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San Diego-based Smartfi Home Loans, which is primarily active as a wholesale lender in the reverse mortgage space and is actively building a retail division that offers reverse mortgage products, has hired industry veteran Martin Lenoir as its new chief marketing officer. Lenoir most recently served as CMO at American Advisors Group (AAG), the industry’s former leading lender prior to its acquisition last year by Finance of America (FOA). In an exclusive interview with HousingWire’s Reverse Mortgage Daily, Lenoir and retail sales president Paul Fiore — who also joined Smartfi recently — discuss what their goals are in continuing to…

Oktoberfest is a worldwide phenomenon, a Bavarian beer festival celebrated in countries around the globe.But many say nowhere is it more fun than in its original home of Munich. The festival attracts some six million celebrants every year, according to a festival website operated by Munich’s Department of Labor and Economics.As a non-Bavarian German, I visit Munich regularly and have learned a few things about attending the festival, known simply as the “Wiesn.” Here’s my advice.What to wearThe dress code for many is the traditional Bavarian dirndl, for women, and lederhosen, for men. In stark contrast to other parts of…

The Duke of Sussex’s US visa application should remain private despite him admitting taking drugs in his memoir, a judge has ruled.Prince Harry wrote of using marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir Spare, which was released in January 2023. A lawsuit, from the conservative Heritage Foundation, sought to compel the government to release the records to show whether drug use was disclosed.But US judge Carl Nichols ruled on Monday that “the public does not have a strong interest in disclosure of the duke’s immigration records”.”Like any foreign national, the duke has a legitimate privacy interest in his immigration…

Though the holiday season is a way off, one coveted limited-edition gift to shop now are beauty Advent calendars because they sell out so fast (and once they’re gone, they’re gone for the year.) These one-and-done gifts are a life-saver for anyone you’re unsure what to shop for. Nowadays, just about every beauty brand has a gift-worthy Advent calendar featuring a collection of bestselling makeup, skin care, fragrance or hair care goodies that you get to open every morning. Delight a beauty lover with a variety of gifts all together in one adorable package.Beauty Advent calendars are often similar to traditional…

California District Judge George H. Wu declined Move’s preliminary injunction request against CoStar on Monday, stating the portal failed to prove the risk of “imminent, irreparable harm.” Whether it’s refining your business model, mastering new technologies, or discovering strategies to capitalize on the next market surge, Inman Connect New York will prepare you to take bold steps forward. The Next Chapter is about to begin. Be part of it. Join us and thousands of real estate leaders Jan. 22-24, 2025. California District Judge George H. Wu has declined Move’s request for a preliminary injunction against rival portal CoStar Group, according to court documents filed…

Amazon’s corporate employees must be in the office 5 times a week starting in January. Those at Amazon-subsidiary Audible have longer to comply.Audible CEO Bob Carrigan told employees in an email last week that the company will start the 5-day RTO policy on April 2, 2025, in part due to the additional space the company is making available in its Newark office. Employees who wish to come in 3 times a week can do so earlier, as Audible expects to have enough office space to accommodate them by January, he added.Audible has a minimum 2 day per week RTO policy…

Jury rejects defence plea that Ahmad Alissa was insane and hearing voices prior to 2021 shooting.A gunman who fatally shot 10 people at a grocery store in Colorado in 2021 has been found guilty of murder and could face life in prison. On Monday, a jury rejected the defence’s argument that 25-year-old Ahmad Alissa should be found not guilty by reason of insanity. The defence had argued that Alissa was diagnosed with schizophrenia and could not distinguish the meaning of his actions when he opened fire at the King Soopers grocery store in the city of Boulder. “This tragedy was…

Is Sean Teale married? The handsome actor has fans curious. You may know him from shows like Reign, The Gifted, Skins, and Incorporated. His latest project is Doctor Odyssey. He’s part of the main cast — playing part of a small, dedicated medical team on a luxury cruise ship. The show promises to be saucy, but what about his real love life? Sean Teale attends the premiere for ABC’s ‘Doctor Odyssey’ at Bel-Air Bay Club on September 18, 2024. (Photo Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images) Who is Sean Teale? Sean Teale is a British actor. He was born in 1992, making…

Seller repurchases of Freddie Mac mortgages rose to $430 million in the second quarter of 2024, a 29.1% increase from the first quarter, according to an analysis of public filings by Inside Mortgage Finance. By contrast, sellers of loans through fellow government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Fannie Mae repurchased $268.5 million in noncompliant loans during the same period, a 27.7% decline from Q1 2024. Overall, buybacks dropped by 0.8%. Some lenders feel stung by Freddie’s approach. In late June, a top mortgage executive told HousingWire that the repurchase problem with the GSE “has accelerated 10x. Our Freddie Mac requests are up 100%…

Mark Robinson, lieutenant governor of North Carolina and candidate for governor, speaks prior to Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaking at a campaign event at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, on Aug. 14, 2024.Grant Baldwin | Getty ImagesThe political network largely funded by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch has been quietly backing North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson despite a litany of controversies, according to records uncovered by CNBC.The Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity ran digital advertisements supporting Robinson as recently as this month. It’s also funded pro-Robinson door knocking, launched a website that encouraged voters to thank…