Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac says the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.71% (from 6.66%), the highest in more than a year, pushing monthly costs higher and squeezing buyer power. Legal & Housing Rules: A Law Q&A breaks down restrictive covenants—how recorded land-use limits can bind future owners, and what it takes to challenge or remove them. Local Commercial Impact: In Forest City, a downtown fire destroyed a vacant Farmers Hardware building; nearby businesses are working to reopen in temporary space while investigations continue. Data Centers vs. Water: Texas’ AI and data-center boom is raising a new question—whether cooling demand could compete with residents and businesses for water. Affordability Pressure: A report flags housing affordability hitting an all-time low in Australia, with fewer homes affordable to median-income households. Policy Watch: DC Council is weighing a pied-à-terre tax on empty high-value homes as revenue gaps widen. Short-Term Rentals: Buena Vista trustees approved new STR caps by zone, while grandfathering existing licenses and keeping primary-home rentals uncapped. Community Real Estate: Second Chance Animal Services bought a larger Worcester property to expand into a new veterinary hospital and community resource center.