Housing Trends and Insights

Housing

Housing demand is still positive even with epic snowstorm

With an epic snowstorm hitting large areas of the U.S. recently, I expected housing data to take a hit after the solid start we had already seen in 2026, but it remained mostly positive, which surp...

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WalletHub says these are the best states for retirees in 2026

A new WalletHub study compares all 50 states to identify where retirees may find the most favorable balance of affordability and quality of life — with Wyoming taking the top spot. The a...

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State regulators, consumer groups push back on OCC’s escrow account proposals

State regulators and consumer advocates are pushing back against two proposals from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that would expand banks’ authority over escrow accounts and a...

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Utah lawmakers target starter homes with lot size reform

Utah lawmakers opened their 2026 legislative agenda with a proposal to revive a once-bedrock fixture of the American Dream of homeownership: starter homes. By streamlining permit approvals and rezo...

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Christie’s International Real Estate launches Charleston affiliate

Two South Carolina-based Christie’s International Real Estate affiliates are teaming up to form a joint venture and launch the brand’s first Charleston, S.C.-based operation. The firm announced the...

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Zillow workforce reduced by 3% amid annual performance reviews

A Zillow spokesperson has confirmed to HousingWire that the real estate listing portal giant has terminated approximately 200 employees or roughly 3% of the firm’s total workforce in recent weeks. ...

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Brookdale Senior Living’s Downsizing Continues, CEO Targets 3-Pronged Strategy in 2026

Brookdale Senior Living CEO Nick Stengle believes that a leaner portfolio and a focus on supply-demand, critical mass and operational excellence are top ways to bring the company into its next evol...

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Meritage holds its line as new-home demand turns inelastic

There’s a version of this market where “buying sales” becomes the default operating system for nearly everyone. When that happens, the question stops being whether incentives rise. They ...

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Nonprofit Hospice Provider Agrace Plans New Dementia Village Concept

A Wisconsin-based nonprofit hospice, Agrace, is launching a new memory care initiative that includes a village for residents inspired by the Hogeweyk model in The Netherlands. The hospice an...

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Austin Niemiec to lead Rocket Pro as Dan Sogorka departs

Austin Niemiec will take the helm of Rocket Pro following the departure of Dan Sogorka, according to people familiar with the transition who spoke to HousingWire. Niemiec will retain his...

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House approves funding boost for Social Security Administration

The House of Representatives approved legislation last week to bolster customer service efforts at the Social Security Administration (SSA), advancing a broader funding package aimed at avoiding a ...

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Assisted Living Wage Growth Slows, Turnover Improving

The pace of wage growth for assisted living nursing positions has decelerated in 2025, while the senior living industry is seeing positive momentum in retaining staff as turnover rates continued on...

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Florida judge denies broker’s bid to force NAR, MLSs to enforce their own rules

A Florida court has denied a broker’s motion asking the court to compel the National Association of Realtors (NAR) along with 16 local Realtor associations and MLSs to enforce their own rules. ...

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President Trump says he wants to keep home prices high, lower borrowing costs

President Donald Trump said Thursday that his administration would seek to keep home values elevated even as it works to expand access to homeownership — framing rising prices as a source of newfou...

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Mortgage rate relief under Warsh may prove elusive, experts say

At first glance, Kevin Warsh’s nomination as the next Federal Reserve chair could be interpreted as a signal that benchmark interest rates may fall — potentially offering some relief on housing aff...

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Inside Alex Akel’s strategic bet on a new South Florida master plan

Despite challenged market conditions for homebuilders nationwide, Palm Beach County, Fla.-based Akel Homes is betting that a newly-opened community’s top-tier amenities and relative affordability, ...

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The 8 best real estate CRMs for every budget in 2026

Want to scale your business faster? Today’s real estate CRM software makes it easy to stay organized, generate, convert and nurture leads on autopilot and automate the tedious but crucial daily tas...

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Mortgage defects stabilize as lenders face new quality control challenges

Mortgage lenders are seeing loan defects stabilize after several volatile years, but shifts in interest rates and loan volumes continue to expose weaknesses in quality control (QC), according to AC...

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2Life Communities CEO to Retire in October

BRIGHTON, Mass. — 2Life Communities CEO Amy Schectman has announced plans to retire this October. Schectman, whose full title is Saul and Gitta Kurlat chief executive officer, has held the position...

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Trump nominates Kevin Warsh to replace Powell as Fed chair

President Donald Trump ended months of speculation Friday morning by announcing former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as his pick for the next Federal Reserve chair. If confirmed, Warsh would succeed cur...

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NVR’s Q4 and the value of staying land-light in a headwinds market

A headwinds-meets-crosswinds housing market buffets homebuilding business leaders as 2026’s spring selling stretch lies just ahead. Almost in everything, everywhere and all at once, homebuilding fi...

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