Following the wildfires that devastated the Los Angeles area at the start of the year, a new study has emerged that suggests banks with physical locations are less likely to extend mortgages to impacted residents, while online lenders are continuing to be active. First reported by the The Washington Post, the study — published on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) — suggests that traditional...

Welcome to Tech Pulse — a new weekly series rounding up the latest in technology, including tools, integrations and trends impacting mortgage and real estate. Here’s what happened this week: Fannie Mae partners with Palantir to detect, prevent mortgage fraud Fannie Mae has teamed up with Palantir Technologies to crack down on mortgage fraud. The partnership, announced by Fannie Mae CEO Priscilla...

The dedicated reverse mortgage development workgroup inside the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) has been working diligently for much of the past year to develop holistic support for reverse programs across new and existing MISMO subscribers. It’s also working to publish data in an industry-standard format to increase efficiency among stakeholders. George Morales, the...

Below is a timeline of the actions or reports related to Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte that have impacted the regulator or the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac since Pulte was announced as President Donald Trump’s nominee for the role in January and took office in March. January/February Trump to nominate Bill Pulte as FHFA director...

Roughly 56% of professional home remodelers in the U.S. reported taking on projects to facilitate a customer’s aging-in-place goals, according to findings from the National Association of Home Builders‘ (NAHB) Q1 2025 Remodeling Market Index (RMI). The survey first added questions related to aging in place beginning in 2004. The first-quarter 2025 results are the “the lowest percentage recorded...

If you decide that you want to age in place, you need to assess whether your current home can be adapted to meet your needs as you age—here’s...

There’s nothing wrong with feeling nostalgic. But sometimes you’ve got to appreciate what the present has to offer. When it comes to home design, using innovative materials and creative building practices can lead to stunning interiors. For an idea of what’s possible, check out the details in these...

When the weather turns warm and agreeable, it’s time to start planning more outdoor activities. If you’re looking to spend some of your outdoor recreation time at home this year, consider these 25 design ideas for creating a fun, laid-back outdoor space you’ll never want to...

Entrance areas are often given less priority when a home is being designed, but these spaces are just as important as any other. Not only do they provide an entry point and a transition from the elements of nature, but they are places your guests will likely remember...

“Open-plan layout” is a generic term used in interior design and architecture for any floor plan that makes use of large, open spaces and minimizes the use of small, enclosed rooms. They are, for the most part, free of interior walls or partitions. Open floor plans became popular in the 1970s, but...