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Jonathan Lansner: Why do 31% of Americans want a housing crash?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

If profit motives in the real estate industry could contribute to housing problems, can we acknowledge that personal finances also cloud individuals’ opinions on property matters?

Consider a survey conducted for LendingTree that found, among other things, that 31% of Americans want the housing market to crash.

Contemplate how these polling ...Read more

Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Palantir's CEO is buyer of $46 million Miami mansion

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Palantir Technologies Inc.’s chief executive Alex Karp bought a Miami mansion in June, seven months before the firm’s surprise announcement to move its headquarters to the city, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Public records show the property, located in Miami Beach on a man-made island, was purchased for $46 million by ...Read more

Senate passes housing bill with Trump investor ban, setting up clash in House

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill aimed at boosting the nation’s supply of homes on an 89-10 vote, setting up a showdown in the House over a contentious provision to limit Wall Street’s footprint in the housing market.

The bill bars investors with more than 350 houses from purchasing additional single-family homes — a ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Can builders put up mini-billboards in my residential neighborhood?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: They’ve been building the house at the end of my block for months, and the builder put out these giant signs like mini-billboards, and they look terrible. If we’re not allowed to have billboards in our residential neighborhood, how do they get away with this? — Alison

A: Construction projects can be a common sight in many neighborhoods...Read more

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Netflix goes from M&A loser to market winner without Warner deal

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Netflix Inc.’s stock price is staging a dramatic reversal triggered by management’s decision to walk away from its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. late last month.

“The core business is phenomenal and they never needed that deal — it was a nice to have, not a must have,” Wedbush analyst Alicia Reese said. “It’...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

Survey: Americans are increasingly entangled in financial scams; experts say AI is contributing to the problem

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

A growing number of people say they’ve experienced some form of financial fraud over the past year, especially older, white Americans, despite taking a variety of precautions to protect themselves, Bankrate’s latest national survey has found.

Experts said scammers are getting increasingly crafty, using artificial intelligence to clone ...Read more

Todd McInturf/The Detroit News/TNS

Rocket accused of kickback scheme, hiking cost of homebuying

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

A lawsuit alleging hundreds of thousands of homebuyers overpaid because Detroit-based Rocket Companies' mortgage unit colluded with real estate agents highlights decades-old affordable housing issues and the role of federal watchdogs under President Donald Trump.

Plaintiffs' attorneys in a January lawsuit describe the alleged deal between ...Read more

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America/TNS

Sub-6% mortgage rates vanish as Iran war sparks inflation fears

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

U.S. homebuyers had to act fast last week to nab the first sub-6% mortgage rates in more than three years. Now they’re up, and the new conflict in the Middle East threatens to nudge them higher.

The average for 30-year, fixed loans climbed to 6% from 5.98% last week, which was the lowest point since September 2022, data from Freddie Mac ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Can HOA require me to clean a roof that I don't think is dirty?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: Can my association fine me because they’re saying my roof is dirty and needs to be power-washed? When I asked them what the guidelines were, they just pointed to the section that said I was responsible for general maintenance under the declaration. I think my roof looks fine. Can they make me power wash my roof? — Zach

A: Homeowners ...Read more

Cloe Poisson/Hartford Courant/TNS

New answer to affordable housing? Yes In God's Backyard movement comes to CT

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Affordable housing advocates along with dozens of churches across the state are trying to launch the so-called YIGBY campaign in Connecticut this week by supporting a proposed law making it easier to build apartments on church-owned land.

The Yes In God’s Backyard movement bills itself as a creative way to quickly construct affordable housing...Read more

K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

Las Vegas lost the most construction jobs of any US city last year, report says

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Las Vegas lost more construction jobs than anywhere else in the country last year, according to a new report.

Data from the Associated General Contractors of America showed the area had the biggest percentage loss, as well as overall numerical loss, of construction jobs out of the largest 360 metro areas in 2025. The valley lost a total of 8,...Read more

1miro/Dreamstime/TNS

Tax refunds are larger this year. Make yours a stepping stone for your future

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Tax refunds are the biggest windfall of the year for many American households. And ‘tis the season: Through the week ending Feb. 13, nearly 13 million people had received 2025 federal tax refunds averaging $2,476, according to the IRS.

That average refund amount is up 14% from the same time period last year, and it’s expected to grow in the...Read more

Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

Redfin to show some non-MLS home listings in deal with Compass

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Redfin visitors will soon be able to see for-sale homes that haven’t been widely advertised — but Washington properties may not be included, as the practice remains restricted in the state.

Rocket Companies, owner of Seattle-based Redfin, announced on Thursday a three-year syndication agreement with real estate brokerage Compass to showcase...Read more

Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times/TNS

The newest trend in LA office space: In-house studios for traveling influencers

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

For the trendiest tenants in Hollywood office buildings, it's the latest fad that goes way beyond designer furniture and art: mini studios

To capitalize on the never-ending flow of stars and influencers who come through Los Angeles, a growing number of companies are building bright little corners for content creators to try products and shoot ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: How can I stop neighbor from leaving dogs' waste in my yard?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: My neighbor down the block walks their dogs up and down the street. The dogs often relieve themselves on my lawn, and the neighbor doesn’t pick it up. It’s really getting old. What can I do about it? — Irwin

A: Dealing with neighborhood issues can be frustrating, especially when it feels like someone is not respecting your property. ...Read more

Nick Wagner/The Seattle Times/TNS

Seattle Airbnb prices are spiking for World Cup. Should you rent your home?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Seattle residents will have a choice this summer: Get paid to ditch town for a few weeks, or learn to call soccer “football” in their own homes in exchange for hundreds of dollars. Many are considering renting out their homes to World Cup tourists.

Nearly 150,000 fans from around the world will need lodging throughout Seattle’s six 2026 ...Read more

Daniel Mears/The Detroit News/TNS

UWM reports higher fourth-quarter profit, lower full-year net income

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

United Wholesale Mortgage reported another profitable three months to end 2025, posting net income of $164.5 million for the fourth quarter.

That compares with $12.1 million in net income the Pontiac-based company reported in the third quarter of 2025 and $40.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

For the full year, the company reported net ...Read more

Richard B. Levine/Levine Roberts via ZUMA Press/TNS

Pension funds invest in private credit. What are these high risk, high reward loans?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

When the economy is good, predictions for the next downturn abound: when it will start, what will cause it and who stands to lose.

This time around, Wall Street-watchers are warning about private credit, a high-risk, high-reward debt market that shuttles billions of dollars beyond the constraints of traditional banking.

Defaults on these risky...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Buyer for Oceanwide Plaza's infamous graffitied towers emerges

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

A buyer has emerged for the notorious graffiti-bedecked towers in downtown Los Angeles — a Riverside County developer who intends to finish the stalled $1.2-billion project.

The proposed buyer of the residential, hotel and retail project in bankruptcy proceedings is a partnership led by Kali P. Chaudhuri, whose KPC Development Co. owns and ...Read more

Katy Kildee/The Detroit News/TNS

Rents are rising fast in Michigan's mid-size cities. Here's why

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Michiganians looking to escape high rents in the state’s biggest cities might have a hard time this year, even in metro areas that have historically been affordable.

The cost of rent in mid-market areas like Lansing and Battle Creek has risen much faster than in Detroit or Grand Rapids over the last few years, according to data compiled by ...Read more