Month: September 2026

A former Jagex employee who used to work on Old School RuneScape (OSRS) was sentenced to a three-year prison term and suspended for two years after he was found guilty of stealing over $400,000 worth of virtual gold and selling it on the black market. According to Dexerto, 32-year-old Andrew Lakeman, also known as Jed Sanderson, worked on the game starting in 2015 and is known to the community as “Mod Jed.” By 2018, Jagex noticed a pattern: accounts would get recovered under suspicious circumstances, and then valuable in-game items and gold would disappear from them.

OSRS’s in-game economy is similar to that of the real world, where players can trade items with each other or sell them directly on the Grand Exchange, which functions much like a stock exchange. While we don’t know if OSRS players have built collections worth $100,000 or more like in other titles such as Team Fortress 2, these missing virtual items still hold real monetary value and could have a direct financial impact on its players.

Most people think a newly built home costs more than an existing one. But right now, that’s actually backwards. Newly built homes are more affordable than existing ones in a lot of markets. And that’s because builders are cutting prices and stacking on incentives to try to keep their inventory moving.

Here’s why that’s really important for any would-be homebuyer to know.

Newly Built Homes Are the Better Deal Right Now

According to the latest data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a newly built home now typically costs about $40,000 less than an existing one (see graph below):

Builders aren’t like homeowners who can wait for the right offer. Unsold homes cost them money as long as they sit empty. So, builders cut prices and add incentives to keep them moving. That trend has carried into August. NAHB’s latest numbers:

• 35% of builders cut prices, with an average reduction of 6%. 

• 63% offered incentives like covering closing costs or buying down your mortgage rate. 

And those incentives can make a real dent in what you pay upfront and every month after. Plus, since everything is new and many builders offer warranties, you could save on home maintenance costs too. And with affordability where it is, every dollar counts.

So, don’t cross new builds off your list just yet. Yes, you may think they cost more, but that’s not always the case. 

If you can get brand-new everything for less than buying an existing home, isn’t that at least worth looking into? 

Don’t Let the Builder Pick Your Teammate

But before you tour a single model home, there’s one thing worth figuring out first – who’s actually working for you once you walk through that door.

That friendly rep in the builder’s sales office works for the builder, not you. Their job is to protect the builder’s bottom line, not yours. Your own agent flips that. 

They know the local market, so they can tell you if the builder’s price and upgrades stack up against other options nearby. They’ll negotiate on your behalf, whether that’s a lower price, free upgrades, or a rate buydown. 

A good agent will also push for a home inspection. Builders won’t always bring it up, but it’s a step you shouldn’t skip, even on a new build. And your agent will be in your corner, so you know what you’re buying and get the best deal possible. 

Bottom Line

New homes may actually cost less than an existing home right now. And that’s opening up a window for you to get brand-new for less.

If you want a list of new home communities near you that are currently offering incentives or doing price cuts, reach out to a local agent. When you have your own agent, you’ll have someone in your corner helping you get the best deal possible.  

You’ve been waiting for something to change before you buy. It just might not be the thing you expected…

While everyone’s paying attention to mortgage rates, only the savviest buyers know that the changing season can start tipping things in their favor. 

Because every fall, buyers tend to get more to choose from, better prices, and more room to negotiate. And that’s why Hannah Jones, Senior Economist at Realtor.com, says:

“We always see that the best time to buy window usually falls in the early fall around October.”

And that’s exactly why, if you’ve been waiting for a better moment to buy, this season may be worth a closer look – even with rates where they are.

1. There Are More Homes To Choose From

One of the biggest frustrations buyers have had over the past few years has been a lack of choices. Fall tends to help with that.

Based on seasonal trends, Realtor.com data shows there are typically more homes available for sale in September through November than during any other season of the year (see graph below):

Why does this happen? Homes that hit the market in spring and summer don’t all close right away. Some sit. New listings keep coming. And inventory builds as the year goes on.

By fall, you’re looking at the largest pool of available homes all year. That makes it easier to find one that works for your needs and your budget. And if anything, this should be more true this year. Rates that are higher for longer tend to help inventory grow even more.

More choices can mean fewer compromises. You’re more likely to find the right home, not just the one that happens to be available.

