Legislation

Ohio moves to tie property tax increases to inflation

The Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday passed two bills aimed at limiting future property tax increases by tying them to inflation — marking the latest in a series of efforts to curb rising property taxes across the state. Republican House Speaker Matt Huffman said the legislation represents “something significant” for Ohio taxpayers. He estimates […]

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Recruiting the same loan officer and expecting different results  

Over the last 30 years in this business, I’ve seen a lot of loan officers come and go. I’ve seen  managers get promoted, demoted, and disappear. I’ve seen companies rise, fall, rebrand, and  recycle their value props like clockwork.   But the one thing that doesn’t seem to change — the thing that might actually be

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Bipartisan House bill would strengthen HUD’s grip on manufactured housing standards

U.S. Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) introduced the Streamlining Manufactured Housing Standards Act on Wednesday, which clarifies that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has the sole authority to establish energy efficiency and safety standards for manufactured housing. “America has been grappling with a housing crisis and cutting red

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Bill aims to expand affordable housing on unused religious, college land

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) introduced legislation last week that would make it easier for faith-based organizations and colleges to convert unused land into affordable housing. The measure — called the Yes in God’s Back Yard (YIGBY) Act — would direct federal resources to help religious

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VA loan homebuyers navigate NAR settlement with ease

As the real estate industry prepared for the business practice changes outlined in the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) nationwide commission lawsuit settlement agreement, one of the biggest questions was how the changes would impact veteran homebuyers wishing to use their loan benefit from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The NAR settlement requires

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Abandoned mortgage apps are on the upswing. Homebuyer confusion could be the culprit

Mortgage applications don’t always fail with a formal rejection — many simply stall. A report released last month by Cotality found that homebuyer hesitation often predicts loan fallout, even without an official withdrawal. As a result, the property analytics firm found that 16% of buyers “ghosted” their mortgage applications last year — a trend attributed

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Trump signs VA foreclosure prevention bill into law

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s bill, the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, into law after it received approval last week from the Senate. The VA Home Loan Program Reform Act will reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgage program by adding a partial claim option — a

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Senate bill would add unconverted crypto to mortgage underwriting equation

A new bill introduced in the Senate would require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider unconverted digital assets in mortgage underwriting. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced the legislation, known as the 21st Century Mortgage Act, on Tuesday. S.B. 2471 is a response to a directive from Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing

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California wildfire rebuilding bill paused until 2026

A California wildfire recovery bill will be shelved until 2026, after a torrent of online conspiracy theories and confusion overwhelmed public discussion and policymaking, the Los Angeles Times reported. State Sen. Benjamin Allen (D-Santa Monica) announced that he would pause S.B. 549 — legislation that would have created a local authority to buy lots destroyed

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Scott, Warren announce bipartisan housing bill markup

The Senate Banking Committee will hold its first bipartisan housing markup in more than a decade, Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced Thursday evening. The executive session, which will involve the consideration of the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, will also include the unveiling of a sweeping legislative package

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