October 2025

Trump’s lumber tariffs take hold, threatening to hike home costs

The US is now collecting tariffs on imported timber, lumber, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and upholstered furniture, duties that threaten to raise the cost of renovations and deter new home purchases.  The import taxes — initially set at 25% for cabinets, vanities and upholstered wooden furniture — officially took effect on Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. […]

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Why credit score politics have nothing to do with lending

Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors. The political conversation in Washington about credit scores has reached a new level of absurdity. This is hardly a surprise, however, since the Trump Administration has targeted housing affordability as a national priority. But the conversation about housing in the nation’s capital

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Pulte responds to Democrats on FHLBs, meeting transparency

A key Republican housing regulator’s responses to an inquiry from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., on the status of several Federal Home Loan Bank reforms suggests few are likely to move forward.  Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who oversees the Federal Home Loan Banks, said in a letter to the senator posted on

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Consumer-permissioned is the future. Is your business ready?

You’ve built a lending process that works. Your team is efficient, your systems are dialed in and you’ve invested in technology to stay competitive. But if you still rely on credit reports, static databases or third-party records that borrowers didn’t explicitly authorize, you’re not as modern as you think. Consumer expectations have shifted. In a

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Dallas housing market shows steady demand as inventory expands

HW Data shows 2,850 single-family homes sold across the DFW metroplex last week, marking consistent sales volume as the region adjusts to a slower but still active pace. The market data signals a balanced but cooling market. Inventory and pricing trends North Texas inventory continued to grow last week, reaching 2.52 months of supply. That’s

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Miami has the world’s biggest housing bubble. Local experts reject that label

Miami has been ranked as the world’s most overvalued housing market, according to the 2025 UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index. But Florida real estate leaders say the city’s fundamentals remain strong and the report misrepresents what’s really happening on the ground. The UBS index, which measures housing imbalances in 25 major cities, placed Miami

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Washington, D.C. housing market steady as sellers keep edge

HW Data shows the Washington, D.C. housing market remains stable heading into mid-October, with modest sales volume and steady pricing. The District recorded 99 single-family home sales last week, reflecting a slower but consistent pace compared with early-year activity. The Market Action Index stood at 35.2, indicating a mild seller’s market with demand slightly ahead

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NAR unveils new value proposition as it looks ahead

For the National Association of Realtors (NAR,) transparency is the name of the game and the trade group is starting this effort by unveiling parts of its 2026-2028 Strategic Plan, which will be presented and voted on by NAR’s executive committee this fall. In a letter sent to Realtor members by NAR CEO Nykia Wright

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PHH Mortgage unveils revamped non-QM options

PHH Mortgage Corp., a subsidiary of Onity Group, on Monday introduced a new suite of nonqualified mortgage (non-QM) products designed to serve its correspondent lending partners and a wide range of nontraditional borrowers. The product suite, known as FlexIQ, is expected to launch Oct. 20, the company announced in a press release. It includes full

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Los Angeles home prices level off as new listings trend lower

The Los Angeles metro housing market remains tight, but prices show early signs of softening as new listings come in below current medians. HW Data shows about 1,437 single-family homes sold last week, underscoring steady demand even as affordability remains a challenge. The Market Action Index registered 41.5 last week, signaling firm competition among buyers.

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