A report from the Wall Street Journal. "Sales of previously owned homes fell in January, although a decline in home prices and mortgage rates could bode well for a pickup this spring. January marked the third consecutive month of declining sales, and last month’s 4.94 million home sales were the lowest since November 2015. Compared with a year earlier, sales in January declined 8.5%."

"Inventories of existing homes for sale rose 3.9% to 1.59 million in January. At 3.9 months’ worth of supply, inventories were up slightly from 3.7 months in December, the realtors’ group said."

The Tampa Bay Times in Florida. "Tampa Bay's housing market began the New Year with more of a whimper than a bang as homes sales plunged in Pinellas County. The January figures, released today by Florida Realtors, provide more evidence that the once torrid market is slowing down and increasingly favors buyers. And the local results mirrored those statewide and nationally."

"Pinellas took the worst hit as sales of single family homes plummeted 13.6 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. For the entire month, there were just 685 sales, the smallest number since early 2015."

The Dallas Morning News in Texas. "Nationwide home inventories have increased in four of the last five months after 44 months of straight declines, according to Zillow. The biggest gains in listings were in high-priced west coast market, including San Jose, Calif. (42.9 percent), Seattle (36.9 percent) and San Diego (31.9 percent.)"

"Houses up for sale in Dallas County rose more than 43 percent in January compared with a year earlier. And listings 42 percent higher in Denton County and were 37 percent higher than a year ago in Collin County, according to the MetroTex Association of Realtors. January's listing total for North Texas in the real estate agents' multiple listing service was the highest in six years."

"Danielle Hale the chief economist with Realtor.com said at the housing industry's annual meeting this week in Las Vegas that home inventories across the country started to swell in the fall. 'That's huge news. The market was really really starved for inventory,' she said. 'In spite of the fact inventory is coming back it will be difficult to see sales growth.'"

From Mansion Global on California. "A century-old Gothic Tudor estate once owned by actor Nicolas Cage has come back on the market in San Francisco at an asking price of $10.95 million, a $1 million price cut from its most recent listing two years ago. The actor first bought the home in 2006, and sold it in 2008 for $7.7 million amid financial troubles."

From Patch Seattle on Washington. "If you're a mansion-buyer on the hunt for a serious discount, check out 724 14th Avenue East on Capitol Hill. The 10,400 square-foot mansion built in 1905 has been on the market for two years now, and the price has been cut from $8 million down to $4.7 million."

"The listing agent for the property calls it an 'incredible opportunity for a savvy buyer.'While that might be true, you still have to be filthy rich to afford to live here. Property taxes will run about $40,000 in 2019."