House scales back proposed VA mortgage fee hike

Just weeks after mortgage trade groups expressed concern about a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would raise fees on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, Republicans in Congress have revised the original proposal. The bill, H.R. 6047 — also known as the Sharri Briley and Er
Read MoreRestitution checks possible for some reverse mortgage borrowers after CFPB action

Reverse mortgage borrowers whose loans were previously serviced by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subcontractor NOVAD Management Consulting LLC may receive reimbursement checks in the mail following a 2024 enforcement action brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Read MoreJudge denies Compass injunction against Zillow listing policy

A New York City-based U.S. District Court judge has denied Compass’s preliminary injunction motion in its antitrust lawsuit against Zillow. As a result of Judge Jeannette Vargas’ ruling, Zillow may continue enforcing its listing access standard policy, which bans listings from its site that have be
Read MoreRedfin rolls out ChatGPT app for real estate searches

Redfin, which is now owned by Rocket Companies, is following in Zillow’s footsteps and launching an app integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The company announced Friday that ChatGPT users now have access to a Redfin app within the platform that allows users to locate property listings relevant to th
Read MoreForeign investors keep U.S. real estate moving

While many of the latest conversations around the U.S. real estate market have focused on affordability and interest rates, one segment continues to move forward: foreign investors. While domestic buyers remain more cautious, investors from abroad are driving much of the transaction volume in many U
Read More‘Your listing, your lead’ isn’t the problem — professionalism is

It’s a story of frustration that many buyers and agents can relate to. Buyers repeatedly reaching out to listing agents to see properties, only to receive no response. Calls go unanswered, questions linger and access to homes stalled. That frustration is real and deserves acknowledgment. Consumers s
Read MoreRocket, Redfin air first joint Super Bowl ad focused on community

Rocket Companies and Redfin on Thursday unveiled a Super Bowl commercial centered on community and the importance of neighborliness, marking the companies’ first shared national ad and Redfin’s first appearance in a Super Bowl broadcast since the company’s founding 20 years ago. The 60-second spot,
Read MoreWill New York’s manufactured housing law reshape home financing?

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a long-awaited state law designating manufactured housing as real estate in December. In the 11 months ahead, the question is whether the newly enacted measure can deliver on its promised mortgage-style financing or stalls amid legislative rulemaking. Regulators, le
Read MoreBrown Harris Stevens names Maggie Ross to lead Brooklyn sales

Brown Harris Stevens (BHS) is welcoming Maggie Ross as its new managing director of sales for the firm’s Brooklyn operation, according to an announcement on Wednesday. Prior to accepting this position at BHS, Ross was an associate real estate broker at Compass. In her new role at BHS, Ross will be
Read MoreAtlanta’s No. 3 RealTrends Verified small team launches DOSSIER with Side

The No. 3 RealTrends Verified ranked small team in Atlanta is making the move to Side. On Wednesday, Harvin Greene announced that she and her eponymous team would be leaving Dorsey Altson Realtors to set up DOSSIER, a new boutique firm at white-label brokerage Side. In 2024, the Harvin Greene team
Read MoreShapiro unveils a $1B plan to ‘go big’ on housing and zoning reform

With housing affordability front and center nationally, Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a $1 billion program to build more housing across the state. Shapiro’s Critical Infrastructure Fund – nested within his broader $53.26 billion budget recommendation – would support housing and
Read MoreChampion Homes beats expectations with varied product mix, brand power

Champion Homes (SKY), a Michigan-based manufactured, modular, and mobile homes builder, posted better-than-expected results during a difficult homebuilding sales environment. Amid a challenging market, the builder is leveraging its strong reputation and continually expanding product line to grow its
Read MoreJohn R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate taps Anna-Marie Ellison for sales leadership

Anna-Marie Ellison is on the move again, this time joining the leadership team at John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate. In a post on LinkedIn on Wednesday, the firm announced that Ellison would serve as its new vice president of sales. According to the brokerage’s announcement, Ellison
Read MoreReverse mortgage line of credit remains underused — but advisers may be receptive

Ryan Ponsford, a veteran financial adviser with more than 25 years of experience in wealth management, real estate and lending, is unequivocal: “The reverse mortgage line of credit is one of the most misunderstood, underutilized tools in retirement planning today.” “The scary part — put five rever
Read MoreEstimates for insured losses from Winter Storm Fern top $4 billion

Data and analytics firm Verisk said that insured losses to property and automobiles from Winter Storm Fern could reach $4 billion, according to an initial analysis released by the company on Tuesday. Another estimate from Karen Clark & Co. (KCC) is even higher. KCC reported that privately insured lo
Read MoreIllinois bill targets private real estate listings with new disclosure rules

Lawmakers in Illinois are reestablishing their position in the real estate industry’s private listings debate. On Wednesday, State Representative Lillian Jiménez introduced a bill into the state’s House of Representatives seeking to amend the state’s Real Estate License Act of 2000. Rep. Jiménez sp
Read MoreLone Wolf launches integration hub to connect real estate brokerage tech and eliminate data silos

Lone Wolf Technologies has introduced a centralized platform designed to expand software integrations and data connectivity across its real estate technology ecosystem. The company announced the launch of its API Portal — providing brokers, teams, agents and technology partners with access to applic
Read MoreRocket Mortgage alleges $194,000 loss in broker fraud lawsuit

Rocket Mortgage has sued a California mortgage brokerage and one of its executives, alleging they knowingly submitted fraudulent loan applications that concealed borrowers’ debts and caused financial losses after the loans were sold to investors. In a complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Cou
Read MoreAdvocus National Title expands leadership team

Advocus National Title Insurance Co. has expanded its national leadership team as it moves to scale its underwriting platform across the country. The attorney-focused title insurance underwriter said the leadership changes are intended to support national growth while maintaining its long-standing e
Read MoreDivesting Homes.com would cause ‘irreparable harm’: CoStar

The pressure of even more activist investors does not appear to be enough to cause CoStar Group to change its stance on Homes.com. The Andy Florance-led firm responded to a letter sent by activist investors at D.E. Shaw & Co., LP. in a press release on Thursday, in which the company reiterated its
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