The amenity arms race is over. The profit center era has begun.

For years, the amenity playbook in multifamily was simple: build it, bundle it, absorb the cost and call it a competitive differentiator. Rooftop decks, co-working lounges and resort-style pools have all been baked into the rent, and all have been treated as overhead. The logic made sense when lease
Read MoreSeniors hold a record share of housing wealth. The mortgage system still struggles to underwrite it.

A major shift has happened inside American housing finance, and it should have the full attention of lenders, regulators and policymakers. For the first time on record, Americans 70 and older hold a larger share of the nation’s real estate wealth than Americans aged 40 to 54. That crossover happened
Read MoreWhen AI listing videos look too real: the disclosure test agents need now

In my last HousingWire column, I focused on reviewing AI-generated listing remarks before they reach the MLS. That was about what AI says about a property. This follow-up is about the line between effective marketing and misrepresentation. A listing video may show a drone-style approach, a smooth wa
Read MoreNewsom signs balanced budget with $1.7B locked-in for housing

This time last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a state budget that included sweeping housing reforms that allowed urban residential developers to avoid rigorous environmental reviews. This year’s budget, which Newsom signed on Monday, does not carry the same historic housing reforms as las
Read MoreWhy Carlisle Companies targets Owens Corning for an M&A combo

As homebuilders grapple with questions of scale, access to capital and long-term competitiveness, many of their largest suppliers appear to be navigating similar strategic pressures. Carlisle Companies‘ unsolicited pursuit of Owens Corning, reported Monday by the Wall Street Journal, suggests that t
Read MoreTrump calls 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act ‘a yawn’

President Donald Trump on Monday characterized the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act as “a yawn,” following an abrupt cancellation of a signing ceremony for the legislation last week. The comments came as Trump reinforced prioritization of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act as his to
Read MoreWhy Fed President Beth Hammack wants more rate hikes

As we approach Jobs Thursday, certain Federal Reserve members have still not changed their tune about rate hikes, even with oil prices back down to $70 today. Why haven’t mortgage rates dropped along with oil prices? Because Fed policy has shifted, and some Fed members want more rate hikes. Today, I
Read MoreMRED seeks arbitration in Zillow antitrust lawsuit

With less than 48 hours to go before the start of a two-day hearing regarding Zillow’s preliminary injunction motion in its antitrust lawsuit against Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) and Compass International Holdings, the Chicagoland MLS is seeking to compel arbitration with the listing portal giant
Read MoreBipartisan bill would allocate CDBG funds to disaster prevention efforts

Reps. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.) and William Timmons (R-S.C.) introduced bipartisan legislation on Tuesday to help local governments invest in disaster prevention rather than focusing solely on post-disaster recovery. The “Ounce of Prevention Act” would expand eligible uses of Community Development Blo
Read MoreCRMLS adds ‘Limited Exposure Coming Soon’ listing option

California Regional MLS (CRMLS) is creating more options for home sellers looking to market and sell their properties. Earlier this month, CRMLS debuted a Limited Exposure Coming Soon listing option for home sellers and real estate professionals in California. In a post on the MLS’s Knowledgebase b
Read More-

For decades, leverage has been one of the greatest wealth-building tools available to real estate investors. The ability to control a large asset with a relatively small amount of cash has helped countless investors build portfolios, generate passive income and create long-term wealth. But somewhere
Read More The mortgage industry is on an AI binge. Let’s make the hangover optional.

I watched mortgage leaders embrace AI at The Gathering in Austin. And for good reason: The tools are getting good, the productivity math is starting to math and the competitive pressure is doing what classic IMB horse races do. I left more bullish about AI in the industry than when I arrived. I also
Read MoreThe spring selling season that wasn’t: Why builders are pivoting to margin recovery

At the start of 2026, many homebuilding industry leaders anticipated that falling mortgage rates would revitalize consumer interest. Instead, rates have remained stubbornly elevated, with the 30-year fixed rate expected to stay in the 6%-6.5% range over the next three years. Home price appreciation
Read MoreCaregiver survey shows widespread burnout, with Gen Z hit hardest

A national survey commissioned by LogicMark Inc. paints a stark picture of the nation’s caregiving crisis, finding that 90% of family caregivers report symptoms of burnout. And younger adults, particularly Gen Z, are carrying an outsized share of the burden. The survey, conducted in April 2026 by Ta
Read MoreDeSantis signs Live Local 4.0 housing reform into Florida law

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the fourth iteration of the Live Local Act on Friday, cementing the state’s commitment to building affordable housing. House Bill 1389 takes effect July 1. It extends state preemption of local zoning rules and closes a loophole that local governments used to discriminate aga
Read MoreeXp agent builds top RealTrends Verified team despite cancer battle

The phone rang on Sept. 8, 2022, and Britany Boatwright put the doctor on speakerphone, expecting routine news from a second biopsy. Instead, she heard words that would redefine everything; breast cancer. Sitting in her office with her director of operations planning a team meeting, Boatwright’s fi
Read MoreThe ROAD Act and the 26.4% regulatory cost stack on new homes

While Washington waits to see whether the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act becomes law by presidential signature, by inaction, by override, or not at all, homebuilders and developers already know the issue at stake does not wait. Here’s how regulatory cost adds up as a chokehold – not a theoretical
Read MoreMidwestern markets emerge as hotspots for rental momentum

While the typical midwestern city doesn’t offer the glamor and sunshine of South Florida, the growth profile of the Carolinas, the tech pedigree of Austin or the music scene of Nashville, the Midwest can provide build-to-rent (BTR) developers strong rental growth and lower costs. Sun Belt markets h
Read MoreCFPB, facing staffing constraints, moves to expand mortgage credit box

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), amid months of uncertainty under the Trump administration, is moving to pursue changes to mortgage regulations, most recently by advancing a request for information (RFI) intended to expand access to mortgages. The RFI was sent to the White House Offi
Read MoreTavant debuts agentic AI platform for software engineering, automation

Tavant has introduced a new enterprise platform that uses agentic AI to accelerate software development, data modernization and automation. The California-based technology firm positions the Tavant Platform as an alternative to proprietary AI stacks and high recurring platform fees, the company anno
Read More
Categories
Recent Posts











