RIS Media Real Estate News

Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. While the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) settlement in class-action lawsuits has yet to be officially approved, the consequences of that settlement are beginning as MLS rule changes go into effect. However, the…

The post Court Report: DOJ Presses on NAR, MLSs React as Rule Change Opt-in Deadline Passes appeared first on RISMedia.

Despite offering a cautiously positive assessment of the settlement struck by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) late last month, Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust regulators are signaling they will push for more changes to real estate rules outside the significant shifts already looming for the industry. In three separate moves, lawyers for the DOJ…

The post DOJ Seeks Ban of ‘Indirect’ Commission Rules, Alleges Antitrust in Optional NAR Policies appeared first on RISMedia.

In a move likely to inspire deja vu, United Real Estate Group (UREG) is looking to join the list of former defendants in a massive homebuyer commission lawsuit that continues to wage on.  The real estate holdings company filed a motion in the U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois on Friday to dismiss all claims…

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Real estate agents aren’t only the ones who help sell properties, they’re often the ones who own and invest in them. In recent years, though, small investors are facing competition from Wall Street firms that buy single-family homes with speedy cash offers and remake them into rental properties. Lawmakers around the country have taken note…

The post The Real Estate Industry Responds as Legislators Consider Regulations on Investor-Owned Homes appeared first on RISMedia.

Fathom Realty has announced the appointment of five new District Directors, each bringing experience, passion and dedication to their new roles. From Central Wisconsin to Montgomery, Alabama, Fathom stated that these leaders embody excellence and integrity, enriching company culture and guiding their teams toward success. Terra Beaver  District: Central Wisconsin  Terra Beaver brings a genuine…

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I love working in real estate! I love the people in it! And, as we celebrate Pride Month, even after the recent attacks on the LGBTQ+ community on NAR’s Facebook and Instagram posts, I can honestly say your outpouring of support for me and the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance is amazing. But there is a…

The post Unveiling Discrimination in Real Estate: The LGBTQ+ Perspective appeared first on RISMedia.

“I don’t have to offer commission to a buyer agent—why should I?”  This simple seller question—one that is likely to become more common every day—is a potential minefield. In the aftermath of the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) settlement agreement, which will mandate the removal of compensation from MLSs starting next month, agents quickly pointed…

The post The Compensation Conversation: How to Avoid ‘Steering’ in a Post-Settlement World appeared first on RISMedia.

Existing-home sales slightly declined in May as the median sales price climbed to a record high, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The median existing-home price for all housing types in May was $419,300, the highest price ever recorded and an increase of 5.8% from one year ago ($396,500). All four U.S. regions registered…

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Editor’s Note: The Mortgage Mix is RISMedia’s weekly highlight reel of need-to-know mortgage-industry happenings. Watch for it each Friday afternoon. -Guaranteed Rate is pushing back strongly against an expose published in the Chicago Tribune that claims the company cultivated a toxic workplace culture rife with sexual harassment and retaliation, calling the article “a hit piece.”…

The post Mortgage Mix: Legal Troubles Batter Mega-Lenders; CoStar Nabs Freddie Mac Exec appeared first on RISMedia.

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is once again facing accusations of sexual harassment, retaliation and workplace discrimination, with a lawsuit filed in federal court this week by a former employee alleging the organization fired her for reporting the incidents, and then failing to abide by a subsequent settlement agreement. Roshani Sheth, a former product…

The post Former Employee Sues NAR for Reneging on Sexual Harassment Settlement appeared first on RISMedia.

Above, Amy Lessinger Amy Lessinger, the pioneering president of RE/MAX, is hailed as a visionary within the real estate sphere. Lessinger’s journey began over two decades ago when she entered RE/MAX at 26—rapidly progressing from agent to broker/owner of a flourishing brokerage boasting 135 agents and three offices. Amidst challenges in the male-dominated landscape, she…

The post Building the Blueprint for Change appeared first on RISMedia.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued a proposed $3.95 million fine against Florida-based mortgage lender Freedom Mortgage. The CFPB previously sued Freedom Mortgage in October 2023 after the company was found to have submitted inaccurate mortgage data to federal regulators during 2020. Freedom Mortgage is described as the third-largest loan originator in the…

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The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S., which provides an early indication of significant turning points in the business cycle and where the economy is heading in the near term, decreased by 0.5% in May to 101.2, following a 0.6% decline in April. Over the six-month period between November 2023 and May…

The post Economic Index Fell Again in May; Year-Over-Year Growth Looking Up appeared first on RISMedia.