Better.com has launched a conversational credit decision engine that lets mortgage and home equity lenders run underwriting through ChatGPT using the company’s Tinman AI platform, the company announced Thursday. The integration, built with OpenAI using a Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector, allow

A new report from consulting firm Milliman concludes that the average 65-year-old should set aside $135,000 to cover high-intensity long-term care in the future. But averages can mask wide variation depending on gender, location and health.   Women face significantly higher costs than men — an avera

The National Association of Realtors said it does not set a national policy for “coming soon” listing statuses and leaves those decisions to local multiple listing services. “NAR respects the rights of individual brokers to make their own business decisions and does not comment on specific brokerage

eXp Realty has announced the launch of eXp New Homes, a specialized division designed to help agents expand into the new construction market — from boutique urban developments to large master-planned communities. The division aims to bridge the gap between traditional brokerage services and the spec

Housing advocates warn that recent changes to a federal rural lending program could sharply limit homeownership opportunities for low-income families in California communities. The California Coalition for Rural Housing said revisions made Feb. 10 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Secti

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun swiftly signed into law comprehensive state housing reforms after lawmakers spent weeks debating how much the state could and should override local zoning rules and design standards. The law adopts a softer approach to neutralizing local zoning authority after mayors, county

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index, released on Thursday, indicates that housing affordability slightly improved in 2025 as new home prices decreased nationwide and mortgage rates steadily declined during the second half of the year.  The quarterly ind

The real estate industry has never lacked for uncertainty. But if there was a prevailing message from a panel of brokerage leaders moderated by Paul Boomsma, president and CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE), it’s that perspective matters. For brokerage leaders navigating c

Morgan Stanley’s reported layoff of about 3% of its workforce — roughly 2,500 employees — is affecting some staff working on mortgage origination services for wealth management clients. The bank is cutting positions across its estimated 83,000-employee global workforce due to shifts in business prio

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s attempt to revive an old plan to build 12,000 affordable units over a borough railyard is seen as a long shot, even if he gains support from President Trump. Mamdani has garnered headline attention for proposing to build units on a platform above Sunnyside Yard,

Florida Agency Network (FAN) has launched OL Title, a new title and settlement services company formed in affiliation with Older Lundy Law. The new venture will focus on commercial real estate and high-end residential transactions across Florida — combining the legal capabilities of Older Lundy Law

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty has promoted three longtime executives — naming Abigail Tezniarz as chief financial officer and elevating Melissa Morehouse and Frank Russell to associate vice president roles. Tezniarz, who joined the brokerage in 2004, has held a series of senior finance posi

A strong loan pipeline is never built on a single referral source. The homebuying cycle is unpredictable, with rates changing and transaction volume rising and falling. Relying too heavily on one source leaves the pipeline lacking. Loan officers who cultivate a variety of referral partners create st

A recent op-ed argues that President Donald Trump’s proposal to expand access to 401(k)-style retirement plans could become a meaningful step toward a universal savings system — but only if it goes further than currently outlined. Karl Polzer, founder of the Center on Capital and Social Equity, wrot

After 12 years in real estate and three years leading The McNulty Team under the Coldwell Banker brand, Shannon McNulty has opened her own brokerage — REMAX Reliable Realty — in Blythewood, South Carolina. Her team will join her under the new office, which will also recruit individual agents. Shanno

Senate Democrats, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, last week unveiled legislation aimed at curbing corporate ownership of single-family homes and redirecting federal tax benefits toward affordable housing development. The bill, known as the American Homeownership

Fair housing and immigrant advocacy groups are urging a federal court in Texas to reject a proposed settlement between Colony Ridge Development LLC and federal agencies over alleged predatory lending practices. The groups say that key provisions of the agreement are “unlawful, unnecessary and unrela

PulteGroup this week agreed to join the ranks of homebuilding enterprises that have adopted SitecoreAI, integrating the omnichannel digital content marketing platform into its marketing, sales and CRM tech stack to improve homebuying digital user experience.  SitecoreAI – used by global consumer mar

Strong mortgage pipelines are built on intentional, trust-based referral partnerships, not chasing one-off leads. When referral relationships are nurtured, the interaction shifts from transactional leads to relationship-driven introductions. These partners actively boost your reputation, just as you