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

🌍 At a Glance

• US Fed Funds Rate: 3.72 (as of 2025-12-01)
• US 30Y Mortgage: 6.15 (as of 2025-12-31)
• ECB Policy Rate: 2.0 [FRED:ECBDFR] as of 2026-01-02
• BoE Bank Rate: 3.75 (as of 2025-12-18)

🇺🇸 United States

• The City’s Most Impressive Skylights — New York's skylights blend functionality with artistic design, making them highly sought after.
• Can Your Landlord Charge Extra for Building Amenities? — Landlords in rent-stabilized buildings can charge for specific amenities, but not arbitrary fees.
• $2 Million Homes in London — London offers diverse $2 million homes, including a loft and a historic house on Sir Henry Tate's estate.

🇪🇺 Europe

• UK’s plans to seize asylum seekers’ phones condemned by campaigners — Campaigners criticize the UK Home Office's plan to seize asylum seekers' phones at the Manston processing centre without arrests.
• Anne Frank stepsister and Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss dies aged 96 — King Charles honors Eva Schloss, Anne Frank's stepsister and Holocaust survivor, following her death at 96.
• Man who died after being pulled from sea was trying to rescue a mother and daughter — Mark Ratcliffe, 67, died while attempting to rescue a mother and daughter from the sea in East Yorkshire.

🌏 Asia

• Trump wants Venezuela's oil. Will his plan work? — Trump aims for American investment in Venezuela's oil sector, but the success of his plan remains uncertain.
• Junk food advert ban set to come into force — A new ban on junk food adverts is expected to encourage healthier product development by manufacturers.
• Dreading going back to work? How to ease the post-Christmas return — Experts offer strategies to alleviate anxiety and stress when returning to work after the Christmas holiday.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• **Positioning Idea:** Invest in REITs focused on urban mixed-use developments to capitalize on demand for functional yet artistic living spaces.
• **Risk Note:** Economic downturns may impact luxury segment demand.
• **Positioning Idea:** Consider ETFs targeting affordable housing and rent-stabilized properties to benefit from stable cash flows amidst regulatory changes.

🇪🇺 Europe

• **Positioning Idea:** Consider investing in UK-focused REITs that cater to affordable housing, as asylum policies may increase demand for lower-cost accommodations.
• **Risk Note:** Regulatory changes could impact housing demand dynamics.
• **Positioning Idea:** Explore ETFs focused on social impact investing, as public sentiment shifts towards humanitarian issues and support for vulnerable populations.

🌏 Asia

• **Positioning Idea:** Consider investing in energy-focused ETFs to capitalize on potential U.S. investments in Venezuela's oil sector.
• **Risk Note:** Political instability may impact investment returns.
• **Positioning Idea:** Explore health and wellness REITs as consumer trends shift towards healthier products post-junk food advertising ban.

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.