Mauricio’s Umansky’s The Agency is getting into the mortgage business. The brokerage has entered into a joint venture with Barrett Financial Group to offer what the companies believe will be a wide range of mortgage products and streamlined underwriting to The Agency’s luxury clients. Dubbed Aclara Lending, the joint venture will start in Southern California with plans to expand in the near...

Compass has announced yet another addition to its team in Texas. Adrian Jacobs, a luxury agent who has sold more than $29 million in volume over the past year, has rejoined Compass’s Dallas office from Douglas Elliman. Coming with him is Genna Skolnik, the leader of The Venture Group. She rejoined Compass last year from The Agency. “Understanding quality real estate opportunities requires both a...

Starter homes are more affordable to the average American than they were a year ago, but they have become significantly less affordable over the past decade. That’s the conclusion Redfin reached in a data report released Monday. The national real estate brokerage analyzed household income levels and monthly housing payments to calculate its affordability metric. Buyers in August 2024 needed to...

California-based loanDepot on Monday announced it has closed a $300 million offering of notes backed by a revolving warehouse line of credit and secured by mortgages. loanDepot said this is the 10th time it has closed a transaction of this kind. It follows other strategies to strengthen its financial position, including selling mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) and extending debt.  David Hayes, the...

The rate of home sales is picking up! The number of homes under contract across the country has risen for the last few weeks. Purchase mortgage applications are up for five weeks in a row. It seems like mortgage rates are getting closer to 6% are shaking loose a few transactions.  These are small moves, and it’s early. It’s not a big rush of home sales of course, we’re just looking for any...

Venice is many things; a quintessential beach neighborhood, trendy foodie hotspot, hipster enclave, you name it. But most of all, it’s a unique slice of California that offers a completely different vibe — and its own take on waterfront living. That’s why when it comes to real estate listings, Venice Beach falls into a category of its own. Every home that lands on our desk outdoes itself either...

Winter weather can damage vital pool maintenance equipment—or even the pool itself. Here’s how to protect your pool from the elements until summer returns. elenaleonova / Getty Images Pools are an incredible feature in any yard, but when the weather starts to get colder, your in-ground pool—whether it’s a smaller plunge pool, a classic lap pool, or something in between—needs to be closed...

This guide will come in handy whether you enjoy slurping them from the shell or prefer folding them into cozy stuffings and stews. Blaine Moats Perhaps you prefer enjoying oysters raw and straight from the shell. Or maybe you’re more fond of fixing oyster stuffing or stew, just like grandma made. Regardless of how you enjoy this popular type of shellfish, if you do so at home, you might be...

You don’t have to be a tech genius to enjoy the benefits of these life-simplifying smart home upgrades. EyeWolf / Getty Images Even if you're not tech-savvy, there are several smart home features that can transform your life. A smart home uses electronic devices or online apps to control equipment that is usually manual, such as lighting, security systems, door access, heating, and even basic...

Tackle these lawn care tasks now to enjoy healthier, greener, lusher grass when spring rolls around again. Marty Baldwin Intentional fall lawn care is key for producing a landscape with lush, vibrant green grass come spring. Homeowners with trees are accustomed to raking leaves during the season, but cool autumn conditions are also great for fertilizing, controlling weeds, and other yard...