Bill Pulte, CEO of private equity firm Pulte Capital Partners, has been nominated to be the next director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). President Donald Trump announced the nomination on his Truth Social account. “Bill needs no formal introduction to the Great Citizens of our Country, because they have seen, and many have…
In a significant decision for the real estate and home design industries, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the use of floor plans in resale listings constitutes fair use under copyright law. Issued on Jan. 14, 2025, the ruling brings clarity to a long-standing dispute between Charles James, a home designer, and several…
Housing affordability remains a main concern—not just for individuals looking to buy their first home, but for the broader economy, influencing everything from labor markets to community stability. This concern took center stage at a high-profile event at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on January 14 where economists, policymakers and housing advocates led…
When it comes to the housing market, in 2025, the only thing we should expect is the unexpected. At least that’s what Dr. Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, had to say about the state of the housing market during RISMedia’s Real Estate’s Rocking in the New Year virtual event last week. With today’s…
A recent lawsuit filed in Louisiana is taking direct aim at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the Louisiana REALTORS® Association and several local groups, alleging antitrust violations, discriminatory practices and restrictive tying arrangements. The case, filed by four Louisiana agents and brokers, echoes similar concerns about equity and competition within the real estate industry…
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and 15 state attorneys general are suing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over the adoption of energy codes, impacting the availability of affordable housing. Plaintiffs are suing for declaratory and injunctive relief related to Section 109 of…
Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE) filed a motion in the largest Burnett copycat case seeking arbitration based on what it is calling the judge’s “significant legal error” to overturn its previous ruling. They don’t plan on waiting for his approval, though. In the filing, BHE, a holding company for the real estate brokerage HomeServices of America,…
Pending home sales rose 2.2% in November, marking the fourth consecutive month of increases and the highest level since February 2023, according to a National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) report released Monday. The Midwest, South and West experienced month-over-month gains in transactions, while the Northeast decreased. Year-over-year, contract signings increased in all four U.S. regions,…
Inflation rose slightly in November, according to a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report released December 20, as a recent shift in the progress of price increases has drawn the focus on policymakers. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index increased 0.1% in November. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased 0.1%. Real…
As widely expected, Federal Reserve (Fed) officials lowered interest rates again, marking the third cut this year—although markets wobbled based on projections of a slower pace of cuts going into 2025. During its final meeting of the year, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered rates by a quarter-percentage point to 4.25% to 4.5%—cutting one…
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