Housing Wire

JULY 11, 2025

I think about homeowner affordability a lot. My job as a loan officer is to help people prep and plan to buy a house. Making sure they can afford the house is a responsibility I take very seriously. I am passionate about the American Dream and helping my clients reach their goals. There is a lot of chatter about lower mortgage rates and increased home building, which will improve affordability in the future; however, we need a solution now.

Debt-to-income ratio 418

Debt-to-income ratio VA loan Seller concession Sales 418

Housing Wire

JULY 11, 2025

Rising property taxes, insurance payments and growing delinquencies are eroding the promise of long-term stability in homeownership, according to a new blog from Cotality. The post revealed that across the country, more people are starting to fall behind on their mortgages due to the post-purchase costs. These include property taxes and homeowners insurance , both of which are rising faster than many homeowners can keep up with.

Mortgages 370

Mortgages VA loan FHA loan Loans 370

Housing Wire

JULY 11, 2025

In a surprising move, Compass announced Friday it will open its exclusive inventory to any real estate brokerage or multiple listing service (MLS) — marking a shift for a firm long known for promoting private listing networks. The offer comes with strict conditions: listings must remain unaltered, with the original listing agent prominently featured and brokerages or MLSs must guarantee that agents won’t be penalized for sharing Compass listings, Inman first reported.

MLS 316

MLS Brokerage Banks Agents 316

Housing Wire

JULY 11, 2025

New issuance of agency mortgage servicing pools is down sharply — $555 billion through the first six months of 2025 versus $1.1 trillion in the same period last year — and is reflective of a sluggish origination environment. That’s according to Recursion ‘s Agency Mortgage Servicer/Seller Report for July 2025. Prepayments were also down to $301 billion for the first half of 2025, compared to $546 billion for the first half of 2024, the report revealed.

Banks 282

Banks Principal Marketing Loans 282

Housing Wire

JULY 11, 2025

Westcor Land Title Insurance Co. is now the second title vendor taking part in Fannie Mae ‘s title insurance waiver pilot program. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte announced the move in a social media post. The waiver pilot , relaunched by Fannie Mae in March 2024, allows approved mortgage lenders to use an automated title review process to assess title risk during loan manufacturing and prior to loan purchase.

Title 330

Title Land Closing costs Loans 330

Housing Wire

JULY 11, 2025

Lead generation for mortgage brokers and officers is all about consistently filling your pipeline with individuals who are interested in buying a home now or in the future. Considering the fluctuating state of the housing market and inflated mortgage rates, it’s even more crucial to showcase your expertise and amazing service to bring qualified clients into your orbit.

Mortgages 289

Mortgages Pre-qualification Loan Officer Loans 289

Housing Wire

JULY 10, 2025

RedKey Realty Leaders has announced a merger with RE Source LLC , a boutique commercial brokerage founded in 2001. The partnership, finalized on July 5, marks the official launch of RedKey’s commercial real estate division and adds a new office location in St. Louis. The merger brings seven commercial agents from RE Source to RedKey’s existing team of approximately 200 residential agents.

Commercial 414

Commercial Brokerage Residential Agents 414

Housing Wire

JULY 10, 2025

Century 21 Real Estate has announced the affiliation of Edge Real Estate , a Kaysville, Utah -based brokerage founded by Tiffany Kennard. The move expands the footprint of the Century 21 brand along Utah’s Wasatch Range and marks the rebranding of the firm as Century 21 Edges. Founded two years ago, Edge Real Estate is led by Tiffany Kennard and her son, Taylor Kennard.

Branding 330

Branding Brokerage Technology Agents 330

Housing Wire

JULY 10, 2025

Bilt , which operates a loyalty program and credit card that converts rent payments into points, has secured a $250 million funding round led by General Catalyst and GID, with participation from United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), the nation’s largest mortgage lender. The funding brings Bilt’s valuation to $10.75 billion and will fuel expansion across the broader housing ecosystem, including mortgages, condominium HOAs and student housing, the company announced on Thursday.

