Former Fed Governor Kugler violated financial trading rules, filings show

Former Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler is said to have engaged in several financial transactions that violated the central bank’s ethics rules, multiple outlets have reported. That’s according to filings made public by the Office of Government Ethics on Nov. 15. They revealed that Kugler fil

Alexander brothers bid to toss sex-trafficking charges denied

A federal judge has rejected an effort by luxury brokers Tal and Oren Alexander and their brother, security executive Alon Alexander, to dismiss sex-trafficking charges — clearing the way for their January trial. U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni allowed the case to proceed, tossing only one count

Judge tosses class status in Batton commission lawsuit

A federal judge has struck down class-certification efforts in the Batton homebuyer commission lawsuit — handing the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and several large brokerages a procedural victory while leaving the door open for a revised filing. U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt on Wedn

What does doubling ACA premiums mean for housing market buyers?

This is not my usual column, where I share an opinion (right or wrong) about what I’m writing about. Instead, I’m proposing an open question to our industry, as I’m neither an economist nor a health care expert. The Issue Most have heard that ACA insurance premiums could double for some households.

Kevin Sears concludes NAR presidency with praise, strategic plan focus

Monday marked Kevin Sears’ 679th day as president of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Sears spent what is effectively his final day as association president by leading NAR’s board of directors meeting held at the conclusion of NAR’s NXT conference in Houston.  While Sears’s time as presid

Fraud, lawsuits, AI missteps: what NAR says will put Realtors in the crosshairs next

For many Realtors, the legal maelstrom that engulfed the industry over the past two years, served as a wake up call of sorts, forcing them to look for ways to mitigate and manage risks. Given this environment, it is no surprise that risk management was a popular topic at the National Association of

Tech Pulse: Redfin, Real Brokerage show off AI home search

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: Redfin puts forth AI chat tool for home searches Redfin has launched a new AI-powered “co

First American’s 2026 housing market forecast points to better affordability

After a year of easing mortgage rates and slightly improved affordability, the U.S. housing market heads into 2026 with expectations for steady, if uneven, progress. First American deputy chief economist Odeta Kushi said a broader reset remains gradual. “There are no quick fixes — recoveries take ti

Figure’s marketplace accelerates with $2.5B in Q3 volume

Figure Technology Solutions reached $2.5 billion in consumer loan marketplace volume in the third quarter of 2025 — a 70% year-over-year increase, the company reported Thursday in its first earnings release since going public. Most of Figure’s volume continues to come from home equity lines of credi

Macquarie’s Jason White on the Stewart-MCS deal

Earlier this month, title and real estate services company Stewart Information Services Corp., owned by SISCO Holdings, agreed to acquire the mortgage services of property preservation provider Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS) for $330 million. The transaction, which expands Stewart’s suite of se

NAR proposes MLS rule repeals, updates to code of ethics

As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and its members prepare for Monday’s board of directors meeting, leaders are asking members and directors to consider some proposed changes to both the code of ethics and MLS rules. Repeals are the name of the game When it comes to MLS rules, according t

Luxury real estate market projected to exceed $330B by 2030

While much of the U.S. housing market faces affordability pressures and elevated mortgage rates, the luxury sector continues to expand. A new Mordor Intelligence report projects the high-end residential market will exceed $338 billion by 2030, up from roughly $289 billion today. The firm reports tha

Home improvement contractors remain cautiously optimistic despite slowdown

Most home improvement contractors are still optimistic about the future of the market, but headwinds such as material costs and reined-in consumer spending are weighing down expectations.  The Q3 Contractor Activity Tracker, released by The Farnsworth Group and Home Improvement Research Institute, f

Supreme Court’s tariffs case could have minimal impact on construction costs

The Supreme Court could decide on the legality of many of the Trump administration’s tariffs within months, but the ruling won’t impact many of the administration’s levies on imported construction materials such as lumber, steel, aluminum and copper.  The case before the Supreme Court contests the l

HUD announces drastic changes to homelessness strategy

The Trump administration is preparing a major overhaul of its homelessness strategy, moving away from long-term housing support and reducing funding for those programs. The plan redirects Continuum of Care program resources toward short-term shelters that tie participation to employment and substanc

The 50-year mortgage: I’m not buying the “forever loan”

A 50-year mortgage sounds like the next big innovation in housing finance, a way to make homes “affordable” again in an era of high prices and stubborn interest rates. But the way I was raised and educated, financial independence and straight talk count. Having studied economics at Texas A&M, I see

Great Falls housing market shifts toward buyers as 46% of sellers cut prices

Nearly half of home sellers in Great Falls, Montana reduced their asking prices during the week ending Nov. 7, 2025, as properties lingered on the market longer than typical homes across the country. The Great Falls metro recorded price cuts on 45.7% of its 280 active single-family listings, while t

50-year mortgage? NAR would rather focus on increasing inventory

The 50-year mortgage is currently one of the hottest topics in housing, so it is unsurprising that the proposal floated by the Trump administration came up in conversation at the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2025 NXT conference.  In an Advocacy Scoop podcast recording session Thursday even

Boise home sellers adjust prices facing highest fall inventory levels

Price reductions swept through 41.2% of Boise metro listings during the week ending Nov. 7, 2025, as active inventory climbed to 3,335 homes and created a 2.4-month supply in the Idaho capital’s housing market. The surge in seller pricing adjustments coincided with 363 homes leaving the market throu

Pittsburgh sellers reduce prices on nearly half of homes at $249K median

Price reductions swept through 48% of Pittsburgh’s housing inventory during the week ending Nov. 7, 2025, as the metro maintained its position as Pennsylvania’s most affordable major market with a $249,000 median list price. The widespread price adjustments come even as Pittsburgh homes already trad