New SDAR CEO taking embezzlement suit ‘seriously’

Cory Shepard took the reins at the San Diego Association of Realtors last week after now-former CEO Michael Mercurio was accused of stealing over $1M in association funds, the complaint reads. Four former executives filed the case against SDAR last week. Continue reading

San Diego Realtors sack CEO after $1M embezzlement lawsuit

The suit accuses now ex-CEO Mike Mercurio of using association credit cards for personal purchases, inflating his vacation time and selling items that the association paid for on eBay. Continue reading

Los Angeles apartment owners sue over COVID rent freeze

The suit from the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles argues that the city’s rent freeze rule robs property owners of income and due process. Continue reading

Coldwell Banker recruits California power team away from Compass

The Swann Group’s agents are the latest of hundreds who have moved from Compass to Coldwell Banker over the past year, the latter brokerage told Inman this week. Continue reading

Amid growing insurance crisis, Farmers pulls out of Florida

A number of insurance providers have left Florida over the last year, apparently driven away thanks to extreme weather and a challenging legal landscape. Continue reading

Lone Star lawmakers pass ‘largest property tax cut in Texas history’

The deal raises the amount homeowners can exempt from the taxable value of their properties from $40,000 to $100,000, ensuring Texas will remain among the fastest growing states in the U.S. Continue reading

Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse would command $10M — if it was real

In anticipation of the July 21 premier of ‘Barbie,’ Airbnb has listed a real-life DreamHouse for two lucky guests. A Malibu broker estimated closing costs and a sales price for the fabled pink palace. Continue reading

Mauricio Umansky separates from wife Kyle Richards: Report

Umansky, the founder of luxury brokerage The Agency, has been married to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star for decades, and over the years the duo became reality TV stars together. Continue reading

8% of buyers got down payment help from family this year: Survey

A new survey of 1,700 real estate agents this spring found that homebuyers in the Northeast and in Southern California were the most likely to get financial help from their family. Continue reading

Compass nabs top-performing Coldwell Banker agent

Tacoma’s Margo Hass Klein joined Compass this week, according to the company. She’s the latest in a string of Coldwell Banker agents who decamped for Compass this year. Continue reading