HWmember

We may finally be near the bottom of the mortgage market cycle

I started in mortgages in 2007 for a brokerage office in Salem, Oregon. Within my first year and a half, I was one of the top-producing loan officers in the office. At the same time, the world around me was coming apart.  I didn’t realize at the time that the industry I had just joined […]

We may finally be near the bottom of the mortgage market cycle Read More »

MRED opens private listing network to agents nationwide with Compass data deal

Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is opening its multiple listing service, including its Private Listing Network (PLN), to any licensed real estate agent nationwide and has secured a nationwide listing feed and membership subsidies from Compass International Holdings, the organizations announced Friday. The move extends MRED’s reach beyond its current footprint serving real estate professionals

MRED opens private listing network to agents nationwide with Compass data deal Read More »

Retirement confidence declines as worries grow over Social Security, rising expenses

Sixty-four percent of Americans say they feel confident they have enough money to live comfortably throughout retirement — down from last year — according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)’s 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey. The 36th annual survey, conducted online in January, is jointly produced by EBRI and Greenwald Research. Worker confidence fell to

Retirement confidence declines as worries grow over Social Security, rising expenses Read More »

California court curbs Coastal Commission on building permits

A California home builder sought to build three additional houses on lots it had owned for more than two decades in a coastal county. That should have been easy. It had already built four nearby homes. But it wasn’t. Years of court hearings followed when a state agency overrode San Luis Obispo County’s authority and

California court curbs Coastal Commission on building permits Read More »

Taylor Morrison pares incentives and leans into buyer choice

Tactical discounts, escalating incentives, absorption-at-any-cost strategies, … you all well know the routine of buying sales and making next to no money in Spring 2026. But that’s not for everybody. Exceptions are out there, public and private. Taylor Morrison has chosen a playbook and is well into executing a game plan that leans on the

Taylor Morrison pares incentives and leans into buyer choice Read More »

Inventory rises as pricing lags in the spring housing market

The spring housing market is doing what it typically does this time of year: inventory is rising and new listings are coming online at a faster pace. But pricing has not moved with it. That timing gap is becoming one of the most important signals for housing professionals right now. This builds on last week’s

Inventory rises as pricing lags in the spring housing market Read More »

Lawmakers target retirement gaps facing family caregivers

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is advancing multiple pieces of legislation designed to strengthen retirement savings options for millions of unpaid family caregivers. Two companion bills introduced in the House and Senate would modify retirement account rules to better reflect the realities caregivers face. Under one proposal, the Improving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act,

Lawmakers target retirement gaps facing family caregivers Read More »

How fraud gets stopped in its tracks by real estate and title pros

Real estate fraud has evolved rapidly, and professionals across the industry already recognize that today’s schemes are more complex and convincing than ever. What has changed most is the scale — driven by artificial intelligence (AI) that can generate realistic emails, cloned voices and even live deepfake video impersonations of buyers, sellers or agents. In

How fraud gets stopped in its tracks by real estate and title pros Read More »

Mortgage industry welcomes new credit score models, urges further reform

The majority of mortgage industry trade groups and professionals reacted in a supportive but pragmatic way following an announcement from federal housing agencies that detailed moves to modernize mortgage underwriting by introducing newer credit scoring models. They largely welcomed the shift while emphasizing that the real test will be in execution and follow-through. The announcement

Mortgage industry welcomes new credit score models, urges further reform Read More »

Support grows for Whitmer housing zoning reform bills in Michigan

Michigan lawmakers returned from spring recess with housing affordability clearly in their sights. A bipartisan group shepherding a package of bills this week picked up strong support from a coalition of housing advocates and business groups, including the Home Builders Association of Michigan. That backing could help pass an initiative Gov. Gretchen Whitmer launched earlier this

Support grows for Whitmer housing zoning reform bills in Michigan Read More »