There seem to be very few things that Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill can agree on these days, but one of them is that housing has become increasingly unaffordable for the average American. And with good reason: housing affordability is the worst it’s been in over 40 years – since the 1980s when mortgage […]
How the ROAD to Housing Act could improve home affordability Read More »
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into effect earlier this week that bans noncompete agreements across the state. The move marks a significant shift in employment law that will take effect on June 30, 2027. The measure prohibits contracts that restrict workers from joining or starting competing businesses after leaving a job. Noncompete agreements
Washington just banned noncompete agreements. Will other states follow suit? Read More »
Mississippi has joined Alabama in creating a law that states that buyers agents and brokers are not required to obtain a signed buyer agency agreement prior to touring a property with a prospective buyer. Earlier this month, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed Senate Bill 2713 into law. Under the new law, buyers and sellers may
Buyer agency laws diverge as states break from NAR settlement playbook Read More »
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 »
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 »
Beginning in early June, real estate professionals in Washington state must publicly market their residential real estate listings to all consumers, unless the seller can show doing so would negatively impact their health or safety. This requirement comes after Washington Governor Bob Furgeson signed a bill into law on Monday banning exclusive marketing to select
Washington law limits private listing networks for homes Read More »
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 »
The Senate overwhelmingly passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in an 89–10 vote on Thursday, advancing a sweeping bipartisan bill aimed at boosting housing supply and addressing affordability challenges nationwide. But consumer advocates and trade groups are still pushing for changes to several provisions. Congress has not passed such a comprehensive housing package
Senate passes 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Read More »
The mortgage industry is starting to work through major changes after a federal law restricting abusive trigger leads took effect this week, limiting when credit bureaus can sell a borrower’s information to competing lenders. The policy stems from the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (S.B. 3502), which amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to curb the
Trigger leads restrictions rewrite mortgage outreach rules Read More »
Senate Democrats, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, last week unveiled legislation aimed at curbing corporate ownership of single-family homes and redirecting federal tax benefits toward affordable housing development. The bill, known as the American Homeownership Act, would eliminate major tax breaks and other federal housing benefits for private equity
Democrats propose bill targeting corporate housing tax breaks Read More »