With mortgage rates continuing to decline–to their lowest point in over a year this week–refinance activity enters its sixth week at a high pace. According to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) released by Freddie Mac Thursday, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) slid another eight basis points this week to 6.19% from last…
The latest report from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) on existing-home sales today revealed a 1.5% month-over-month increase in September, and a 4.1% year-over-year increase in sales–key factors that could signal growing buyer confidence and demand as mortgage rates ease. “As anticipated, falling mortgage rates are lifting home sales,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence…
Editor’s Note: The RISMedia series Legislative Round-Up looks at pending and passed federal and state-level legislation that impacts real estate professionals. Road to Housing bill passes Senate On Friday, October 10, 2025, the U.S. Senate passed the Road to Housing Act as part of a larger legislative package. The bipartisan bill is a comprehensive housing…
A protracted legal battle over whether real estate professionals can create and share floor plans when marketing homes finally ended Monday after the Supreme Court declined to revisit an appellate court’s decision allowing the practice. The high court’s refusal to hear the case reconfirms the January ruling from the Eighth U.S. District Court of Appeals…
With the future of Fannie Mae in flux due to President Trump’s stated desire to potentially privatize it, CEO Priscilla Almodovar stepped down as the head of the mortgage giant on Oct. 22, with Peter Akwaboah, Fannie Mae’s current COO, appointed to the additional role of acting CEO of Fannie Mae, according to William J.…
Affordability continues to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind, as the U.S. housing market steadies but remains more expensive compared to pre-pandemic conditions. As the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) has fallen from recent highs—clocking in around the low-6% range—potentially making homeownership more affordable, U.S. cities are also some of the most renter-friendly worldwide. A…
Prior to the summer of 2024, home sellers were typically responsible for paying the commission for both their own agent and the buyer’s agent, and both sides of the transaction usually involved a traditional full-service agent. Agent commissions also remained (somewhat) consistent, generally hovering around 5% – 6% of a home’s sales price. Following the…
In the latest RISMedia webinar—“Growth Through Acquisitions: Strategies to Scale Smarter, Faster”—Founder and CEO John Featherston led an engaging discussion with panelists Anthony Lamacchia, broker/owner and CEO of Lamacchia Realty and Lamacchia Companies, including Lamacchia Property Management, Lamacchia Property Development and Crush It in Real Estate, and Parker Pemberton, CEO of PembertonRE, on how mergers…
The dry spell for mortgage applications is showing signs of recovery as consecutive weeks of decreasing activity slows significantly. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that the market composite index—the measure of mortgage loan activity volume—decreased 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Oct. 17. For the week prior to this, the…
Real estate agents spend hours planning social posts—Instagram carousels, TikToks, Reels, etc.—but sometimes overlook one of the simplest ways to build visibility online: commenting. Intentional, authentic engagement in the comment section can do more for your reach and reputation than yet another meticulously planned post or yet another Canva graphic. Here’s why it matters, and…
| Newer Posts | Older Posts |