Serial Squatter Sentenced to 20 Years in Texas Fraud Case

by Phil Hall | Sep 3, 2026 | News/Current Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

A serial squatter who was evicted from rental homes in Colorado and Texas has a new residence – she was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Dallas following a fraud conviction last month. Denver7.com reports Heather Ruybal, aka Heather Schwab, was taken into custody...

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Rises to 6.71%, Highest Level in Over a Year

by Phil Hall | Sep 3, 2026 | Mortgage Information, News/Current Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.71% as of Sept. 3, up from last week when it averaged 6.66% and its highest level in over a year. According to the Primary Mortgage Market Survey published by Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC), the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage...

Wil W. Osborn to Become Chief Executive at Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines

by Phil Hall | Sep 3, 2026 | News/Current Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) has promoted Wil W. Osborn to president and CEO, effective Oct. 1. Osborn will succeed Kristina K. Williams, who announced in January her intention to retire after leading the bank since January 2020. Osborn...

Toronto Home Sales and Prices Down in August

by Phil Hall | Sep 3, 2026 | International Real Estate News, News/Current Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

A total of 5,057 home sales were transacted through the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s (TRREB) MLS System in August, a 2.1% decline from one year earlier. New listings entered into the MLS System amounted to 12,075, a 14.1% drop from one year before. On a...

Housing’s New Divide Isn’t Just About Income. It’s About Who Already Has Wealth

by John G. Stevens | Sep 3, 2026 | Mortgage Information, News/Current Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

We spend a lot of time in mortgage lending talking about income. How much does the borrower earn? What is the debt-to-income ratio? How much of a monthly payment can the household reasonably carry? What happens to purchasing power when the mortgage rate moves another...