Mortgages 354

Mortgages Property Management Investor Development 354

Housing Wire

JULY 9, 2025

The U.S. faced a shortfall of 4.7 million homes in 2023 — the largest housing deficit on record — according to a new Zillow analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Persistent inventory shortages continue to drive the national housing affordability crisis, limiting access to homeownership and forcing millions of people to share homes with non-relatives.

Construction 233

Construction Mortgages Development Closing 233

Housing Wire

JULY 9, 2025

RentSpree has partnered with Hive MLS to integrate rental application and tenant screening tools directly into Hive’s multiple listing service platform. The new integration will be available at no cost to Hive MLS subscribers in Georgia , North Carolina and South Carolina. Hive MLS services more than 18 MLSs in the Southeast — representing about 15,000 rental listings annually. “At Hive MLS, we’re focused on giving our members the tools they need to succeed, not just today but as the

MLS 269

MLS Technology Agents Marketing 269

Housing Wire

JULY 9, 2025

Miami-based Atlas VMS on Wednesday announced the acquisition of appraisal order management platform AIM-Port. Atlas called the move a “significant step” in developing technology -driven solutions to better serve U.S. mortgage lenders and appraisal management companies ( AMCs ). “The acquisition of this platform is a key component of Atlas’s broader mission to bring smarter, high-touch solutions to the appraisal and lending ecosystem — through collaboration, not consolidation,” Erik M

Lending 305

Lending Technology Development Industrial 305

Housing Wire

JULY 9, 2025

Compass has added The Korman Group — a high-performing real estate team led by Michael Korman — to its South Florida operations. The group will base its work out of Compass’ s Boca Raton office, with operations extending into Miami , Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Jupiter. Korman, who previously served as founder and principal of the independent brokerage Korman Realty — leads a team that has handled more than $400 million in real estate transactions since 2019, including $100 million-plu

Principal 370

Principal Brokerage Commercial Branding 370

Housing Wire

JULY 9, 2025

Brandi Lewis, a prominent Atlanta -based real estate agent, has rejoined Keller Williams as of July 1, affiliating with Keller Williams Realty West ATL. Lewis, who began her real estate career with Keller Williams, has been appointed as director of luxury at the brokerage. The firm includes more than 350 agents. “I’m excited to be coming back home,” Lewis said in a statement.

Principal 293

Principal Brokerage Agents Closing 293

Housing Wire

JULY 9, 2025

Compass has acquired yet another brokerage. On Wednesday, the Robert Reffkin -helmed firm announced its acquisition of Colorado -based PorchLight Real Estate Group. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “I’m excited to welcome the talented agents of PorchLight who have built a reputation for caring deeply about their clients and providing personal, standout service,” Reffkin said in a statement. “I am confident that, together, we will be able to learn from each ot

Branding 404

Branding Brokerage Technology Agents 404

Housing Wire

JULY 9, 2025

Mortgage applications increased 9.4% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 4, 2025. On an unadjusted basis, the index decreased 13% compared with the previous week. Last week’s results included an adjustment for the Independence Day holiday.

Fixed-rate mortgage 343

Fixed-rate mortgage Loans Mortgages VA loan 343

Housing Wire

JULY 8, 2025

Realtor.com has added a new feature to its My Home dashboard, allowing users to access property tax monitoring and appeals services through a partnership with Ownwell , a property tax appeal company. The integration comes amid rising homeownership costs across the country, with property taxes often cited as one of the largest annual expenses after mortgage payments.

Mortgages 322

Mortgages As-is Technology 322

Housing Wire

JULY 8, 2025

Union Home Mortgage (UHM) is extending its reach into the Cincinnati, Ohio , market, the company announced on Tuesday. Ravi Patel and Justin Allen will both serve as area branch managers of the Cincinnati office and bring with them a team of eight additional loan officers, three loan officer assistants, a processor, a production manager and a marketing & business development manager, a press release from UHM confirmed.

