Survey finds 67% of Gen Z adults struggle to cover housing costs as high prices and mortgage rates outpace incomes
"Buyers have been laying low for the last year or so because housing costs are high and the economy is uncertain. Young people are particularly concerned about job security and tariffs, and how those things will impact their pocketbooks and ability to make their housing payments," said Desiree Bourgeois, a Redfin Premier agent in Detroit.
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Real Estate Mortgage rates jump sharply higher after Iran strikes, reversing last week's decline
After falling below 6%, matching their lowest level in several years, mortgage rates reversed course Monday, hitting their highest point in two weeks. The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed loan rose 13 basis points to 6.12%, according to Mortgage News Daily. It had fallen to a recent low of 5.99% on Feb. 23 and pretty much sat there all week.
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Missouri House Commerce Committee advances income tax elimination measure
Income tax elimination is one of Governor Mike Kehoe's top priorities for the 2026 legislative session. Income-tax revenue makes up about two-thirds of the state's revenue. If lawmakers vote yes on the HJR 174, it would cut the state's income tax to zero in 2031, and lawmakers could replace it with an expanded sales tax. When the committee heard public comments regarding HJR 174 in January, Jason Zamkus, a lobbyist with the Missouri Realtors, testified in opposition to the bill. Zamkus said the bill could force price hikes on services such as home inspections, appraisals and title insurance.
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Personal Finance: Debunking home title lock insurance
Companies peddling so-called title lock insurance rely on scare tactics to convince you pony up nearly $20 a month for a subscription service that purports to monitor the deed to your home and assist you in recovering the dwelling if you fall victim to what they ominously call "house stealing." At best, these ads are misleading and dramatically overstate the risk of loss and overstate their ability to prevent it.
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$3.79M D.C. Attorney General Settlement Ends Litigation Over Alleged Title Company Kickback Scheme
Several title companies have agreed to a combined $3,790,000 settlement with the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General to resolve allegations that they illegally offered financial incentives to local real estate agents in exchange for the agents steering customers to a specific title company.
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