California

Housing market demand is holding, but pricing gaps are breaking deals

Housing demand is still holding up on a year over year basis, even as mortgage rates sit at 6.64%, a level that has historically marked a key dividing line for demand. That is the backdrop Logan Mohtashami laid out in this week’s Housing Market Tracker, where he wrote that “we are at a key inflection […]

Housing market demand is holding, but pricing gaps are breaking deals Read More »

First fully rebuilt Palisades home testing post-fire demand

Fourteen months after California’s Palisades wildfires destroyed nearly 5,900 homes, the first fully rebuilt residence has come to market, offering the clearest pricing test yet for post-fire demand. The newly built contemporary home — listed at just under $7.5 million — comes after the original was just one month from completion when it was destroyed.

First fully rebuilt Palisades home testing post-fire demand Read More »

Regional markets back demand resilience as rate pressure builds

Regional market data is reinforcing the same story playing out nationally: Housing demand is holding up across major metros, even as mortgage rates move closer to levels that have historically pressured activity. That national backdrop remains surprisingly firm. Weekly pending sales rose to 71,230, up from 68,726 a year ago, while purchase applications are still

Regional markets back demand resilience as rate pressure builds Read More »

California MBA urges guardrails for bill targeting wildfire-related forbearance

The California Mortgage Bankers Association (CMBA) testified on March 20 before the California Assembly Banking & Finance Committee during an oversight hearing on California Assembly Bill 238, which focuses on the effectiveness of mortgage forbearance and the broader challenges facing homeowners affected by the state’s January 2025 wildfires. AB 238 provides up to one year

California MBA urges guardrails for bill targeting wildfire-related forbearance Read More »

Rep. Swalwell drops privacy lawsuit against FHFA’s Pulte

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) has dropped a lawsuit that accused Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte of violating federal privacy laws. The parties agreed to the “dismissal of this action without prejudice, with each side bearing its own fees and costs,” according to court filings. The move means that Swalwell could refile

Rep. Swalwell drops privacy lawsuit against FHFA’s Pulte Read More »

Rhino targets climate risk home insurability in California

Property insurance startup Rhino is looking to help real estate agents and their clients assess insurability and find insurance for properties in areas facing high rates of climate disaster risk.  To achieve this goal, Rhino, an insurance brokerage that specializes in securing insurance policies for climate-risk exposed properties in California, has launched DealShield. The software

Rhino targets climate risk home insurability in California Read More »

Judge rejects bid to cut CFPB funding

A federal judge has ruled that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) must continue getting its funding from the Federal Reserve, dealing a setback to Trump administration efforts to effectively shut down the agency. The ruling Friday by U.S. District Judge Edward Davila in San Jose blocks acting CFPB Director Russell Vought from using a

Judge rejects bid to cut CFPB funding Read More »

Old Republic Title shifts direct operations to Qualia

Old Republic Title is moving its direct operations onto Qualia’s cloud-based platform, marking a technology shift for one of the nation’s largest title insurance underwriters. The rollout began with Oregon operations moving to Qualia’s system — with transition expected to continue across western states. “Old Republic’s decision to move its direct operations onto Qualia is

Old Republic Title shifts direct operations to Qualia Read More »

Rocket Mortgage alleges $194,000 loss in broker fraud lawsuit

Rocket Mortgage has sued a California mortgage brokerage and one of its executives, alleging they knowingly submitted fraudulent loan applications that concealed borrowers’ debts and caused financial losses after the loans were sold to investors. In a complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Rocket Mortgage said Sharp

Rocket Mortgage alleges $194,000 loss in broker fraud lawsuit Read More »

Trump executive order overrides Los Angeles wildfire rebuilding plan

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced an executive order that allows the federal government to override state and local regulations during recovery efforts from last year’s Los Angeles wildfires, arguing that California authorities have slowed rebuilding. The order directs federal agencies to bypass state and local permitting processes for federally funded disaster recovery projects, asserting

Trump executive order overrides Los Angeles wildfire rebuilding plan Read More »