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For homebuyers and sellers alike across America, theres a massive “struggle” being felt to close deals or make any money.

“The challenges to real estate buyers and sellers right now are probably the greatest ever,” real estate powerhouse Dolly Lenz told Fox News Digital. “It’s a struggle for every buyer and a struggle for every seller they really have to look and say: What am I doing? Do I struggle to stay where I am and just wait this out? Do I struggle to buy?”

“Which struggle am I willing to take on? And every family has to sit down at the dining room table and decide that,” she continued. “It is a struggle and people really are suffering. So it’s not a good time for real estate overall.”

Recent data from mortgage buyer Freddie Mac indicated the U.S. homebuyer’s monthly costs have surged nearly 20% compared to one year ago. Lenz daughter and managing director of the brokerage painted the current housing landscape as “a tale of two cities,” joining the warning calls around a sticky real estate market with people who are “plagued” with high prices.

“We’re still doing deals because [clients] have cash. And like they say, cash is king,” Jenny Lenz also told Fox News Digital. “But other than the very, very high-end, we are seeing people who are pretty skittish. And again, the first-time homebuyer is suffering the most.”

A mix of constantly changing insurance coverage and the Federal Reserve’s latest rate hike pushing 30-year fixed mortgage rates above 7.6% come at a time when Americans are “plagued” with high food and gas prices, according to the mother-daughter real estate team. They both argued that recession-like impacts are keeping homeowners in place, thus affecting the U.S. market and related sectors.

“Sixty-percent of the country has a mortgage rate 4% or under, so it really doesn’t make sense for them to sell should they want to upsize or downsize, because their monthly payments are going to be the same, if not more,” Jenny pointed out.

“None of those homes are coming on the market, which means lack of inventory, which means high prices, which basically means golden handcuffs for everyone,” the managing director added.

“Think about how that reverberates throughout the economy,” Dolly chimed in. “So there’s no movers making moves. There’s no architects people aren’t buying rugs and they’re not buying new furniture a list that goes on and on and on, how that impacts the entire economy.”

While Dolly admitted its “not the absolute worst” real estate market shes worked in, it is the worst for daughter Jenny.

“People can’t get mortgages. Insurance is becoming astronomically expensive,” Jenny said. “Highest ever median home price. So we’re getting all of these things at the same time.”

In certain states like Texas and Florida where theres no individual income tax, buyers and sellers may find more success.

“Migration trends are going to make a big difference,” Dolly noted. “After SALT disappeared, people can’t deduct their real estate taxes or the state and local taxes. So it’s a very expensive thing. Now they’re eating that entire nut themselves since they can’t deduct it.”

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For metropolitan areas like New York City and San Francisco, renting has become more expensive than purchasing a property, the duo warned.

“All these places where crime is at an all-time high, but its cost of living is even worse, it’s absolutely ridiculous,” Jenny said. “People are saying, These mortgage rates are so high, these prices are so high, I’m still going to dip my toe here, even though just a year ago I could have purchased a bigger home, a more expensive home, because the rent is just so high.”

They also cautioned against buyers making too many concessions, advising they be “flexible” through the process.

“A lot of our buyers say to us: Look, I really want to get this house, so I’m going to waive my right to inspection as an example. And we’re like, it’s not really a good idea because if you do that, you don’t know how big a pot that is you’re going to have to eat up,” Dolly said.

“You have to really keep your eyes open,” Jenny added. “You have to be ready with that mortgage and a loan commitment letter, if you can even get one, and really be ready to jump in and get the home, because it’s really hard out there.”

Though these factors pitch a “negative” market outlook for the Lenzes, they put the onus on individuals to find their own optimism.

“We’re in a slight recession now. I see it as getting worse between Fitch, insurance, gas prices, everything becoming so expensive,” Dolly said. “And that’s not good. That really is a sign of a not-chugging-along economy.”

“People are struggling and we hope that [the Federal Reserve] can keep rates down so that we can have a great economy,” Jenny said as Dolly added, “and so people can navigate and have some options.”

The Lenzes best advice for home buyers and sellers right now? Be patient and do your research.

“Real estate is local and hyper-local. What’s going on in one market could be very different than one that’s seemingly next door, but a 45-minute drive,” Dolly said. “So do your homework there. Don’t just be bidding on houses. Asking prices of homes do not reflect value.”

