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Around this time last year, Knock, a real estate startup that buys homes directly from homeowners, unveiled an expansion plan that would see the company grow its business beyond its first market of Atlanta. Since then, the company has indeed expanded and is now operating in five markets, but the company has much bigger plans than that. And now, the company has the money to reach those goals.

Blackstone Group is set to finish raising capital for the largest-ever real estate fund. According to The Wall Street Journal, the $20 billion fund is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 for most investors and may focus on tech hubs, remote resorts, rental properties and distribution centers.

Last year lenders struggled under increasing competition and some were even forced to sell or merge with other companies – but Wells Fargo saw an increase in its full year net income. But while its net income might have increased, the bank is not immune to market swings, and its mortgage banking income plummeted.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, JPMorgan Chase saw a decline in its earnings from the previous quarter, but still saw an increase from the previous year despite a weakening mortgage banking sector.

Real estate software provider MRI Software is expanding its business by acquiring Rental History Reports and Trusted Employees, a provider of applicant screening platforms that focuses on the multifamily real estate industry and corporate employers, the company announced recently.

There may be a few questions about new Ginnie Mae Acting President Maren Kasper, but Kasper just received a full-throated endorsement from perhaps the most powerful woman in housing. “I have complete confidence in Maren’s ability to succeed,” outgoing HUD Deputy Secretary Pam Patenaude told HousingWire on Thursday. Click the headline to read more of HousingWire's exclusive chat with Patenaude.

Ginnie Mae said Wednesday that Maren Kasper, Ginnie Mae’s current executive vice president, will serve as acting president in Michael Bright’s absence. But what do we know about Kasper, who will soon be overseeing an agency that boasts a mortgage bond portfolio of more than $1 trillion? A look into Kasper finds housing experience, but also numerous issues during her time at HUD.

It’s been almost two years since Ginnie Mae had a permanent president, and now it looks like the wait is going to continue. HUD announced late Wednesday that Michael Bright, who has been leading Ginnie Mae on an interim basis for nearly 18 months and was the Trump administration’s nominee to lead the agency, is leaving Ginnie Mae next week.

Mel Watt’s time as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency is officially over. Watt became the first Senate-confirmed director of the FHFA back in 2014, and led the FHFA for five years, but his term as FHFA director ended on Jan. 6, 2019. Here's a look back at Watt's time at the FHFA and a look ahead at what's next.

Despite recent stock market volatility, new data from Redfin suggests that less than 50% of older Millennials and young Gen-Xers believe investing in real estate is a good idea. Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather said the oldest Millennials and youngest Gen-Xers entered their late twenties or early thirties during the housing crash, which explains why they are more skeptical about investing in real estate.