Apply Online
Schedule a Call

Affordability

California affordable housing programs face new legal challenge

Affordability, Affordable housing, California, Housing Inventory, HWmember, Lawsuit, Real Estate /

Hundreds of affordable housing programs across California may be in legal jeopardy after a new federal lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of one of the state’s most widely used housing tools. The suit — filed Thursday in federal court in San Francisco and first reported by CalMatters — targets East Palo Alto, California’s “inclusionary zoning” ordinance. […]

California affordable housing programs face new legal challenge Read More »

The Truth About Down Payments (It’s Not What You Think)

The Truth About Down Payments (It’s Not What You Think)

Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Rent vs. Buy /

Buying a home is exciting… until you start thinking about the down payment. That’s when the worry can set in. “I’ll never save enough.” “I need a small fortune just to get started.” “I guess I’ll just rent forever.” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. And you’re definitely not out of luck. Here’s the thing: a

The Truth About Down Payments (It’s Not What You Think) Read More »

Home insurance rates have jumped 45% since 2022

Affordability, Homeowners insurance, Housing Market, HWmember, Insurance /

After several years of sharp hikes in premiums and coverage challenges, the U.S. home insurance market is showing early signs of stabilization, according to a new report from digital insurance agency Matic. Affordability remains a top concern, with climate events, deductibles and aging roofs all playing a role in shaping the current landscape. Premium growth

Home insurance rates have jumped 45% since 2022 Read More »

Mortgage application payments decline in June

Affordability, HWmember, LendingLife, Mortgage, Mortgage applications, Mortgage Bankers Association, Origination, Purchase Applications /

Homebuyer affordability improved in June, as evidenced by the national median payment for purchase mortgage applicants decreasing to $2,172 — down from $2,211 in May. That’s according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI), which measures how new monthly mortgage payments vary across time relative to income, using data from MBA’s

Mortgage application payments decline in June Read More »

Down Payment Resource reports record-breaking DPA availability

Affordability, Down Payment Assistance, First-Time Homebuyers, Homeownership, HWmember, Manufactured Housing, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates /

Down Payment Resource (DPR) on Tuesday released its Q2 2025 Homeownership Program Index report. It found that 45 new down payment assistance programs launched in the second quarter, bringing the total number of available programs in the U.S. to 2,554 and the number of program providers to 1,340. The number of programs is a new

Down Payment Resource reports record-breaking DPA availability Read More »

Hemp spells affordable housing for Native American community

Affordability, Affordable housing, Construction, Homebuilders, Housing Market, HWmember, Minneapolis, Minnesota /

The Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton, Minnesota, has become the first in the country to create a fully vertically integrated “seed-to-wall” program using industrial hemp — addressing a critical shortage of affordable housing on its reservation. Prompted by U.S. Census Bureau data indicating the need for 200 new homes by 2030, the Lower Sioux

Hemp spells affordable housing for Native American community Read More »

Scott, Warren announce bipartisan housing bill markup

Affordability, Affordable housing, Elizabeth Warren, Housing Inventory, Housing Market, HWmember, Legislation, National Housing Conference, Politics, Senate /

The Senate Banking Committee will hold its first bipartisan housing markup in more than a decade, Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced Thursday evening. The executive session, which will involve the consideration of the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, will also include the unveiling of a sweeping legislative package

Scott, Warren announce bipartisan housing bill markup Read More »

Bright MLS: Housing market shifts toward necessity, balance

Affordability, Bright MLS, First-Time Homebuyers, Home Sales, Homebuyers, Housing Market, Housing Market Data, HWmember, Mortgage Rates /

The U.S. housing market is entering a new phase defined less by competitive bidding and more by financial stress and practical necessity, according to a second-quarter Bright MLS agent survey released Friday. The findings reveal a marked departure from previous years’ demand-driven trends, with both home buyers and sellers increasingly motivated — or discouraged —

Bright MLS: Housing market shifts toward necessity, balance Read More »

Home prices are higher than ever, but seller profits have slipped

Affordability, Attom Data Solutions, Data & Visuals, Home Prices, Home Sales, Housing Market, Housing Market Data, HWmember /

U.S. homeowners earned a median profit of 50% on home sales in the second quarter of 2025, according to an ATTOM analysis released this week. That figure marked a slight uptick from the 48.9% figure in the first quarter, but it was down from 55.6% during the second quarter of last year. Median home sale

Home prices are higher than ever, but seller profits have slipped Read More »

Most home shoppers are seeking out a new city

Affordability, California, Homebuying, HWmember, Real Estate, Real Estate Listings, Realtor.com, San Francisco, San Jose /

More than half of home shoppers nationwide are looking for properties outside of their current metro areas — continuing a trend that has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic even as signs of moderation have appeared in recent quarters. Realtor.com‘s report for the second quarter of 2025 shows that 58.9% of online home searches from users

Most home shoppers are seeking out a new city Read More »