2. Asking Prices Start To Drop

Having more choices is great. But if every home is still priced too high, that only gets you so far. That’s where fall’s second advantage kicks in: asking prices start their seasonal decline. 

HousingWire data shows this trend over time (see graph below):

It works like this. Spring and early summer are when sellers feel the most confident because that’s when demand is typically strongest. So, many homeowners price their homes higher during those periods because of the uptick in demand.

But every year, like clockwork, that dynamic starts to change by fall. Buyer activity slows down as the weather cools off. So, sellers have to price a bit lower to try to draw buyers in. And that’s good for your bottom line.

3. More Sellers Are Willing To Negotiate

But fall doesn’t just bring more choices and lower asking prices. It also brings more sellers who are increasingly motivated to get a deal done. 

You can see it in the data. Most years, fall is when price cuts peak according to Realtor.com data (see graph below):

While it’s not a big difference from summer, this fall you’ll have more negotiation power than you’d have if you wait until the first half of 2027. Here’s why. 

If a home is on the market in the fall, many sellers are eager to get it sold before the holidays. And since there are usually fewer buyers active in the fall, that often leads to another opportunity to snag a better deal. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:

“Less competition can lead to better deals. While homes are not selling as fast as during the summer, sellers may be more willing to negotiate.”

Even a small seller compromise here can make a meaningful difference for you. 

As an example, a 5% price drop on a $500,000 home is $25,000. That could mean you end up borrowing less, keeping more money in savings, having room in the budget for updates after you move in, or simply making the monthly payment feel more manageable.

Bottom Line

Of course, every market moves a little differently. But here’s what doesn’t change: Fall consistently buyers. More homes. Lower asking prices. Motivated sellers. 

If you’ve been waiting for your search to feel a little more doable, this season may be worth another look.

Have a quick conversation with a local agent about what’s happening in your market. That way you can find out whether this fall gives you opportunities you may not have had a few months ago.

Three years after implementation of Local Law 18, which created a registration system for complying with New York City’s short-term rental laws, the number of hosts registered for legal, short-term rentals has surpassed 3,500.

The NYC Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) released its annual report yesterday that said more than 460 new short-term rental registrations were granted to hosts in fiscal year 2026, spanning July 2025 through June 2026, bringing the total number of active, approved hosts to 3,522, up from around 3,000 in 2025.

The report also said that 82 hosts were denied after the applicants received detailed instructions and had at least 90 days to correct deficiencies “but were unable or unwilling to demonstrate the ability to host legally.”

The registration system put teeth into NYC’s laws against illegal short-term rentals, which city officials say contribute to rising rents and lower inventory for New Yorkers seeking long-term housing. Before Local Law 18 took effect, there were nearly 40,000 total Airbnb listings in the city, according to a 2022 estimate from Inside Airbnb, an independent site. Enforcement of Local Law 18 began in September 2023, and by 2024 tens of thousands of illegal listings were removed from listings platforms.

“Local Law 18 is achieving what it set out to do: prevent illegal activity while allowing hosts to know for sure what they allowed to do, ensure online companies can verify the legal status of the transactions they facilitate, and reduce the size of the illegal short-term rental problem to one that can be handled with direct enforcement,” said Christian J. Klossner, executive director of OSE, in a statement.

Leveling the playing field

“At least on paper, the law has leveled the playing field by forcing out corporate-scale operators who could not meet the permanent-residency and host-presence requirements while leaving compliant individual homeowners largely intact,” said Laura Mehl Sugarman, a NYC real estate attorney at Benesch.

“The issue that remains to be seen is how and whether hosts will act within the constructs of the law going forward. OSE estimates that approximately 20 percent of registered hosts are involved in illegal activity, such as renting entire homes or exceeding guest limits,” Mehl Sugarman said.

She noted that this was the first year OSE revoked some registrations. OSE said 17 registrations were revoked and 15 are pending; each registration involved making a false statements in an application.

Response from Airbnb

Airbnb, which lost a pair of lawsuits to stop Local Law 18, considers the law “devastating” to homeowners, especially in Brooklyn and Queens. The company said NYC homeowners are losing around $110 million a year in hosting revenue, and approximately $320 million total since Local Law 18 was enacted.

“Local Law 18 has failed to increase housing and lower rent as promised, instead costing NYC homeowners $16,000 annually. We agree with council members and communities advocating for reform that would restore this critical lifeline while having no impact on the rental market,” according to a statement from Airbnb.

