Inventory edges slightly higher year over year as rates rise
While it’s been a relatively boring year for housing inventory — even with higher mortgage rates — the movement in the last few weeks and easier comps have pushed inventory a tad higher, as we are at the midpoint of August. The question is: can we eke out a bit more growth before the seasonal […]
Real shareholders approve REMAX acquisition, closing nears
Shareholders of The Real Brokerage Inc. and REMAX Holdings Inc. on Friday approved Real’s proposed acquisition of REMAX, moving the companies closer to forming Real REMAX Group after their respective votes. The votes were held at special meetings of both companies’ security holders, according to the announcement. The proposed acquisition was first announced in April […]
UWM's derivatives strategy questioned after $603.2M hedging loss
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM)’s strategy to protect assets is under scrutiny following recent analyses of public filings, which questions whether the lender’s derivatives book functioned as a true hedge or as a bet that amplified existing risks. Last week, UWM reported a $451.9 million net loss for the second quarter, including a $603.2 million derivatives […]
Summer heat sets in across Northeast housing markets
The Northeast continues to command a disproportionate share of the nation’s hottest housing markets, with four of the top five metros located in New England or New York, according to the latest weekly HousingWire Data. Rochester, N.Y.; Hartford, Conn.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Boston, Mass.; and Buffalo, N.Y., ranked as the nation’s five hottest single-family housing […]
Appeals court reboots NYC pied-à-terre tax rollout after pause
New York City’s ultra-rich started the week with a reprieve from having to prove residency to avoid a pied-à-terre tax. But as the week ends, the reprieve itself proved fleeting. A state appeals judge yanked back the roadblock on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s tax plan Thursday afternoon in a Staten Island court. Brought by three homeowners, […]
Why 2026 foreclosure gains are not a housing crash signal
The quarterly New York Fed foreclosure data came out for Q2, and once again — to the surprise of many doomers — the index fell slightly, still below 2019 levels. Not only that, but this week’s existing home sales report also showed housing inventory down year over year and sales slightly higher, with prices up […]
Radian sells real estate services, plans title sale to PLACE
Radian Group has completed the sale of its real estate services business and agreed to sell its title insurance business to PLACE, marking a key step in the mortgage insurer’s shift into a global multi-line specialty insurer. The Wayne, Pennsylvania-based company said last Monday that it closed the sale of its Real Estate Services business […]
ARA expands advocacy, hires John Blount to lead lobbying
The American Real Estate Association (ARA) announced Friday that John Blount will serve as the Mauricio Umansky and Jason Haber-founded trade group’s chief lobbyist. Blount spent years as chief lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), directing the association’s advocacy shop. He held the role of vice president of congressional affairs at the trade […]
Better pushes back on Garg's bid to regain control
Better Home & Finance Holding Co. on Friday pushed back against efforts by former CEO Vishal Garg to regain control of the company, accusing him of a history of poor performance and attempting to pressure the board. The company said its board, excluding Garg, unanimously voted to remove him as CEO after concerns about his […]
LGI Homes is trying to remove the reasons buyers keep waiting
Winning the game of a momentum-free and uncertainty-filled new-home market is like winning at Cat’s Cradle. You can lose to the game if you don’t play hand-in-hand with your partner. In the case of a homebuilder’s way through an indefinite, sluggish stretch, winning happens when something missing reappears when nobody caused it to do so: […]