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If your open house still runs on printed flyers and a clipboard, it might be time for a refresh. Today’s buyers, especially millennial and Gen-Z homebuyers, expect a more streamlined experience—and you deserve tools that help make your job easier, too. Digital tools can make events like these more efficient, boost engagement and help you…

The post 3 Ways to Modernize Your Open House appeared first on RISMedia.

Baird & Warner and Dream Town, Chicagoland’s two largest independent real estate companies, have announced the companies are merging their operations to form the second-largest brokerage in the region by number of properties sold in 2024.  The combined entity will represent nearly 3,000 agents, loan officers and staff providing comprehensive real estate services with eight…

The post Chicagoland’s Two Largest Independents Announce Merger appeared first on RISMedia.

One challenge that your buyer clients may face when applying for a mortgage are “trigger leads,” where after a lender makes a credit inquiry, a crediting reporting agency (CRA) can sell this information to third parties. The criticism of trigger leads is that they happen without the consumers’ knowledge and can result in spam marketing…but…

The post U.S. Senate Passes Bill Restricting Trigger Leads appeared first on RISMedia.

Forbes Global Properties has announced the addition of Dominican Republic Forbes Global Properties to its curated network of local brokerages. Founded by Caribbean real estate and hospitality leader Abelardo Melgen, the firm will exclusively represent Forbes Global Properties throughout the Dominican Republic. In addition to its brokerage services, the brand stated that Dominican Republic Forbes…

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Above, from left, Gary Scott, Roxana Alarcon, Victor Gutierez, Ruthie Assouline and Ethan Assouline Real estate agents spend their lives opening the doors to new homes—both literally and by getting their clients to the point where they can walk through that door to a house all their own. The journey to homeownership can be stress-inducing—from…

The post Opening the Door to the American Dream appeared first on RISMedia.

When the typical U.S. household has to fork over 44.6% of their income just to afford a median-priced home, financial advisors start getting a touch of anxiety. The latest Realtor.com® Affordability Report, released today based on May 2025 housing data, reveals that homebuyers are stretching their budgets far beyond their comfort levels, exceeding the traditional…

The post Only 3 Major U.S. Cities Still Pass Affordability Test: Report appeared first on RISMedia.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell faced intense congressional scrutiny this week over the housing market and his approach to interest rates. Testifying before the Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity Task Force on Tuesday and before the Senate on Wednesday, Powell was pressed on tariffs, mortgage rates, the housing market and his unwillingness…

The post Fed Chair Pressed on Housing Crisis Amid Political Pressure to Cut Rates appeared first on RISMedia.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell faced intense congressional scrutiny this week over the housing market and his approach to interest rates. Testifying before the Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity Task Force on Tuesday and before the Senate on Wednesday, Powell was pressed on tariffs, mortgage rates, the housing market and his unwillingness…

The post Fed’s Powell Pressed on Housing Crisis Amid Political Pressure to Cut Rates appeared first on RISMedia.

As rates dip a bit more this week, economists point to a several-months-long stretch of little fluctuation and a short-term wait-and-see approach to interest rates by the Fed as an overall combined positive for borrowers as the summer market gets underway. According to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) released by Freddie Mac Thursday,…

The post Mortgage Rates Decline, Continue to Hold in Steady Territory appeared first on RISMedia.

When you’re talking to a prospective client and the mortgage topic comes up, how well-versed are you? No one needs help understanding a 15- or 30-year-fixed, and most people know about adjustable rates (ARMs). But what if you’re thrown a curveball by an older homeowner wondering whether a reverse mortgage could work for them? Could…

The post The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage for Purchase: What Agents Must Know appeared first on RISMedia.

Federal workforce cuts under the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative are having a ripple effect on the Washington, D.C., housing market. Nearly 40% of real estate agents said they’re working with clients whose buying or selling decisions are being influenced by federal job losses, according to a new Bright MLS survey released…

The post DOGE-Fueled Federal Job Cuts Impacting Washington, D.C. Housing Market: Bright MLS appeared first on RISMedia.

Federal workforce cuts under the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative are having a ripple effect on the Washington, D.C., housing market. Nearly 40% of real estate agents said they’re working with clients whose buying or selling decisions are being influenced by federal job losses, according to a new Bright MLS survey released…

The post DOGE-Fueled Federal Job Cuts Impacting Washington, D.C., Housing Market: Bright MLS appeared first on RISMedia.

The spring buying season appears to be more active than many had predicted, as both existing-home sales and pending home sales saw a monthly increase, according to the latest National Association of Realtors®’ (NAR) data. NAR’s Pending Home Sales report for May tracked a 1.8% rise in contract signings, also up 1.1% year-over-year. A reversal…

The post Buying Season Shows Signs of Life as Pending Sales Rise appeared first on RISMedia.