Iowa just reset property taxes to assist first-time homebuyers

Home builders now have a sharper incentive to pitch to prospective first-time homebuyers in Iowa after lawmakers passed a sweeping property tax overhaul on Sunday, the final day of the legislative session. A provision in the bill replaces a nearly decade-old first-time homebuyer savings program with

How real estate agent Deba Douglas turned buyer education into a 100-transaction business

After 16 years in education, Deba Douglas walked away from the classroom because she saw a different kind of learning gap. Today, the former high school and middle school principal runs Dallas-based Deba Douglas Realty Group and teaches a course called Roadmap to Real Estate Investing. The program h

Century 21’s Mike Miedler: Recruiting Latino talent is a growth strategy, not a diversity talking point

Photo by AJ Canaria for HousingWire The Gathering Right now, the real estate industry is consumed by consolidation, capital and the next big brokerage model. Century 21 CEO Mike Miedler is focused on a more grounded question: Who will be sitting across the kitchen table from tomorrow’s homebuyer? Fo

When sentiment breaks: What consumer confidence is telling us about recession risk and fiscal reality

Nerds are people too Since 1946, economists and others who find themselves alone on Friday nights have studied the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers for indications of consumer attitudes toward the U.S. economy. At its core, the survey measures current conditions and future expectations —

Preserve manufactured housing communities by strengthening models that sustain them

Congress stands at the crossroads of enacting the “21st Century Road to Housing Act.”  A key priority of this bill is manufactured housing – and manufactured housing communities – with the objective of expanding our nation’s affordable housing supply.     As part of this effort, Section 304 of the l

KB Home CFO Robert Dillard to resign this month

KB Home Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Robert R. “Rob” Dillard will step down from his role effective May 8, 2026, the Los Angeles-based homebuilder disclosed in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29. Dillard’s departure is “not related to any

Mortgage spreads are the only thing keeping rates under 7%

Mortgage spreads are once again the unsung hero for housing in 2026 because they are the sole reason why mortgage rates have been under 6.65% the entire year! Last week, the benefits of mortgage spreads being close to normal were very evident: if we currently had the highest levels of mortgage sprea

North Carolina Let Them Build Act targets environmental reviews

As North Carolina House Democrats take another swing at sweeping housing reform, a Democratic senator is seeking to streamline environmental reviews to accelerate construction. Sen. Woodson Bradley filed the “Let Them Build Act” on Thursday afternoon, days after House colleagues filed a bill titled

With the Hill in limbo on ROAD Act, the toll on BTR projects climbs

Last week, 76 members of Congress, specifically the Real Estate Caucus and the Build America Caucus, signed a bipartisan letter “expressing serious concerns” over section 901 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The letter, signed by 38 democrats and 38 republicans, urged House leadership to rem

Real estate antitrust and commission lawsuits, week in court update

It has been a busy week in the courts and HousingWire is here to update you on all of the real estate lawsuit developments.  The Compass v. NWMLS battle continues Compass is seeking to dismiss the counterclaims asserted against it by Northwest MLS (NWMLS), according to a motion filed last Thursday. 

Clayton CrossMod single-section missing middle housing launches

“Try a lot of new things. Keep what works.” This has been an operational mantra at Clayton for more than a decade, inspired by Chairman and CEO Kevin Clayton’s embrace of the Japanese principle of kaizen – constant, patient, humble, unrelenting improvement. That ethos – more discipline than buzzword

AD Mortgage broker survey finds rising AI use and training gaps

AD Mortgage released a new broker technology survey this week, which shows mortgage professionals are increasingly using artificial intelligence and digital tools but still face gaps in training, integration and adoption decisions. Based on responses from more than 250 mortgage brokers nationwide, t

Darryl Davis: Why your pricing talk is not landing with real estate sellers anymore

Here’s a truth that’s going to sting a little: if you’re still walking into listing appointments armed with the same pricing presentation you used in 2021 (or earlier!), you’re bringing a butter knife to a sword fight. The housing market has fundamentally shifted, and the agents who haven’t shifted

Realty of America expands into Tennessee

Realty of America has expanded into Tennessee with the launch of its first office in the state, marking another step in the company’s national growth strategy. The new operation will be led by veteran broker Kyle Felts and will initially serve the middle Tennessee region, with plans to expand furthe

Texas judge dismisses Colony Ridge discrimination lawsuit

A federal judge in Texas dismissed with prejudice a high-profile discrimination lawsuit against Colony Ridge Development while sharply criticizing a proposed settlement agreement that would have directed millions of dollars toward infrastructure and immigration enforcement rather than compensating a

Realtracs expands with national brokerage listings from United and Compass International Holdings

Realtracs, Tennessee’s largest multiple listing service, is expanding beyond its regional base with new national brokerage participation that will bring listings from Compass International Holdings, the parent company of Compass, the six Anywhere Real Estate brands and @properties Christie’s Interna

UWM escalates bidding war for TWO with $12 offer, open letter to shareholders

UWM Holdings Corp. is pressing its campaign to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. (TWO), issuing an open letter to the seller shareholders Thursday evening that details a sweetened proposal that valued the real estate investment trust (REIT) at $12 per share, positioning the bid as superior to the

HUD says Realtors can discuss crime and school data, reversing Biden-era stance

Real estate agents may lawfully discuss neighborhood crime rates and school quality with clients without violating the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on racial steering, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced April 24.   The move reverses guidance that’s led major indus

Smith Douglas Homes prioritizes pace over price, plays the long game

In a weaker-than-expected demand environment, marked by declining new-home sales prices, rising incentives and geopolitical uncertainty, select homebuilders have tapped the brakes on new deliveries and deliberately slowed their sales pace to secure margins.  Not all builders are following this bluep

Colorado lawmakers act to reality-check Prop 123 housing targets

Nearly four years ago, Colorado voters approved a special fund to address the affordable housing crisis following Covid-19. Meeting the fund’s objectives, however, proved harder for participating cities than expected. State legislators are now scrambling to fix that. The Senate passed House Bill 131