2025

After taking the time to digest elements of a proposal from lawmakers in Hawaii, the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) has expressed support for a measure to establish a state-run Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program there. In a letter submitted by NRMLA to sponsor lawmakers at the end of February, the association explained that it “strongly supports” the adoption of...

If you fancy a bit of armchair travel, treat yourself to a tour of this collection of lakeside homes on Houzz. From a rustic cabin in Minnesota to an apartment within a former convent in Como, Italy, these properties have one thing in common — spectacular views out over the water and clever...

For many of us, the morning is a busy blur of family breakfasts, random tasks, frantic clock-watching and rapid showering. So how can a morning feel more calm than chaotic, more productive than problematic? One option is to take a leaf out of a truly organized person’s book and work a few of their...

Wondering if it’s time to hire a kitchen designer? These design pros are experts at creating well-thought-out, functional spaces and are always up on the latest in kitchen design trends. If you’re thinking of undertaking a major kitchen remodel, renovating an old house or creating your dream...

Economic uncertainty, potential tariffs, and high construction costs contributed to a decline in U.S. builder sentiment in March 2025, despite optimism that regulatory changes could improve business conditions. According to the latest National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), confidence among U.S. home builders in the newly built single-family home market fell to...

Reverse mortgage business in the early part of 2025 has been humming along consistently, though not exactly “booming” as mortgage rates remain elevated and lenders are moving on their own initiatives to expand business and further forge partnerships with the forward mortgage side of the industry. This is according to descriptions by some of the major lenders themselves, as well as a conversation...

Glenn Kelman seemed unusually down. The Redfin CEO’s playful demeanor and quotable banter was notably absent on the company’s fourth-quarter 2024 earnings call at the end of February. There could have been many innocuous reasons for sounding a bit deflated — not enough sleep or a bad day at work. But in light of Redfin’s blockbuster sale to Rocket Mortgage that was announced less than two...

The state of the U.S. housing market — particularly its levels of affordability, available inventory and accessibility for those with mobility or cognitive challenges — presents a unique challenge for older Americans on fixed incomes. This has led to a “failure” to properly serve the senior cohort. These are the assertions of a report published last week by the Urban Institute. The organization...

Today’s new construction report from the Census Bureau showed month-to-month growth in housing starts, but falling housing permits. Both of these data lines are currently still at the levels we saw in the early part of the COVID-19 recession. However, employment for residential construction workers hasn’t fallen at all, even with the decline in housing starts and permits. Why haven’t the homebuilders...

Advocus National Title Insurance Co. has introduced GO Live, a virtual closing system designed to streamline real estate transactions for attorneys and their clients. The platform, which debuts in Chicago, will expand to additional markets in the coming months. GO Live allows attorneys to guide homebuyers through closing documents in real time, reducing errors and improving communication. The...