As annual inflation remains above 2% and the labor market shows weakness, the Federal Reserve has been split in recent months over the direction of monetary policy. The past year has seen split votes among the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voting committee on interest rates-setting; the July FOMC, for instance, saw Fed Governors Michelle…

The post Federal Reserve Split on Appropriate Monetary Policy for 2026 appeared first on RISMedia.

Above, top row from left, Marco Fregenal and Adam Kaufman; bottom row from left, Josh Muncey and Rick Haase From mega franchises to agent teams, real estate mergers and acquisitions are making headlines almost daily. What does the ongoing trend toward market consolidation mean to agents on the front lines? In an upcoming session at…

The post Market Consolidation and the Pros and Cons for Agents appeared first on RISMedia.

As part of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) overseeing the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the FHFA is required to set annually updated benchmark goals for how the GSEs’ mortgage purchases will help contribute to affordable housing for lower-income households.  On Tuesday, December 23, the FHFA set its enterprise benchmark housing…

The post FHFA Shaves Affordable Housing Goals for Fannie and Freddie appeared first on RISMedia.

A down payment on a home is a crucial part of the financial hurdle that homebuyers need to pass before they can think of closing, but in the current market, how long of a wait is that? According to the latest report from Realtor.com®, the current average for saving for a down payment on a…

The post Average Time Saving for a Down Payment Now Seven Years: Realtor.com appeared first on RISMedia.

Home-price growth remained weak in October, with experts pointing to continued inflation and elevated mortgage rates as the cause, according to the latest data. The October S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Index found that home-price growth posted a 1.4% annual gain, slightly up from a 1.3% rise in the previous month.  Nicholas Godec, head of…

The post Home-Price Growth Sees Its Weakest Reading in Two Years appeared first on RISMedia.

It’s all smiles because the work is done. You’ve expertly guided a client through the long and winding home-buying process to the point where they’ve found what they want and made an offer that was accepted. They’re happy, the seller’s happy, and you’re happy. All that remains are the usual mundane details. What could go…

The post How a Dubious Appraisal Can Deep-Six a Deal and Cost You a Commission appeared first on RISMedia.

Above, top row from left, Jacki Louh and Shannon Murree; bottom row from left, Sue Pinky Benson and Rob Cleapor Today’s consumers are more tech-savvy than ever, so if your marketing strategies aren’t up to speed, they’ll likely scroll on by. In an upcoming session at RISMedia’s 6th Annual Real Estate’s Rocking in the New…

The post From AI to Social Media, How to Modernize Your Marketing for a Digital-Centric Consumer appeared first on RISMedia.

Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. Compass accuses NWMLS of dragging its feet in lawsuit discovery On Christmas Eve, Compass’s attorneys were not feeling the giving spirit from lawyers representing NWMLS as the two parties wrangle over discovery in…

The post Court Report: DOJ Cited in Another Commission Case; Compass Accuses NWMLS of Stalling appeared first on RISMedia.

Above, Vicki Negron A Brooklyn, New York resident for more than 50 years, Vicki Negron was doing very well selling television advertising for major broadcast companies when she began comparing notes with a neighbor who was selling real estate. “I was working around the clock,” Negron said. “My neighbor was putting in fewer hours and…

The post Corcoran’s ‘Queen Of Rentals’ Team Has Brooklyn Covered appeared first on RISMedia.

Pending home sales are pulling through the end of 2025 with a strong performance, rising both monthly and yearly due to what experts say is some market stabilization, according to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). NAR’s Pending Home Sales report for November found that sales rose 3.3% month-over-month, up from…

The post Pending Home Sales Finishing 2025 Strong, Up Monthly and Yearly appeared first on RISMedia.