August 2024

Roughly one month ago, Ginnie Mae released a term sheet for a highly anticipated new development for the reverse mortgage industry: a new Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)-backed Securities (HMBS) product referred to as HMBS 2.0. The new term sheet detailed several differences from the existing HMBS program, including a reduction in the HMBS pool size to 95% of the loan’s total unpaid principal...

If antitrust lawsuits are impacting agent commissions, it’s not happening at Compass. The brokerage claimed on its second-quarter 2024 earnings call that it’s experiencing virtually no changes in commissions despite the $418 million settlement agreed to by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) following a string of lawsuits related to buyer commission rules. “It has been four and a half...

With company executives predicting that things will get messy in the U.S. real estate landscape over the next several months due to the business practice changes outlined in the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement, eXp World Holdings — the parent company of eXp Realty — is focused on improving the firm’s agent value proposition. In the second quarter...

Going through a divorce is hard enough. Having to navigate the reality of a changing family landscape (and possibly helping little ones cope with the ordeal), reenvisioning your life without your significant other, and managing the intense emotions that come with this ground-shifting life change can be immensely challenging. Add to that the legal aspects — which, let’s be honest, can be quite...

In early February, a 9-acre property set in the exclusive Port Royal neighborhood in Naples, Florida, landed on the market with a (very loud) bang. The sprawling waterfront compound — known as Gordon Pointe — was listed for a whopping $295 million, a price point that instantly made it the most expensive home in U.S. history. It was formerly home to Naples philanthropist and Federated Investors...

We did the dirty work of testing 29 fragrant detergents to see which were effective and offered the most value per load. Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson There’s nothing quite like cleaning the load of clothing that’s been piling up in your laundry basket. While you may like the natural scent your linens have post-wash, there are several scented laundry detergent options that can...

Our top picks are versatile, functional, and durable. Better Homes & Gardens / David Hattan One of the biggest benefits of using an induction range is the incredible efficiency it offers. Instead of a burner heating up, the heat is transferred directly to the cooking surface to save as much energy as possible. In order to take full advantage of the benefits of an induction range, you need...

Dust storms can cause a lot of damage, indoors and out. Here's what to do after one hits your home and yard. jeff1farmer/Getty Images Although dust storms can occur anywhere in the United States, these severe weather phenomena are especially common in the Southwest due to the drier climate. Dust storms and haboobs (a particularly intense kind of dust storm) are often triggered by strong...

The 2025 Colormix Forecast from Sherwin-Williams includes four capsule collections that offer a paint color for every style—and that point to a bright future. Sherwin-Williams Every color tells a story, and Sherwin-Williams has a long history of helping to tell that tale—all while making it a lot easier to mix and match trending colors without sacrificing your unique style. To that end,...

Here's how to get rid of clover mites, tiny red pests you might find inside or outside your home. Sandra Standbridge / Getty Images Measuring only 1/30 of an inch long, one clover mite is easy to miss, but when they gather in numbers, this common household pest quickly goes from harmless to annoying. This bug can be a pain to get rid of because squishing it leaves a red stain behind. Here’s how...