Mortgages 413

Mortgages Loan Officer Lending Loans 413

Housing Wire

JULY 8, 2025

The Real Brokerage has not been shy when it comes to its technological ambitions. From launching its agent-focused Fintech product Real Wallet to Tamir Poleg ’s AI likeness delivering his Q1 2025 earnings prepared remarks , the company is pushing the envelope when it comes to tech in the real estate space. Last week, The Real Brokerage took another step toward its goal of providing agents an AI concierge service available to consumers via text message with its acquisition of Flyhomes ’ AI-powere

Technology 449

Technology Brokerage Agents As-is 449

Housing Wire

JULY 8, 2025

The Bruen Team — a small but rapidly growing real estate agency based in Morristown, New Jersey — recorded its best year ever in 2024 by closing nearly $40 million in sales volume and earning a spot in the 2025 RealTrends Verified rankings for small teams. The multigenerational, family-run team is led by Ryan Bruen and his mother Deborah, with behind-the-scenes support from Ryan’s father, Scott.

Brokerage 413

Brokerage Agents Industrial Sales 413

Housing Wire

JULY 8, 2025

Headlines that call Cape Coral, Florida , the “worst housing market in America” and liken it to precursors of the 2008 financial crisis have garnered discussions across the real estate industry. But local experts and data suggest the reality is far more nuanced. While a recent article from The Wall Street Journal highlighted falling home prices, empty open houses and investor pullbacks, agents who spoke with HousingWire think that the southwest Florida city is experiencing a natural market corre

Agents 429

Agents Marketing New Construction Construction 429

Housing Wire

JULY 8, 2025

Listen up, IT professionals. If you’re still treating cybersecurity like a checkbox exercise, you’re already three steps behind the attackers. The digital battlefield has changed, and the old rules no longer apply. Gone are the days when a firewall and antivirus software were enough to keep your organization safe. Today’s cyber threats are sophisticated and relentless, waiting to exploit every tiny vulnerability in your systems and teams.

Technology 445

Technology Banks Staging As-is 445

Housing Wire

JULY 7, 2025

The plaintiffs in the fake leads lawsuit involving Move , News Corp. and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) have announced that they’ll be filing a motion for the court to reconsider its ruling on the defendants’ motion to compel arbitration as early as Aug. 8. Lead plaintiff James Bandy and 12 other named plaintiffs are all independent real estate agents.

Commercial 305

Commercial Design Agents As-is 305

Housing Wire

JULY 7, 2025

The Federal Housing Administration ( FHA ) has opened a request for information on buy now, pay later (BNPL) lending as it seeks to understand its implications for housing affordability and stability. Comments are due by Aug. 25. These installment loans — often referred to as “phantom debt” — gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among younger and underserved consumers shopping online.

Lending 407

Lending Finance Loans Mortgages 407

Housing Wire

JULY 7, 2025

U.S. residential real estate is drawing increasing interest from international investors —particularly in Latin and South America — according to Miami -based Waltz , a digital mortgage platform that caters to foreign buyers. The firm announced it has reached $50 million in total funding to date — including a newly secured $25 million line of credit from affiliates of Setpoint Capital — that’s aimed to expand mortgage origination capabilities for non-U.S. citizens.

Investor 396

Investor Residential Finance Loans 396

Housing Wire

JULY 7, 2025

Yet another MLS will not be implementing delayed marketing exempt listings. In early June, the board of directors for Minnesota -based NorthstarMLS voted to adopt the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) new Multiple Listing Options for Sellers (MLOS) policy. But the organization will not implement the optional delayed marketing exempt listings provision or limit IDX and syndication feeds.

MLS 409

MLS Marketing Development Industrial 409

Housing Wire

JULY 7, 2025

Compass is not happy with the claims of Northwest MLS (NWMLS) in the MLS’s motion to dismiss the brokerage’s antitrust lawsuit against it. In a statement publicized Thursday — but as of Monday was not filed on the suit’s court docket — Compass called the statements made by NWMLS in its filing “misleading and self-serving.” According to the statement, Compass strongly rejects NWMLS’s claims that Compass is looking to pursue a “free-rider strategy,” and that the company “extracts value from other

MLS 354

MLS Brokerage Branding As-is 354

Housing Wire

JULY 7, 2025

Pittsburgh-based lender Kiavi on Monday announced the hirings of Tom Hallock and Robert Jayne as the company seeks to grow its construction financing segment to better meet the needs of real estate investors. Hallock was named as Kiavi ‘s new head of construction lending while Jayne was appointed as head of originations for construction lending.

