HW+ provides career-making insights and analysis for those in Mortgage, Real Estate and FinTech. This long-form digital content provides members with news nowhere else and digs deeper into the “why” behind the daily news cycle. To join the HW+ community, click here.
From resilience to antifragility: Rethinking cybersecurity for real estate and mortgage professionals
In information security, we’ve long spoken about resilience. The goal has been to withstand an attack, recover quickly, and return to business as usual. But in today’s environment—where attackers adapt and evolve daily—resilience is no longer enough. We must go further. We must embrace antifragility.
Stop marketing like it’s 2008: You’re invisible
Not because the tactics are old. We have webinars instead of lunch-and-learns, sponsored posts instead of postcards. The problem isn’t outdated tools. It’s the mindset, the fact that most of us never really learned how to market in the first place.
Asheville home sellers cut prices amid $600K median list price test
Asheville home prices show 52.9% price cuts as median list prices remain near $600K with steady absorption.
Denver sellers cut prices on more than half of homes as market slows
Denver real estate market sees over 50% of homes reduce listing prices and median days on market extend to 70.
By the numbers: Key housing market trends in Columbia, SC
Columbia housing market sees 47.7% price reductions signaling neutral conditions and steady median list price of $315,000.
Stop marketing like it’s 2008: You’re invisible
Not because the tactics are old. We have webinars instead of lunch-and-learns, sponsored posts instead of postcards. The problem isn’t outdated tools. It’s the mindset, the fact that most of us never really learned how to market in the first place.
Citi gets highest marks in J.D. Power’s 2025 mortgage origination satisfaction study
The J.D. Power 2025 study reveals that mortgage lenders focusing on advisory services receive higher customer satisfaction scores.
NEXA Lending sues former president over ’employee raid’
NEXA Lending is accusing former employees of orchestrating an “employee raid,” misuse of confidential data and breach of contracts.
Retirement plans for small-business owners have visible generational gaps
A Capital Group report reveals generational and gender disparities in small business retirement plan readiness.
Realtor.com launches new agent, listing enhancement features
The listing portal is launching Spotlight Listings allowing sellers to improve visibility of their listings on the website.
Tommie Wehrle named president of LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance
Wehrle has worked in real estate for nearly 35 years, holding roles as an agent, broker/owner, instructor and coach.
VA loans rise as housing market shifts toward buyers
During the pandemic’s competitive housing market, VA buyers often lost out to those offering larger down payments.
Homebuyers embrace sustainability, efficiency in 2025
Findings reflect a nationwide shift away from large, aesthetic features toward practical, eco-friendly and tech-driven living.
Helping heroes home: how real estate pros can better serve veterans
Real estate pros can make a difference by guiding veterans through VA loans and community resources for homeownership.
Title insurance revenue rises for Big Four firms in Q3 2025
Falling mortgage rates helped First American, Stewart, Fidelity, and Old Republic increase title insurance revenue in Q3 2025.
Propy acquires Delta South Title, marking entrance into Alabama
The company said this acquisition is part of its recently announced acquisition and AI-makeover strategy aimed at achieving a $1B evaluation.
ALTA’s David Townsend on housing affordability and title insurance regulations
Townsend said his agenda will include efforts to expand housing access, halt right-to-list agreements and oppose title waivers.
Covius’s Joe Chappell on Title365 acquisition, home equity footprint
Covius is set to expand its home equity market presence with the acquisition of Title365, pending regulatory approval.
Propy leans on acquisitions, AI to ‘modernize’ title
The company is looking to close $100 million of title company acquisitions in an attempt to modernize the homebuying experience for consumers.
Opteon acquires Equity Valuation Partners, expands US presence
Equity Valuation Partners provides residential and commercial appraisal services across the U.S. and will operate under the Opteon brand.
Aivre launches UAD 3.6 compliant appraisal platform
UAD 3.6 calls for electronic submission of appraisals to align with the MISMO v3.6 reference model for mortgage industry data.
Fraudsters never sleep, and neither should lenders
Many of us have heard about, or will soon learn, the now-infamous Baltimore story. One borrower bought multiple houses on the same block, rehabbing one unit and copying its photos to make the others look renovated on paper. He changed appraisal condition statements, submitted identical photos to multiple lenders and walked through a maze of loans that started as 12-month bridge products and morphed into 30-year Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans. The apparent fraud ballooned into roughly $200 million. He paid in the short term, enough to transition loans correctly. Then the defaults landed squarely in the DSCR world, where lenders must sort it out.
Atlas VMS names Trey Cole VP of client engagement for AIM-Port
Cole will focus on customer relationships, expanding client-focused initiatives and promoting adoption of the AIM-Port platform.
Atlas VMS promotes Anneta Pope to chief brand officer
In her new role, she will advise on market intelligence and oversee the development of a unified brand strategy as the company expands.
