Real Estate | firsttuesday Journal

Trending mortgage rates

by ft Editorial Staff | May 8, 2026 | Charts, Economics, Finance, Interest Rates, Market Watch, Real Estate | 22

Where are mortgage rates now? Check out our weekly interest rate update to track the latest market rates.

Mortgage complaint trends

by Carrie B. Reyes | May 8, 2026 | Finance, Mortgages, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Compliance doesn’t prevent all consumer complaints, but it goes a long way toward happier customers and borrowers — and better business for MLOs.

The Federal Reserve’s impact on mortgage rates

by ft Editorial Staff | May 7, 2026 | Economics, Feature Articles, Interest Rates, Real Estate | 0

Learn how the Fed is using their benchmark rate as a monetary policy tool

California tiered home pricing

by ft Editorial Staff | May 6, 2026 | Bay Area, Charts, first tuesday Local, Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-Ventura, Mortgages, Real Estate, San Diego | 46

Home prices continued to slide across California in November 2025.

Nonperformance Excused by Tardy Delivery

by ft Editorial Staff | May 6, 2026 | Feature Articles, Real Estate, Video | 1

Watch how the seller’s failure to timely deliver documents excuses the buyer’s concurrent obligation to fund escrow.

FARM: Be a good neighbor!

by ft Editorial Staff | May 6, 2026 | FARM Letters, Marketing Flyers, Real Estate | 0

To request a FARM letter topic, or to see a list of all our FARM letter templates, visit our FARM...

FARM: Making your home pet-friendly

by ft Editorial Staff | May 6, 2026 | FARM Letters, Real Estate | 1

Use this firsttuesday FARM Letter in your marketing. To request a FARM letter topic, or to see a...

DRE Bulletin Digest: Winter 2026

by Lily Hart | May 5, 2026 | Fundamentals, Laws and Regulations, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

The Winter 2026 Real Estate Bulletin lays out the California Department of Real Estate’s expectations for ethical conduct by its licensees in the age of ARMs, digital brokerages, and AI.

Form-of-the-Week: Credit report disclosure forms for originating an SFR mortgage — Forms 302, 217, 217-1, 217-2 and 219

by Amy Platero | May 5, 2026 | Finance, Forms, Fundamentals, Mortgages, Real Estate | 0

A mortgage loan originator (MLO) processing an SFR mortgage application pulls a credit report, advises the applicant of the credit agency’s score and any derogatory financial information which suggests adverse action on the application. Critical to approval, the applicant provides the MLO with explanations for the derogatory items so the MLO can process the application.

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac accept new credit score model

by Carrie B. Reyes | May 4, 2026 | Finance, Mortgages, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Lenders and MLOs now have more Enterprise-approved options for qualifying homebuyers with thin credit histories.

The representation of a seller-client

by Amy Platero | Apr 30, 2026 | Buyers and Sellers, Fundamentals, Laws and Regulations, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

Learn how to manage licensed activities as a seller agent from soliciting a seller-client and organizing the marketing of their property through closing a transaction.

The language(s) of a transparent eviction summons

by Lily Hart | Apr 29, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Assembly Bill 863 tasks the Judicial Council by 2027 to create a single summons form translated into multiple languages for use in any civil action.

CFPB cuts into mortgage discrimination rules

by Carrie B. Reyes | Apr 29, 2026 | Buyers and Sellers, New Laws, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

A new CFPB federal rule shaves down the definition for what lender actions qualify as mortgage discrimination.

Lot splitting in historic districts permits new housing

by Amy Platero | Apr 29, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

A loophole allowed local agencies to designate neighborhoods as “historic districts” barring additional housing by ordinance. Now, that local loophole is removed. Parcels in historic districts may now be subdivided and each lot constructed with a duplex.

California’s shifting residential vacancy rates tell a story

by ft Editorial Staff | Apr 28, 2026 | Charts, Economics, Property Management, Real Estate | 8

Residential vacancy rates – along with jobs and residential construction – held steady.

Disaster relief delivered at the reception desk

by Lily Hart | Apr 28, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

AB 299 sets protections for residents displaced by a disaster staying in short-term lodging for longer than 30 days.

Designated officer missteps

by Carrie B. Reyes | Apr 28, 2026 | Feature Articles, Licensing and Education, Real Estate, Your Practice | 1

This article presents three real-life scenarios in which each licensed brokerage corporation’s designated officer conducted unlawful activities which led to disciplinary and enforcement actions by the DRE.