January 2026

The mortgage industry recorded a modest increase in the number of producing loan officers in 2025 — the first annual rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to preliminary data from mortgage technology platform RETR. The number of LOs who originated at least one mortgage in 2025 reached 221,161, up slightly from 220,449 in 2024. “That’s the number of loan officers who were producing...

A proposal aimed at providing full property tax reimbursements for senior citizens in Tennessee — with the state’s substantial budget surplus cited as justification for the plan — was recently unveiled by a local official.   Rob Mitchell, the property assessor for Rutherford County, said the Tennessee Golden Homeowners Tax Relief Program would cover the full amount of property taxes assessed on...

QXO, a leading distributor of roofing products and building materials, is nearing another acquisition as part of a game plan to disrupt and consolidate the fragmented $800 billion building products industry and reach $50 billion in annual revenue in five or so years.  By reshaping an unconsolidated marketplace and capturing a much larger share of distribution, QXO could gain market share from...

American homeowners enter 2026 expecting higher insurance costs, growing climate risks and continued pressure on housing affordability. Data from Kin’s inaugural Homeownership Trends Report shows insurance costs now rival mortgage rates and home prices as a key factor shaping where — and whether — Americans buy, stay or move. Home insurance costs are rising faster than many other household...

“Modern” has never been a fixed idea in housing. What once felt futuristic can quickly feel dated, and what once felt radical often becomes standard without anyone noticing. Over the past 70 years, the definition of a modern home has shifted alongside technology, culture, economics, and everyday life. In some decades, modern meant efficiency. In others, it meant size, openness, or visibility. At...

Tucked into the rolling hills above Carmel, 53 Marguerite sits inside one of California’s most private and tightly held residential communities. Located within Tehama Golf Club, the nearly 12-acre estate offers seclusion, scale, and access to a landscape shaped as much by design as by nature. Tehama — the invitation-only community founded by Clint Eastwood — spans close to 2,000 acres and...

Set high on a bluff at Wing Point, this Bainbridge Island house reads less like a single residence and more like a carefully composed art installation. From the water-facing rooms, the view unfolds in layers: the deep blue of Puget Sound, the Seattle skyline centered across the bay, and — on clear days — Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range rising in the distance. What sets the property apart...

Learn the right way to protect your air conditioning unit this winter...

The decor in this Charlotte, North Carolina, couple’s home leaned too traditional, ornate and fussy for their tastes. They searched Houzz for an interior designer to help with their whole-house renovation, were drawn to the work of Melissa Rieser and hired her. In the primary bathroom, Rieser...

In the ever-changing world of home design and remodeling, the ability to quickly and effectively identify your customers’ needs has become a real competitive advantage. Whether you’re a contractor, an interior designer or a tradesperson, the key to success often lies in your ability to understand...