First-Time Homebuyers

Local investors outpace builders in delivering starter homes

New Western released a new report examining the role of real estate investors in supplying entry-level housing. It found that small investors added far more homes in the starter-home price range than homebuilders in 2025. The company’s 2026 Flip Side Report on residential real estate investing trends said independent investors delivered 120,193 homes in the […]

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USDA rural housing loan changes could limit California buyers

Housing advocates warn that recent changes to a federal rural lending program could sharply limit homeownership opportunities for low-income families in California communities. The California Coalition for Rural Housing said revisions made Feb. 10 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Section 502 Direct Loan program reduce the maximum loan amount allowed under the program

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REMAX President Chris Lim on real estate’s inflection moment

As commission structures evolve and consolidation reshapes the real estate industry, REMAX President Chris Lim said the company is tuning out industry noise and concentrating on its core strengths. He sat down with HousingWire during this week’s REMAX R4 conference in Las Vegas — outlining key partnerships, initiatives and perspective on the current and future

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Builders engineer payments, not prices — LGI results highlight why

We intended to dig into LGI Homes’ fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings last week. Then the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show happened in Orlando, and the days became a blur of conversations, walking meetings, and on-the-fly triangulation among builders, capital partners, manufacturers and operators trying to answer the same question in different

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Barry Habib, Logan Mohtashami say housing market set for pent-up demand surge

The U.S. housing market may be poised for a historic surge as pent-up demand meets a potentially lower rate environment. As part of an expert panel at HousingWire’s 2026 Housing Economic Summit, MBS Highway founder and CEO Barry Habib said the first move downward in mortgage rates could trigger a rush of buyers who have

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Homebuying power improves as prices cool, inventory expands

U.S. homebuyers are gaining ground on affordability as price growth slows and housing supply expands, according to the latest HousingWire Data through Jan. 24. While affordability challenges persist — despite mortgage rates trending lower — recent shifts are improving purchasing power and giving buyers more leverage than they had a year ago. Nationally, the median

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Megatel Homes will launch crypto rewards for renters and buyers

MegPrime, an affiliate and subsidiary of Texas-based Megatel Homes, is set to launch its digital currency, the MP Token, designed as a rewards platform that renters and homeowners can tap into as a financial path to homeownership. As an inducement to participate in the rewards MP Token program, the program will offer up to $25,000

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WFG National Title Insurance introduces financial planning tool for homebuyers, sellers

WFG National Title Insurance Company has developed a new financial planning and scenario analysis tool that is available to its real estate agent clients. The tool, called — WFG Key — is designed to help agents walk homebuyers and sellers through common financial questions related to affordability, pricing, proceeds and long-term costs. Financial data is

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New homeowner data challenges mortgage rate lockdown theory

I have often debated whether the mortgage rate lockdown is real or just another housing myth. At first glance, the lockdown theory seems like common sense, so when mortgage rates jumped from 3% to 7% in 2022, it was logical to wonder why anyone would choose to sell their home. People with low rates seemed

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Why most buyers hire the first agent they talk to

Zillow’s 2025 Consumer Housing Trends Report for Agents shows that more than one-third (36%) of home sellers now find their agents online, a sharp increase from just 15% in 2018. Among buyers, 33% said online research played a significant role in selecting an agent. At the same time, repeat buyers now account for a majority

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