A bill on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk could give county clerks new tools to combat deed fraud, but one industry expert says the measure doesn’t go far enough to protect against scams carried out online. Senate Bill 15 — approved by the Texas Legislature in August — would require clerks to ask for identification […]
Texas bill targets deed fraud, but expert points to online loopholes Read More »
Fidelity National Financial (FNF) has partnered with CLEAR Secure to use biometric identity verification in real estate transactions to mitigate real estate fraud, the companies said Wednesday. The initiative integrates CLEAR’s identity platform into FNF’s inHere digital system, which manages title and escrow processes. Leaders said the move is intended to address rising cases of
FNF partners with CLEAR Secure on real estate fraud prevention Read More »
Americans grew slightly less confident about the housing market in August, as more consumers expressed concerns about job stability, selling conditions and future home prices, according to Fannie Mae’s monthly National Housing Survey. The agency’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) fell 0.4 points to a reading of 71.4 — with four of its six components
Fannie Mae: Consumer housing sentiment slips in August Read More »
California has become the first U.S. state to require homeowners selling older properties in high-risk wildfire zones to disclose not just a house’s vulnerabilities, but also steps taken to reduce those risks. The new mandate took effect in July and applies to houses built before 2010 – when the state strengthened building codes to withstand
Wildfire warnings accompany California’s older home sales Read More »
Investor housing market activity slipped in the second quarter of 2025 but remains above recent historical averages, according to a new report from Cotality. Investors accounted for 32% of single-family home purchases in January, the report said. By June, the share had fallen to 29%. A year earlier, investors represented 25% of the market. “Investors
Investor housing market share dips but remains elevated Read More »
Mortgage lending increased in the second quarter 2025, with nearly 1.76 million residential loans issued nationwide, according to ATTOM’s quarterly mortgage origination report. It was the first time since 2021 that the second quarter saw an annualized increase. The total number from April through June marked a 19.4% rise from the first quarter and a
Mortgage lending activity sees ‘typical spring bounce’ Read More »
From business practice changes, to a slowing housing market, to rapidly advancing technology, real estate agents have had to adapt quite a bit over the past few years. Still, homebuyers find them more important than ever. Data from Cotality shows that while more than 500,000 agents have entered the industry over the past decade, home
Homebuyers seek independent research, but still want a real estate agent Read More »
More than two in five American workers say concerns about job security are causing them to delay or cancel a major purchase such as a car or home, according to a new Redfin-commissioned survey. The survey found that 44% of employed U.S. residents put off or scrapped such purchases. Another 30% said they had already
Survey: Job insecurity leading to home purchase delays Read More »
Ohio-based MLS Now will offer the Rayse client experience platform at no cost to its subscribers beginning Aug. 12, the organization announced. The service will be available through the MLS Now dashboard. MLS Now serves more than 13,500 real estate professionals in 36 Ohio counties. Rayse — which integrates into agents’ existing workflow — allows
MLS Now to add Rayse client transparency platform Read More »
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 »