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Author name: Ricky Vasquez

Robert Reffkin continues his digital crusade against Zillow, Clear Cooperation

Clear Cooperation, Compass, HWmember, MLS, Real Estate, Robert Reffkin, Zillow /

Tensions between Compass CEO Robert Reffkin and Zillow are continuing to build in the lead up to Zillow’s new listing standards going into effect later this month. Reffkin followed up last week’s LinkedIn post claiming that Zillow no longer displays all MLS listings to prospective homebuyers, with two more posts. On Friday, Reffkin highlighted Zillow’s […]

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IRS stipulation could have consequences for seniors in a declining stock market

HWmember, Internal Revenue Service, New York Times, Retirement, Reverse, Social Security, Stock Market, Tax /

Growing fears of a retirement crisis in the U.S. are no secret as Americans face a future that potentially includes fewer Social Security benefits. But the uncertainty of Social Security is not the only thing that seniors should consider as they seek to safeguard their financial well-being. Over the weekend, The New York Times detailed

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Opendoor will pay $39M to settle pricing algorithm lawsuit

Artificial Intelligence, Brokerage, HWmember, iBuying, Investors, Lawsuit, Legal, Opendoor, Real Estate, Technology /

Opendoor has agreed to pay $39 million to settle a lawsuit that alleges the company misled investors about the reliability of its pricing technology, according to court documents filed Friday. The proposed settlement — filed in federal court in Arizona and first reported by Reuters — must still be approved by U.S. District Court Judge

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How to make the most of real estate testimonials to attract new clients

Agent, Real Estate, Real Estate Agent Essentials, Vetted by HousingWire /

Imagine if you could bottle the enthusiasm your clients have for working with you and use it to capture new business. That’s where real estate testimonials come into play. We all know that getting testimonials is an important part of building a business, yet it’s often a forgotten step in the process. More often than

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Frank Martell leaves loanDepot, takes CEO role at SmartRent

Anthony Hsieh, Frank Martell, HWmember, loanDepot, Mortgage, People Movers, Team Leaders, Technology /

Former loanDepot CEO Frank Martell has officially moved on. SmartRent Inc., a provider of smart community technology solutions for the rental housing industry, on Monday announced that Martell will take on the roles of president and CEO effective immediately. Martell, who has been a member of SmartRent’s board of directors and served on the board’s

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Low-fee brokerages could give home sellers considerable savings

Brokerage, HWmember, MLS, Real Estate, Real Estate Agents, Zillow /

Consumers listing a $400,000 property for sale could save up to $10,000 in broker fees by using a “low-fee” brokerage firm, according to a report published Monday by the Consumer Policy Center (CPC). The report, written by CPC fellows Stephen Brobeck and Wendy Glich, examined both flat-fee brokers (who list a property on the MLS

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Down payments shrink as homebuyers scoop up FHA, VA loans

Affordability, FHA loan, Home Prices, HWmember, Mortgage, Origination, Redfin, VA Loan /

As of April 2025, the typical U.S. homebuyer’s down payment was $62,468, down roughly 1% on a yearly basis and the first annual decline in nearly two years. That’s according to a new report from Redfin that’s based on an analysis of records across 40 of the most populous U.S. metropolitan areas. In percentage terms,

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Redfin investor seeks $450k for “benefitting” stockholders

Industry News, Law and legal issues, M&A /

The Redfin investor who sued the real estate brokerage and Rocket Companies for allegedly failing to disclose key information about their merger is seeking a $450,000 award. Jason Morano, the plaintiff, argues in a filing dated June 11 that his “intense litigation efforts” forced Redfin’s and Rocket’s hand in publishing supplemental disclosures that had a

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Frank Martell takes new role at beleaguered tech firm

CAREER & COMPENSATION, Career moves, Industry News /

After stepping down from his recent leadership role at Loandepot, home finance veteran Frank Martell has taken the helm as chief executive of a multifamily technology firm that is currently navigating a difficult period. Smartrent, a provider of technology-powered tools and services for rental communities and other types of multifamily housing, appointed Martell president and

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