HWmember

How real estate agents are helping young homebuyers overcome fears, finances

The age at which Americans buy their first home can dramatically shape their financial future — and a delay in first-time homeownership is forcing real estate agents to rethink how they market to younger buyers. A new Generational Wealth Report from Realtor.com finds that households purchasing their first home by age 30 build significantly more […]

How real estate agents are helping young homebuyers overcome fears, finances Read More »

Block Renovation’s Julie Kheyfets on aging-in-place renovations and ADUs

As the senior demographic continues to grow and evolve, reverse mortgage professionals may be getting more questions about home renovation projects and how to fund them. Tapping into home equity through a traditional reverse mortgage, a proprietary product or even the vastly underutilized HECM for Purchase program can be a path for seniors to repair

Block Renovation’s Julie Kheyfets on aging-in-place renovations and ADUs Read More »

From loan pools to consumer wallets: The ripple effects of credit score lender choice

On January 15, 2026, the FHFA provided documentation to the Housing Policy Council (HPC) in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made in July of 2023.  Those documents, though redacted, clearly indicated that the GSEs did not recommend approving two scores as was directed by the FHFA. Rather, the GSEs only recommended

From loan pools to consumer wallets: The ripple effects of credit score lender choice Read More »

Housing demand still positive, but for how long with rising rates?

Lower mortgage rates and less volatility have been one of the key positive stories in 2026 for the housing market. Until last week, rates were under 6.25% all year and we didn’t see much volatility, which is a key variable for a healthy housing market. However, a lot of that changed last week as the

Housing demand still positive, but for how long with rising rates? Read More »

Local investors outpace builders in delivering starter homes

New Western released a new report examining the role of real estate investors in supplying entry-level housing. It found that small investors added far more homes in the starter-home price range than homebuilders in 2025. The company’s 2026 Flip Side Report on residential real estate investing trends said independent investors delivered 120,193 homes in the

Local investors outpace builders in delivering starter homes Read More »

Trump executive orders target housing supply and mortgage credit

President Donald Trump on Friday announced two executive orders that aim to increase the U.S. housing supply and consumer access to mortgage credit. One of the orders directs various federal agencies — including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) — to work together on reviewing

Trump executive orders target housing supply and mortgage credit Read More »

Realtor.com data challenges effectiveness of Senate ban on big home investors

In the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, overwhelmingly approved by the Senate on Thursday, is a provision titled, “Homes Are for People, Not Corporations.” This provision seeks to impose new restrictions on institutional investors in the single-family housing market. Under the provision, entities owning 350 or more single-family homes would face limits on purchasing

Realtor.com data challenges effectiveness of Senate ban on big home investors Read More »

Federal judge blocks DOJ subpoenas targeting Federal Reserve Chair Powell

A federal judge on Friday blocked subpoenas that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) served the Federal Reserve in a case involving Jerome Powell’s Congressional testimony on the central bank’s headquarters renovation, concluding the effort appeared designed to “harass and pressure” him to lower interest rates or resign from his position. The DOJ served the

Federal judge blocks DOJ subpoenas targeting Federal Reserve Chair Powell Read More »

Opendoor’s cheap mortgage rates spark sustainability debate

iBuyer Opendoor’s recently launched mortgage product — which promises below-market interest rates after the company removed its markup — has sparked debate across the industry about who absorbs the cost and whether the model is sustainable. Some industry professionals view the offering as similar to the strategy many homebuilders use — providing below-market mortgage rates

Opendoor’s cheap mortgage rates spark sustainability debate Read More »

HannaList adds fuel to the escalating private listings war

The private listings debate just got louder. Howard Hanna Real Estate Services has launched HannaList, an internal listing network that allows Howard Hanna agents to share listings exclusively with Howard Hanna buyer agents before those properties ever reach the MLS. Combined with what Compass has built since acquiring Anywhere, two of the industry’s most significant

HannaList adds fuel to the escalating private listings war Read More »