Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2026-01-21

🌍 At a Glance

• US Fed Funds Rate: 3.72 (as of 2025-12-01)
• US 30Y Mortgage: 6.06 (as of 2026-01-15)
• ECB Policy Rate: 2.0 [FRED:ECBDFR] as of 2026-01-20
• BoE Bank Rate: 3.75 (as of 2025-12-18)

🇺🇸 United States

• An Art Collector’s Vision Set in Rock in Millbrook, N.Y. — Artur Walther's new Millbrook home, designed by SO-IL, blends art and nature after years of meticulous planning.
• $1.5 Million Homes in California — Explore $1.5 million homes in California, featuring diverse styles from a ranch in South Lake Tahoe to a bungalow in Los Angeles.
• The Man Who Saw School Buses as Vehicles for Possibility — Lucas Sweeten, who began converting school buses into mobile homes, now empowers students to transform buses for community benefit.

🇪🇺 Europe

• No ban on gas boilers in UK warm homes plan but heat pumps get £2.7bn push — The UK government will not phase out gas boilers by 2035, focusing instead on a £2.7bn investment in heat pumps.
• Wall Street sees worst day since October after Trump tariff threats — Wall Street experienced its worst day since October following President Trump's tariff threats, impacting stocks on both sides of the Atlantic.
• UK to hand Chagos Islands to Mauritius despite Trump’s taunts, No 10 says — The UK will proceed with returning the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite Donald Trump's criticism of the decision.

🌏 Asia

• Europe to suspend approval of US tariffs deal as global markets fall — Europe halts US tariffs deal approval amid falling global markets and rising US-EU tensions.
• Spat deepens between Elon Musk and Ryanair's O'Leary — Elon Musk and Ryanair's O'Leary escalate their feud, exchanging insults publicly.
• Netflix updates Warner Bros bid to all-cash offer — Netflix revises its Warner Bros bid to an all-cash offer amid competitive interest.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• **Positioning Idea**: Invest in residential REITs focusing on unique properties, catering to diverse buyer preferences in high-demand markets.
• **Risk Note**: Market fluctuations may impact demand for luxury and niche homes.
• **Positioning Idea**: Consider ETFs focused on sustainable housing solutions, capitalizing on the trend of mobile and eco-friendly living.

🇪🇺 Europe

• **Positioning Idea**: Invest in renewable energy ETFs focusing on heat pump technology, capitalizing on the UK's £2.7bn investment.
• **Risk Note**: Regulatory changes could impact funding and adoption rates.
• **Positioning Idea**: Consider defensive REITs in sectors like healthcare and residential, as market volatility may drive investors toward stable income sources.

🌏 Asia

• **Position in Defensive REITs**: Consider investing in defensive REITs focused on healthcare and residential sectors to hedge against market volatility. *Risk: Economic downturn may impact rental income.*
• **Allocate to Global Infrastructure ETFs**: Shift towards global infrastructure ETFs to capitalize on potential government spending amidst rising geopolitical tensions. *Risk: Infrastructure projects may face delays or funding issues.*
• **Diversify with Consumer Staples ETFs**: Increase exposure to consumer staples ETFs as market uncertainty grows, providing stability and consistent dividends. *Risk: Inflation may erode profit margins in the sector.*

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.