Builders started 2026 with margin pressure, then came Iran war risk

Making less money but making steady headway may be a crude way to boil down what early 2026 was looking like for many homebuilding business leaders. Public homebuilder execs were not discussing a plain-and-simple “recovery trade.” The most consistent post-earnings themes – across demand, pricing, ma

Better launches ChatGPT-based credit decision engine for mortgage and HELOC lenders

Better.com has launched a conversational credit decision engine that lets mortgage and home equity lenders run underwriting through ChatGPT using the company’s Tinman AI platform, the company announced Thursday. The integration, built with OpenAI using a Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector, allow

Study finds 65-year-olds need $135K for long-term care

A new report from consulting firm Milliman concludes that the average 65-year-old should set aside $135,000 to cover high-intensity long-term care in the future. But averages can mask wide variation depending on gender, location and health.   Women face significantly higher costs than men — an avera

NAR speaks out on “coming soon” listings

The National Association of Realtors said it does not set a national policy for “coming soon” listing statuses and leaves those decisions to local multiple listing services. “NAR respects the rights of individual brokers to make their own business decisions and does not comment on specific brokerage

New eXp division bridges homebuilder-brokerage service gap

eXp Realty has announced the launch of eXp New Homes, a specialized division designed to help agents expand into the new construction market — from boutique urban developments to large master-planned communities. The division aims to bridge the gap between traditional brokerage services and the spec

USDA lending changes could handcuff low-income California homebuyers

Housing advocates warn that recent changes to a federal rural lending program could sharply limit homeownership opportunities for low-income families in California communities. The California Coalition for Rural Housing said revisions made Feb. 10 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Secti

Compromise Indiana housing reform law trims local zoning power

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun swiftly signed into law comprehensive state housing reforms after lawmakers spent weeks debating how much the state could and should override local zoning rules and design standards. The law adopts a softer approach to neutralizing local zoning authority after mayors, county

NAHB data maps modest housing affordability gains in 2025

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index, released on Thursday, indicates that housing affordability slightly improved in 2025 as new home prices decreased nationwide and mortgage rates steadily declined during the second half of the year.  The quarterly ind

Why independent brokerages may have the advantage in real estate’s next chapter

The real estate industry has never lacked for uncertainty. But if there was a prevailing message from a panel of brokerage leaders moderated by Paul Boomsma, president and CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE), it’s that perspective matters. For brokerage leaders navigating c

Reported layoffs at Morgan Stanley hit mortgage and wealth management units

Morgan Stanley’s reported layoff of about 3% of its workforce — roughly 2,500 employees — is affecting some staff working on mortgage origination services for wealth management clients. The bank is cutting positions across its estimated 83,000-employee global workforce due to shifts in business prio

New York’s housing crisis won’t be solved by one mega-project

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s attempt to revive an old plan to build 12,000 affordable units over a borough railyard is seen as a long shot, even if he gains support from President Trump. Mamdani has garnered headline attention for proposing to build units on a platform above Sunnyside Yard,

Florida Agency Network partners with law firm to launch OL Title

Florida Agency Network (FAN) has launched OL Title, a new title and settlement services company formed in affiliation with Older Lundy Law. The new venture will focus on commercial real estate and high-end residential transactions across Florida — combining the legal capabilities of Older Lundy Law

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty promotions include new CFO

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty has promoted three longtime executives — naming Abigail Tezniarz as chief financial officer and elevating Melissa Morehouse and Frank Russell to associate vice president roles. Tezniarz, who joined the brokerage in 2004, has held a series of senior finance posi

5 referral partners every loan officer needs to build a resilient pipeline

A strong loan pipeline is never built on a single referral source. The homebuying cycle is unpredictable, with rates changing and transaction volume rising and falling. Relying too heavily on one source leaves the pipeline lacking. Loan officers who cultivate a variety of referral partners create st

Trump 401(k) plan, if expanded, could advance universal retirement

A recent op-ed argues that President Donald Trump’s proposal to expand access to 401(k)-style retirement plans could become a meaningful step toward a universal savings system — but only if it goes further than currently outlined. Karl Polzer, founder of the Center on Capital and Social Equity, wrot

High-producing South Carolina team joins REMAX

After 12 years in real estate and three years leading The McNulty Team under the Coldwell Banker brand, Shannon McNulty has opened her own brokerage — REMAX Reliable Realty — in Blythewood, South Carolina. Her team will join her under the new office, which will also recruit individual agents. Shanno

Senate Democrats propose bill targeting corporate homeowner tax breaks

Senate Democrats, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, last week unveiled legislation aimed at curbing corporate ownership of single-family homes and redirecting federal tax benefits toward affordable housing development. The bill, known as the American Homeownership

Fair housing groups urge court to reject Colony Ridge settlement

Fair housing and immigrant advocacy groups are urging a federal court in Texas to reject a proposed settlement between Colony Ridge Development LLC and federal agencies over alleged predatory lending practices. The groups say that key provisions of the agreement are “unlawful, unnecessary and unrela

PulteGroup partners with SitecoreAI to bolster its marketing strategy

PulteGroup this week agreed to join the ranks of homebuilding enterprises that have adopted SitecoreAI, integrating the omnichannel digital content marketing platform into its marketing, sales and CRM tech stack to improve homebuying digital user experience.  SitecoreAI – used by global consumer mar

9 strategies to build mortgage referral clients and grow your pipeline

Strong mortgage pipelines are built on intentional, trust-based referral partnerships, not chasing one-off leads. When referral relationships are nurtured, the interaction shifts from transactional leads to relationship-driven introductions. These partners actively boost your reputation, just as you