Century 21 merger expands New Jersey footprint

Century 21 Solid Gold Realty has merged with longtime central New Jersey brokerage Gloria Zastko, Realtors — a move that expands Century 21’s market presence further north and west into Middlesex County.The 34-year-old North Brunswick, New Jersey-based agency will now operate under the name Century
Read MoreHomebuyers turn to aging properties as construction lags

The median age of homes purchased nationwide reached a record high of 36 years in 2024, a significant jump from 27 years in 2012, according to an analysis released Monday by Redfin.The trend reflects a long-term slowdown in new home construction and growing affordability challenges. Buyers are incre
Read MoreLoan officers detail the challenges of explaining reverse mortgages

Reverse mortgage professionals encounter a variety of challenges when introducing product specifications to a prospective customer for the first time. These elements may include an explanation of how the loan proceeds work, clarifying the realities of negative amortization, or something as basic as
Read MoreWhat happens to mortgage rates with more trade deals?
What will happen to mortgage rates now that China and the U.S. have made progress in their trade war, agreeing to a 90-day period of lower tariffs? Stocks are up considerably this morning and bond yields have also increased. This raises the question: Is the de-escalation of the trade war good for mo
Read MoreNumber of markets where renters need to earn $100K to afford rent has doubled since 2020

Mortgage demand still staying firm with elevated rates
If someone had told me that home sales would remain firm this year despite mortgage rates ranging from 7.25% to 6.64%, I would not have taken that bet. However, amid all the chaotic economic headlines of 2025 so far, the demand for mortgages is holding steady, even with the higher rates. Let’s dig i
Read MoreeXp Realty launches land and ranch division

eXp Realty has launched a new land and ranch division to serve real estate agents who specialize in rural, agricultural and recreational properties, the company announced this week.The new division is designed to support agents working in a growing sector of the housing market with tools tailored to
Read MoreDeadline looms in Minnesota property tax forfeiture lawsuit

Thousands of Minnesota residents who lost homes over property taxes may now be eligible for compensation, following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a resulting $109 million class-action settlement fund.The case began with Geraldine Tyler, a 94-year-old Minneapolis woman who owed $15,000 in
Read MoreLenders witness surge of mortgage demand this week

It’s probably too early to get excited, but several lenders reported that mortgage demand climbed to 2022 levels this week. After months of hovering in the high 6% range—and most recently dipping to 6.84%— declining mortgage rates may finally be luring buyers back. Applications rose 11% last week, a
Read MoreLos Angeles County event will assist reverse mortgage borrowers with wildfire recovery

The communities engulfed in the Los Angeles-area wildfires continue to recover and pick up the pieces. And representatives of Los Angeles County have signaled they want to provide specific guidance for impacted reverse mortgage borrowers to navigate issues that arise with these loans in disaster are
Read MoreWhy federal support for tiny homes could be a game changer

As homelessness continues to rise nationwide, one nonprofit is pushing for a paradigm shift.DignityMoves, a San Francisco-based organization, has been leading the charge for what its founder and CEO Elizabeth Funk calls “interim supportive housing.”These cost-effective tiny home communities aim to h
Read MoreSome cities, states embrace property tax refunds for older homeowners

Older homeowners living on a fixed income have a higher chance of seeing their finances destabilized by rising costs, and that can be particularly true of something like property taxes. For homeowners who have either a forward or reverse mortgage on their home, these costs also must be paid in order
Read MoreNevada senator accuses Republicans of ‘land grab’ with late federal amendment

Following the revelation this week that Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives added an amendment to a bill that would authorize the sale of thousands of acres of federal land in Nevada and Utah, a Democratic senator has called foul on the nature of the effort.Sen. Catherine Cortez Mas
Read MoreWashington’s ‘upzoning’ law seeks to expand supply as Seattle home prices soar

A new law going into effect this summer in Washington aims to address the state’s housing supply woes. The legislation lifts zoning restrictions to allow for more multifamily development and comes as the median single-family home price in the Seattle area set a new record by exceeding $1 million.H.B
Read MoreNew York bill targets lender payouts in deed fraud cases

State lawmakers in New York have introduced legislation that would block mortgage lenders from receiving title insurance payouts when real estate transactions are later found to be based on stolen deeds.S.B. 7732 was introduced May 2 and seeks to prohibit title insurers from compensating lenders for
Read MoreHomes.com to ‘Boost’ listings banned by Zillow, Redfin

CoStar Group is using Boost, its new Homes.com marketing feature, in an attempt to counter the bans by Zillow and Redfin on listings that are publicly marketed prior to being entered into the MLS.On Thursday, CoStar Group CEO Andy Florance told Inman News that Boost will be free for listings impacte
Read MoreRobert Reffkin on Compass’s pre-marketing strategy: What’s the downside?
The heated debate around the Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) has roiled the real estate brokerage space as a result of fierce pushback on the rule from Compass. But company CEO Robert Reffkin has a question amid what he characterized as “negative narratives and scare tactics.” What’s the downside for
Read MoreRocket shifts focus to integration after Q1 growth in originations and M&A

Lower rates helped Detroit-based Rocket Companies, the parent of Rocket Mortgage, improve its originations in the first quarter of the year — a period also marked by the announcement of two major acquisitions in Redfin and Mr. Cooper. But the second quarter is expected to look different. While the m
Read MoreLongbridge endures Q1 loss, but leaders tout ‘positive contributions’

Despite a slowdown in overall Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) volume in the first quarter of 2025, Longbridge Financial contributed positively to parent company Ellington Financial.Overall performance at Ellington saw $31.6 million in net income to common stockholders, up from $22.4 million t
Read MoreFrederick Warburg Peters joins Brown Harris Stevens

The founder of Warburg Realty Frederick Warburg Peters is joining Brown Harris Stevens. The New York-based firm announced Peters’ move on Thursday. Peters founded Warburg Realty in 1991 before selling it to Coldwell Banker in 2021. Frederick Warburg Peters“The choice of Brown Harris Stevens was an e
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