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NEXA Lending enters investment, phased acquisition with Copper Ridge Ventures 

NEXA Lending entered an investment and phased acquisition agreement with Copper Ridge Ventures to scale joint ventures and origination.

2026 GameChanger: How CENTURY 21 DeAnna Realty grew 110% and still kept its culture 

The brokerage completed five M&A deals and emphasized one-on-one agent support to lift production and fuel growth.

Equity Residential, AvalonBay to merge in $69 billion multifamily deal 

Equity Residential and AvalonBay Communities agreed to an all-stock merger of equals that will create a $69 billion multifamily giant controlling more than 180,000 apartments across the country, the companies announced Thursday. The combined real estate investment trust will have a pro forma equity market capitalization of about $52 billion and an enterprise value of […]

CFPB, DOJ withdraw 2023 warning on immigration status in credit decisions 

New guidance from CFPB and DOJ aims to ease mortgage lender concerns over ECOA and immigration status in credit policies.

The 2–4% mortgage trap is freezing housing: Defeasance may be the way out 

For the past several years, the U.S. housing market has faced an unusual constraint: not a lack of buyers, but a lack of sellers willing — or able — to move.
Millions of homeowners remain “rate-locked,” holding mortgages originated in 2020–2022 at interest rates between 2% and 4% (Federal Housing Finance Agency; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey). While home values have risen, the financial penalty of selling and repurchasing at today’s 6%–7% rates has discouraged mobility, suppressing inventory and transaction volume nationwide (National Association of Realtors; HousingWire).

December jobs data continues to support lower mortgage rates 

December jobs growth slowed to 50,000, keeping mortgage rates near 6% with steady and Trump’s MBS move supporting better spreads.

Biggest stories of 2025: the MLS identity crisis 

In 2025, MLSs redefined their value, opened access, and shifted rulemaking after the NAR settlement changed industry norms.

Zillow was right to kill Climate RiskScores 

Zillow was right to remove climate risk scores. Parcel-level flood data is unreliable, poorly defined, and risks misleading homebuyers rather than informing them.

Coldwell Banker affiliate adds sales division of Tennessee agency 

The integration adds 22 agents to the Coldwell Banker Southern Realty team — doubling the office’s annual volume to just under $100 million.

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