The rise of credit solutions in lending: Why loan officers with credit tools find more success 

A credit report shows a score and a list of tradelines. It does not show what to do next. When qualification hinges on small swings in a score, borrowers need coaching that translates data into actions. That is where modern loan officers add the most value: not by interpreting a score in isolation,

HomeServices of America CEO Chris Kelly charts new strategy for 2026

For both HomeServices of America and Chris Kelly, 2025 was a year of change.  The changes began in April, when Kelly, an 18-year veteran of the firm, was appointed CEO, after Gino Blefari, who had led the company since 2019, stepped down and transitioned into the position of chairman emeritus.  In t

Suzy Lindblom joins Acra Lending as managing director

After serving as Sierra Pacific Mortgage’s chief operating officer for a year, Suzy Lindblom has moved on to Acra Lending, according to her LinkedIn post on Monday morning. Lindblom said that “While it was sad to see Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. close and transition, it ultimately opened a

The 6 best mortgage loan originator (MLO) license courses for 2026

Before you’re allowed to help people finance their dream homes, you must get the proper education to obtain your MLO license. Online mortgage schools have made it easier to complete your education requirements, you just have to decide the best option for you. It’s important to consider your own lear

KB Home bets on built-to-order strategy amid a spec-heavy market

KB Home is leaning hard into its build-to-order (BTO) strategy to navigate a difficult market defined by compressed margins, affordability strains and shaky consumer confidence. However, this blueprint presents risks in an environment where a spec-heavy approach drives volume and market share amid d

Financial firms face rising cyber risks, data challenges

Financial services and insurance firms are facing rising exposure to cyberattacks, fraud and other third-party risks while struggling with poor data quality that is slowing decision-making and artificial intelligence adoption, according to a new global survey from Dun & Bradstreet released earlier t

United Real Estate CEO Dan Duffy on the roadmap for competitive advantage

Data continues to be a clear differentiator in real estate, especially for those who want to grow in 2026. As Dan Duffy, founder and CEO of United Real Estate Group, explains, leaders who have doubled down on the importance of data hold a significant advantage. Duffy will kick off the Housing Econom

NRMLA urges CFPB not to restrict age-based programs like reverse mortgages

The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) is urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to revise proposed changes to federal fair lending rules, warning that the agency’s approach could undermine reverse mortgages by restricting the permissible use of age in credit progr

Under pressure, public homebuilders rebrand or mute DEI stance

Companies across all industries, including homebuilding, have walked back their DEI rhetoric or reduced their public disclosures of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs over the last year. The retreat stands as a signal that activist investors and federal pressure are having an impact on such i

DSCR mortgages are grabbing the spotlight. They’ll gain speed in 2026

Demand for debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) loans grew in 2025 as tight housing inventory and a rising share of nontraditional wage earners pushed more borrowers toward alternative products. The demand was contagious across the industry. In November, Rocket Pro announced the launch of its first DS

The long game: How Florida Realtors® created a sustainable real estate tech ecosystem

In an industry known for rapid disruption and short-lived platforms, Florida Realtors® stands apart for its uncommon longevity in real estate technology. In 2026, the organization will mark 25 years of Tech Helpline and 15 years of Form Simplicity — along with the recent launch of Sabal Sign, its in

Why did the growth rate of housing inventory drop by half this year?

This is the final Housing Market Tracker article for 2025 and we’re going to tackle why the inventory growth rate has been cut in half this year. At one point, we had over 30% year-over-year growth, and that number is now down to 13.54%. Why is this the last tracker of the year? I don’t put much wei

Existing home sales hit 9-month high with inventory at 1.43M units

Existing home sales have been trending higher since June, when the monthly sales print bottomed at 3,930,000 for 2025. The question is: can this continue? Back in mid-June, the housing market started to shift, and then mortgage rates fell below the key 6.64% level and headed toward 6. This has given

AOL provider Voxtur files for Chapter 15 bankruptcy

Voxtur, one of the largest proponents and providers of attorney opinion letters (AOLs), has filed a Chapter 15 bankruptcy petition in Delaware. This comes after the Canadian firm already committed to a restructuring plan in Ontario.  In the U.S. bankruptcy filing, which covers Voxtur and dozens of i

Spanberger unveils Virginia housing affordability plan

Affordability has become the defining test of political electability today. From housing to groceries, voters increasingly judge candidates by their ability to reduce everyday costs.​ Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) focused on improving affordability during her campaign. To follow through

TD Bank expresses cautious optimism for affordable housing in 2026

Affordable housing developers are entering 2026 with mixed expectations, balancing optimism about long-term demand with immediate concerns over costs and policy shifts. A new TD Bank survey shows that half of affordable housing professionals believe market challenges will affect their deal pipelines

Sonic Fire Tech launches infrasound wildfire defense system in California

Sonic Fire Tech recently announced the commercial rollout of its Sonic Home Defense system, a wildfire defense system in California that extinguishes fires using inaudible, infrasound technology instead of water or chemicals.  The product has personal significance for Remington Hotchkis, chief comme

Keller Williams sharpens focus on agent teams for 2026

For many of the real estate industry’s newest entrants, team recruitment and retention was a primary focus in 2025. And while Keller Williams recognizes that other companies are jumping on the mega and expansion team bandwagon, the firm is confident that it has what it takes to compete in this arena

CertifID’s Tyler Adams on deepfakes, fraud and protecting homebuyers

Cybercriminals are not inventing entirely new schemes in 2025. They are perfecting old ones. According to Tyler Adams, CEO and co-founder of CertifID, fraudsters are combining artificial intelligence (AI) with patience, timing and realism to exploit real estate transactions in increasingly convincin

Reverse mortgage vet says an end to HUD counseling risks senior protections

A proposal to remove housing counseling as a front-end requirement for borrowers seeking government-insured reverse mortgages would eliminate a key consumer protection for seniors, according to Peter M. Mazonas, CEO of NatEquity Inc. Mazonas voiced his concerns in a letter to the U.S. Department of