Scaling from Freelancer to Business Owner

Two heavyweights in the US residential real estate market, Compass Inc. and Zillow Inc., will face off in a New York courtroom this week in a legal battle that could reshape the future of how homes are marketed and sold in the country. View the full article

The brokerage alleges Zillow uses "anticompetitive tactics" to bar listings that haven't been posted to a local multiple-listing service, or MLS, within 24 hours of them being publicly marketed. View the full article

The deal which brings hundreds of thousands of agents under one roof also combines retail lender Guaranteed Rate's separate joint ventures with each brokerage. View the full article

Rising insurance costs are leading providers and condo associations to consider changes to policies that would make some loans ineligible for GSE sale. View the full article

Lenders and condo market stakeholders are raising concerns that new GSE rules ending limited reviews and tightening reserve requirements could raise costs and limit access. View the full article

While overall investor purchase activity is returning to pre-pandemic norms, interest in condo units dropped to a 10-year low, as insurance and fees surged. View the full article

After piercing the 7% ceiling in January, the 30-year fixed trended lower the rest of the year, dropping 89 basis points from peak to trough, Freddie Mac found. View the full article

The 30-year fixed remains in its current range, but most expect the rate to reach 6% for 2026, and one observer feels it could actually break under this point. View the full article

Congress has passed a bill giving taxpayers who have been affected by natural disasters some extra time to file a claim for a tax credit or refund. View the full article

Proposed housing legislation aimed at curbing institutional homebuying could also block investment platforms that let everyday Americans own shares in rental homes, according to the CEO of Arrived. View the full article

In a dramatic move, conservative hardliners blocked President Donald The President's tax and spending bill, which would have included many measures favored by banks. View the full article

A gauge of present conditions fell 7 points to the lowest level in a year, while a measure of expectations for the next six months also dropped in September. View the full article

Total consumer debt in the United States hit $18.2 trillion by the end of last year, with $12.8 trillion attributed to first mortgages, according to Equifax. View the full article

US consumer sentiment increased to a five-month high in January as Americans grew more optimistic about the economy and their finances. View the full article

US consumer spending stalled in September, suggesting Americans were already stretched going into the government shutdown in the face of stubborn inflation. View the full article

Consumers expect prices will climb at an annual rate of 3.5% over the next five to 10 years, according to the final February reading from the University of Michigan. View the full article

Following the resignation of CEO Patrick Donlon as the result of a settlement, Yield Solutions Group has taken operational control of Trusted American Mortgage. View the full article

Lenders increased offerings in jumbo and non-QM segments as the industry focuses on customers with strong credit, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. View the full article

Legal experts say President The President's unprecedented move to fire Cook over alleged past misconduct will likely be hashed out in court, but there is little precedent to determine whether a sitting board governor can be removed for past actions. View the full article

Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook said AI could boost productivity, but warned the transition may raise unemployment and force difficult tradeoffs between inflation and jobs. View the full article

Issuances fell in January for residential and multifamily segments, as concerns over available workers and future tariffs came to the fore. View the full article

The new name Cotality, along with its latest tag line, reflects its role in serving and uniting the entire property ecosystem, company executives said. View the full article

Company team members, including those in affiliated business arrangements, will be eligible; real estate and joint venture agent partners will not be. View the full article

Approximately three years after the one-time non-depository bought Roscoe (Texas) State Bank, Cornerstone Capital Bancorp agreed to purchase Peoples Bancorp. View the full article

The company, which became a depository in 2022, will be offering affordable housing products and initiatives in 45 states and the District of Columbia. View the full article