced a median home price of $596,000.
Who Recycles the Most Cardboard in N.Y.C.? — Cardboard recycling in New York City increases significantly during the holiday season.
A Guide to Living In Richmond, Va. — Richmond, Va. is characterized by a vibrant culture, dining options, and a move away from its Confederate history.

Burst pipe leaves homes in East Sussex without water on Christmas Day — Southern Water's burst pipe left East Sussex homes without water on Christmas Day, prompting the establishment of a bottled water station for residents.
Two men missing in sea off Devon beach on Christmas Day — A major search is underway for two men missing off Budleigh Salterton beach in Devon on Christmas Day after reports of distress in the water.
‘Lost decade’ of progress after UK introduced shared parental leave, say experts — Experts claim the UK has experienced a "lost decade" in parental rights progress since introducing shared parental leave, with low participation rates.

Busiest ever Christmas Eve for air travel, says civil aviation body — Christmas Eve air travel is projected to reach an all-time high, according to the civil aviation authority.
BP sells stake in motor oil arm Castrol for $6bn — BP divests a 65% stake in Castrol for $6 billion to US investment firm Stonepeak.
US economy grows at fastest pace in two years — The US economy experiences its fastest growth in two years, driven by robust consumer spending.

**Positioning Idea:** Invest in residential REITs focused on emerging markets like Richmond, VA, to capitalize on cultural revitalization.
**Risk Note:** Economic downturns could impact rental demand.
**Positioning Idea:** Consider ETFs focused on sustainable packaging and recycling sectors, benefiting from increased cardboard recycling trends.

**Positioning Idea**: Consider investing in water utility ETFs to hedge against infrastructure failures, as demand for reliable water services remains critical.
**Risk Note**: Infrastructure issues may lead to regulatory scrutiny and increased operational costs.
**Positioning Idea**: Explore REITs focused on residential properties in coastal areas, as demand may rise for homes near popular holiday destinations.

**Position in Travel and Leisure REITs**: Capitalize on increased air travel demand by investing in travel and leisure-focused REITs. *Risk: Economic downturn could dampen travel spending.*
**Consider Infrastructure ETFs**: With BP's divestiture, infrastructure-focused ETFs may benefit from increased capital flow into energy and industrial sectors. *Risk: Regulatory changes could impact energy investments.*
**Explore Consumer Discretionary ETFs**: Leverage strong consumer spending growth by investing in consumer discretionary ETFs. *Risk: Inflationary pressures may affect consumer confidence and spending.*

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.

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