Windermere Real Estate Taps Diana Wall for New Chief Growth Officer Role

by Phil Hall | Jul 22, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

Seattle-headquartered Windermere Real Estate has hired Diana Wall as chief growth officer, a newly created position. Wall, who is based in Denver, most recently served as executive director of global growth at Douglas Elliman. Earlier in her career, she held senior...

HUD Stops Funding for Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority

by Phil Hall | Jul 22, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has suspended funding for the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA), claiming the agency mismanaged billions of dollars in federal aid. In a statement, HUD said VIHFA received $1.9 billion in HUD...

More Down Payment Assistance Programs Added During Q2

by Phil Hall | Jul 22, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

A total of 2,746 down payment assistance programs were active nationwide during the second quarter, an increase of 67 programs from the prior quarter. According to data from Down Payment Resource (DPR), grant programs that do not require repayment rose by 6% from the...

Alabama Home Sales Up Sharply Year-Over-Year

by Phil Hall | Jul 22, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

Alabama recorded 7,138 home sales in June, an increase of 414 transactions (or, a 6.2% rise) from one year before. On a month-over-month basis, sales were up by 2.9%. According to the Alabama Association of Realtors (AAR), the 21,681 active listings at the end of June...

Mortgage Application Activity Picks Up

by Phil Hall | Jul 22, 2026 | Current News & Events, Mortgage Information, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

Mortgage application activity percolated during the week ending July 17, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The Market Composite Index, the MBA’s measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 1.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis...