After failing to turn starter-home legislation into law, Arizona lawmakers are advancing two bills that would curb local control over design standards, homeowners associations and contractor licensing – a renewed attempt to chip away at costs amid the state’s housing shortage. Lawmakers are close to passing a measure that would strip municipalities of much of […]
Arizona housing reform push would curb HOA, design mandates Read More »
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have begun placing sizable orders to purchase mortgage-backed securities, stepping into a market roiled by widening bond spreads and a surge in volatility, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Processing Content The government-controlled entities are moving to capitalize on a sharp selloff while expanding their already
Fannie, Freddie place large bids for mortgage-backed securities Read More »
As rising energy prices and growing inflation fears make corporate bonds look increasingly risky, big money managers including State Street and Voya Investment Management have been looking at buying mortgage bonds and other securitized debt instead. Processing Content Mortgage bonds often perform better than US high-grade corporate debt in “risk off” markets where investors are
State Street, Voya pivot to mortgage-backed bonds Read More »
Despite higher oil and gas prices, higher mortgage rates and no indication that the conflict in Iran is ending, existing home sales still posted another positive week. However, with every week that goes by with mortgage rates above 6.25% and heading higher, it gets harder to maintain that growth, and housing data in the past
Housing demand still growing as mortgage rates reach inflection point Read More »
Deltec Homes, an Asheville, North Carolina-based builder of prefabricated, round houses, says its designs can withstand the extreme wind loads associated with a Category 5 hurricane. CEO Meg Gore said the company’s circular footprint and roof system reduce pressure points that can lead to structural failure in high-wind events. “Round really works with nature, instead
Why these round homes are resilient to hurricanes Read More »
I’ll be honest with you — I’m not always the most charitable voice when it comes to the National Association of Realtors. Those of you who follow me know I say what’s on my mind, and for a while, my mind hasn’t been particularly generous toward NAR leadership. So, when I received an invitation to
What a visit to NAR revealed about leadership change Read More »
The passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act felt like a rare event in Washington: genuine, overwhelming bipartisanship. In a political climate defined by caustic friction, an 89-10 vote in the Senate isn’t a legislative victory; it is a confession. It is an admission by both parties that housing affordability has reached a
The housing blind spot: Why the Senate’s housing bill is a start, not a solution Read More »
Built-for-rent multifamily construction surged at the end of 2025, extending the cycle’s heavy tilt toward rentals and keeping average apartment sizes below pre-Great Recession levels, according to a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis of Census Bureau data. NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz reported that 96,000 multifamily units started construction in the fourth quarter
Built-for-rent multifamily starts jump 18% in Q4 2025 Read More »
Two former loan officers have sued Stockton Mortgage Corp., alleging the company illegally accessed their personal email accounts and used private messages in separate litigation against them. Christopher Hoehn and Ashley Hoehn filed the complaint on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. They claim that Stockton and unidentified employees
Ex-employees accuse Stockton Mortgage of accessing personal emails Read More »
Compass’s antitrust lawsuit against Northwest MLS (NWMLS) is that much closer to heading to court. On Thursday, Judge Jamal Whitehead of U.S. District Court in Seattle denied NWMLS’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit for failure to state a claim. Originally filed in late April 2025, the lawsuit centers around NWMLS’s listing policy. As a non-Realtor-association
Judge denies NWMLS bid to dismiss Compass antitrust suit Read More »