The conflict with Iran continues to be a threat to mortgage rates, and even today, 100 days into this conflict, Iran shot missiles at Israel and President Trump is trying to stop Israel from firing back, pushing oil prices up 3% late Sunday. This made me think: what if everyone is wrong on the timeline, and there is no end to this conflict until after the midterms? If Iran wants to inflict as much...

The annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show, held in London from May 19 to 23, is known for inspiring homeowners across the globe, and those with smaller yards are no exception. Numerous compact-space ideas caught our eye, such as carving out a secluded seating spot, growing dwarf vegetables and choosing...

Despite rising mortgage rates, the conflict in the Middle East pushing oil prices higher and headlines that say AI is going to take all the jobs, housing demand remains positive year over year. It sounds strange, but for the most part, especially if we take the snowstorm data away from early in the year, housing demand has held firm. Last week was another example of that, as our weekly pending home sales...

The annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) returned to New York City’s Javits Center May 17-19, showcasing the latest in contemporary design. Across the fair, lighting designers drew attention to the very elements that traditionally fade into the background, emphasizing chains,...

Imagine walking into your newly built or remodeled home and seeing it exactly as you had imagined it at the start of construction: the windows are all in the right places, the flooring is the right color, and the kitchen cabinets are a perfect fit.Now allow me to pinch you on the arm,...

For Boston real estate agents scanning for the next wave of demand, the most important market signal may not come through mortgage rates or listings — but from where multinational corporations decide to plant their flag. Boston has been named the top U.S. city for foreign multinational business activity in the Financial Times–Nikkei Investing in America ranking, a survey that evaluates major cities...

President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration is still considering a public offering of shares in mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, despite naming the government’s top housing regulator to temporarily lead the nation’s intelligence agencies. Bloomberg reported that while speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump dismissed suggestions that plans for an initial...

Leaders in Akron, a heartland city nearly 40 miles south of Cleveland, hope to shed the city’s “Rust Belt” label and drive its emerging revival by making it easier to build new homes. To achieve the objective, planners believe they’re on the verge of eliminating minimum lot sizes to counteract a shrinking-city paradox. Population loss left hundreds of vacant lots behind, but decades-old zoning...

Mortgage Forward announced Friday that it has agreed to acquire the third-party origination (TPO) division of First Federal Bank, including QRL Financial, in a deal the companies say will expand Mortgage Forward’s national mortgage lending platform and broaden its product offerings. The companies confirmed that they have signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition, although the financial terms...

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) has introduced federal legislation that would temporarily raise the capital gains tax exclusion to $1 million for senior homeowners who sell their longtime primary residences. The move aims to ease tax burdens on older Americans and free up inventory for younger homebuyers. The bill, H.R. 9064, known as the Nest Egg Protection Act, was introduced June 1 and would apply...