Trump appointees roll back fair housing enforcement, internal records show

Internal documents and interviews reviewed by The New York Times reveal that Trump administration officials at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have sharply limited enforcement of the Fair Housing Act — a cornerstone civil rights law designed to prevent discrimination in housin

Have lower mortgage rates already changed the housing market?

Mortgage rates fell to almost 6% just before the Fed announcement on rate cuts, then rose slightly to close out the week. Have lower mortgage rates already changed the housing market? Yes. Housing data started to change in our weekly Housing Market Tracker in mid-June and I’m writing this weekend’s

Tech Pulse: Real estate referral landscape; new e-sign tool

Welcome back to Tech Pulse — HousingWire‘s weekly series rounding up the latest in technology news, including tools, integrations and trends that impact mortgage and real estate. Here’s what happened this week: From Zillow to sphere: Why you must know the source of your real estate referrals

Zillow faces class-action suit over Premier Agent, Flex commissions

Zillow is facing yet another lawsuit. Filed on Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle, the lawsuit alleges that the portal tricks consumers into using agents affiliated with Zillow through its Flex and Premier Agent programs, resulting in inflated home purchase prices.  The suit was filed by A

New York and DC homeowners set for biggest savings from SALT cap hike

Homeowners in New York and Washington, D.C., stand to gain the most from the recently expanded federal cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions — with typical households in these locations saving more than $7,000 a year, according to a Redfin report released Thursday. The change — part of Pr

US home flipping profits hit lowest level since 2008

The share of U.S. homes flipped by investors fell in the second quarter of 2025 while profit margins dropped to levels not seen in more than 15 years, according to new data from ATTOM. Flippers resold 78,621 single-family homes and condominiums between April and June, or 7.4% of all sales.That w

Help exists for cash-strapped homebuyers — but many don’t know it

As home prices and mortgage rates continue to stretch budgets, many would-be homebuyers are wondering if they’ll ever be able to make the jump. Industry professionals say that creative financing tools and professional guidance can make homeownership more attainable, but a lack of awareness conti

Canadians are cooling on the U.S. housing market

Between April 2024 and March 2025, Canadian homebuyers spent $6.2 billion on U.S. real estate purchases, making up 14% of all foreign homebuyers, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  While the total spend of Canadian buyers is up from $4.4 billion in the prior 12-m

Stellar MLS, Miami Realtors sign reciprocal access agreement

Stellar MLS, the largest MLS in Florida, and the Miami Association of Realtors, the nation’s largest local Realtor association, have entered into a reciprocal access agreement, the groups announced Friday.  Stellar MLS currently serves about 30% of Florida’s land area across 18 counties and Puer

Retirement age could change as Social Security examines all options

With the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget predicting that Social Security’s retirement trust funds will run out by 2032, policymakers are being forced to act fast. When asked during Fox Business News‘s “Mornings with Maria” segment on Thursday whether the retirement age would change, S

Houston’s $351K median price outperforms Texas metros in affordability

Houston’s housing market maintains a competitive edge in affordability while still showing a slight seller’s advantage, according to the latest HW Data. With a median listing price of $351,900, Houston presents a value opportunity for buyers priced out of Dallas and Austin markets. Inventory and

Leading reverse mortgage lenders prepare to put AI in front of seniors

Top U.S. reverse mortgage lenders are entering a new phase in their artificial intelligence (AI) strategy: deploying customer-facing tools to engage more directly with seniors. After achieving operational efficiencies by using AI internally, lenders now plan to roll out chatbots, voice agents an

From Zillow to sphere: Why you must know the source of your real estate referrals

Although consumers are doing more independent research and home browsing than ever before, data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that 88% of buyers and 90% of sellers work with a real estate agent. How do these Realtor find consumers? Through real estate referrals. However, the

Groundfloor Lending expands leadership team

Groundfloor Lending on Wednesday announced the expansion of its leadership team as its new business unit continues to scale. The recent appointments of Patrick Donoghue as vice president and general manager, Kendall Bazan as vice president of revenue, and Andrew Hurd as vice president of risk m

Florida Realtors builds e-sign tool available nationwide

Form Simplicity — a transaction management platform created and owned by Florida Realtors — has launched Sabal Sign, a fully integrated e-signature tool for its Ultimate Edition users nationwide. Sabal Sign provides unlimited signing sessions, mobile-friendly workflows and full compliance with U

GoodLife’s Chase Kinder on growing his company’s reverse mortgage presence

Last week, Traditional Mortgage Acceptance Corp. (TMAC), dba GoodLife Home Loans, announced a leadership change when it promoted Chase Kinder to lead its wholesale division. GoodLife is the country’s fourth-largest originator of Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), according to the most rec

How will lenders recalibrate as Fed signals path to lower rates?

Mortgage lenders are recalibrating ahead of the Federal Reserve’s anticipated monetary easing cycle by rolling out rate promotions, streamlining operations and broadening product menus. They aim to capture demand while navigating affordability and margin pressures.  Executives told HousingWire t

Fed cuts rates by 25 bps as inflation lingers, labor market weakens 

The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday, setting the target range at 4% to 4.25%. The first cut since December 2024 marks a new phase in the central bank’s effort to balance maximum employment and stable prices. Economists say it could usher in an

Coldwell Banker’s Jason Waugh urges agents to ‘own the moment’ in shifting housing market

Speaking to thousands of real estate professionals at Coldwell Banker’s Generation Blue Experience 2025, company president Jason Waugh told agents that today’s market — despite volatility — represents one of the greatest opportunities of their careers. “We’ve been through three years of a contra

American Senior Lending launches EquitySelect solution for retirees

American Senior Lending, a national home equity solutions company, on Wednesday launched EquitySelect, a first-lien home equity loan designed to give retirees more financial flexibility. The nonrecourse loan — meaning that borrowers and their heirs will never owe more than the home is worth — le