“You need to be tracking a market for, I would say, a couple of months to see what’s going on, what’s selling, how long it’s taking to sell and then have an educated offer on whatever property it is, while at the same time trying to secure that lowest mortgage rate possible for yourself,” Jenny weighed in.

“All the balls in the air at the same time, and that’s what you need to do,” the Dolly Lenz Real Estate founder said. “And very likely, if you have good credit, will be successful. You will get that house.”

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Hostage told Hamas crowd he hoped to see wife and daughters after release – suggesting he didn’t know they were killed on 7 October

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Hostage told Hamas crowd he hoped to see wife and daughters after release – suggesting he didn't know they were killed on 7 October

A released Israeli hostage told a Hamas crowd he hoped to see his wife and daughters after his release – suggesting he did not know they had been killed on 7 October.

Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy were the latest hostages freed this morning in front of a crowd of heavily armed fighters.

Both Mr Ami, 56, and Mr Sharabi, 52, were taken from Kibbutz Be’eri during the 7 October attack. Mr Levy, 34, was abducted from the Nova music festival.

It was not known if Mr Sharabi was aware his wife and children had been killed by Hamas over a year ago. His Bristol-born wife Lianne Sharabi, along with their children 16-year-old Noiya and 13-year-old Yahel, were killed while Mr Sharabi and his brother Yossi were taken hostage.

Yossi was later killed while in captivity.

Mr Sharabi was paraded on a podium by armed Hamas personnel and interviewed before his release earlier today.

In one of his answers, which was clearly given under duress, he said he was hoping to see his wife and daughters very soon, according to translations provided by our US partner NBC News.

Eli Sharabi appeared 'skinny' and 'gaunt', his relative said. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Eli Sharabi. Pic: Reuters

Mr Sharabi also told the crowd he was aware of his brother’s death and said he was “very angry” with the Israeli government.

All three hostages made similar critical comments about Israel while on stage with the armed men.

The comments came as Stephen Brisley, Mr Sharabi’s brother-in-law, told Sky News presenter Anna Jones this morning that he wasn’t sure if he had found out about his family’s fate.

Israeli hostages are released by Hamas. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Israeli hostages were paraded on stage before being released by Hamas. Pic: Reuters

“All the way through this, we’ve wondered whether what’s kept him going is the prospect of being reunited with Lianne and the girls,” he said.

He described his brother-in-law as looking “skinny” and “gaunt”.

“You could see how skinny he is, how pale he is. You wonder how much daylight he’s seen – very gaunt face,” he said.

“I think what struck me the most is that Eli has a very happy face, he smiles with his whole face and smiles with his eyes and it was the lack of light in his eyes that I think is one of the most distressing parts of it.”

The hostages were reunited with family. Pic: IDF
Image:
The hostages were reunited with family. Pic: IDF

Israeli captive, Ohad Ben Ami waves as he is escorted by Hamas fighters. Pic: AP
Image:
Israeli captive, Ohad Ben Ami waves as he is escorted by Hamas fighters. Pic: AP

Photos after his release showed Mr Sharabi reuniting with his wider family.

Gaza ceasefire latest: Live updates as Hamas releases three Israeli hostages

Israeli captive Or Levy after his release. Pic: AP
Image:
Israeli captive Or Levy after his release. Pic: AP

Mr Brisley added: “You don’t know what the last 491 days have done to him, but it’s clearly had an incredible impact on him, and it was written all over his face.”

Armed and masked Hamas fighters. Pic: AP
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Masked and armed Hamas fighters during the handover. Pic: AP

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “We will not accept the shocking scenes that we saw today.”

(L-R) Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy. Pics: Bring Them Home Now
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Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy (L-R). Pics: Bring Them Home Now

Read more:
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In return for the captives’ release, 183 Palestinian prisoners were released – some of which were convicted of being involved in attacks that killed dozens of people.

A bus carrying several dozen Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s Ofer prison arrived in the occupied West Bank, where their families and friends were waiting.

A Palestinian prisoner is checked by medical personnel after being released from Israeli prison as a result of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Pic: AP
Image:
A Palestinian prisoner is checked by medical personnel after being released from an Israeli prison as a result of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Pic: AP

Sky News Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall said some of the prisoners also looked to be in a “very bad condition”.

