August 2025

Welcome back to Tech Pulse — HousingWire‘s weekly series rounding up the latest in technology news, including tools, integrations and trends that impact mortgage and real estate. Read on for a rundown of speakers who shared expert insight at this past week’s HousingWire AI Summit in Dallas. Talk ranged from use of “digital twins” among eXp Realty executives to artificial...

In the debate over whether Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should merge, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) has remained consistent: “We don’t think that would be a good idea,” chief economist Mike Fratantoni said. The trade group supports a stock offering that preserves stability in the secondary mortgage market while advocating for privatization with an explicit government guarantee, a clear...

The Social Security system celebrated its 90th birthday this week. In the wake of this milestone, several policy analysts and news outlets offered their thoughts on the program’s past, present and future. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) noted that the safety net program that currently serves some 69 million Americans per month is on track to be insolvent by the end of 2032. At...

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE) has added Rejig.ai to its Solutions Group, a collection of preferred business resources available to its global network of 550 real estate firms. Rejig.ai provides automated digital marketing tools for real estate agents, teams and brokerages. Its platform supports multiple channels — offering services such as artificial intelligence...

Permits for new multifamily housing construction have declined from the pace set during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Redfin analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Developers secured an average of 12.8 permits for buildings with at least five units per 10,000 people from July 2024 through June 2025. That is down 23.1% from the 16.7-unit average during the pandemic-era building boom from 2020...

Wood cabinets can introduce warmth, texture and character to a kitchen. Layered with other wood elements, as well as natural stone and metal details, wood cabinets can deliver a timeless look and feel. Here, design and remodeling pros share how they used wood cabinets — white oak,...

Bathrooms in 120 to 170 square feet often have room for coveted features like a double vanity plus a separate shower and tub. They also allow for better-defined zones, luxurious touches and spa-like comfort. In these four before-and-after makeovers, see how designers and builders...

Renovations can be costly, long and disruptive, so it’s no wonder clients can sometimes feel apprehensive and anxious about the progress of a project. Keeping the process on schedule, maintaining the quality of the design and workmanship, and tracking the budget are all essential for ensuring a...

Miami, FL-based WORLD PROPERTY VENTURES (WPV), a global real estate technology development company, is preparing to launch a $100 million capital raise under SEC Regulation D Rule 506(c) in the coming months, according to founder Michael Gerrity. Michael Gerrity Positioned as the "Anti-VC" of the global real estate industry, WORLD PROPERTY VENTURES develops, funds, and scales proprietary platforms and...

In its quest to bring its loan officer count up to 5,000, NEXA Mortgage announced Thursday that it has brought on Eric Mitchell to assist with its goal. Mitchell will serve as a “key hire” recruiting partner for NEXA, newly appointed chief operating officer Jason duPont said in an interview with HousingWire. “We have where people can become executive partners, and all that means is they...