A Failing Roof Led Her To Buy Her Mom’s House—and Take On the Cost of Aging in Place

Alyson Austin was stranded at her mother’s home in Maine when she began to see how much the house had aged. It was March 2020, and Austin had come east from California for her mother Gail’s 85th birthday. But as pandemic shutdowns stretched her visit longer than expected, she noticed a roof past its

The hidden cost of leverage: Why today’s real estate investors need to be more conservative than ever

For decades, leverage has been one of the greatest wealth-building tools available to real estate investors. The ability to control a large asset with a relatively small amount of cash has helped countless investors build portfolios, generate passive income and create long-term wealth. But somewhere

The mortgage industry is on an AI binge. Let’s make the hangover optional.

I watched mortgage leaders embrace AI at The Gathering in Austin. And for good reason: The tools are getting good, the productivity math is starting to math and the competitive pressure is doing what classic IMB horse races do. I left more bullish about AI in the industry than when I arrived. I also

The spring selling season that wasn’t: Why builders are pivoting to margin recovery

At the start of 2026, many homebuilding industry leaders anticipated that falling mortgage rates would revitalize consumer interest. Instead, rates have remained stubbornly elevated, with the 30-year fixed rate expected to stay in the 6%-6.5% range over the next three years. Home price appreciation