Apply Online
Schedule a Call

Author name: Ricky Vasquez

Luxury Presence raises $37M to push CRM platform development

Agent, Artificial Intelligence, Brokerage, CRM, Luxury Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate Technology, Technology /

Luxury Presence has raised $22 million in a Series C equity financing round, led by Bessemer Venture Partners, and secured an additional $15 million in debt financing from J.P. Morgan. New funding will support development of Luxury Presence’s new artificial intelligence (AI)–driven customer relationship management platform — Presence CRM. “High-performing agents have years of business […]

Luxury Presence raises $37M to push CRM platform development Read More »

NAMB urges FHA to end lifetime mortgage insurance rule

FHA, FHA loan, Government Lending, HWmember, LendingLife, Mortgage, Mortgage insurance, NAMB, Regulatory /

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) is urging the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to end its “life of loan” mortgage insurance rule and let borrowers cancel premiums once they’ve paid down their loan to 78% of their home’s value. NAMB believes the policy is outdated and unfair. Current rules mean that many FHA borrowers

NAMB urges FHA to end lifetime mortgage insurance rule Read More »

Top Houston agent leaves Compass for Douglas Elliman

Agent, Compass, Douglas Elliman, Houston, HWmember, People Movers, Real Estate, RealTrends Verified Rankings, Texas /

Douglas Elliman has gained a top producing agent in Houston. On Tuesday, Dana Johnson announced that she was leaving Compass after six years to join Douglas Elliman. Johnson’s announcement comes less than a week after Compass announced it had closed its acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate.  “At this stage of my career, I was looking

Top Houston agent leaves Compass for Douglas Elliman Read More »

Max Stokes splits from Fox & Stokes to launch N.J. Compass team

Agent, Anywhere, Brokerage, Compass, HWmember, Luxury Real Estate, New Jersey, Real Estate, RealTrends Verified Rankings /

As Compass finalizes its $1.6 billion merger with Anywhere, one of North Jersey’s most closely watched luxury real estate teams is undergoing a major transition. Max Stokes — a founding principal of Compass’ Ridgewood, N.J., office and a top-producing agent in Bergen County — is splitting from the Fox & Stokes Team, which closed roughly

Max Stokes splits from Fox & Stokes to launch N.J. Compass team Read More »

Engel & Völkers gains top California team from Sotheby’s

Brokerage, People Movers, Real Estate /

One of Sotheby’s International Realty’s top luxury teams is making the move over to Engel & Völkers. On Tuesday, Truszkowski Freedman & Associates announced its departure from Sotheby’s, an Anywhere brand that is now owned by Compass.  The team, which is based on California’s Monterey Peninsula, is led by Zak Freedman and Nicole Truszkowski, and

Engel & Völkers gains top California team from Sotheby’s Read More »

Lawmakers move to restrict private listings in Washington

Brokerage, Clear Cooperation, Compass, HWmember, Legislation, MLS/Associations, northwest mls, Real Estate, Washington, Zillow /

Lawmakers in Washington state are weighing in on the real estate industry’s private listing debate. On Monday, state legislators introduced a bill that seeks to amend an existing state statute related to real estate licensing laws by restricting the use of private listing networks in the state. The bill describes itself as “an act relating

Lawmakers move to restrict private listings in Washington Read More »

House bill would raise VA mortgage fees to fund veterans’ benefits

Community Home Lenders of America, House of Representatives, HWmember, LendingLife, Mortgage, Origination, Regulatory, VA Loan, Veterans /

Mortgage trade groups are closely monitoring a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would raise fees on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgages to help fund other veterans’ benefits. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2025 (H.R. 6047) — introduced in November by Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) and

House bill would raise VA mortgage fees to fund veterans’ benefits Read More »

Lock activity increases in December, defying seasonal trends

Mortgage Rates, Originations, Secondary markets, Underwriting /

Mortgage rate-lock activity ended the year on a strong note in spite of seasonal trends, new industry data found. Processing Content Optimal Blue’s latest Market Advantage report showed total lock volume increased 2% from November and finished 30% higher than last December. The boost was driven primarily by rate-and-term refinances, which rose 13% on a

Lock activity increases in December, defying seasonal trends Read More »

Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman steps down after 20 years

Career moves, Industry News, Redfin, Rocket Mortgage /

Long-time Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman is leaving the firm, he announced in a LinkedIn post Tuesday afternoon. Processing Content “After 20 years, I’m leaving Redfin,” he wrote. “I gave it my all! Leaving was my decision. I love my colleagues. We saved consumers a billion dollars in commissions. I hope to use all that I

Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman steps down after 20 years Read More »