Mortgage Insights

Plain-English guidance on rates, home buying, and refinancing from the The Lending Stars team.

Housing Industry News

REMAX cash election proration set for Real merger close Aug. 24

Aug 21, 2026 · 3:09 PM HousingWire Automation HousingWire

Cash electors are expected to get about $4.33 plus 0.3535 shares after the 10-for-1 consolidation.

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Housing Industry News

reAlpha completes InstaMortgage acquisition for $8.5M

Aug 21, 2026 · 2:20 PM Sarah Wolak HousingWire

Deal closed Aug. 19, adds in house origination, underwriting, and funding across 38 states plus D.C

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Housing Industry News

CoStar closes $800M Zonda acquisition

Aug 21, 2026 · 2:10 PM HousingWire Automation HousingWire

Zonda will sit in CoStar’s residential segment, which reported $444M Q2 2026 revenue, up 33% year over year.

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Housing Industry News

Illinois REALTORS targets local barriers to building more housing

Aug 21, 2026 · 2:06 PM Richard Lawson HousingWire

Active listings fell 64% in 5 years, permits dropped 13%, and prices rose statewide

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Housing Industry News

Thirty years is not a relationship

Aug 21, 2026 · 7:00 AM Marvin Chang HousingWire

Borrower trust has four mechanisms, and AI can expose invisible failures at scale

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Mortgage Rate News

Highest Mortgage Rates in Just Over a Week

Aug 20, 2026 · 8:38 PM Matthew Graham Mortgage News Daily

While Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage rate survey may show rates moving slightly lower this week, today's rates are actually higher than they were at the same…

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Housing Industry News

Dream Finders bets empty nesters want amenities, not age limits

Aug 20, 2026 · 8:32 PM Tyler Williams HousingWire

Reverie active adult brand targets Gen X buyers seeking amenities and connection, while builders look to protect margins

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Housing Industry News

Luminate Bank acquires select assets of First State Mortgage Services

Aug 20, 2026 · 8:11 PM Flávia Furlan Nunes HousingWire

Luminate adds volume and a larger Midwest presence

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Housing Industry News

Toll Brothers luxury moat meets a tougher market test

Aug 20, 2026 · 8:04 PM John McManus HousingWire

Cash buyers were 25% of deliveries, and the average loan-to-value was 69% in fiscal Q3

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Housing Industry News

New tax on high-value second homes challenged in Rhode Island

Aug 20, 2026 · 8:01 PM Jonathan Delozier HousingWire

Plaintiffs say the law should not target out-of-state residents who cannot vote in Rhode Island

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