When the Compass-Anywhere deal closed in early January with little fanfare—only three months after it was announced—there were at least some raised eyebrows. A deal of that magnitude often elicits significant regulatory scrutiny, with multiple federal agencies given a chance over the course of months to examine how a merger will affect markets or whether…
Housing affordability is an issue to be tackled from many directions; which ways are on lawmakers’ radar? The House Financial Services committee (which covers the real estate sector) provided insight into that during a hearing Tuesday on rising housing costs, titled “Priced Out of the American Dream.” Those giving testimony at the hearing, where discussion…
The House of Representatives has announced the passage of H.R. 6644, known as the Housing for the 21st Century Act, and the industry has reacted with positivity and now look to the Senate for further action. The Housing for the 21st Century Act is a comprehensive, bipartisan legislative package that aims to increase housing supply…
At the January Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the Federal Reserve chose to keep interest rates unchanged. Both Fed Governor Michelle Bowman (who is a voting member of the committee) and retiring Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic (who is not) have characterized the current U.S. economy as “resilient,” where annual inflation has stayed static,…
Editor’s Note: The RISMedia series Legislative Round-Up looks at pending and passed federal and state-level legislation that impacts real estate professionals. HUD proposes eliminating a key fair housing rule On Wednesday, January 14, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a new rule proposal into the Federal Register that would change how the…
Above, Lisa Cook President Donald Trump’s attempted firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook appears to have hit a roadblock. The case was heard before the Supreme Court Wednesday and media reports indicate, based on the oral arguments and questions posed by the justices, the Court seems unlikely to allow the firing to proceed. The…
President Donald Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos Wednesday largely focused on diplomatic tensions, but he also turned at points to the U.S. economy—including his new plans to rein in institutional investors in the single-family home market. “In recent years, Wall Street giants and institutional investment firms, many of you are here,…
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court Wednesday in a high-stakes case examining whether President Donald Trump can fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, marking an unusual public show of support from the Fed chair, who has been the target of personal attacks and pressure from Trump and others in…
President Donald Trump has floated several controversial ideas to help make housing affordable again. But his latest pitch—allowing Americans to tap 401(k) plans and 529 education savings accounts without penalties to fund their down payments—could have lasting financial consequences even if it helps with some upfront homeownership costs. According to a report from Politico, the…
Manufactured and modular housing have been embraced as one solution to reaching housing affordability, due to their ease to build (including low cost), energy efficiency and other key benefits. On Friday, January 9, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Affordable HOMES Act, a bill that cuts energy regulations in an effort to lower the…
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