Compass, MRED, Zillow trade post-hearing briefs in Chicagoland MLS lawsuit

Legal battling between Zillow, Compass and Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) continued Thursday with all parties filing competing post-hearing briefs — Zillow alleging an “unlawful conspiracy” to cut off its access to Chicagoland listing data while defendants Compass and MRED counter that the company’

Opinion: Why the dual credit score mandate raises costs for small businesses without clear benefits

Washington says it wants to lower costs and expand access to credit. For millions of entrepreneurs, access to credit depends not only on the health of their businesses but also on their personal credit profiles. That is why regulatory decisions that make borrowing more complex or expensive deserve c

The capital stack evolution: How proprietary preferred equity behind Freddie Mac loans solves a key borrower dilemma

The multifamily capital stack is evolving. As elevated interest rates and tighter loan proceeds continue to reshape acquisition and refinancing strategies, investors are challenged by a market where senior loan proceeds and liquidity preservation are constrained. One effective solution is proprietar

Duplexes and townhomes do not always make housing cheaper

Not every housing policy labeled “affordable” is actually designed to make housing more affordable. That is the central problem with today’s “missing middle” debate. Across the country, duplexes, triplexes, courtyard apartments, townhomes and small multifamily buildings are being promoted as the sol

Florida county’s impact fees put new Live Local projects at risk

Indianapolis-based apartment developer Milhaus started building an apartment project in Manatee County, Florida, under the state’s Live Local Act after securing its funding earlier this year. It may be one of the few to be built in the county, next to Sarasota, under the law, until lawsuits over a m

At $32, Dream Finders-Beazer risk is now double-jeopardy

[Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part article in the aftermath of filings this week from Dream Finders Homes and Beazer Homes, as Dream Finders pursues Beazer as an acquisition target. Here’s the link to Part 1].  The surface question in the Dream Finders Homes–Beazer Homes takeover conte

A Colorado project is now a proving ground for 3D-printed homes

In Salida, a small town in Central Colorado with about 6,000 residents, a long-vacant property serves as a reminder of the community’s past while offering a glimpse into the future.  Cleora, a small railroad town established in 1880 in what is now the Salida area, served as an early settlement in th

Rate adds 14 loan officers from New American Funding

Chicago-based mortgage lender Rate announced on Thursday that more than a dozen loan officers have joined the company from California-headquartered New American Funding (NAF), bringing “nine figures in production volume with them.” The group includes 14 loan officers: Lori Crabb, Maria Castorena, Co

Fed names task force members as it examines monetary policy decision-making

The Federal Reserve on Thursday outlined a slate of five new task forces led by prominent academics and business leaders. They will scrutinize how the central bank communicates, manages its balance sheet, interprets data, evaluates productivity and jobs, and responds to inflation. The initiative, de

Bright MLS speaks on rule updates aimed at flexibility, seller privacy

Bright MLS is set to implement a series of rule updates later this summer designed to give agents more options and sellers greater control over property data. Changes also establish new protections around the use of listing information in artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Other moves includ

Housing groups push FHFA to delay, revise GSE condo loan changes

Three housing organizations sent a letter this week to leaders at Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), regarding pending changes to condominium lending rules through the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). On July 8, the Community Home Lenders

How top-performing real estate agents win AI recommendations

Homebuyers and sellers are beginning to treat ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) like a genie in a bottle. They often trust AI recommendations implicitly because the suggestions are the result of personalized, deep-diving research and an authoritative verification process. The phenomenon

The $32 Beazer bid is in, now the fight is over standstill terms

A little more than a month into a hostile homebuilder takeover saga that has not quite reached midsummer, Dream Finders Homes’ pursuit of Beazer Homes is beginning to resemble a Shakespearean tale of unrequited love. The ardent suitor has returned again. And again. The latest offering is richer: $32

NYC office conversions face scrutiny after Pfizer HQ incident

Buckling columns at the former Pfizer headquarters this week forced evacuations across seven Midtown East blocks. The incident raises new questions about office-to-residential conversion, one of several tools the city has used to add housing. It is also a tool Mayor Zohran Mamdani leaned into becaus

Synergy One to take over Newrez distributed retail mortgage operations

Synergy One Lending, a division of American Pacific Mortgage (APM), will assume control of Newrez’s distributed retail mortgage business under a new strategic agreement announced Wednesday, extending an existing partnership and reshaping both lenders’ retail strategies. The agreement — which is not

Visionary Homes names former Oakwood exec Ryan Smith CEO

Ryan Smith will become CEO of Visionary Homes on Sept. 1, 2026, as founder and current chief executive Jeff Jackson transitions to chairman of the board, the Utah homebuilder recently announced. Smith joined Visionary Homes on June 15 and will work alongside Jackson through the summer before formall

CFPB seeks input on mortgage disclosures and TRID rules

In a request for information (RFI) scheduled for publication Thursday in the Federal Register, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will seek public input on whether mortgage disclosure requirements and other lending regulations should be revised to reduce compliance burdens and improve a

Why it will be hard to get mortgage rates over 7%

Can mortgage rates get to 7% or above this year, given the continued nature of the Iran conflict? While not part of my forecast in 2026, the Iranian conflict has changed a lot of things. However, even with all the drama this year, mortgage rates have still not reached 7%. Today I’ll explain why we h

Sotheby’s International Realty acquires Majestic Realty Collective

Sotheby’s International Realty has acquired Majestic Realty Collective, a luxury real estate organization operating multiple Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates across the western U.S. The acquisition expands Sotheby’s International Realty’s presence in luxury and resort markets, adding operat

Douglas Elliman launches AI-focused business unit, broader tech overhaul

Douglas Elliman announced today a companywide technology transformation aimed at consolidating systems, automating operations and developing new real estate intelligence capabilities through a newly formed business unit called Elius. The New York-based real estate firm said the initiative will opera