Court Orders California City to Approve Affordable Housing

by Phil Hall | Dec 11, 2025 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

The California Supreme Court ruled that the City of Huntington Beach must approve plans for residences that low-income people could afford. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the city argued the decision to build a specific amount and type of housing belongs to local...

Gloria Siciliano Named 2026 President at New Jersey Realtors

by Phil Hall | Dec 11, 2025 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

New Jersey Realtors has named Gloria Siciliano as its 2026 president. Siciliano received her broker’s license in 2001 and opened RE/MAX Gateway in Ocean Township, New Jersey, in 2006. She was president-elect in 2025 and treasurer in 2022 and 2023 and serves on New...

Mortgage Rates Tick Up Slightly

by Phil Hall | Dec 11, 2025 | Current News & Events, Mortgage Information, Real Estate News, U.S. Housing Market, WRE News Exclusive

Mortgage rates ticked up slightly in the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey published by Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC). The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.22% as of Dec. 11, up from last week when it averaged 6.19%. A year ago at this time, it averaged 6.60%....

AG Bondi: ‘There is No Investigation into Bill Pulte’

by Phil Hall | Dec 11, 2025 | Current News & Events, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

US Attorney General Pam Bondi is refuting media reports that the Department of Justice (DOJ) opened an investigation into Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). On Nov. 20, ABC News reported the DOJ and the FBI opened a probe into Pulte...

NYC Man Pleads Guilty to Using Mortgage Fraud for Buying Maine Marijuana Grow House

by Phil Hall | Dec 11, 2025 | Current News & Events, Mortgage Information, Real Estate News, WRE News Exclusive

A New York City man pleaded guilty in US District Court in Bangor, Maine, to submitting a false mortgage loan application and illegally maintaining a marijuana-involved premises. According to court records, Ken Yiu, purchased a house in Saint Albans, Maine, using an...