Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2026-05-01

🌍 At a Glance

• US Fed Funds Rate: 3.64 (as of 2026-03-01)
• US 30Y Mortgage: 6.3 (as of 2026-04-30)
• ECB Policy Rate: 2.0 [FRED:ECBDFR] as of 2026-04-30
• BoE Bank Rate: 3.75 (as of 2025-12-18)

🇺🇸 United States

• High-Profile Squatting Incidents Are on the Rise Across the Country — States are responding to a rise in high-profile squatting cases, in luxury homes and public housing alike.
• Is It Too Expensive to Sell a House? — Millions of Americans are holding onto empty homes, fearing the tax hit a sale would bring.
• Homes for Sale in the Bronx and Manhattan — This week’s properties are Mott Haven, Manhattan Valley and Turtle Bay.

🇪🇺 Europe

No items.

🌏 Asia

• Trump to remove whisky tariffs after King's visit — The US president said he would lift restrictions on Scotland's ability to work with the state of Kentucky on whisky and bourbon.
• Apple hails 'extraordinary' iPhone demand as boss Tim Cook heads out — Cook is preparing to bow out after 15 years at the helm and hand over to John Ternus.
• Bank of England says rates could rise as Iran war fuels inflation — The Bank of England voted to hold interest rates at 3.75% as it monitors the knock-on effects of the Middle East conflict.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• Favor broad, low-cost regional ETFs; dollar-cost average entries.
• Tilt to quality REITs and short duration if rates stay volatile.

🇪🇺 Europe

• Favor broad, low-cost regional ETFs; dollar-cost average entries.
• Tilt to quality REITs and short duration if rates stay volatile.

🌏 Asia

• Favor broad, low-cost regional ETFs; dollar-cost average entries.
• Tilt to quality REITs and short duration if rates stay volatile.

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.