2026

The forecast for the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits has risen sharply to 3.9%, driven by persistent inflation in housing, utilities and energy, according to new data released by The Senior Citizens League. The projection — up from a steady 2.8% estimate just one month ago — would raise the average monthly benefit for retired workers to roughly $2,162, up from the...

After disappearing for a time after the launch of the initial test last December, real estate listings are back in mobile Google search results in some markets.  Just like the initial test, listings appear under sponsored search results, and they include a full property detail page, links to request a tour, contact an agent and, in some markets, a map of all available listings. The launch markets...

Ginnie Mae President Joseph Gormley, who is also serving as acting commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), said the counterparties participating in Ginnie Mae’s program have evolved significantly since the Great Financial Crisis, with greater exposure to independent mortgage banks (IMBs) that have invested heavily in governance and risk management. Still, he cautioned that some...

Lifestyle changes like switching to remote work and growing a family can shift functional needs at home. This Boston-area renovation shows how a home can evolve to accommodate new circumstances. Years ago,...

Cash Buyers Propel Sales Amid Tighter Supply Palm Beach County's housing market posted another month of gains in April, with home sales rising for the eighth straight month as affluent cash purchasers, severely constrained inventory and ongoing migration into South Florida sustained prices despite persistently high mortgage rates. Total residential closings in the county climbed 4.7% from a year earlier...

A yard that’s easy to navigate and maintain, or that checks boxes to make the golden years truly shine, is a true gift to the body, mind and spirit. So designers created these three outdoor retreats with the homeowners’ specific comfort requests in mind, such as an accessible pathway and reachable...

Mortgage rates and the 10-year yield both hit yearly highs after the Friday massacre in the bond market, as we didn’t get any positive news on ending the conflict in Iran. Even with all that, our weekly pending home sales data is still positive year over year, for now. The weekly mortgage purchase application data was positive year-over-year and week-over-week. However, when mortgage rates rise above...

Picking the right plants is often the first thing people think of when...

At the spring 2026 High Point Market in North Carolina, new lighting products embraced oversize scale, layered materials, decorative shades and organic forms — with fixtures functioning as statement pieces as much as sources of illumination. Here are seven standout lighting trends from the April...

Momentum MLS and Rayse announced a new partnership aimed at improving transparency, communication and client engagement throughout the real estate transaction process. The collaboration will provide Momentum MLS subscribers with access to Rayse as a member benefit, giving agents tools to guide buyers and sellers through transactions with real-time updates and structured client communication. The...