Ex-Massachusetts Realtor Pleads Guilty to $11 Million Embezzlement

by Phil Hall | Apr 2, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

A former Massachusetts realtor who was indicted on multiple charges including embezzlement was sentenced to two-to-three years in prison followed by five years of probation after changing his plea to guilty. WCBV reports Stephen Webster, the owner of the now-defunct...

The Best Market for First-Time Homebuyers Is…

by Phil Hall | Apr 2, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

A new analysis by Zillow (NASDAQ: Z, ZG) of housing markets where first-time buyers can find a robust selection of affordable properties has ranked Jacksonville, Florida, as the best market for newcomers to homeownership. According to Zillow, Jacksonville leads a list...

Florida CFO: Abolishing Property Taxes is Unlikely

by Phil Hall | Apr 2, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia is predicting the state legislature will not follow Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call to abolish homestead property taxes. In an interview with WINK News, Ingoglia acknowledged that DeSantis has yet to propose a plan on...

Finance of America Reverse Debuts HomeSafe Second Line of Credit

by Phil Hall | Apr 2, 2026 | Current News & Events, Mortgage Information, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

Finance of America Reverse LLC has unveiled HomeSafe Second Line of Credit, which is being promoted as the “industry’s first second-lien reverse mortgage line of credit.” According to the Plano, Texas-based company, the product enables homeowners age 55 and older to...

Trump: State Farm is ‘Absolutely Horrible’ in Handling LA Wildfire Claims

by Phil Hall | Apr 2, 2026 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

President Trump has blasted the insurance industry for its treatment of homeowners who lost their properties in last year’s Los Angeles County wildfires, with a particular heaping of scorn aimed at State Farm. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that elected...