Buoyed by the reopening of the government on Thursday, a bit of optimism was in the air at NAR NXT, where Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun predicted a 14% increase in existing-home sales in 2026, along with a 5% increase in new-home sales, a 4% increase in the median home price, and mortgage rates settling…

The post NAR Chief Economist: ‘The Light Is Flashing at the End of the Tunnel’ appeared first on RISMedia.

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The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. Zillow and Compass hearing begins Tuesday, Nov. 18  On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Compass and Zillow will meet in court for a scheduled four-day hearing held in New York City, the latest round in the ongoing…

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HOUSTON—In a highly anticipated move, today, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has adopted a new 2026-2028 strategic plan that promises to modernize the organization and transform the member experience. Approved unanimously by the NAR Executive Committee, the plan is set for implementation on Jan. 1, 2026. “NAR is rebuilding trust by executing the largest…

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Despite the dizzying pace of adoption and the breathless prognostication of the enormous benefits to humanity of artificial intelligence (AI), I can’t escape the sinking feeling that AI is actually making us…well, dumber.   The problems with AI aren’t what you think AIs are programmed by humans–which means that just like those little genetic DNA markers…

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In a legal filing Nov. 12 in New York’s U.S. District Court ahead of a high-stakes hearing starting Nov. 18 to address Compass’s preliminary injunction motion, Zillow defended its new rules around private listings amid its ongoing court battle with Compass. The standards, which took effect in June, prohibit listings on Zillow that are publicly…

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Mortgage rates saw little movement this week, reflecting a overall market pause related to the government shutdown these past weeks and related uncertainty, economists say. According to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) released by Freddie Mac Thursday, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) moved up 2 basis points this week to 6.24% from…

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Rhode Island-based top agent Kyle Seyboth is facing intense scrutiny over allegations that he called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) on a buyer after a deal turned sour.  Seyboth is also under a federal investigation by the Attorney General’s Office for allegedly conducting a foreclosure rescue scheme targeting vulnerable homeowners—also immigrants—based on an incident…

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Applications for home purchases hit their fastest pace since September this week, despite a recent uptick in mortgage rates. Borrowers continue to shop for homes especially in markets where inventory has increased and price growth slowed, mortgage data watchers said.  The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that the market composite index—the measure of mortgage loan…

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Renowned, a company that offers a suite of integrated Local Expert Marketing (LEM) solutions, has announced that RateMyAgent and Curated Social have been united into one solution under its umbrella. Together, Renowned now offers a suite of solutions designed to power LEM, a category that defines how real estate agents can win more deals by…

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The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has faced significant criticism following the events of the Burnett trial and settlement, leaving many still dissatisfied with how the organization has responded to issues the association, and the real estate industry at large, continue to face. In response to ongoing concerns involving NAR, a group of 15 industry…

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