Lending 350

Lending Construction Finance Loans 350

Housing Wire

JULY 6, 2025

One of the most surprising pieces of housing economic data for 2025 is that purchase apps for the existing home sales market have shown 22 weeks of year-over-year growth. And that includes nine consecutive weeks of double-digit year-over-year growth in recent weeks. Normally, this would be a significant news story, but the confusion surrounding this data has led most people to overlook it, so I am going to dive in today.

Mortgages 503

Mortgages Sales As-is Marketing 503

Housing Wire

JULY 3, 2025

Title Resources Group (TRG) has named industry veteran Kevin Wall as its new CEO, effective July 28. Wall will also join the company’s board of directors. J. Scott McCall, the company’s current CEO, will transition to vice chairman of the board. Wall brings more than 30 years of experience in title insurance and settlement services. He most recently served as co-president of First American Title Insurance Co. , overseeing seven operating units and global operations with more than 7,500 emp

Title 303

Title Land Industrial Finance 303

Housing Wire

JULY 3, 2025

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE) has added The Training Academy LLC to its Solutions Group — a curated program of preferred business resources available to its global network of 550 real estate firms. The Training Academy, based in Florida and led by founder Dan Elzer, provides leadership development and operational strategy consulting tailored to the real estate industry.

Development 403

Development Industrial Marketing Agents 403

Housing Wire

JULY 3, 2025

Century 21 Real Estate is expanding its footprint in northeastern North Carolina through the affiliation of Carolina Land and Home Realty — a full-service brokerage based in Ahoskie. The office will now operate as Century 21 Land and Home Realty. Broker-owner Clay Revelle, a native of Northampton County, purchased the brokerage in 2021. He holds a degree in agricultural business management from North Carolina State University and began his real estate career in 2010 with a focus on farm, land, r

Land 345

Land Brokerage Branding Banks 345

Housing Wire

JULY 3, 2025

Despite strong interest in home-buying, affordability challenges and misconceptions about down payments are deterring many potential buyers, according to a new survey from NeighborWorks America. The nonprofit organization reports that 27% of U.S. adults say they plan to buy a home within the next year. However, among those who are postponing or not planning to purchase, one-third cite insufficient income relative to home prices as the primary obstacle.

As-is 414

As-is Mortgages Marketing 414

Housing Wire

JULY 3, 2025

A bank statement loan — also called a Bank Statement Mortgage —lets self-employed borrowers qualify with 12–24 months of bank statements instead of tax returns or W-2s. Ideal for: Small-business owners Entrepreneurs Freelancers & gig-economy workers Independent contractors For these borrowers, the program evaluates actual cash flow rather than tax-restricted paperwork—offering a smarter route to approval.

Banks 424

Banks Loans Pre-approval Mortgages 424

Housing Wire

JULY 2, 2025

Wealthy U.S. households continue to lead gains in real estate values despite ongoing economic volatility, according to a mid-year report from Sotheby’s International Realty. The 2025 Mid-Year Luxury Outlook highlights that the luxury housing sector remains a strategic asset for those who are navigating inflation , stock market shifts and global uncertainties while continuing to invest heavily in high-end properties. “Ultra-high-net-worth individuals continue to view real estate as an essen

Marketing 314

Marketing Title Construction Finance 314

Housing Wire

JULY 2, 2025

Denver-based real estate brokerage West + Main Homes has launched a new home improvement service in partnership with contractor Curbio. The program, called Refresh by West, offers West + Main agents and their clients access to expedited, fixed-price proposals for presale or move-in home improvements. Curbio — a Maryland -based contractor that specializes in residential projects for home buyers and sellers — will manage and execute the work through its local project teams.

Brokerage 343

Brokerage Staging Residential Agents 343

Housing Wire

JULY 2, 2025

Angie Lawson has joined Jacksonville-based Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty as a broker associate, the company announced. Lawson will work with home buyers and sellers across the region — offering full-service representation backed by the firm’s in-house mortgage , title and marketing support. “I am thrilled to be joining Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, a company that aligns perfectly with my values of professionalism, integrity, and service,” Lawson

Title 322

Title Mortgages As-is Marketing 322