Based on ATTOM's newly released Special Housing Risk Report, California, New Jersey and Illinois once again had the highest concentrations of the most-at-risk markets in the country, with some of the biggest clusters in the New York City and Chicago areas, as well as inland California. Less-vulnerable markets remained spread mainly throughout the South and Midwest. The first-quarter patterns - derived from...

loanDepot has promoted Viviana Abarca, who has worked for the mortgage lender for the past 11 years, to managing director of mortgage lending operations. Abarca will report directly to president and CEO Frank Martell, the company announced on Monday. Abarca will lead loanDepot’s loan processing, underwriting and closing operations, which in the first quarter of 2024 were responsible for closing $4.6...

Dozens of former employees at Guaranteed Rate say the mortgage lender has fostered a toxic work environment — including verbal abuse, misogyny and bullying — amid the laser focus of its founder and CEO, Victor Ciardelli, on making money and growing the business, according to a report published Saturday by the Chicago Tribune. According to the report, the accusations included Ciardelli, who is...

Glenn Sanford and eXp Realty cannot seem to distance themselves from the allegations of sexual assault currently plaguing some of the firm’s former top-recruiting agents. In an amended complaint filed on Thursday, Anya Roberts again names eXp and Sanford as defendants in her lawsuit, alongside former and current eXp agents and recruiters Michael Bjorkman, David Golden and Brent Gove. Sanford and eXp...

Realtor.com is extending the reach of its buyer representation advertising campaign, according to an announcement on Monday. As part of this goal, it is launching a “new initiative promoting the benefits of buyer’s agents for individuals in historically underserved and underrepresented communities, including BIPOC, AANHPI, Hispanic, LGBTQ+, first-time, Veteran, and lower-income buyers.” If the...

After first entering the housing business to sell real estate, Jim Cullen transitioned into the mortgage industry in 1997. It would be a few more years before he made the jump into the reverse lending space, but once he did, he found a business that he connected with until his retirement this year. After most recently serving at University Bank from his home in Wisconsin, Cullen is on the cusp of a new...

A recently completed 11,644-square-foot home is up for grabs in East Hampton South — and it’s a masterclass in refined interior design. With a timeless exterior that makes it fit right in with its decades-old neighbors, the 2024-built home has been designed by James Michael Howard, a celebrated Florida-based designer who’s no stranger to the Hamptons. In fact, his past projects in the area earned...

Learn about the pros and cons of being a leasing agent here. If you want to work in the real estate industry, this job is a good way to...

Make growing basil in pots a snap with these simple tips. Bob Stefko  There’s no such thing as too much basil if you love making pesto and cooking with fresh herbs. This popular herb thrives in garden beds, but growing basil in pots indoors on a sunny windowsill or outside on a sunny patio or balcony is also an easy way to boost your supply of this compact and fast-growing plant. Use these...

A turfgrass for warm climates, Bermudagrass forms a dense lawn that stands up to traffic and heat. Kim Cornelison Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) thrives in heat and humidity and is a popular turfgrass for sports fields, golf courses, and home lawns. Commonly grown in areas with moderate to warm winters, Bermudagrass isn’t used as a lawn grass where temperatures regularly drop below 30°F. In...