AFP Vancouver’s city council launched a review of the municipal regulations on short-term rentals like Airbnb, a platform accused of driving up real estate prices. “We’re working to better understand the economic benefits of short-term rentals, as well as the potential impact of short-term tourist rentals on the supply and price of long term rental housing for Vancouver residents,” …

  AP U.S. renters are seeing their housing costs rise at a much more manageable pace, as new construction has tempered years of runaway increases in rent. Real estate data firm Zillow says that median rent rose a seasonally adjusted 2.6 percent in June from a year ago, matching the gains in average hourly wages. Rental costs have decelerated after …

  AP Long-term U.S. mortgage rates edged higher this week, remaining near historically low levels as a continued enticement to prospective homebuyers. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday the average for the benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.45 percent from 3.42 percent last week. The average rate is down sharply from 4.04 percent a year ago. The 15-year fixed …