JD Power today named its annual home buyer/seller satisfaction award recipients, and in all four real estate consumer categories – first-time buyers, first-time sellers, repeat buyers, repeat sellers – Century 21 was the top pick; though, the brokerage tied once with

Fannie Mae introduced its HomeReady mortgage last year as an inexpensive lending option that allows borrowers to come in with as little as 3 percent down. Now it’s making “enhancements” to that option, and that could mean more affordable financing

President Obama recently signed into law the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016, a bipartisan bill loaded with fixes to existing HUD programs. In February, the bill, which amended the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (among other HUD-modifying

On June 23, 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. In the wake of the decision, the British pound fell to a 31-year low against the U.S. dollar, the euro dropped one percent, and U.S.

Americans are deeply pessimistic about economic mobility. By an overwhelming margin, they believe it is harder today to secure a middle-class lifestyle than it was for past generations. And a large majority continue to see the housing market in

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today proposed new updates to TRID intended to formalize guidance in the rule, and provide clarity and certainty. The point is to help facilitate compliance within the mortgage industry. “The Bureau’s rules are designed

By the end of 2016, the Department of Energy estimates 1 million homes will be equipped with a solar energy system. And still there is no definitive way to value those systems in appraisals. A new report from the

At 75 million strong, the Baby Boomer generation comprises just over a quarter of the U.S. population, and as such, it wields considerable sway on the direction of the country’s economy – particularly in the area of housing. Indeed,

In January, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a division of the Treasury Department, announced two Geographic Targeting Orders, or GTOs, to monitor all cash luxury transactions in both Manhattan and Miami. The purpose was to help authorities identify possible

Real estate is a people business, and unfortunately, dealing with people can be dangerous. Agents need to make their safety a priority, because not every brokerage will do it for them. According to a report from the National Association

Home price growth in Greater Boston was stronger than the national average, according to the new Case-Shiller Home Price Indices from Standard & Poor’s. The leading home price metric in housing, the Case-Shiller, found that Boston home prices rose 5.6 percent year-over-year in May,

Lots of exciting things happened this week in the world of real estate. Notable news this week included reports on Massachusetts’ strong job market, the saga of Millennium Tower, and more. If you missed any news this week, be

Today, builders are facing a serious labor shortage. A few years from now, that shortage could get even worse. In a new report from John Burns Real Estate Consulting, the research group’s vice president and chief demographer, Chris Porter,

After a roll call vote on Tuesday in Cleveland, Donald Trump was officially nominated as the GOP’s presidential candidate. Unfortunately, his domination in Republican polls has done little to stymie the falling value of his once-coveted branded condos. In

Jerry Seinfeld lives in a $32 million mansion. Michael Jordan is currently selling his $16 million estate, complete with nine bedrooms, 17 bathrooms and a full-sized basketball court – which, according to Zillow, includes locker rooms, showers and a lounge

Coldwell Banker Real Estate has announced the appointment of Charlie Young as the brand’s president and CEO, which will take effect Sept. 1, 2016. Young has been president and CEO of ERA Franchise Systems LLC since 2009, and prior to