Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2025-09-16

🌍 At a Glance

• US Fed Funds Rate: 4.33 (as of 2025-08-01)
• US 30Y Mortgage: 6.35 (as of 2025-09-11)
• ECB Policy Rate: 2.0 [FRED:ECBDFR] as of 2025-09-15
• BoE Bank Rate: 4.00 (as of 2025-08-07)

🇺🇸 United States

• Creating the ‘Feeling of Morocco’ in Texas — A Texas family transformed a Tuscan-style house into a Moroccan-inspired indoor-outdoor retreat despite initial concerns from listing photos.
• $2 Million Homes in California — California's $2 million homes feature a midcentury modern design in Santa Paula, a Craftsman in Pasadena, and a Mediterranean-style house in Sacramento.
• Can the Landlord Withhold Your Deposit if the Place Is a Mess? — To avoid disputes, tenants and landlords should document rental conditions with photos at the start and end of the lease.

🇪🇺 Europe

• First ‘one in, one out’ deportation flight reportedly takes off without migrants — The first deportation flight under the UK’s “one in, one out” policy reportedly did not carry any migrants due to a legal challenge.
• Reeves to host bosses of UK and US financial firms as Trump visit begins — Chancellor Rachel Reeves will meet with US and UK financial firm leaders during Donald Trump's state visit to discuss increasing US investment.
• Hillsborough law will mean serious wrongdoing is punished, says Lammy — Deputy PM David Lammy asserts that the Hillsborough law will enforce accountability for public officials, ensuring they act with honesty and integrity.

🌏 Asia

• Beauty chain Bodycare to shut a further 30 stores — Bodycare plans to close 30 stores, but administrators aim to save the remaining 85 locations.
• Trump renews push to end companies' quarterly reports — Trump advocates for a shift to semi-annual financial reporting for companies.
• Musk buys $1bn worth of Tesla shares — Musk's $1 billion Tesla share purchase marks his first investment in the company since 2020.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• **Positioning Idea:** Invest in REITs focused on unique architectural styles, like midcentury modern and Mediterranean, to capture niche market demand.
• **Risk Note:** Market preferences may shift, impacting property values.
• **Positioning Idea:** Consider ETFs that focus on residential real estate in California, leveraging high demand for diverse home styles.

🇪🇺 Europe

• **Position in UK-focused REITs**: Consider UK REITs that benefit from stable governance and accountability measures, but watch for potential regulatory changes impacting property rights.
• **Invest in Infrastructure ETFs**: Target infrastructure-focused ETFs as US investment increases in the UK; however, be cautious of geopolitical tensions affecting cross-border investments.
• **Diversify with Macro Hedging**: Use macro hedges like currency ETFs to protect against volatility in the UK market amid evolving immigration policies and political discussions.

🌏 Asia

• **Positioning Idea:** Consider investing in retail-focused REITs that can benefit from store closures, potentially increasing foot traffic to remaining locations.
• **Risk Note:** Monitor consumer spending trends as economic conditions may impact retail performance.
• **Positioning Idea:** Explore ETFs focused on companies with strong cash flow, as semi-annual reporting could enhance transparency and attract long-term investors.

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.