VA loan fee hike proposal advances in Congress, drawing industry pushback

Legislation moving through Congress would increase fees on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, creating a new flashpoint for the mortgage industry. H.R. 6047, which would expand benefits for severely disabled veterans and survivors, would offset its costs by raising fees. The fee for the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) program would rise from 0.5% to 1.42%, while the VA...

Decade-long accessibility push earns Seattle agent fair housing honor

A decade after addressing a room full of real estate agents as a motivational speaker, Barry Long is being recognized as a 2026 National Association of Realtors (NAR) Fair Housing Champion. Home accessibility search standards that Long co-developed are being adopted by multiple listing services (MLS) nationwide — transforming how homebuyers living with disabilities find properties. Long, a T5...

Florida homebuyers sue Compass over $475 transaction fee

Homebuyers in Florida have filed a lawsuit against Compass challenging a transaction fee the brokerage charged them upon the close of their August 2024 home purchase.  Filed on Tuesday in Palm Beach County, Florida circuit court by plaintiffs Jeff and Melissa Efron, the suit accused Compass of “unfair and deceptive business practices” for allegedly uniformly charging “an undisclosed flat-fee to...

Don’t give away your future: Why servicing is becoming a strategic asset

You hear them in a conference session, jot them down in your notebook, and then weeks later you find yourself still thinking about them while walking the dog, sitting on an airplane or reading another industry headline (from HousingWire, of course). That happened to me with something Ron Leonhardt, founder and CEO of CrossCountry Mortgage, said during his session with Clayton Collins at The Gathering....

Homebuilding scale emerges as a fiduciary priority for boards

A question has hovered over America’s publicly traded homebuilders as the price, pace and margins plot thickened on or about February 28, 2026. How big is big enough anymore, especially with the cloud of uncertainty that intensified on the day the Iran War began? Taylor Morrison Home Corp.‘s recently filed proxy statement, detailing the process that culminated in Berkshire Hathaway‘s agreement...

5 New Kitchens With Classic Details (10 photos)

Classic kitchen designs endure for a reason. Features such as Shaker-style cabinetry, bridge faucets, warm wood accents and timeless finishes create spaces that feel welcoming and connected to a home’s architecture. But classic doesn’t have to mean predictable. In the following five...

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