Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2026-02-01

🌍 At a Glance

• US Fed Funds Rate: 3.72 (as of 2025-12-01)
• US 30Y Mortgage: 6.1 (as of 2026-01-29)
• ECB Policy Rate: 2.0 [FRED:ECBDFR] as of 2026-01-30
• BoE Bank Rate: 3.75 (as of 2025-12-18)

🇺🇸 United States

• What Do Luca Dončić, Shedeur Sanders and Sabrina Ionescu Have In Common? House Burglars. — Recent burglaries targeting sports stars have prompted heightened vigilance from league officials and law enforcement.
• Should Rent-Stabilized New Yorkers Count on the Mamdani Rate Freeze? — Rent-stabilized tenants in New York face a choice between a 3% or 4.5% rent increase, raising questions about the best option.
• Gene Hackman’s Santa Fe Compound Is for Sale a Year After His Death — Gene Hackman's Santa Fe estate is on the market, following notable listings from other celebrity estates.

🇪🇺 Europe

• Democrats request ‘urgent’ review of unredacted Epstein files to evaluate DoJ compliance — Democrats demand an urgent review of unredacted Epstein files to assess the Justice Department's compliance with public disclosures.
• Keir Starmer calls on Andrew to testify in US over Jeffrey Epstein links — Keir Starmer urges Prince Andrew to testify in the U.S. regarding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Lord Triesman, former Labour minister and FA chair, dies aged 82 — Lord Triesman, ex-Labour minister and FA chair, has passed away at 82, remembered as a key figure in the New Labour movement.

🌏 Asia

• Phone lines stay open as tax return deadline looms — HM Revenue and Customs reports over one million missed tax return deadlines last year.
• Plan ahead and dress wisely: How to minimise add-on costs when you fly — Travelers should plan and dress wisely to avoid unnecessary flight add-on costs.
• Trump picks Kevin Warsh to lead the US Federal Reserve — Trump nominates economist Kevin Warsh to lead the US Federal Reserve.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• **Position in Security REITs**: Invest in security-focused REITs as demand for enhanced property security rises. *Risk: Economic downturns may reduce overall property values.*
• **Consider Multifamily ETFs**: Explore multifamily housing ETFs as rent stabilization discussions may drive demand for affordable housing. *Risk: Regulatory changes could impact rental income stability.*
• **Target Luxury Real Estate Funds**: Allocate to luxury real estate funds, capitalizing on high-profile celebrity estate listings. *Risk: Luxury market volatility may affect investment returns.*

🇪🇺 Europe

• **Positioning Idea**: Consider investing in UK-focused REITs, as political scrutiny may drive demand for transparency in governance, potentially stabilizing the market.
• **Risk Note**: Political instability could lead to regulatory changes affecting property values.
• **Positioning Idea**: Explore ETFs focused on sectors benefiting from increased public scrutiny, such as compliance and legal services, as demand for transparency rises.

🌏 Asia

• **Position in Tax-Advantaged REITs**: Consider investing in REITs focused on affordable housing, as rising tax issues may increase demand for budget-friendly living options. *Risk: Economic downturn could impact rental income.*
• **Travel Sector ETFs**: Explore ETFs focused on travel and leisure, as consumers adapt to rising costs by seeking budget-friendly travel solutions. *Risk: Ongoing inflation may dampen discretionary spending.*
• **Macro Hedge with Treasury Bonds**: Allocate to long-term Treasury bonds in anticipation of potential interest rate shifts under new Fed leadership, providing a hedge against market volatility. *Risk: Rising inflation could erode bond returns.*

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.