September 2025

The Compass deal to buy Anywhere draws applause and alarm

After over a decade in the industry, real estate brokerage Compass has amassed its fair share of critics and supporters. While industry leaders may have differing opinions on the Robert Reffkin-helmed firm, most seem to agree that Compass’s deal to acquire Anywhere Real Estate is impressive. “Congrats to Robert Reffkin,” Anthony Lamacchia, the broker-owner of […]

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What to know about Anywhere following acquisition by Compass

In the wake of Compass’ acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate — formerly known as Realogy — here’s a primer on Anywhere’s trajectory as a major housing market player. Anywhere oversees and franchises some of the most recognizable names in residential real estate, including: Coldwell Banker Century 21 Corcoran ERA Real Estate Better Homes & Gardens

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Property tax, mortgage relief package introduced by Ohio lawmakers

A new bill introduced in the Ohio Senate would create a grant program to help older and disabled homeowners cover the cost of their property taxes, mortgages and essential household bills. Senate Bill 255 — dubbed the “Save the Dream Ohio” program — would allow qualifying homeowners to apply for up to $3,000 per year

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Sun Belt leads sales volume but posts nation’s lowest absorption rate

The Sun Belt region continues to dominate the U.S. housing market in raw transaction volume, recording 25,857 weekly home sales across its metropolitan areas, nearly six times the Northeast’s 4,452 sales and more than double the West’s 11,061 transactions. However, this sales advantage masks a market efficiency gap. The Sun Belt’s inventory of 353,916 properties

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Katie Sweeney, AIME lawsuit escalates as broker group files counterclaims

Katie Sweeney, the former top dog at the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME) and the current executive vice president of strategy and broker advocacy at Rocket Pro, is denying claims by AIME that she misrepresented her role, concealed conflicts and awarded herself payments she wasn’t entitled to. Sweeney is suing the trade group for

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US birth rate hits record low, housing costs weigh on family planning

The U.S. birth rate fell to an historic low in 2024, continuing a nearly two-decade decline that researchers say is shaped in part by rising housing costs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the national fertility rate dropped below 1.6 children per woman last year. The replacement level — or rate needed

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Legal experts say RESPA suit against Zillow is ‘going nowhere fast’

Zillow’s legal workload became even heavier on Friday when homebuyer Alucard Taylor filed a class action lawsuit against the real estate behemoth over its Premier Agent and Flex programs.  The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, alleges both the Washington Consumer Protection Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)

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CalHFA announces Tony Sertich as new executive director

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that Tony Sertich is the new executive director of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA). Sertich most recently served as the assistant deputy director for the division of state financial assistance at the California Department of Housing and Community Development. He’s also served at CalHFA before as its financing

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LoanStream launches new dba, GIANT Lending

OCMBC Inc., dba LoanStream Mortgage, announced on Monday the retirement of its dba, Jet Advantage Mortgage, and the official launch of GIANT Lending. According to a press release from the company, the new identity “underscores the division’s mission to equip brokers with the strength, resources and support they need to thrive in any market.” “With

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HUD rolls back Fair Housing enforcement, internal records show

Internal documents and interviews reviewed by The New York Times reveal that Trump administration officials at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have sharply limited enforcement of the Fair Housing Act — a cornerstone civil rights law designed to prevent discrimination in housing. Emails, memos and testimony from current and former employees obtained

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