Today’s Real Estate News

HousingWire

• Mortgage rate-lock volume rises in December as refinances surge January 15, 2026
  Refinances accounted for 37% of December 2025 mortgage locks, with total volume up 30% year over year, per Optimal Blue.
  Sarah Wolak
• Coldwell Banker expands in Southern California January 15, 2026
  New affiliate owners Jessie Rodriguez and Aaron Juarez together have more than 50 years of experience in real estate.
  Jonathan Delozier
• Home seller impersonation fraud case stamped out in Nevada January 15, 2026
  A recent report from the National Association of Realtors said that most title fraud cases reported in the past year involved vacant land.
  Jonathan Delozier
• HUD proposes eliminating disparate impact rule January 15, 2026
  The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Wednesday proposed eliminating its discriminatory effects regulations under the Fair Housing Act.
  Flávia Furlan Nunes
• New home purchase mortgage demand rises 2.5% in December January 15, 2026
  Mortgage applications for new home purchases rose 2.5% in December 2025 from a year earlier, according to data released Thursday in the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)'s Builder Application Survey.
  Sarah Wolak
• FinCEN defends anti-money laundering rule in Fidelity National lawsuit January 15, 2026
  Defendants say FinCEN’s AML reporting rule is authorized and necessary, countering Fidelity National’s legal challenge.
  Brooklee Han
• Are 50-year mortgages, portable mortgages and assumable loans the future of U.S. housing? January 15, 2026
  Affordability pressures, elevated mortgage rates, and homeowner rate lock-in have pushed once-fringe mortgage ideas back into the spotlight. Concepts such as 50-year mortgages, portable mortgages, and assumable loans are being discussed as potential solutions. Some are misunderstood. Others already exist in limited form. A few, however, come with tradeoffs that warrant closer examination.
  Chris Bennett
• Proprietary reverse mortgage market share continues to climb January 14, 2026
  New View Advisors, which released its initial quarterly index at the end of October, estimated that private-label loans started 2025 with a market share of about 30%. Based on volume in December, that figure grew to represent 45% of originations.
  Neil Pierson
• Home care crisis drives innovation for aging in place January 14, 2026
  Despite increasing demand, the sector struggles with low wages, high turnover and limited benefits, leaving families and patients scrambling.
  Jonathan Delozier
• WFG National Title Insurance introduces financial planning tool for homebuyers, sellers January 14, 2026
  The tool is designed to help agents walk homebuyers and sellers through common financial questions on affordability and more.
  Jonathan Delozier