Redfin, Thumbtack partner to connect homeowners with improvement pros

Redfin has launched a new feature in partnership with home services provider Thumbtack to help homeowners find and hire professionals for home improvement and maintenance projects.By claiming their property on Redfin and visiting the Owner Dashboard, homeowners can now access a range of services — i

ALTA promotes trio to bolster advocacy efforts

The American Land Title Association (ALTA) has announced three internal promotions as part of a broader effort to strengthen leadership and advocacy across the title insurance industry.Elizabeth BlosserElizabeth Blosser has been named as chief strategy, communications and innovation officer. She for

North Carolina real estate office reopens after Hurricane Helene devastation

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty has reopened its office in Asheville, North Carolina, marking a significant milestone in the region’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.The real estate agency, which was severely damaged in the storm, underwent extensive restoration over the past nine months. Its

The importance of meeting older customers where they are with AI technology

The expanding ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI) across all facets of life is not showing any signs of a slowdown — and that includes its interactions with the reverse mortgage industry. Bill Packer, chief operating officer of Longbridge Financial, previously explained how senior-focused tailo

Without VASP, veterans don’t have a foreclosure safety net

There are about 80,000 veterans in the U.S. who are behind on their mortgages and heading toward foreclosure, according to data from ICE Mortgage Technology, a number that could have been alleviated with help from the Veteran Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program.But just last month, the program

Netflix-featured real estate agent killed in hit-and-run

A New York real estate agent known for her appearance on Netflix’s “Million Dollar Beach House” was killed in a hit-and-run Thursday afternoon in the Hamptons, according to local reports.Sara Burack, 40, was found unconscious on a Hampton Bays road on Thursday afternoon. Authorities said she was pro

Top agents on how they built successful revenue share downlines

Real estate brokerages with revenue share models provide agents with a way to generate income beyond closing transactions with their own clients. But when it comes to creating a robust revenue-share downline, agents at two revenue share brokerages — eXp Realty and The Real Brokerage — say there is n

Redfin data reinforces boomers’ desires to remain in their homes

Adding fuel to what the baby boomer generation has been consistently saying for some time, a new Redfin survey shows that one-third of all boomer homeowners have no intention of selling their home. This further legitimizes claims that a “silver tsunami” of housing inventory is unlikely to materializ

FHFA Director Bill Pulte calls on Fed Chair Powell to resign

FHFA Director Bill Pulte called for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to resign today, shortly after President Trump urged Powell to cut the Fed funds rate by 2.5% in a social post.This follows the Federal Reserve’s decision yesterday to keep the Fed Funds rate unchanged. Although Powell pointe

Trump wants Powell to lower rates. Here’s how to do that

Today, President Trump called Fed Chairman Jerome Powell “Too Late” in a social post and said that he can save the country billions of dollars by shaving 2.5% off the Fed Funds rate. This is part of an ongoing Trump attack on the Fed Chair to cut rates, but is this strategy the best way to do it?As

Home flipping activity slows nationwide as profits tighten

The U.S. home flipping market showed signs of strain in the first quarter of 2025 as the number of flipped properties dropped to a six-year low and profit margins continued to erode, according to ATTOM’s Q1 2025 U.S. Home Flipping Report.A total of 67,394 single-family homes and condominiums were fl

15 commission lawsuit settlements are up for final approval next week

Commission lawsuit settlement agreements from 15 real estate industry players, including major names like Keyes Co./Illustrated Properties, Side, JPAR, NextHome and Baird & Warner will be up for final approval on Tuesday, June 24.The fifteen settling defendants, which come from the Gibson and Keel s

‘Feelings-based recession’: More Americans fearful of finances despite economic data

A rising tide of financial pessimism is washing over U.S. consumers, driven by concerns about inflation, global instability and a lack of economic clarity. At the same time, a solid majority of Americans remain optimistic about their financial future, according to TransUnion’s Consumer Pulse Study f

Hoby Hanna talks M&A strategy, market share goals

Hoby Hanna, the CEO of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and Hanna Holdings, joined the RealTrending podcast this week to discuss his company’s approach to growth, technology and consumer offerings.In an interview with host Tracey Velt, Hanna breaks down a selective approach to mergers and acquisiti

Inside UWM’s tech evolution: How LEO and Mia are shaping the future of mortgage lending

Technology is accelerating change across the financial services industry, and United Wholesale Mortgage is at the forefront of mortgage innovation. With the launch of two groundbreaking platforms— the Loan Estimate Optimizer (LEO) and Mia, an AI-powered assistant for loan officers, UWM is setting a

Class Valuation unveils appraisal review tool

Class Valuation has launched a new appraisal review product designed to bring greater clarity and oversight to residential valuations. The new tool, Class Valuation Analysis (CVA), offers licensed appraiser-led reviews of existing appraisal reports by incorporating automated valuation model (AVM) te

Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate expands in Michigan

Birmingham, Michigan-based brokerage @properties REMI Christie’s International Real Estate is opening its 10th office in the state in July by expanding into the lakeside resort town of Traverse City.The brokerage was launched in 2021 by Detroit-area natives Eric Walstrom and Alex Irrer, and it has g

A financial planner shares her journey to understanding reverse mortgages

Rachel Gustafson serves as a certified financial planner with the Financial Investment Team, a firm based in Portland, Oregon. Over the course of a 12-year career in the field, she has a specialty for helping her clients figure out the best and most efficient ways to retire.When reverse mortgages fi

Are settlement rules pushing down agent commissions? New survey says the opposite

Few events in recent real estate history have rattled the industry more than the antitrust lawsuits filed against major brokerages and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), accusing them of artificially inflating agent commission rates.NAR settled the Sitzer-Burnett case for $418 million and a

Global equity release market projected to top $56B by 2035

Equity release — a class of financial products that involve unlocking home equity and converting it into cash flow — currently has global annual volume of roughly $17 billion.This class includes reverse mortgage products in the U.S., the United Kingdom and elsewhere, but a European equity release au