Mortgage rates drop with stocks on surprise jobs report and new tariffs

Trump announces new tariffs on dozens of countries beginning Aug. 7, fires BLS commissioner after revised jobs report shows dramatic slowdown in payroll growth in May and June. Continue reading

Kevin Sears says NAR ‘is going in the right direction’ since commission suit

Sears was optimistic, but said that NAR membership is projected to drop by 150,000 members and that the organization will face a $30 million deficit. Continue reading

Luxury brokerage Douglas Elliman is now in the mortgage business

Mortgage broker Elliman Capital, a “strategic alliance” with Associated Mortgage Bankers Inc., will offer traditional and specialty loan products “from multiple national and regional lenders.” Continue reading

Waning buyer activity pushes home price growth to 2-year low

Sixty percent of the nation’s largest markets saw home prices slip from May to June, with the largest drop happening in Washington, D.C., due to federal layoffs. Continue reading

Elizabeth Warren calls Pulte out for social media attacks on Powell

In July alone, 114 posts raise “significant questions about your judgment and commitment to operating FHFA in a responsible, competent, and lawful manner,” Senator scolds Fannie, Freddie regulator. Continue reading

Outside lawyers, WSJ editorial board urge Trump not to fire Powell

Trump administration would probably lose court battle, lawyers reportedly advise White House, and markets would react badly, “The Wall Street Journal” warns. Continue reading

9 power plays to win the world’s wealthiest real estate clients

If you want to attract seriously wealthy clients, luxury expert Chris Pollinger writes, you need to stop playing checkers and start playing chess. Continue reading

Doorvest acquires Wreno, integrates renovation management platform

Doorvest helps investors find and buy single-family rentals and it’s acquired Wreno, a solution for managing home rehab projects. Continue reading

Fed rebuts accusations that Powell mismanaged $2.5B renovation

Central bank refutes allegations by Trump administration officials that headquarters renovation project has been mismanaged and that Powell lied to Congress about its specifics. Continue reading

Gatekeeping, portal wars, ‘Armageddon’: Inman’s Top 5

Looking for a quick catch-up on the buzziest stories of the week? Here’s Inman Top 5, the most essential stories, according to Inman readers. Continue reading