Last week’s pending home sales slipped to 68,000 single-family contracts — an expected Easter holiday lull that marks the first sub-2024 weekly tally in six weeks. Buyers remain mortgage rate-sensitive, of course. April’s tariff-fueled spike in U.S. Treasury yields pushed borrowing costs higher, but that’s subsiding just a bit and a typical mortgage payment is roughly 4% cheaper compared to...

After weeks of buildup, it felt like only a matter of time before Compass would file a lawsuit against Northwest MLS (NWMLS) over the latter’s Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP). On Friday, the wait ended as Compass filed an antitrust suit against NWMLS. The filing includes alleged violations of the Sherman Act and the Washington Consumer Protection Act, along with tortious interference with business...

Daniel Dennis, a longtime real estate executive with nearly two decades of leadership experience, has been named senior vice president of sales and service at RE/MAX, the company announced Monday. In his new role, Dennis will oversee sales and support services for brokerages in company-owned regions across the U.S. He will also lead franchise growth efforts through sales and conversions, as well as...

VantageScore credit score usage by the mortgage industry dropped in 2024, ahead of widespread changes expected in credit reporting in the coming years. The decline was due to overall market conditions and a spike in portfolio analysis conducted by the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) in the previous year. Meanwhile, originators more than doubled their usage of the scores. Data released on Monday...

Make the most of your outdoor space by properly preparing for the season...

A slab kitchen backsplash has many benefits. It lacks the numerous grout lines that often come with tile installation, meaning it’s easier to wipe clean. It’s also quicker and easier to install than tile. But perhaps best of all, a slab backsplash looks utterly stunning. Depending on the material,...

Wondering if it’s time to hire a landscape architect? These are licensed and trained professionals who design and plan outdoor spaces that are made for living. If you’re thinking about designing your outdoor dream space, want to add value to your home with landscaping or need help...

The looming threat of President Trump's China tariffs in the first quarter of 2025, coupled with Hong Kong's strong economic ties to China, contributed to a decline in commercial rents and capital values across nearly all sectors of the city's property markets, driven by weak demand and abundant supply, according to JLL's recently released Preliminary Market Summary for Q1 2025. "Tariffs will have an...

Many of us are craving connection these days. The good news is, you don’t have to look far and wide for it. Whether you want to build community or just wave hi once in a while, you can foster meaningful connections right in your own front yard. Get ideas from these three spaces, then let us know in...

The 2025 edition of Milan’s Salone del Mobile recently welcomed back the biennial Euroluce lighting exhibition (April 8-13). More than 300 international exhibitors showcased the evolving journey of light through research, innovation and a growing sensitivity to societal change. In our increasingly...