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Beating the expectations of a typical quiet winter season for the housing market, mortgage applications shot up by a whopping 28.5% from one week earlier, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA). The MBA’s latest Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey found that the Market Composite Index—a measure of mortgage loan application volume—grew…

The post Mortgage Applications Beat Winter Slump, Soar 28% appeared first on RISMedia.

In a memorandum filed Jan. 13, defendants Zillow and Redfin are asking a federal judge to throw out the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) antitrust case against their $100 million partnership—and their arguments reveal potential weaknesses in how the government defined the market it’s trying to regulate. First filed Sept. 30, 2025, the FTC alleged that…

The post FTC’s Zillow/Redfin Case Faces Critical Legal Challenge Over Market Definition appeared first on RISMedia.

Private listings are at the center of one of the most headline-grabbing litigations in real estate right now. Compass has sued Zillow over its new “listing access standards” program, which removes listings not listed on MLSs within one business day of being publicly marketed from Zillow’s platform. While the Zillow and Compass litigation unfolds in…

The post Washington State Floats Bill Severely Restricting Private Home Listings appeared first on RISMedia.

A vacant home often signals a transition. When a property sits empty, it is rarely accidental. According to a recent LendingTree study, nearly 15 million homes across the United States are currently vacant, often reflecting life changes, financial pressure or unresolved decisions about what comes next. For real estate professionals, these properties can represent meaningful…

The post How To Get in Touch with a Vacant Homeowner Who May Want to Sell appeared first on RISMedia.

A new professional development academy has officially soft launched with a focused mission: to prepare experienced real estate professionals to step on stages, panels, podcasts and industry platforms with credibility, clarity and confidence, according to a release.  The Industry Speaks Academy was created to address a growing gap in the industry. While many professionals have…

The post New Academy Launches to Prepare Real Estate Professionals for Speaking Opportunities appeared first on RISMedia.

President Donald Trump has floated several controversial ideas to help make housing affordable again. But his latest pitch—allowing Americans to tap 401(k) plans and 529 education savings accounts without penalties to fund their down payments—could have lasting financial consequences even if it helps with some upfront homeownership costs. According to a report from Politico, the…

The post Will Trump’s Flurry of Housing Proposals Move the Needle on Affordability? appeared first on RISMedia.

Buffini & Company has announced the launch of two new offerings designed to help real estate professionals strengthen their business and succeed in the year ahead: the newly re-engineered The Blitz lead generation system and the Referral Maker® CORE membership. For nearly three decades, Buffini & Company stated it has supported real estate agents through…

The post Buffini & Company Launches Two New Programs to Help Real Estate Agents Drive Growth appeared first on RISMedia.