Midwest Real Estate Data moves to abandon NAR membership requirement

Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) moved Monday to formally separate access to its multiple listing service (MLS) from mandatory membership with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) — a change the organization’s leader said is aimed at expansion and risk management. MRED offers wholesale listing

Atlantic Avenue Mortgage leads HECM broker endorsement activity in January

Following in the footsteps of an initial dataset for 2025, Reverse Market Insight (RMI) and HECMWorld published updated numbers this week for reverse mortgage broker and third-party originator activity. While the top Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) originators for January 2026 did not vary fr

Fed Holds Rates Steady as Geopolitical Tensions Mount

As largely expected, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, leaving the federal funds rate unchanged at a rate of 3.5% – 3.75%—the same level established following December’s quarter-point cut. There was a singular dissenting vote fr

What Debt-to-Income Ratio Do You Need to Get Approved for a Mortgage?

Key Takeaways: Debt-to-income ratio helps lenders determine how much house you can afford. A lower DTI ratio is more appealing to lenders because it shows you have more financial flexibility and are less risky to lend to. Borrowers with high DTI ratios may have a harder time getting approved for a m