Heartland’s Affordable Innovation Oasis Emerges as a Real Estate Powerhouse

Best known as the home of a world-class public university, Champaign-Urbana, IL, is capturing national attention well beyond the halls of academia thanks to an unexpected housing market surge. Located two hours south of Chicago and west of Indianapolis, IN, the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, w

Stock Wealth Surges Past Real Estate: Should First-Time Buyers Hold Off To Build a Down Payment?

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right moment to buy your first home, you’re certainly not alone. With mortgage rates at a standstill in the mid-6% range, many first-time homebuyers are using this time to build their down payment savings.  If this sounds like you, you’ve likel

Housing Week Ahead: Fed Decision, Home Price Data, and Spotlight on Delaware Luxury Market

The Realtor.com® economic research team is preparing for a full slate of market reports and economic indicators over the next five days. Senior economists Hannah Jones and Anthony Smith kick off the week with the Summer 2026 Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Housing and Luxury Market Rankings on Monda

When your AI vendor gets it wrong, you’re still responsible 

Mortgage servicers are misreading the current moment. Enforcement looks quiet, but accountability has never been broader. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued zero consent orders against servicers in 2026. Enforcement staffing is being cut by 80%, and the Office of the Comptrol