True Footage has raised a $40 million Series C round led by Cox Enterprises’ Socium Ventures that will fund expansion of its staff appraiser model and its data and analytics platform for lenders and consumers. True Footage launched in 2021 with a thesis that appraisal quality and turn times could be improved by combining W-2 staff appraisers with standardized data collection and software rather than...

California lawmakers have been at the forefront of zoning reforms to increase housing supply and affordability. New legislation filed Tuesday would put the state on the path to joining single-stair reform that other states and cities have already adopted. Assemblymember Alex Lee’s newly filed bill proposes increasing housing construction by reforming California’s building code to allow mid-rise...

The use of artificial intelligence in residential contracting is still in its early stages, with only a minority of contractors fully integrating AI into their workflows. That said, interest in leveraging new technologies is steadily increasing across the industry. That was one of the main findings from ServiceTitan’s 2026 Residential State of the Trades report released on Tuesday. The report...

A U.S. housing market crash remains extremely unlikely in 2026 even as the war in Iran strains buyer psychology, according to Logan Mohtashami, lead economic analyst for HousingWire. The conflict with Iran has sent mortgage rates higher over the last five weeks, from a low of 5.99% to a high of 6.64%. Weekly pending home sales last week reached 70,676, down from 72,191 during the same week in 2025...

Mortgage rates have soared in the past month, but market participants appeared to take a wait-and-see approach this week as they contemplate further price increases for home loans. On Monday, Mortgage News Daily reported that 30-year fixed rates averaged 6.43%, down 4 basis points in the past week. MND rates are based on best-execution pricing from lender rate sheets. HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates...

With their first baby on the way, this Seattle-area couple decided it was time to update their primary bathroom. A large drop-in tub wedged into a corner and a cramped shower stall were among their biggest concerns. They hired kitchen and bath designer Laila Ferri Johnson, who reworked the...

Remodeling or building a new home is a big financial and emotional investment. It can also be a big investment of your time if you want to be closely involved in the decision-making. Knowing what to expect before the project gets started will help you better prepare for the process. Here are...

There are some fundamental areas of the home where it makes sense to invest more on certain pieces — or to hold back in lieu of something more rewarding. To help you create a balanced decor budget, here are areas to invest more in and areas where you can invest...

An outdoor kitchen is more than just a spot for a grill. It draws people into a yard and becomes a space for family dinners and entertaining friends throughout the year. Read on to see what landscape experts prioritize in their...

Budget is at the heart of every project you take on for your clients, but what are the stumbling blocks around it that homeowners hit time and again, and what are the best ways to resolve them? Here are five common budget issues that come up in renovation projects, along with solutions pros...