At the end of 2025, the leading indicators of the economy suggested a slowing contraction, but enduring consumer cynicism. The latest Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) report from nonprofit business research organization The Conference Board found a 0.2% decline in December, compared to a 0.3% decline in November.  The report’s baseline (measured against 2016, rated at…

The post Building Permits Rise as New Report Finds More Economic Softness in 2026 appeared first on RISMedia.

Above, Chris Lim REMAX® has announced the promotion of Chris Lim to president of the firm, adding to his existing role of Chief Growth Officer. Additionally, the company hired Pierre Montagna as vice president of Global Sales and Lisa Sennstrom as director of Global Sales, two key leaders in the franchise sales organization and moves…

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In the pandemic boom market, a lot of people did very well. Listing agents could sell a home for 10% over asking in a weekend; homeowners refinanced or cashed in on big equity jumps; middle-income families took advantage of low rates to snatch up their dream homes. But there is one group that maybe didn’t…

The post The ‘Winner’s Curse’ Is Real in Real Estate. But Can You Really Overpay for the American Dream? appeared first on RISMedia.

While 2026 has been shaping up so far as a distinct improvement in the housing market, lingering affordability and housing inventory issues continue to hold some buyers back from the market, according to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). NAR’s latest Pending Home Sales Report for January found that sales decreased…

The post Pending Home Sales Slip in January as Affordability, Inventory Constraints Plague Buyers appeared first on RISMedia.

As we watch the Olympic champions competing right now in Milan, it’s hard not to be in awe. The world is tuned in. The spotlight is bright. The stakes are high. And as I watch these athletes take the ice, I feel that same fire. The same admiration. The same realization that what we’re witnessing…

The post What Olympic Ice Skating Teaches Us About Real Estate and Life appeared first on RISMedia.

Steady rates remaining in the low 6% range continue fueling refinance demand, rising the tide for a small increase this week in overall mortgage applications, as tracked by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).  According to the latest Market Composite Index—MBA’s measure of mortgage loan activity volume and includes purchases and refinances—increased 2.8% on a seasonally…

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Continuing challenges to affordability—namely higher construction and financing costs—once again kept builder confidence in the negative territory, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) saw builder confidence slip one point to 36 in February, following the two-point fall seen in January…

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The Keyes Company and Illustrated Properties have announced the launch of unified, AI-ready digital platforms designed to deliver faster, more personalized experiences for South Florida homebuyers and sellers, while streamlining marketing and operations across their combined network of more than 4,000 real estate professionals. Developed in partnership with Delta Media Group, the platforms move beyond…

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While 2025 overall was markedly disappointing for homebuilders, large jumps in new construction at the end of the year seem to outline a brighter future for 2026, one that builders are looking to approach with caution.  A delayed New Residential Construction report from the Census Bureau found that housing starts in December came in at…

The post Housing Starts Saw Significant Jump to End 2025, but Builders ‘Cautious’ for 2026 appeared first on RISMedia.

In a mostly technical legal briefing filed last week in Virginia federal court, rivals Zillow and Redfin jointly pushed back against a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and five states’ attorneys general that alleges the two companies violated federal antitrust law when they struck a rental “syndication” agreement late last year, arguing…

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