Why the Housing Market Is Swinging in Buyers’ Favor

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

News, Daily News

4.1 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 2 February 2026

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

P.M. Edition for Feb. 2. Even as home sales remain stuck at a 30-year low, people that are buying are finding big discounts. WSJ reporter Nicole Friedman discusses the changing dynamics in the market. Plus, the partial government shutdown means Friday’s jobs report will be delayed. We hear from Journal economics reporter Matt Grossman about what that means for investors. And a Michigan pension fund lost millions on an investment in a coffee farm. As reporter Heather Gillers tells us, what happened there highlights the risks that come with investing in private markets. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:25.5	Based on average new for sale and rental listings July 24 through June 2025. Number one,
0:29.6	trusted based on August 2025 proprietary survey among real estate professionals.
0:38.0	Another government shutdown means there won't be a jobs report this Friday. Plus, a pension fund's $86 million loss on a coffee farm shows the risks of investing in private markets.
0:44.2	This is just a much more Wild West type of investing than public markets.
0:51.4	And the commitments that institutional investors make when they sign on for these
0:57.3	types of ventures don't often give them a ton of recourse when things go poorly.
1:03.2	And if you've been looking to buy a home, the market might be finally swinging in your favor.
1:08.2	It's Monday, February 2nd.
1:10.2	I'm Alex O'Sullough for the Wall Street Journal.
1:12.6	This is the PM edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories that move the world today.
1:25.0	First up in news today from the Trump administration, the January jobs report that was scheduled to come out this Friday is delayed because of a government shutdown.
1:33.6	If you're thinking, deja vu, well, you're not wrong.
1:36.5	It's the second time in five months that work has stopped at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS.
1:42.0	House Democrats are pushing for changes on immigration enforcement. That's stalled a package of bills that includes money for the BLS. House Democrats are pushing for changes on immigration enforcement. That's
	...

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