Higher home-care spending by states linked to greater aging-in-place outcomes

Older adults with difficulty living independently are more likely to remain in their homes when states devote a larger share of long-term care spending to home- and community-based services, according to a new study. Researchers examined whether state investments in home- and community-based service

Art Falcone on launching AmeriCraft Homes and building hospitality-driven communities

Art Falcone — a prominent real estate developer with more than 40 years of experience in developing single-family, multifamily, hospitality, mixed-use and retail properties — recently launched a new homebuilding venture, AmeriCraft Homes.  Falcone’s decision to launch a new homebuilding company duri

Can mortgage rates survive hawkish Fed talk during inflation week?

It’s inflation week and the continuation of the Iran conflict has complicated how the 10-year yield and mortgage rates may react to the inflation data. Even though oil prices have fallen sharply, many Fed hawks haven’t said anything positive about that change. In fact, some have even gotten more haw

Kogevinas Group joins Sotheby’s International Realty in Montecito

The Kogevinas Group has left Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices to join Sotheby’s International Realty – Montecito Brokerage, according to an announcement on Monday. Led by Nancy Kogevinas, the seven-member team was recognized as the No. 36 small team in the nation and the No. 13 small team in Californ

Real Brokerage and REMAX set Aug 14 merger votes

Shareholders at both The Real Brokerage and REMAX will convene virtually on August 14 to vote on the proposed merger between the two firms, creating the Real REMAX Group. According to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission late last week, Real’s shareholders will vote on the arr

NAR guidance clarifies office exclusive listings, MLS rules

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released updated guidance last week clarifying how office-exclusive listings and pre-marketing options must operate within multiple listing services, reinforcing brokers’ duties to follow local MLS rules and the Clear Cooperation Policy. The resource, title

What the ROAD to Housing Act means for agents, homebuyers

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now the law of the land after President Donald Trump allowed a constitutional deadline to pass without signing or vetoing the bipartisan legislation. Legislation — widely regarded as the most comprehensive federal housing package in decades — cleared the Senat

FHFA moves to drop ‘reputational harm’ from consideration in counterparty suspensions

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) wants to drop “reputational harm” as a basis for suspending firms and individuals that do business with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. In a notice of proposed rulemaking published Monday in the Federal Register, the agency said remo

BTIG: Higher rates to hit Q2 originations as nonbanks lean on MSR gains 

Higher mortgage rates will weigh on second-quarter originations and third-quarter guidance for nonbank lenders, even as slower prepayments bolster servicing income, BTIG analysts said in a report issued Monday. Earnings season will start on Tuesday with Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase, giving investo

Why flexible private capital is becoming a builder growth strategy

Homebuilders are navigating a market where slower absorption, elevated costs and shifting buyer demand are testing even the most experienced operators. In that environment, capital is more than a funding source. It influences liquidity, production pace and long-term growth. For regional and mid-size

Iran conflict lifts mortgage rates, but housing demand stays positive

Last week saw an escalation of the Iran conflict, with missile strikes and rising mortgage rates as a result, but housing demand still held firm and inventory was only down a smidge year over year. We should be mindful that our data was hit by the 4th of July weekend, but even with that, demand was

Trump didn’t sign it, but the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law

After months of deliberation, delays and drama, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act has finally crossed the finish line.  The legislation, aimed at cutting red tape and making homeownership more attainable, is now the law of the land after President Donald Trump declined to sign or veto the bill be

Century 21 COO says M&A activity fueled by growing tech demands

Century 21 is riding a wave of franchise acquisitions and merger activity — a trend Chief Operating Officer Greg Sexton says is driven by the escalating demands of real estate technology. Sexton, who has spent more than two decades with the company, said the aggressive push into mergers and acquisit

Plaintiffs oppose Veterans United motion to dismiss amended RESPA class-action suit

Fifteen named plaintiffs allege that Veterans United Home Loans — the nation’s largest lender of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgages — ran an illegal kickback and steering scheme that funneled borrowers into overpriced loans. The accusations were reiterated Thursday in court filings as the

Rechat’s Testimonials tool turns client praise into marketing content

Rechat has launched Testimonials, a new feature that enables real estate agents to collect, manage and use client reviews directly within the Rechat platform. The feature is integrated alongside contacts, transactions and marketing tools, allowing testimonials to automatically populate marketing mat

American Real Estate Association warns Missouri ballot measures could raise homeownership costs

The American Real Estate Association (ARA) is joining the Missouri Association of Realtors and a coalition of organizations opposing Amendments 4 and 5 on Missouri’s Aug. 4 statewide ballot. Amendment 5 would authorize the state legislature to expand sales taxes to a wide range of goods and services

Housing affordability is improving as wages outpace home-price growth

Existing home sales came out yesterday showing slight year-over-year growth, but the headlines were all about home prices at an all-time high. However, most people weren’t focused on the fact that wages have been outpacing home prices for some time now, which is a positive. Yesterday I went on Yahoo

New policy impact may ignite a manufactured housing blue-sky era

With a major policy win at hand, one of America’s most promising housing affordability solutions hidden in plain sight may get the close-up moment its stakeholders have fought for decades to earn. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act – on a white-knuckle countdown to midnight before going into law a

Data centers emerge as real estate’s newest pricing wildcard

This is part 1 of a 3-part HousingWire special series on the impacts of data centers on housing. Data centers are creating a split-screen effect in housing markets: They can boost regional demand and land values, while homes near controversial sites may face buyer resistance over noise, water use, c

The most overlooked source of homes for first-time buyers

One of the most consistent mistakes that buyers’ agents make today is ignoring one of the best sources of affordable housing available to their clients: distressed properties — short sales in particular. After more than 40 years in the real estate business and involvement in over 25,000 distressed p