The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has launched an investigation into Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte over concerns he may have abused his position and government resources to target political opponents of President Donald Trump with criminal accusations. The probe, confirmed this week by the GAO—Congress’s independent investigative arm—and reported by Reuters follows…

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HOUSTON—At the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) recent NAR NXT conference, real estate industry leader John Hentschel—global chair of The Counselors of Real Estate, a global organization of real property advisors—presented the top issues facing the real estate industry today. What was initially meant to be a “2026 Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate” was…

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From left to right: Lennox Scott, Jennifer Branchini, Mark Woodroof, Kendall Bonner, Anthony Lamacchia and John Featherston Over the course of its 37 years, RISMedia’s Power Broker Forum has served as a vehicle for confronting the many issues and challenges facing the residential real estate brokerage business, offering insights and strategies from many of the…

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The industry is two years post the historic outcome of the Burnett trial, and more than one year post-practice changes from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), but the conversations surrounding commissions and compensation have yet to cease. Many could not agree a year ago how the changes in policy (i.e., the requirement of broker-buyer…

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It has been hard to predict the housing market in recent years. From the fastest ever tightening of interest rates in 2022, which brought the pandemic boom market to a screeching halt, all the way through tariff panic that appeared to derail the 2025 spring buying season, experts have had a difficult time anticipating shifts…

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This year is on track to end with a slower than average housing market, but will 2026 kick real estate into high gear? The 2026 housing forecast from Bright MLS projects another “transition year” for housing, with slight pick-ups in market fundamentals but enduring challenges for first-time buyers, as well as strong differences between regional…

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When clients buy a home, under-the-radar issues often involve factors beyond cosmetic appeal, which can lead to significant financial and legal problems down the line. Key issues include the property’s history, potential environmental hazards and neighborhood dynamics that aren’t immediately obvious. Here are seven things to check on in advance of a closing. Unpermitted work/DIY…

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Four Louisiana real estate brokers have filed a supplemental motion in federal court, seeking to add newly available legal authority and factual developments to their ongoing antitrust case against the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and several Louisiana-based real estate associations.  The case, filed in January 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle…

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In a switch-up from the company’s previous stance, CoStar has filed an agreement to move its copyright infringement lawsuit against Zillow to Seattle, Washington.  In a notice of non-opposition filed Dec. 2, CoStar stated it agrees to transfer the case to the Western District of Washington “in light of new information disclosed by Zillow in…

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As the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) seeks to execute what the organization has described as a significant and broad-based turnaround, financial disclosures from 2024 provide the first glimpse into how—or if—that effort is showing up on the balance sheet, as Realtors® (and big brokerage leaders) closely scrutinize decisions made by NAR after multiple scandals…

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