Mortgage trade groups are closely monitoring a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would raise fees on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgages to help fund other veterans’ benefits. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2025 (H.R. 6047) — introduced in November by Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) and […]
House bill would raise VA mortgage fees to fund veterans’ benefits Read More »
Following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s disclosure on Sunday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued grand jury subpoenas to the central bank, the investigation has triggered political backlash on Capitol Hill. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, said he backs Powell and accused the DOJ of threatening the
DOJ probe into Powell prompts bipartisan backlash Read More »
News that the proposed merger between Compass and Anywhere would close this week came as a surprise to many in the industry, especially those who were anticipating a robust antitrust review of the deal. Several news outlets are reporting that antitrust regulators were blocked from a deeper investigation into the deal by officials higher up in
WSJ: DOJ leadership halted antitrust review of Compass–Anywhere deal Read More »
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac quietly increased their purchases of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in 2025, helping push mortgage spreads lower toward the year’s end. Most analysts, however, were not expecting further meaningful tightening in the near term — at least until this week. That changed Thursday after President Donald Trump posted on social media that
Trump directs GSEs to purchase $200B in mortgage bonds in 2025 Read More »
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is directing representatives at the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS), a move he said is intended to bring mortgage rates down. “Because I chose not to sell Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in my First Term, a truly great decision, and against
Trump directs GSEs to buy $200B in MBS to push mortgage rates lower Read More »
The New York City Housing Partnership launched a new homeownership initiative aimed at helping gig workers and self-employed New Yorkers qualify for mortgages — funded through a multi-year partnership with Airbnb. The program — called Pathways to Homeownership — is designed to assist workers who rely on nontraditional income sources such as freelancers, seasonal workers
New York program helps gig workers qualify for mortgages Read More »
The California Department of Real Estate (CDRE) has entered into a settlement with agent education and training firm Real Estate Trainers Inc. (RETI) and its former president Lance McHarg, according to an announcement on Tuesday. According to the CDRE, McHarg took the state’s real estate license exam numerous times without achieving a passing score. After
California real estate trainer fined, banned for license exam violations Read More »
American homeowners enter 2026 expecting higher insurance costs, growing climate risks and continued pressure on housing affordability. Data from Kin’s inaugural Homeownership Trends Report shows insurance costs now rival mortgage rates and home prices as a key factor shaping where — and whether — Americans buy, stay or move. Home insurance costs are rising faster
Rising insurance costs shape homeowner decisions in 2026 Read More »
A federal judge on Tuesday ruled against the Trump administration as it seeks to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by refusing to fund it. The judge ordered the administration to continue to seek funding for the bureau, which was created by Congress but is funded through the Federal Reserve. The Trump administration
Federal judge orders Trump administration to seek money for CFPB Read More »
The Department of Justice (DOJ) wants a federal court in Philadelphia to take a close look at real estate agent commissions. Last Friday, the DOJ filed a statement of interest in the Davis homebuyer commission lawsuit filed in May 2024 against Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. The statement of interest was signed by Assistant Attorney
DOJ wants antitrust review of real estate commissions in Davis suit Read More »