Legislation

Mortgage originators brace for rising costs as ban on abusive trigger leads nears

A ban on abusive trigger leads that’s set to take effect in early March is already driving up overall costs to acquire leads and putting pressure on mortgage originators’ business models, industry experts told HousingWire. Sources say this short-term shift is part of a broader set of trends — including heightened competition for first-party data […]

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House scales back proposed VA mortgage fee hike

Just weeks after mortgage trade groups expressed concern about a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would raise fees on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, Republicans in Congress have revised the original proposal. The bill, H.R. 6047 — also known as the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act

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Real estate leaders applaud Trump’s focus on housing, but question the impact

During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday President Donald Trump outlined three policy initiatives he was undertaking to help improve housing affordability for American consumers. In the speech, he did discuss his “ban” on large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes, his direction to the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to acquire up

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New bill seeks elimination of capital gains tax on home sales

Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Texas) introduced legislation this week, dubbed the Don’t Tax the American Dream Act, that would eliminate federal capital gains taxes on the sale of primary residences. “Americans are overtaxed. The Don’t Tax the American Dream Act repeals costly capital gains taxes on home sales so that Americans keep more of their hard-earned

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Realtor.com urges action on US housing supply shortage

As the housing industry prepares for 2026, Realtor.com is taking some time to double down on its Let America Build campaign. Initially launched in March 2025, the national campaign advocates for solutions to expand housing supply.  Realtor.com describes the campaign, which calls on lawmakers to make pro-building choices, as an effort to advocate for “solutions

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NAR supports major housing reforms in 2026 legislative agenda

There’s no shortage of differing opinions within housing, but one thing most industry professionals can agree on is that affordability is a key ongoing struggle for many prospective homebuyers.  Real estate agents and members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) are on the front lines of this battle, as they work with buyers to

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NRMLA urges CFPB not to restrict age-based programs like reverse mortgages

The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) is urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to revise proposed changes to federal fair lending rules, warning that the agency’s approach could undermine reverse mortgages by restricting the permissible use of age in credit programs. In a comment letter submitted to the CFPB on Dec. 15, the

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New York raises senior property tax exemption to 65%

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to expand property tax exemptions for seniors to up to 65% of their home’s assessed value, raising the ceiling for the first time in decades from the previous 50% cap. “No New York senior should lose their home because they can no longer afford their property taxes,”

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ROAD to Housing Act dropped from NDAA, sparking trade group response

The ROAD to Housing Act was left out of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the final House text released Sunday, leaving the mortgage industry to continue pushing for housing provisions into the first quarter of next year.  The bipartisan bill — which includes policies to address housing affordability, boost supply, modernize financing

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After another lapse in coverage, trade groups urge Congress to pass long-term NFIP bill

Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and 14 other trade groups representing insurance companies, lenders and other financial institutions urged Congress to approve a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In a letter to congressional leaders dated Dec. 2, the organizations said that millions of U.S. homeowners depend on the federally

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