DOJ thumps RealPage with another antitrust lawsuit over AI-driven rent pricing

The Department of Justice (DOJ) continues to take aim at alleged antitrust violations in the real estate industry.The DOJ filed a civil suit against RealPage on Friday, claiming that the company’s YieldStar and AI revenue management (AIRM) software allowed multifamily landlords to artificially infla
Read MoreMontana’s reverse mortgage program could have room for industry collaboration

Montana’s unique Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM) program is a state-sponsored reverse mortgage, with lower interest rates and proceeds along with a higher minimum qualifying age that distinguishes it from the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program through the Federal Housing Administration (F
Read MoreRE/MAX, Inside Real Estate announce expanded partnership

RE/MAX and Inside Real Estate are expanding their partnership. The firms announced the expansion on Tuesday at the RE/MAX Broker Owner Conference.The expanded partnership will bring the BoldTrail platform to all RE/MAX-owned brokerages across the U.S. and Canada.The strategic partnership between Ins
Read MoreAging in place seen as leading ‘social barrier’ by seniors: study

Aging in place is seen as a leading “social barrier“ to healthy aging in America in 2024, according to a new survey conducted by Alignment Health. The survey was first reported by McKnights Senior Living.“As more seniors choose to live independently and longer in their own homes, aging in place brin
Read MoreAgent movement cools as trepidation spreads across the market

The latest data reflected in the Agent Movement Index (AMI) for July 2024 indicates a notable shift in the real estate agent landscape, highlighting a cooling trend in agent movement and an emerging caution in the market.Key observations from July 2024 AMI:Halting of agent growth: The recent trend o
Read MoreWorth Clark’s Ryan Michaelis talks recruitment strategy and brokerage growth

In the newest episode of the RealTrending podcast, host Tracey Velt chats with Ryan Michaelis, chief growth strategist at Worth Clark Realty, about business growth through recruitment, flat-fee models for agents and the effects of the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) settlement on buyers and
Read MoreFHFA proposes new three-year housing goals for Fannie, Freddie

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) this week published a final rule in the Federal Register that outlines housing goals for the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and seeks to establish yearly standards to meet the goals.The proposed goals for 2025 through 2027
Read MoreReal estate coach Skye Michiels on why sell-side commissions might rise and new models could emerge

Three days before the new business practice changes mandated by the settlement of the National Association of Realtors‘ commission lawsuit went into effect, HousingWire caught up with top real estate coach Skye Michiels to talk about how his agents are handling the big changes.Michiels, the former h
Read MoreZillow Group hires Soumya Tulloss as senior vice president of agent sales

CFPB orders Fay Servicing to pay $2M over illegal foreclosure practices

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has settled a case with Florida-based Fay Servicing over illegal conduct in foreclosures. The deal includes a $2 million fine and potential limitations to the CEO’s compensation. A company spokesperson wrote to HousingWire that “Fay continues to strong
Read MoreOpinion: It’s time for real estate to do the right thing

Doing the right thing is easy in theory, but often the hardest in practice. Our family established Baird & Warner more than a century ago with a mission to serve buyers and sellers with transparency and integrity, and we’ve endured many changes in our industry during this time. Sometimes, our choice
Read MorePlaintiffs’ attorneys seek $36.8M from the Gibson commission lawsuit settlement

Plaintiffs’ attorneys in the Gibson copycat commission lawsuit are seeking $36.8 million, or one-third of the $110.6 million total settlement in the case, according to documents filed on Tuesday.This amount is only for the Gibson suit, which was combined with the Umpa suit in April, as the settlemen
Read MoreOrigins: Moving from hospital administration to reverse mortgages

David Heilman, principal for HomeGrown Financial in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, didn’t feel like he had to shake up his approach to working with seniors when he became involved in the reverse mortgage industry. Having experience in the health care field prior to entering the mortgage business, i
Read MoreNew York spotlights reverse mortgage scam risk on National Senior Citizens Day

In conjunction with National Senior Citizens Day on Wednesday, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is circulating a series of tips that aim to help older adults avoid financial scams and exploitation. One way that bad actors may try to take advantage of older Americans
Read MoreMortgage demand slows despite cooling rates

Mortgage rates have been on a declining trend, but demand slowed down last week largely due to fewer refinance applications, an indication that the industry should not expect a mini refi boom yet.Mortgage applications dropped 10.1% for the week ending Aug. 16 compared to the previous week, according
Read MoreJudge tosses FTC rule banning noncompetes, cites lack of authority

A U.S. District Court judge in Texas on Tuesday blocked a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule banning noncompete agreements, which are commonly used in the mortgage and real estate industries.Judge Ada E. Brown of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted plaintiff Ryan LLC,
Read MoreFannie Mae economists lower their expectations for 2024 home sales

Mortgage rates have moved lower in recent months, but Fannie Mae economists said Wednesday that this won’t be enough to increase the number of homes sold in the foreseeable future.Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group downgraded its forecasts for 2024 and 2025 home sales based on
Read MoreConsumer groups urge FHFA to update climate standards for GSE-backed homes

A coalition of interest groups oriented around climate issues has launched a social media campaign designed to pressure the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) into adopting up-to-date energy-efficiency standards for homes backed by the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddi
Read MoreAgents are prepping sellers for a greater variety of offers

While there have not been any “horror stories” in the first few days since business practice changes mandated by the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement were implemented, that doesn’t mean it has been completely smooth sailing for real estate professionals
Read MoreNo ’horror stories’ from agents on the first weekend of NAR settlement changes

The landmark date of Aug. 17, 2024, has come and gone, and the real estate industry is still plugging along, despite the business practice changes mandated by the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement now being implemented nationwide.In the Greater Boston ar
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