Opportunity Zones Surge as Investors Chase U.S. Affordable Growth

Home-price appreciation in many of America's federally designated Opportunity Zones continued to track closely with the broader U.S. housing market in early 2026, even as the low-income redevelopment districts remained significantly more affordable than surrounding communities. A new first-quarter analysis from ATTOM found that median prices for single-family homes and condominiums increased annually in...

What happens to mortgage rates if the Iran conflict is over?

Though there is still a lot of uncertainty, it looks like we could have an actual end to the Iran conflict as tankers are starting to move through the Strait of Hormuz. If we don’t have to worry about oil prices getting much higher for longer, what are the implications for mortgage rates? And what have we learned during this conflict about the housing market and how to look at the future now? First,...

Meet the AI platform giving every agent a personal coach

For some real estate brokers and team leaders, coaching can be difficult to scale. Individual coaching offers more personalized guidance but can be costly, while group training reaches more agents but may not address each agent’s specific needs. Phillip Gagnon, founder and CEO of broker management platform 3 Data Pulse, believes artificial intelligence (AI) has finally cracked the code. He...

New federal funding a mixed bag for housing programs

U.S. House appropriators unveiled a fiscal 2027 spending bill that includes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with proposed cuts drawing criticism from housing advocates. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations (THUD) Act, 2027, approved by the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee, provides a total of approximately $71.377...

Atlas VMS’s Erik Morin on HECM second appraisals, AIM-Port acquisition

Like other segments of the broader housing industry, the appraisal space is rapidly evolving through consolidation, technology adoption and federal policy shifts. Reverse mortgage professionals should be mindful of these factors as they work with appraisers to close deals. Erik Morin, CEO of Miami-based Atlas VMS, a Miami-based appraisal management company (AMC) and technology platform, recently sat...

Clients are interviewing real estate agents differently. Here’s what they’re really looking for

There’s been a noticeable shift in how clients approach this business. Buyers and sellers aren’t just hiring agents anymore. They’re vetting them more carefully, asking sharper questions and paying closer attention to how you show up before, during, and after the transaction. The dynamic has flipped. The agent isn’t just evaluating the client. The client is evaluating the agent just as much, if...

RHOM star Alexia Nepola buys $5.25M villa at the Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach — with ex Todd Nepola

Even with The Real Housewives of Miami currently on pause, Alexia Nepola clearly isn’t stepping away from the spotlight. The longtime Bravo star just purchased a $5.25 million villa at the The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach — and in true Housewives fashion, the story comes with a twist. Her ex-husband Todd Nepola represented her in the transaction. And honestly, it already sounds like a...

U.S. Mortgage Rates Rise as Iran Conflict Fuels Inflation Fears

U.S. mortgage rates moved higher this week as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and renewed inflation concerns rippled through global financial markets, adding fresh pressure to an already strained housing sector. According to Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage climbed to 6.51% for the week ending May 21, up from 6.36%...

Housing demand stays firm, pushing inventory close to negative YOY

It’s been a day full of news about a possible peace deal with Iran, which would be great news for housing. However, even though mortgage rates have risen due to the conflict lasting longer than anyone initially thought, housing demand has held up, and housing inventory is now on the verge of going negative year over year in our weekly single-family listings data.  Housing inventory going negative...

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