And in a statement later on Saturday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “dismayed to see his (Mr Sharabi’s) frail condition and the circumstances of his release”.

He added: “Having met his relatives I appreciate the deep pain they have endured and my thoughts are with them.

“We must continue to see all the hostages freed – these people were ripped away from their lives in the most brutal circumstances and held in appalling conditions.

The ceasefire must hold and all efforts need to focus on full implementation of the remaining phases. This includes the return of further hostages, the continued increase of aid into Gaza and securing lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Some 18 Israeli hostages and more than 550 Palestinian prisoners have been freed since the ceasefire began on 19 January.

Under the deal, 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in an initial stage in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Negotiations on a second phase of the deal began this week. It is aimed at returning the remaining hostages and agreeing to a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in preparation to end the war.

It is feared US President Donald Trump’s proposal to move the Palestinian population out of Gaza so the US could take over could complicate the second and more difficult phase of the ceasefire.

Hamas’s cross-border attack into Israel saw around 1,200 Israelis killed and around 250 people taken hostage.

Since then Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 47,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

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Israel reacts with anger to hostage treatment – where does this leave the ceasefire?

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Israel reacts with anger to hostage treatment - where does this leave the ceasefire?

From the moment they stepped from the Hamas vehicle, to be seen alive for the first time in 15 and a half months, the three hostages were clearly gaunt and in poor health.

Reports in Israel say they have lost up to 30% of their body weight and they are in a bad medical condition.

Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy looked much frailer than any of the hostages released previously during this phase of the ceasefire. Their time in captivity has obviously been punishing.

Gaza ceasefire latest

Like previous hostage releases, they were humiliatingly paraded on stage but this time interviewed in front of the crowd, in a propaganda stunt for Hamas.

Eli Sharabi said he was looking forward to seeing his wife Lianne and two daughters again – he didn’t know that all three of them had been killed on 7 October.

Pic: IDF
Image:
Pic: IDF

The hostages were paraded on stage before their release. Pic: Reuters
Image:
The hostages were paraded on stage before their release. Pic: Reuters

Pic: IDF
Image:
Pic: IDF

His brother Yossi was also taken hostage but died last year in Gaza.

Israeli media is reporting that Or Levi was unaware his wife had been killed at the Nova music festival.

It has all caused a real feeling of shock and anger in Israel tonight and a new urgency to get all of the hostages home as quickly as possible.

Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted angrily, promising a response. The Israeli president has described it as a crime against humanity and the IDF point man for the hostages has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement.

Any action by the Israeli government could threaten the ceasefire and therefore the release of more hostages. As the hostage families forum and Israel’s president have said, the most important thing is freeing all the captives and getting them home.

Many of the Palestinian prisoners are also returning home looking painfully thin and with stories of being beaten in detention. One prisoner had to be carried off the Red Cross bus by a medic from the Palestinian Red Crescent earlier today.

The Palestinian prisoners released today say they were forced to watch a video of the destruction of Gaza before they were freed.

But there has been a shift in tone and mood after today’s events and it’s unclear what happens next.

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Mexico: 41 killed and bus completely burned out after collision with truck

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Mexico: 41 killed and bus completely burned out after collision with truck

At least 41 people have died after a bus and a truck collided in southern Mexico, authorities say.

The bus, with 48 people on board, was travelling between Cancun and Tabasco when the accident happened near the city of Escarcega early on Saturday, according to reports.

Thirty-eight passengers on the bus as well as two of the drivers died, along with the truck driver, said officials in Tabasco state.

They also said that recovery work was continuing.

Bus crash in Mexico. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

Bus crash in Mexico. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

Images from the scene showed the bus completely burned out following a fire after the collision. Only the metal frame remained.

Bus operator Tours Acosta said on Facebook that it was “profoundly sorry about what happened”.

It added that it was working with authorities to find out what happened and if the bus had been travelling within speed limits.

Javier May Rodriguez, governor of Tabasco, said on social media that the incident took place near Escarcega.

“We are coordinating with federal and Campeche authorities to provide the required assistance,” he said. “The secretary of government is closely following up on the situation.”

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Ovidio Peralta, the mayor of Comalcalco, a town in Tabasco, said: “We are attentive to the federal and state authorities to help with whatever they request.”

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