What real estate agents need to know about the spring housing market

The housing market is entering Spring trapped in a whirlwind of economic signals. Labor market data, massive geopolitical tension affecting energy prices and persistent inflation concerns all shape outlooks for housing demand and mortgage rates. For real estate and mortgage professionals advising bu

Housing market is poised for growth in 2026 if Iran conflict doesn’t raise rates

The housing market is poised for growth in 2026: existing home sales rose in February, purchase application data has been positive year over year every week in 2026 and our weekly Housing Market Tracker shows positive pending sales year over year. But several new variables might change this by pushi

PHH Mortgage is rebranding as Onity Mortgage

Onity Group Inc. announced this week that it plans to rebrand its PHH Mortgage Corp. subsidiary as Onity Mortgage Corp., effective March 23, extending the company’s multiyear shift from the legacy Ocwen and PHH brands. The company disclosed the planned name change in a statement, saying that PHH Mor

Midwest housing markets surge as demand absorbs homes faster than new listings

The fastest-moving housing markets in the country right now aren’t in California or Texas — they’re in the Midwest. HousingWire Data shows Michigan, Ohio and Illinois leading the nation in housing absorption, with weekly rates above 17% as demand accelerates ahead of the spring housing season. Natio

Blend rides mortgage rebound in Q4, dismisses ‘SaaSpocalypse’ fears

Blend Labs Inc. ended 2025 with a profitable quarter as improved mortgage market conditions supported its business, while executives said the company is largely insulated from the recent “SaaSpocalypse” affecting the software industry. The company reported non-GAAP operating income of $5.4 million i

Minimum home lot sizes eyed in Colorado push to break barriers

Colorado lawmakers are taking a new swing at Colorado’s housing affordability crisis by using state power to reshape local zoning rules. Their target? Outsized suburban residential lots mandated in many of the state’s municipalities. A new bill would require most cities to allow single-family homes

Unison’s home equity investment faces another legal battle in California

A San Francisco-based financial technology company is facing a class-action lawsuit that could further upend the burgeoning home equity investment (HEI) industry. The case, filed in September in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco, alleges that Unison Agreement Corp. use

Verification is the new credit score

The mortgage industry does not have a speed problem. It has a confidence problem. For decades, the credit score has served as the central organizing mechanism of mortgage risk. It estimates the probability of repayment using historical behavioral data. It is statistically validated, embedded in capi

Radian winds down mortgage conduit after exploring a sale

Radian is shutting down its mortgage conduit business after a divestiture process, while continuing to explore strategic options for its title and real estate services units, the company confirmed to HousingWire. The conduit, which operated primarily through Radian Mortgage Capital, focused on buyin

loanDepot reports $108M loss in 2025 even as volume, margins improve

loanDepot reported a smaller net loss for 2025 as revenue and margins improved, but results weakened in the fourth quarter as margins declined. The Irvine, California-based mortgage lender’s earnings showed signs of recovery as the company aims to improve volume and market share. loanDepot posted a

Retirement savers hold steady in 2025 as automatic enrollment drives positive trends

Retirement plan participants remained focused on long-term goals throughout 2025, with automatic enrollment features and professionally managed allocations improving savings outcomes, according to Vanguard‘s annual How America Saves report. The 25th edition of the annual analysis — scheduled for ful

Builders gut check what buyers may like vs. what they’ll pay for

As home sizes shrink and a new mega-generation ages into the homebuying market, homebuilders may have to rethink certain aspects of home design.  With affordability the main issue for buyers, builders are now working to maximize space with functional design over flash. Buyers are still largely drive

UWM raises revenue guidance ahead of Two Harbors vote

United Holding Corp., the parent of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), raised the bar on 2026 revenue expectations, issuing guidance just days ahead of a shareholder vote from Two Harbors Investment Corp. on UWM’s proposed $1.3 billion all-stock acquisition. “Even without the Two Harbors transaction,

Mortgage rates steady near 6.15% as oil and jobs data pose risks

After spiking last week, mortgage rates remained relatively stable this week. But the question for housing market professionals is whether the brisk spring homebuying season that was anticipated at the start of 2026 will actually materialize due to rising headwinds. Mortgage News Daily reported Mond

Crexi adds residential rental data as rent algorithms face limits

Strong, accurate residential rent data is becoming a prized asset as lawsuits, regulators and new state laws upend how landlords set rents.​ Los Angeles-based commercial real estate platform Crexi is moving to capitalize on that demand. The company has partnered with Dwellsy, a rental marketplace wi

eXp’s Wendy Forsythe launches 6-step framework book to help agents scale without burnout

eXp Realty Chief Marketing Officer Wendy Forsythe released her debut book, “Leverage Your X-Factor: The 6-Step Framework to Scale Your Real Estate Business and Reclaim Your Life,” on March 10, with 100% of proceeds going to eXp Extend a Hand, the brokerage’s nonprofit that supports agents and staff

Howard Hanna NYC taps business development head

Hal Gavzie has joined Howard Hanna NYC as executive director of business development — expanding the firm’s leadership bench in New York City. Gavzie — who brings more than 25 years of brokerage leadership experience — said he’ll focus on growing Howard Hanna NYC’s footprint in the city by recruitin

Private credit didn’t fix middle-market CRE. It delayed a reckoning

Over the past several years, private credit has been portrayed as a lifeline for commercial real estate. As banks have tightened under regulatory pressure and rising rates, debt funds stepped in and kept transactions moving. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, private credit funds account

Sorry, don’t buy Senate brief: “The facts: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act” won’t work unless amended 

HUD’s own research shows that, for more than 50 years, lawmakers and public officials have repeatedly promised fixes that never materialized. The Senate ironically proves their bill won’t work in their own U.S. Senate brief. “Myth 5: The ROAD to Housing Act preempts local zoning decisions. Fact: By

West Capital Lending sues loanDepot, alleges unlawful pay scheme

West Capital Lending (WCL) has sued loanDepot, accusing the California-based mortgage lender of engaging in a long-running compensation scheme that violates the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, marks the latest