Washington state’s Covenant Homeownership Program is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) over potential violations of the Fair Housing Act. HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) notified the Washington State Housing Finance Commission

Ownli has launched its real estate platform nationwide across 43 states, positioning its commission-free model as an alternative to current compensation fees, the company announced Tuesday. The Denver-based company said that as of March 1, 2026, its platform features more than 500,000 active propert

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has opened an investigation into Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO)’s pricing practices in the mortgage industry and is urging Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson to do the same. FICO dominates the credit scoring market for mortgage lenders, largely due to deca

One truth stands clear: real estate sales are built on trust, not persuasion. Yet, many agents still wrestle with outdated sales tactics, focusing on pushing products rather than understanding client needs. The most successful agents, however, don’t sell at all. Instead, they lead with influence and

Let me say something that might make a few developers roll their eyes so hard they pull a muscle. Housing needs a fifth place. Not another splash pad. Not another pickleball court. Not another “resort-style amenity center” with furniture nobody uses. A fifth place. Here’s a quick tutorial on Ray Old

More than 43.5 million U.S. properties are at moderate or greater risk from hail damage, representing about $17.84 trillion in reconstruction cost value, according to Cotality’s 2026 Severe Convective Storm Risk Report released Tuesday. The report finds that hailstorms are emerging as one of the mos

Incentives have always driven mortgage lending. Loan officers originate loans. Lenders compete for production. Borrowers search for the lowest available rate. Regulators work to ensure fairness across the process. Over time, these competing forces produced a complex economic architecture designed to

The Trump administration on Friday issued a “comprehensive national legislative framework” regarding artificial intelligence (AI) policy, aimed at boosting U.S. innovation while protecting consumers, children and national security. The proposal outlines six broad priorities aimed at positioning the

Show of hands. Who among us has purchased a home to live in – any home, in any place, at any price – without feeling at some point like we were on an emotional roller coaster? Anybody? Buying a home is one of those acts few would call entirely rational. For most of us, it is a leap. A stretch. It’s

National Land Realty has introduced a new commission structure that lets land brokers and agents choose from three different plans, including an option that allows top producers to scale up to a 100% commission split, the company announced March 31. The Greenville, South Carolina-based land brokerag

Kentucky-based Stockton Mortgage fired back against two former employees’ claims that the company accessed their personal email accounts multiple times in 2025 and used the messages in separate litigation. Two former loan officers, Christopher Hoehn and Ashley Hoehn, filed a complaint last week in t

Detroit-based Rocket Companies is offering voluntary separation packages to some employees as part of its consolidation following last year’s acquisitions of Mr. Cooper Group and Redfin.“Rocket, Mr. Cooper and Redfin share a vision of a stronger, more connected homeownership platform built for long-

Here’s a truth that’s going to sting a little: if you’re still walking into listing appointments armed with the same pricing presentation you used in 2021, you’re bringing a butter knife to a sword fight. The market has fundamentally shifted, and the agents who haven’t shifted with it are watching l

Groundworks, a large foundation repair and water management contractor, plans to create 5,000 skilled trades jobs over the next five years as demand for structural and moisture remediation grows across the aging U.S. housing stock, the company said. The Virginia Beach, Virginia-based firm, which ope

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) has dropped a lawsuit that accused Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte of violating federal privacy laws. The parties agreed to the “dismissal of this action without prejudice, with each side bearing its own fees and costs,” according to court

Rising costs of living and debt are pushing many Americans to rethink retirement as a flexible, phased transition, with 72% now expecting to retire on their own terms, according to Fidelity Investments’ 2026 State of Retirement Planning Study. The study, released last week and conducted annually sin

Every mortgage lender knows that declined loans represent marketing spend, staff time and operational resources that never convert into funded loans or revenue. Those losses add up quickly in a margin-sensitive environment. In Q3 2025, independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and mortgage subsidiaries of c

After failing to turn starter-home legislation into law, Arizona lawmakers are advancing two bills that would curb local control over design standards, homeowners associations and contractor licensing – a renewed attempt to chip away at costs amid the state’s housing shortage. Lawmakers are close to