Consumer
/Home & Leisure
Real estate Q&A: Do most HOAs prohibit paying residents to lead community classes?
Q: Our community will not pay a resident to provide a service to the community, such as leading an exercise class or instructing an art class. I was told that this is a rule in all HOA communities in the area. Is this true? — Caroline
A: In Florida, where I practice law, there is no general rule banning all homeowners associations from paying...Read more
Corporate landlords own many Las Vegas homes. Could closing a tax loophole change that?
Closing a loophole within the Nevada commerce tax, which exempts real estate investment trusts, could push large corporate entities to divest from the Las Vegas Valley’s residential real estate market.
Two state assembly members — one a Democract, and one a Republican — are a part of a growing chorus of lawmakers pointing at the exemption...Read more
A Section 8 tenant is filing dozens of $100,000 lawsuits. Is it a discrimination fight or a shakedown?
A gaggle of scorned landlords and real estate agents across Los Angeles have a message: If Alexys Watson messages you on Zillow asking if you accept Section 8 vouchers, choose your next words very, very carefully.
Over the last eight months, dozens of landlords and real estate agents have responded to Watson’s inquiries — and dozens have ...Read more
'Way more Republicans are leaving': California's exodus driven by politics and housing, study says
More voters who are registered as Republicans have left the state of California between the last two presidential elections (2020 and 2024) than Democrats, according to a new study.
Between that timeframe, approximately 39 percent of those leaving the state registered to vote were registered as Republican (compared to 25 percent Democrat), and ...Read more
Ford repurchase seeks to stabilize shares as GM buys more
Ford Motor Co. has unveiled a share repurchase program — but it differs from General Motors Co.'s buyback efforts in a big way.
The Dearborn automaker on Friday announced a plan to buy up to 31.7 million common shares of Ford stock. It's an anti-dilutive measure that seeks to minimize impact on its share price from the company's grant of ...Read more
Jonathan Lansner: Why do 31% of Americans want a housing crash?
If profit motives in the real estate industry could contribute to housing problems, can we acknowledge that personal finances also cloud individuals’ opinions on property matters?
Consider a survey conducted for LendingTree that found, among other things, that 31% of Americans want the housing market to crash.
Contemplate how these polling ...Read more
Palantir's CEO is buyer of $46 million Miami mansion
Palantir Technologies Inc.’s chief executive Alex Karp bought a Miami mansion in June, seven months before the firm’s surprise announcement to move its headquarters to the city, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Public records show the property, located in Miami Beach on a man-made island, was purchased for $46 million by ...Read more
Senate passes housing bill with Trump investor ban, setting up clash in House
The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill aimed at boosting the nation’s supply of homes on an 89-10 vote, setting up a showdown in the House over a contentious provision to limit Wall Street’s footprint in the housing market.
The bill bars investors with more than 350 houses from purchasing additional single-family homes — a ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: Can builders put up mini-billboards in my residential neighborhood?
Q: They’ve been building the house at the end of my block for months, and the builder put out these giant signs like mini-billboards, and they look terrible. If we’re not allowed to have billboards in our residential neighborhood, how do they get away with this? — Alison
A: Construction projects can be a common sight in many neighborhoods...Read more
Netflix goes from M&A loser to market winner without Warner deal
Netflix Inc.’s stock price is staging a dramatic reversal triggered by management’s decision to walk away from its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. late last month.
“The core business is phenomenal and they never needed that deal — it was a nice to have, not a must have,” Wedbush analyst Alicia Reese said. “It’...Read more
Survey: Americans are increasingly entangled in financial scams; experts say AI is contributing to the problem
A growing number of people say they’ve experienced some form of financial fraud over the past year, especially older, white Americans, despite taking a variety of precautions to protect themselves, Bankrate’s latest national survey has found.
Experts said scammers are getting increasingly crafty, using artificial intelligence to clone ...Read more
Rocket accused of kickback scheme, hiking cost of homebuying
A lawsuit alleging hundreds of thousands of homebuyers overpaid because Detroit-based Rocket Companies' mortgage unit colluded with real estate agents highlights decades-old affordable housing issues and the role of federal watchdogs under President Donald Trump.
Plaintiffs' attorneys in a January lawsuit describe the alleged deal between ...Read more
Sub-6% mortgage rates vanish as Iran war sparks inflation fears
U.S. homebuyers had to act fast last week to nab the first sub-6% mortgage rates in more than three years. Now they’re up, and the new conflict in the Middle East threatens to nudge them higher.
The average for 30-year, fixed loans climbed to 6% from 5.98% last week, which was the lowest point since September 2022, data from Freddie Mac ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: Can HOA require me to clean a roof that I don't think is dirty?
Q: Can my association fine me because they’re saying my roof is dirty and needs to be power-washed? When I asked them what the guidelines were, they just pointed to the section that said I was responsible for general maintenance under the declaration. I think my roof looks fine. Can they make me power wash my roof? — Zach
A: Homeowners ...Read more
New answer to affordable housing? Yes In God's Backyard movement comes to CT
Affordable housing advocates along with dozens of churches across the state are trying to launch the so-called YIGBY campaign in Connecticut this week by supporting a proposed law making it easier to build apartments on church-owned land.
The Yes In God’s Backyard movement bills itself as a creative way to quickly construct affordable housing...Read more
Las Vegas lost the most construction jobs of any US city last year, report says
Las Vegas lost more construction jobs than anywhere else in the country last year, according to a new report.
Data from the Associated General Contractors of America showed the area had the biggest percentage loss, as well as overall numerical loss, of construction jobs out of the largest 360 metro areas in 2025. The valley lost a total of 8,...Read more
Tax refunds are larger this year. Make yours a stepping stone for your future
Tax refunds are the biggest windfall of the year for many American households. And ‘tis the season: Through the week ending Feb. 13, nearly 13 million people had received 2025 federal tax refunds averaging $2,476, according to the IRS.
That average refund amount is up 14% from the same time period last year, and it’s expected to grow in the...Read more
Redfin to show some non-MLS home listings in deal with Compass
Redfin visitors will soon be able to see for-sale homes that haven’t been widely advertised — but Washington properties may not be included, as the practice remains restricted in the state.
Rocket Companies, owner of Seattle-based Redfin, announced on Thursday a three-year syndication agreement with real estate brokerage Compass to showcase...Read more
The newest trend in LA office space: In-house studios for traveling influencers
For the trendiest tenants in Hollywood office buildings, it's the latest fad that goes way beyond designer furniture and art: mini studios
To capitalize on the never-ending flow of stars and influencers who come through Los Angeles, a growing number of companies are building bright little corners for content creators to try products and shoot ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: How can I stop neighbor from leaving dogs' waste in my yard?
Q: My neighbor down the block walks their dogs up and down the street. The dogs often relieve themselves on my lawn, and the neighbor doesn’t pick it up. It’s really getting old. What can I do about it? — Irwin
A: Dealing with neighborhood issues can be frustrating, especially when it feels like someone is not respecting your property. ...Read more
Popular Stories
- A Section 8 tenant is filing dozens of $100,000 lawsuits. Is it a discrimination fight or a shakedown?
- Corporate landlords own many Las Vegas homes. Could closing a tax loophole change that?
- New answer to affordable housing? Yes In God's Backyard movement comes to CT
- Real estate Q&A: Do most HOAs prohibit paying residents to lead community classes?
- 'Way more Republicans are leaving': California's exodus driven by politics and housing, study says






