Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac quietly increased their purchases of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in 2025, helping push mortgage spreads lower toward the year’s end. Most analysts, however, were not expecting further meaningful tightening in the near term — at least until this week. That changed Thur

Housing professionals across the country raised their eyebrows earlier this week when President Donald Trump said he would look to stop large institutional investors from buying homes, citing increased affordability pressures on the typical American consumer. Cotality principal economist Thom Malone

The U.S. labor market continues to slow with the economy adding just 50,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in December, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  In addition to the modest jobs gain, the November jobs number was revised downward to 56,000, which is 8,000

Despite initial estimates calling for a summer or even fall 2026 close for the Compass–Anywhere merger, the two companies have indicated the transaction could close as soon as this Friday.  This news came after shareholders at both firms overwhelmingly voted to approve the merger at special meetings

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is directing representatives at the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS), a move he said is intended to bring mortgage rates down. “Because I chose not to sell Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in m

A new analysis from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College finds that nearly all retirees face surprise costs each year — from roof repairs to dental work — and a large share lack the cash to absorb even one year of these expenses. The result can be financial stress, forced asset sales

Toll Brothers announced on Wednesday that Karl Mistry will be the company’s next CEO, replacing Doug Yearley, who will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board on March 30.  Mistry will take the helm at a time when Toll Brothers is leaning on its resilient, high-income buyers to nav

The Jorgenson Group, a Round Rock, Texas–based real estate team led by founder Kasey Jorgenson, has officially launched Jorgenson Real Estate as an independent brokerage — ending a 16-year run operating within Keller Williams. The move became public this week and marks a new chapter for a team that

For the past five-plus years up to this very day, an 800-lb gorilla takes a seat at the table at every meeting in every Taylor Morrison conference room in every one of the organization’s offices. From its Scottsdale, AZ headquarters, to its three national operating regions, to its divisional hubs in

MeridianLink and Optimal Blue announced Wednesday that they’ve reached an agreement to integrate their technology platforms, with the joint solution expected to be available to customers in early 2026.  Under the partnership, mortgage users of MeridianLink’s loan origination system will gain access

The New York City Housing Partnership launched a new homeownership initiative aimed at helping gig workers and self-employed New Yorkers qualify for mortgages — funded through a multi-year partnership with Airbnb. The program — called Pathways to Homeownership — is designed to assist workers who rel

Singapore-based investment firm Temasek has closed a $150 million investment in a fund managed by real estate lending platform Roc360, the companies announced Thursday. The capital will be allocated to an investment vehicle focused on residential transition loans used to finance home renovations.Tem

Laura Brandao announced on social media this week that she’s embarking on a new professional endeavor at MLB Residential Lending as its president of wholesale and correspondent lending. In a conversation with HousingWire, Brandao said that she’d been in a consultant’s role for MLB — which stands for

A wave of recent proposals from think tanks across the ideological spectrum argue that the ultimate solution for keeping Social Security viable lies in fundamentally changing how the program works. According to federal actuaries, Social Security’s trust funds are projected to be depleted by 2032. If

CoStar Group is kicking off 2026 by providing investors and analysts with a look at its plans for the new year.  In a release on Wednesday, the firm provided an update on financial and corporate governance initiatives for 2026, much of which is the result of a “robust review” of the company by the C

Lennar announced on Tuesday that TPG Real Estate has acquired a majority stake in Quarterra, Lennar’s multifamily vertical. Lennar will maintain a minority interest, but the deal signals a strategic recalibration as the builder’s multifamily business struggled with a sizeable net loss last year. In

Stockholders of both Compass and Anywhere Real Estate voted “overwhelmingly” to approve the proposed merger between the two firms. The shareholder approval came after the two firms held special shareholder meetings on Wednesday for the purpose of this vote.  According to a joint press press release,

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Tuesday rolled out a trio of housing bills that push his state deeper into the trenches of a national fight over affordability and land use.​ Set for introduction when the new General Assembly session starts next week in Annapolis, the Governor’s proposals would jump‑start

Will 2026 be a turning point for prospective first-time homebuyers? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) seems to think so.  In a report published on Tuesday, the trade group says that it expects the housing affordability landscape to improve throughout the year. Driving this improvement, acco