July 2024

Based on new data from the California Association of Realtors, California home sales remained stagnant for the second consecutive month in June 2024, as the 30-year fixed rate mortgage remained above 7 percent throughout most of May, when most of these sales opened escrow. Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 270,200 in...

San Diego-based Smartfi Home Loans, which primarily is active as a wholesale lender in the reverse mortgage space, will launch a retail division that offers reverse mortgage products and has hired industry veteran Paul Fiore as its president of retail sales. “I am thrilled to announce that I have started my new role as president of retail sales at Smartfi Home Loans,” Fiore posted on social media on...

As a majority of older adults continue to express an overwhelming preference for aging in place in their homes, any decision needs to be made with a full understanding of a particular senior’s needs, capabilities, and access to essential services and people. This was an idea shared by Wayne State University gerontology professor Amanda Leggett in a podcast produced for a Detroit NPR affiliate that...

In response to a poaching lawsuit filed two months by Home Mortgage Alliance Corp. (HMAC), wholesale lender OCMBC Inc. has denied the allegations while countersuing HMAC and its co-founder, Alfred Hanna, on behalf of an employee, Michael Turturro, and his corporation, Jet Alliance.The OCMBC counterclaim brings eight counts, including defamation, breach of contract, fraud and unfair business practices. Alan...

California Regional MLS (CRMLS) has decided to remove fields listing seller concessions from its platform. In late May, CRMLS added a seller concessions-in-price data field to its platform, allowing listing agents and brokers to list how much a seller was willing to contributes toward the buyer’s transaction costs, which could include their buyer representation fee.  The nation’s largest MLS...

Mortgage-related consumer complaints submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) fell between the first and second quarters of this year, according to a review of the CFPB’s consumer complaint database conducted by HousingWire. A total of 5,652 mortgage-related complaints were submitted to the bureau between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2024. That total fell to 5,005 in the period between...

About 25 miles southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, lies the idyllic Kiawah Island. This 10-mile stretch of land is known for its pristine natural beauty, luxurious resort amenities, and award-winning golf and tennis facilities. But it’s also home to some spectacular real estate — including a newly listed $9.2 million mansion that’s pure house goals. And we’re not the only ones to say...

You’ll get some high-quality sleep when your mattress is supported by a bed from one of these retailers, trust us. Better Homes & Gardens / David Hattan Sleep is arguably one of the most important things we do as humans to sustain life. Although we can sleep almost anywhere, having a comfortable bed to support our mattress and sleep on is helpful to achieving the best rest possible. There...

Removing mustard stains on clothing and other fabrics is no trip to the ballpark. Getty Images / Halyna Romaniv You might love mustard on your hot dogs and hamburgers but not so much when a blob of the bright yellow condiment lands on your pants, dining room chair, or living room carpet. Mustard has a reputation for being an especially tricky stain to remove. This is in part due to turmeric, which...

Give your space a modern refresh with these fresh design ideas. Laurey Glenn Photography Curating a relaxing environment for the place where you start and end your day can have a positive impact on your overall well-being. If it's been a few years (or longer!) since you've spruced up your bedroom, it might be time to show it some TLC.Updating your bedroom can be as simple as purchasing a new...