Bayview Asset Management has closed its acquisition of Guild Holdings Company, the parent of Guild Mortgage, in a deal that takes the lender private and removes it from the New York Stock Exchange. The transaction was finalized on November 28, according to a new 8-K filing. Under the agreement, shareholders received $20 per share in cash, and all outstanding RSUs and PSUs were also settled for cash....

For many borrowers, the appraisal is the most stressful step in a refinance: part mystery, part high-stakes hurdle. Will the home appraise high enough? Will it delay closing? What actually determines the final value? Lenders can help ease these concerns by adopting the right combination of technology, strategy, and partnerships to modernize the process. A more transparent and streamlined approach not...

Guillermo del Toro has never met a piece of architecture he didn’t want to turn into a character. In his new Netflix take on Frankenstein, the director leans all the way into historic estates, spiraling labs, and grand old houses that feel equal parts aristocratic fantasy and gothic fever dream. Production designer Tamara Deverell built the film’s world across real European mansions and massive...

It also comes with...

The right wallcovering can take a basic bathroom from forgettable to fantastic. Color, pattern and texture instantly boost character, often for far less than a full tile job. And with today’s moisture-resistant, easy-clean wallpapers and other treatments, designers have more flexibility...

Say goodbye to the drawer of shame and hello to a neatly organized pantry, shelves and cupboards. This quick decluttering list will help you reclaim your...

During this busy time of year, many of us simply skim over the emails that land in our inbox. Creating an end-of-year e-newsletter that your customers will want to open and that keeps your business top of mind when they’re planning their projects for the year ahead requires careful...

Hong Kong's Central district posted its first rise in Grade A office rents in more than two years, as tightening vacancy in top-tier towers bolstered landlord confidence, according to new data from JLL. Average Grade A rents in Central edged up 0.1% in November from the prior month--the first increase since May 2022--JLL said Wednesday in its Hong Kong Monthly Market Dynamics report. The marginal uptick...

Just in time for the holidays, Troy Palmquist looks at how this legacy manufacturer bounced back from a market downturn and how agents can, too A few weeks ago, on a podcast, I was asked which brands I admire most. Without hesitation, I said LEGO. The toy company has an incredible comeback story, from the brink of bankruptcy to one of the world’s most beloved and profitable brands. Last weekend,...

For the past decade, rate marketing has been the dominant gravitational force in mortgage acquisition. Whoever shouted the lowest 30-year fixed rate the loudest won the most attention. But attention has never been the same as intent, and intent has never been the same as a closed loan. What’s happening now is more fundamental than a rate cycle or a marketing shift. It’s a reordering of how borrowers...