Palm Beach County deputies investigated missing escrow funds tied to a Riviera Beach woman

Riviera Beach Woman Accused of Posing as a Realtor and Draining $37,205 in Escrow Money From a First-Time Palm Springs Homebuyer

 Joshua Adkins  September 8, 2026

Palm Beach County deputies say the money meant for closing costs was routed through a company account, then quickly spent on personal expenses and transfers.

Calculator, house keys, and mortgage rate figures on a desk

National 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate Holds at 6.67% as Purchase Loans Stay Below Refinance Rates in Zillow’s Monday Survey

 Joshua Adkins  September 8, 2026

Zillow’s latest national averages show purchase rates edging below refi pricing for fixed loans, while adjustable-rate loans remain mixed.

Calculator and house keys next to mortgage rate figures on a screen

Mortgage and Refinance Rates Climb Week Over Week as Zillow Puts the 30 Year Fixed at 6.67 Percent and Forecasts Keep Borrowing Costs Elevated Through 2026

 Joshua Adkins  September 7, 2026

National mortgage averages moved higher again, with Zillow data showing increases across major loan types and forecasts calling for rates to stay near current levels.

A quiet residential street in a low-cost retirement town with modest single-family homes

Seven Low-Cost U.S. Retirement Towns From Illinois to Texas Offer Buyers Housing Markets Where High Mortgage Rates Matter Less

 Joshua Adkins  September 7, 2026

MoneyLion highlights smaller and mid-sized places where lower home prices may soften the impact of today’s still-elevated mortgage rates for retirees.

A Connecticut apartment building in winter during a tenant dispute over lack of heat

Niantic Senior Wins Housing Court Case After Going Without Heat All Winter in a Connecticut Landlord Dispute That Exposed Unsafe Living Conditions

 Joshua Adkins  September 7, 2026

A local judge sided with an older tenant after months without heat in his apartment, ordering relief in a case that highlighted basic habitability problems.

Apartment buildings and rental homes in New Paltz, New York

New Paltz Adopts Good Cause Eviction Law, Giving Tenants More Protection From Unjust Evictions and Large Rent Hikes in Ulster County

 Joshua Adkins  September 7, 2026

The town joins a growing list of New York municipalities using the tenant-protection measure, while small-scale landlords remain exempt.

A Staten Island home in Annadale with reported utility problems and exterior neglect

Staten Island Family Says Annadale Landlord Neglect Left Their Home Barely Livable After Utility Cutoffs, Winter Heat Loss and City Repair Costs

 Joshua Adkins  September 7, 2026

City records and the family’s account describe utility shutoffs, open violations and more than $13,000 in emergency repairs at the Annadale property.

Survivors and organizers at the groundbreaking site for Chicago’s Washington Park torture memorial

Chicago Torture Survivors Break Ground on Washington Park Memorial After Decade-Long Delay, Marking First State-Sponsored Monument in the United States for Law Enforcement Violence

 Joshua Adkins  September 7, 2026

The Chicago memorial will honor survivors tortured under former police Commander Jon Burge and is expected to open in early 2027.

A row of suburban homes as mortgage rates rise and affordability remains strained

Mortgage Rates Jump to Their Highest Level Since 2025 as Bond Market Turmoil Deepens the Housing Affordability Crunch for U.S. Buyers and Homebuilders Nationwide

 Joshua Adkins  September 6, 2026

Freddie Mac says the average 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.71% this week, raising monthly payments and keeping both buyers and sellers on the sidelines.

A mortgage calculator beside housing paperwork and a phone showing U.S. jobs data

U.S. Hiring Rebounds in August as 147,000 Jobs Are Added and Mortgage Rates Edge Higher, Sending Mixed Signals to Households and Businesses

 Joshua Adkins  September 6, 2026

Fresh labor data pointed to a stronger job market, while higher borrowing costs and sticky inflation kept pressure on consumers.