A report from the Union Tribune in California. "San Diego County had the second-most home price reductions in the nation so far in 2019, said Trulia. San Diego County hasn’t seen as many cutbacks since 2014 when the market was still crawling out of the recession. Twenty percent of homes for sale in February had a price drop, the most of any California city. At the same time last year, the percentage was 10 percent."

"Jason Cassity, a real estate agent based downtown, said the industry has a problem shifting when there has been a big change — such as a downturn in sales at the end of last year. He said some agents are operating like there will still be a bidding war."

"'If you continue pricing like it is 2016, it is going to sit on the market a long time,' he said. 'Or you are going to be one of those 20 percent (in February) that have to price reduce.'"

"A few examples of price reductions: 3675 8th Ave. — This 2,660-square-foot craftsman home in Hillcrest went on the market for $1.1 million in September 2018, but had its price reduced 15 times. It is now on the market for $905,000. 2165 Anthony Drive — This 916-square-foot single-family home near Shelltown went on the market in August for $389,000. The 90-year-old house was taken on and off the market before selling for $330,000 last week."

The Dallas Morning News in Texas. "Dallas is one of the U.S. metro areas where rising home prices have hurt homeownership the most. Dallas, Denver and Houston were identified as the markets where there is the most downward pressure on homeownership, according to a new report by Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University faculty."

"'Of the metros in our index, Dallas is the highest and exhibiting the greatest downward pressure on the demand for homeownership,' said Ken Johnson, real estate economist in FAU's College of Business. 'The extraordinary appreciation in the area is a major driver of this score.'"

From The Daily News in Washington. "Lumber prices have plummeted over the past 10 months, casting an uncertain pall on a sector that’s been a harbinger of economic downturn in the past. It’s worrying news for Cowlitz County, home to more forest product jobs than any other county in the state."

"After peaking at $582 per 1,000 board feet last May, the price of Douglas fir is down to $390 this month, according to Nasdaq commodities data. If construction continues to stall, the 12,300 Cowlitz County residents whose jobs are tied to logging and wood products processing could be the first to feel an economic slowdown that has the potential to reach far beyond local sawmills."

"That’s what happened 12 years ago, when the price of wood was one of the first hints that a major recession was on the way, said Cindy Mitchell, public affairs director for the Washington Forest Protection Association."

"'Back in 2007, log prices dropped really quickly,' Mitchell said. The subprime loans that would be blamed for fueling the Great Recession were still readily available, and public data did not yet hint of the coming economic chill. But builders and lenders were growing wary about the future, and as they hesitated log and lumber prices fell."

"Construction of new homes and apartments in January dropped by 7.8 percent compared to a year ago. 'People who are building multi-family housing are on the forefront of what is happening with log and lumber prices,' Mitchell said. 'And everything is connected.'"

From My Met Data on Colorado. "Those hoping to gain some form of relief from high rent prices in Denver may soon be rejoicing. Although the housing market started off hot in the beginning of 2018, rent prices began to decline in the last two fiscal quarters of the year."

"Mark Williams, executive vice president of the Apartment Association of Metro Denver said the long awaited surplus of apartments could bring more long-term respite. 'This signals a leveling off of the rental market, which should provide some relief to rental seekers in the Denver metro market,' he said."

"The decline is attributed to steadily increasing vacancy rates throughout the Denver market, which reached 5.8 percent by the end of the year. The construction of 12,324 new apartments in 2018 — a number nearly three times greater than Denver’s long-run average construction levels — was a key factor."

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Pennsylvania. "Huge numbers of apartments throughout the city center are being converted into ersatz hotel rooms by a new breed of well-funded operators who are targeting guests seeking homier overnight stays."

"Part of what’s fueling the growth in the short-term stay-business — in Philadelphia and other cities — is a potential surplus of apartments after aggressive construction during the nearly decade-long economic expansion, said Stuart Levy, a management and tourism studies professor at George Washington University."

"The short-term stays may actually be helping sustain that strength by sopping up excess inventory during what’s been a strong uptick in new apartment construction, said Kevin Gillen, a senior research fellow specializing in housing markets at Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation."

"'We’ve got a bit of a surplus of space now that’s taking some time to absorb,'” Gillen said. 'This is something that softens the downturn.'"