housing wire

For centuries, property ownership has played a foundational role in human society. In the U.S.,  homeownership has come to symbolize financial stability and economic opportunity. Real estate  is both a tangible asset and a vehicle for wealth creation. Following the

Mortgage demand decreased 8.5% for the week ending April 11, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s weekly applications survey — a stark contrast to the 20% increase seen a week earlier. Last week’s application news was dominated by the

Berkshire Hathaway’s HomeServices of America has a new CEO, promoting Executive Vice President Chris Kelly as former CEO Gino Blefari steps into a new role. Blefari, who has served as president and CEO of the company for more than five

As a real estate agent in 2025, you have two choices: Learn how to run your entire business from the apps on your phone or tablet or find a new career. The days of running back to the office to

Bank of America (BofA) and Citi reported declining mortgage production in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, following similar results from peers Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase last week. Mortgage volumes at BofA and Citi, which

Owning a real estate brokerage may seem like a lucrative business, but in reality, many brokers struggle to turn a profit. Despite the appeal of running their own operation, most find themselves facing financial challenges due to high overhead costs,

The family of a deceased reverse mortgage borrower in Connecticut, who sought to reopen a case involving the foreclosure of their relative’s home after her death, have been denied a motion to reopen the case after a judge found that

High mortgage rates, low inventory and stagnant demand have made life difficult for real estate brokerages in recent years, and President Donald Trump’s tariff policy isn’t helping. The massive scale and scope of Trump’s new global tariff regime shocked the

More than $700 billion in home equity is effectively “trapped” and inaccessible to homeowners due to a variety of economic circumstances, including employment shocks and shifts in the market that negatively impact their credit scores. This information comes from an

FirstTeam, an independent real estate brokerage based in Southern California, has begun its national expansion by opening new offices in Idaho and Washington, with plans to establish operations in Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon. Founded in 1976, FirstTeam operates more than

The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) sent a letter to President Trump Friday asking for tariff exemptions on building materials from Canada and Mexico. The letter follows a Trump announcement that the U.S. was levying tariffs of 25% on Canadian

I was 19, tired of long hours at Beau Jo’s Pizza, and ready to invest in my future. That’s when I came across a real estate investment series on VHS by Carlton Sheets (remember VHS?). Little did I know this

An aging-in-place technology platform recently secured a $35 million funding round, which it hopes to use to expand its existing partnership portfolio while also aiming to enter the Medicaid market. The Helper Bees is a platform that connects older adults

A group of state representatives in Hawaii have introduced a new bill into the legislature, calling for the establishment of a state-specific Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program to be managed by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. (HFDC).

Higher mortgage rates are forcing many first-time homebuyers to adopt a “wait-and-see” approach to the market. According to HomeLight‘s Top Agent Insights report released this week, real estate agents are feeling this and are being forced to switch up tactics

President Trump fired Rohit Chopra, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Saturday, abruptly ending a five-year term scheduled to run through late 2026. The Associated Press reported that Chopra was notified of his firing in an

A key homelessness report issued every year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could be muddied by city ordinances and state law in Florida banning public sleeping and camping, according to a local official with a

It’s Friday and we have more news on tariffs. Initially, it was announced that collection of the tariff duties would be delayed by one month, but then the White House press secretary stated that they would take effect tomorrow.  So,

President Donald Trump is enacting tariffs on goods imported from three major U.S. trade partners, multiple news outlets reported Friday. The plan was set to go into effect Saturday, the White House confirmed, with 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico,

Alanna McCargo, the most recent Senate-confirmed president of Ginnie Mae who departed last year to become president and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of San Francisco, has left the bank’s leadership team to assume a new policy

In the 16 years since the peak of the Global Financial Crisis, the structured products industry has transformed from a market dominated by large banks to one with space for new players. New relationships are forming between insurers seeking long-term

While 2024 was rife with challenges for the mortgage industry broadly — across forward and reverse — a new year brings a new mindset. Some challenges remain, with mortgage rates being chief among them. Education and distribution can also likely

Refinance volume is only a fraction of what it was three years ago when mortgage rates plummeted to historic lows, but borrowers have returned in greater numbers this year. Recent data from CoreLogic shows that $347 billion in refinances were

The most positive development in the housing market over 2024 has been the increase in active housing inventory, which is approaching the levels seen in 2019. Although those 2019 levels represent a five-decade low before COVID-19, the market was still