Airbnb supports proposed legislation in the City Council that would make three small changes to the city’s short-term rental laws: Allow a host to rent private houses without being on the premises, increase the guest limit from two to four, and permit the use of internal door locks.

Other findings from OSE’s report

Short-term rentals are prohibited for renters or owners in rent-regulated and NYCHA buildings. The report noted that attempts to register rent-regulated units fell compared to the previous year. Fiscal year 2026 saw 65 attempts to register rent-regulated units, down from 86 in fiscal year 2025, and bringing the affordable housing units shielded by the registration law to 618.

NYC’s short-term rental laws also apply to one- and two-family houses, and the report found one- and two-family homes made up more than two-thirds (68 percent) of registered units. More than three-quarters (76 percent) of hosts owned their registered units, and 24 percent are renters.

In addition, 67 percent of summonses for violations were issued to corporate entities (such as an LLC) that owned the properties. 

OSE’s annual report tracks active registrations by City Council District, and registrations in Brooklyn and Queens outpace the other boroughs. Active registrations are highest (297) in the 36th District, encompassing Bedford-Stuyvesant and North Crown Heights and represented by Council member Chi Ossé.

Council Districts 34, 37, and 41 in Brooklyn, represented by Council members Jennifer Gutierrez, Sandy Nurse, and Darlene Mealy, had the next highest total active registrations.

Impact on outer boroughs

In July, the Pratt Center for Community Development released a report analyzing Local Law 18 and its impacts on low- and moderate-income homeowners in one- to two-family homes and professional investors in the short-term rental market. 

One of the key findings in the Pratt report was that the new short-term rental regulations primarily benefit homeowners in outer-borough neighborhoods of color. “Prior to the registration system, the short-term rental market was concentrated around central Manhattan and disproportionately benefited professional hosts,” Pratt researchers wrote.

How Local Law 18 works

Local Law 18 requires owners and renters to register their short-term rentals with OSE. Hosts then get a registration number to display in listings. Sites such as Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and others are prohibited from posting listings for unregistered short-term rentals.

The new law did not change NYC’s existing rules for short-term rentals: Owners or renters cannot rent an entire apartment for fewer than 30 days, even if the host owns or lives in the building. Short-term rentals are only allowed if the host remains in the same unit as guests, and no more than two guests are permitted.

Local Law 18 also established the Prohibited Buildings List, which now totals over 14,000 buildings. Boards and property managers at buildings that do not allow short-term rentals can request to add their building to the list and OSE will deny registration requests for buildings on the list. 

Microsoft will begin automatically enabling its Memory Integrity security feature on a broader range of eligible Windows PCs through quality updates starting in October 2026, extending the kernel-level protection to more existing devices by default. In a September 1 blog post, Microsoft said the rollout will provide stronger protection for more devices against attacks targeting the Windows kernel, while PCs that already have Memory Integrity deliberately disabled will retain their existing configuration.

“Windows quality updates will begin enabling memory integrity protection on eligible devices,” Microsoft said. The updates will also enable Virtualization-based Security (VBS) where required, which provides the isolated environment underlying Memory Integrity. Before making the change, Windows will automatically assess each device using what Microsoft describes as readiness signals covering its hardware capabilities, compatibility, and performance.

Nvidia and MediaTek this week announced a major expansion of their partnership under which Nvidia is investing $3.5 billion in convertible bonds issued by MediaTek, while the latter adopts NVLink Fusion platform for its custom AI accelerators, local AI systems, and automotive platforms. On the one hand, MediaTek’s adoption of NVLink Fusion enables it to design accelerators for Nvidia’s fully developed rack-scale platforms. On the other hand, Nvidia gets a slice of the growing market of custom AI accelerators.

Having become the world’s largest supplier of AI accelerators, Nvidia does not have direct rivals of comparable size. However, in a world where custom AI accelerators are becoming more widespread as more companies see benefits in bespoke solutions, Nvidia must hedge against their rise and ensure that its addressable market expands even if it does not win every accelerator design. One of the ways to achieve this is to spread its NVLink Fusion platform beyond its own products and to popularize it among users of custom hardware. The deal with MediaTek is aimed at exactly that.