Former employee works toward settlement in Zillow job discrimination suit

Former Zillow employee Samuel James Herrera has notified a Denver-based U.S. District Court that he and his former employer are working toward a settlement in his job discrimination lawsuit.  On Wednesday, Herrera, who calls himself “a day-one Zillow employee,” notified Judge Regina Rodriguez, who i

Student loan plan phase-out could tighten mortgage affordability

As of July 1, more than 7 million federal student loan borrowers have 90 days to transition to a new repayment option as the Biden administration’s SAVE income-driven repayment plan is officially phased out. The program, launched in 2023 to lower monthly payments and accelerate loan forgiveness for

Compass International Holdings rolls out Home Platform across brokerage brands

Compass International Holdings, is rolling out its AI-powered Home Platform across its company-owned brokerage brands, marking what the company calls the largest technology deployment in residential real estate history, according to an announcement on Thursday.  The firm said the deployment comes le

TitleEase accelerates growth as franchise model gains traction

TitleEase is gaining momentum as demand grows for its franchise-based title insurance model — backed by a recent capital raise, strategic acquisitions and an expanding pipeline of real estate and mortgage partners. The company completed a capital raise that closed at the end of May, with funding sla

The amenity arms race is over. The profit center era has begun. 

For years, the amenity playbook in multifamily was simple: build it, bundle it, absorb the cost and call it a competitive differentiator. Rooftop decks, co-working lounges and resort-style pools have all been baked into the rent, and all have been treated as overhead. The logic made sense when lease

Seniors hold a record share of housing wealth. The mortgage system still struggles to underwrite it.

A major shift has happened inside American housing finance, and it should have the full attention of lenders, regulators and policymakers. For the first time on record, Americans 70 and older hold a larger share of the nation’s real estate wealth than Americans aged 40 to 54. That crossover happened

When AI listing videos look too real: the disclosure test agents need now

In my last HousingWire column, I focused on reviewing AI-generated listing remarks before they reach the MLS. That was about what AI says about a property. This follow-up is about the line between effective marketing and misrepresentation. A listing video may show a drone-style approach, a smooth wa

Newsom signs balanced budget with $1.7B locked-in for housing

This time last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a state budget that included sweeping housing reforms that allowed urban residential developers to avoid rigorous environmental reviews. This year’s budget, which Newsom signed on Monday, does not carry the same historic housing reforms as las

Why Carlisle Companies targets Owens Corning for an M&A combo

As homebuilders grapple with questions of scale, access to capital and long-term competitiveness, many of their largest suppliers appear to be navigating similar strategic pressures. Carlisle Companies‘ unsolicited pursuit of Owens Corning, reported Monday by the Wall Street Journal, suggests that t

Trump calls 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act ‘a yawn’

President Donald Trump on Monday characterized the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act as “a yawn,” following an abrupt cancellation of a signing ceremony for the legislation last week. The comments came as Trump reinforced prioritization of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act as his to

Why Fed President Beth Hammack wants more rate hikes

As we approach Jobs Thursday, certain Federal Reserve members have still not changed their tune about rate hikes, even with oil prices back down to $70 today. Why haven’t mortgage rates dropped along with oil prices? Because Fed policy has shifted, and some Fed members want more rate hikes. Today, I

MRED seeks arbitration in Zillow antitrust lawsuit

With less than 48 hours to go before the start of a two-day hearing regarding Zillow’s preliminary injunction motion in its antitrust lawsuit against Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) and Compass International Holdings, the Chicagoland MLS is seeking to compel arbitration with the listing portal giant

Bipartisan bill would allocate CDBG funds to disaster prevention efforts

Reps. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.) and William Timmons (R-S.C.) introduced bipartisan legislation on Tuesday to help local governments invest in disaster prevention rather than focusing solely on post-disaster recovery. The “Ounce of Prevention Act” would expand eligible uses of Community Development Blo

CRMLS adds ‘Limited Exposure Coming Soon’ listing option

California Regional MLS (CRMLS) is creating more options for home sellers looking to market and sell their properties. Earlier this month, CRMLS debuted a Limited Exposure Coming Soon listing option for home sellers and real estate professionals in California.  In a post on the MLS’s Knowledgebase b

The hidden cost of leverage: Why today’s real estate investors need to be more conservative than ever

For decades, leverage has been one of the greatest wealth-building tools available to real estate investors. The ability to control a large asset with a relatively small amount of cash has helped countless investors build portfolios, generate passive income and create long-term wealth. But somewhere

The mortgage industry is on an AI binge. Let’s make the hangover optional.

I watched mortgage leaders embrace AI at The Gathering in Austin. And for good reason: The tools are getting good, the productivity math is starting to math and the competitive pressure is doing what classic IMB horse races do. I left more bullish about AI in the industry than when I arrived. I also

The spring selling season that wasn’t: Why builders are pivoting to margin recovery

At the start of 2026, many homebuilding industry leaders anticipated that falling mortgage rates would revitalize consumer interest. Instead, rates have remained stubbornly elevated, with the 30-year fixed rate expected to stay in the 6%-6.5% range over the next three years. Home price appreciation

Caregiver survey shows widespread burnout, with Gen Z hit hardest

A national survey commissioned by LogicMark Inc. paints a stark picture of the nation’s caregiving crisis, finding that 90% of family caregivers report symptoms of burnout. And younger adults, particularly Gen Z, are carrying an outsized share of the burden. The survey, conducted in April 2026 by Ta

DeSantis signs Live Local 4.0 housing reform into Florida law

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the fourth iteration of the Live Local Act on Friday, cementing the state’s commitment to building affordable housing. House Bill 1389 takes effect July 1. It extends state preemption of local zoning rules and closes a loophole that local governments used to discriminate aga

eXp agent builds top RealTrends Verified team despite cancer battle

 The phone rang on Sept. 8, 2022, and Britany Boatwright put the doctor on speakerphone, expecting routine news from a second biopsy. Instead, she heard words that would redefine everything; breast cancer. Sitting in her office with her director of operations planning a team meeting, Boatwright’s fi