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April 2026

New-home purchase applications hit record high in March

Homebuilders, Originations, REALTORS & HOMEBUILDERS /

New-home purchase originations surged in March, waving off wartime macroeconomic concerns to set a record high, even as signs of a construction slowdown emerged.  Processing Content Applications for newly purchased homes accelerated 11% year over year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s monthly builders survey. Compared to February’s more subdued activity, volumes popped upward by […]

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NAR and Florida MLS groups dismissed from Zea lawsuit

Florida, Florida Realtors, HWmember, Legal, MLS/Associations, National Association of Realtors, Real Estate /

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has notched another favorable legal outcome. On Monday, Florida-based U.S. District Court Judge William Dimitrouleas dismissed NAR, as well as 11 Florida associations/MLSs from the lawsuit on the recommendation of Magistrate Judge William Matthewman. In early March, Judge Dimitrouleas adopted another report by the magistrate judge dismissing Connecticut Association

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Self-care plans for real estate agent burnout

Agent, Contributors, HWmember, NextHome, Opinion, Real Estate, real estate agent, Real Estate Agents /

There is a special flavor of exhaustion that only independent contractors know. It is not the regular tired that comes from a long day. It is the deep-space fatigue of being your own boss, HR department, marketing team, IT help desk, billing office, custodian, and emotional support animal. You do not clock out. Then layer

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SERHANT. launches in five California luxury markets

Brokerage, California, HWmember, Los Angeles, People Movers, Real Estate, Ryan Serhant, San Diego, San Francisco, SERHANT. /

SERHANT. is expanding into California, opening across Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, San Francisco and Tahoe with agents who closed more than $2 billion in sales over the past 12 months, the brokerage announced Tuesday. The firm said this move marks its largest market launch by sales volume. The company will base its California

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HousingWire Mortgage Rankings: Rocket leads 2025 top originators

CrossCountry Mortgage, HWmember, JPMorgan Chase, LendingLife, Mortgage, Mortgage Rankings, Origination, Rate, Rocket Mortgage, Veterans United Home Loans /

Shant Banosian doesn’t believe that retail mortgage lenders are at a cost disadvantage when pitted head-to-head against wholesale competitors. Banosian, the Massachusetts-based originator and president of Chicago-based Rate, pointed to data showing that independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and their retail-heavy presence are responsible for 84% of single-family mortgages in the U.S. Although wholesale lenders do

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Optimal Blue reports March 2026 purchase locks jump 38%

Data & Visuals, Housing Market, HWmember, Mortgage, Optimal Blue, Purchase Market, Rate Lock, Refinancing /

Mortgage activity remained resilient as purchase demand strengthened, despite interest rates climbing, according to Optimal Blue’s March 2026 Market Advantage report, released on Tuesday. Total rate-lock volume increased 13% from February and 26% from a year earlier. Purchase activity drove the gains, with purchase lock volume rising 38% month over month and 20% year over

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Spring purchase activity jumps despite climbing rates

Mortgage Rates, Originations /

Purchase activity soared to kick off the spring market this year as climbing rates didn’t dampen momentum over last year’s tepid start.  Processing Content Those mortgage locks in March were up 38% from February and 20% greater from the same time last year, according to Optimal Blue’s latest Market Advantage Report. Home buyers accounting for

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FHLB council maps out mortgage credit expansion plan

FHLB council maps out mortgage credit expansion plan

Capital markets, FHLB, Politics and policy, Secondary markets /

President Trump’s executive order on mortgage credit could open up new funding resources and secondary market options for some Federal Home Loan Bank members, according to a new letter. Processing Content The letter from Ryan Donovan, president and CEO of the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, suggests the order could be a springboard for

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The myth of the “perfect market” and the cost of waiting

Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Opinion, Origination /

If you’re a Realtor or loan officer advising today’s homebuyer, your role has never been more important, or more misunderstood. Many buyers are sitting on the sidelines with the same belief: “I’m going to wait until interest rates come down.” On the surface, that sounds reasonable. But as professionals, it’s our responsibility to help clients

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The appraisal gap in 2026

Appraisals, Appraisals and Valuations, Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Opinion, Real Estate, Valuation /

Real estate valuations have customarily leaned heavily on historical data as one of the most important factors used to determine the appraised value of homes. This data includes comparable transactions and cap rates from prior years, along with historical real estate market data. However, there are a few areas that the past-anchored valuation system fails

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