Low-income tenants sue developer, allege ‘poor door’ discrimination

Tenants who won a lottery to live at Fifteen Hudson Yards are suing the developer for violating New York City’s “poor door” ban, which bans separate entrances for low-income residents. Continue reading

With home prices slow to fall, would-be buyers are getting squeezed out

People who lost income during the pandemic are finding it hard to buy their first homes as real estate prices grew faster than incomes, according to a new Harvard University report. Continue reading

Dueling NAR and REX op-eds hint that DOJ will target commissions

National Association of Realtors: “The Administration has publicly signaled a lack of understanding about the MLS system and the associated commission structure.” Continue reading

StreetEasy arms renters to fight housing voucher discrimination

New pop-up informs renters that it’s illegal to discriminate by legal source of income in New York and New Jersey. Continue reading

3 ways Biden could change real estate

Real estate experts share how President Biden’s latest executive order could impact real estate from licensing to noncompete agreements to antitrust lawsuits. Continue reading

New restrictions on Fannie, Freddie refis blamed for tighter mortgage credit

Mortgage lenders tightened underwriting standards in June, undoing much of the easing seen over the last six months as initial fears about the long-term impacts of the pandemic began to wane. Continue reading

Fannie and Freddie will eliminate mortgage refinancing fee starting Aug. 1

Homeowners looking to refinance their mortgages could have an easier time getting a lower rate, with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s federal regulator eliminating a 50-basis point refinancing fee that was intended to help the mortgage giants cover at leas… Continue reading

DOJ hints NAR’s pocket listing policy may be in its crosshairs

Agency letter offers first clue that the Clear Cooperation Policy may be part of a “broader investigation” into trade group’s rules. Continue reading

NAR, stop fighting for commissions — make better Realtors

The DOJ has withdrawn from the proposed settlement with NAR, but all that brings to focus is that NAR has been fighting for commission while letting the industry slide in the public’s opinion thanks to the low barrier of entry, disruptors and focusing … Continue reading

NAR ‘cut a deal’ with Trump DOJ to undermine commission suits: CFA

The National Association of Realtors countered that the Consumer Federation of America’s assertions are “wrong and misleading” and “commissions are very much negotiable.” Continue reading