INDUSTRY HEADLINES WITH KEVIN KAUFFMAN AND FRED WEAVER

Privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac The Trump administration released its long-awaited plan to reform the nation’s housing finance system and privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, calling it the "last unfinished business of the financial crisis." The recommendations include: "simplifying" the Qualified Mortgage rule and eliminating the so-called QM patch that allows Fannie and Freddie to sidestep some regulations; reducing "unnecessary regulatory impediments" for private-label securitization; and promoting private-sector competition.

 

Realogy makes major structural changes amid market stumble The company is consolidating its Coldwell Banker operations, launching an expansion brands portfolio and carving out a new product and innovation footprint

Amidst the changes, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate CEO Sherry Chris will shift into a new role as chief executive across the expansion brands portfolio of Better Homes and Gardens, ERA Real Estate and Climb Real Estate, for which she’ll be tasked with building a leadership team. ERA Real Estate CEO Simon Chen will head up Realogy’s new product and innovation team.

 

Former Realogy exec temporarily barred from Compass' alleged 'dummy' job A New Jersey judge says Compass was complicit in accepting proprietary information and created a 'dummy job' to recruit Urvin Pandya

 

IBuying giant Opendoor acquires title and escrow company Opendoor believes that by acquiring OS National it will be able to provide consumers the 'most streamlined and easiest closing experience'

 

Zillow seeks $1.1B in fresh capital The company is offering $600M in senior notes due in 2024 and another $500M in senior notes due in 2026