Homebuyers respond as mortgage rates hover near 2025 lows

Purchase loan requests are up 7 percent from a year ago, as loosening housing inventory and a pullback in mortgage rates presents FHA buyers with more opportunities.

Surprise Fed move takes some pressure off of mortgage rates

Central bank dials back Treasury rolloffs but is not ready to cut short-term interest rates, as Fed policymakers indicate they’re more worried about inflation than they were in December.

Bass weighs pause of ULA Tax as wildfire recovery continues

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass seems to be warming up to the idea of pausing the controversial ULA Tax as the city recovers from destructive wildfires, but it is unclear how she could do it.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CEO denies Compass negotiations

HomeServices of America CEO Gino Blefari said Thursday night his company isn’t in acquisition talks with Compass. Since then, the brokerage franchise network and Compass have been silent.

Trump orders boost in US timber production, foreign lumber probe

President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an order aimed at increasing U.S. timber production and launched an investigation into the risks that foreign lumber imports pose to national security.

Rocket Homes off the hook as Trump’s CFPB drops lawsuits

RESPA complaint that accused Rocket Homes of favoring real estate agents who steered clients to Rocket Mortgage is dismissed “without prejudice” by CFPB’s new leadership.

Pending home sales fall 4.6% to an all-time low, NAR says

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), which tracks home sales based on contract signings, dropped 4.6 percent to 70.6 in January, marking an all-time low, while pending transactions fell 5.2 percent year over year.

Airbnb hosts leave site over co-founder’s DOGE work

Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia has pledged to work for the Department of Government Efficiency. Airbnb hosts aren’t happy about it.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s net worths climb past $154B

While plans to privatize the mortgage giants are on the back burner, Trump administration may impose limits on how much support the mortgage giants can provide to riskier borrowers.

Pasadena ADU program offers second shot at affordable housing

To qualify, applicants must have owned and occupied the main property for at least five years, maintain a credit score above 650 and have a debt-to-income ratio below 40 percent.