February 4, 2026

A new federal reporting requirement is scheduled to take effect March 1, 2026, impacting certain residential real estate transactions— particularly non-financed transfers and transactions involving legal entities or trusts.

While REALTORS^® are not responsible for filing these reports, settlement service providers (such as title companies or closing agents) may be required to collect and submit additional information to FinCEN to increase transparency and prevent financial crimes.

Members should be aware that some transactions may involve extra questions or documentation for buyers and sellers as the industry prepares for these changes.

What triggers a report?

A report may be required when a residential real estate transaction meets certain criteria, including:

Reporting does not imply suspicion or fault; it is simply a disclosure requirement.

The goal is to prevent money laundering and illicit funds from being hidden in real estate transactions.

What’s Changing

For members, this may mean:

Upcoming virtual trainings will take place on February 10 at 10:00 a.m. EST and February 26 at 2:00 p.m. EST. These sessions will walk agents through best practices for using FOREWARN, highlight helpful tips and features, and include a live Q&A to address real-world scenarios.

Members are encouraged to visit FOREWARN's registration page to sign up. 

Thank you for helping us reinforce agent safety and awareness across our membership.

Tri-County Suburban REALTORS^® has launched a home-buying journey guide designed to help prospective buyers understand and navigate each step of the process — from pre-approval to closing — with confidence and clarity. The resource offers concise explanations and accompanying videos that break the transaction into manageable stages, making it easier for consumers to know what to expect and how to prepare.

According to the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR), 88% of home buyers work with a real estate agent or broker, and many seek help beyond simply finding a home — especially with understanding the process and paperwork. REALTOR^®-led guidance is one of the highest value propositions members can offer their clients. Buyers rely on professional expertise to interpret complex steps like financing, negotiation, and closing.

NAR data also shows that buyers continue to spend a median of about 10 weeks searching for a home and will look for trusted support throughout that journey. Providing clients with a structured guide reinforces your role as an expert and helps your buyers build confidence, particularly for first-time buyers.

For REALTORS^®, this guide can be a powerful client education and engagement tool. All flyers are customizable with your branding and contact information — making it easy to share a professional resource that adds clarity to the home-buying experience and sets expectations early on.

Created by Tri-County Suburban REALTORS^® Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, this guide breaks down each step of the home-buying journey to empower more consumers to confidently move toward homeownership. Together, the knowledge gained through this resource and the services of a Buyer’s Agent help consumers make informed decisions and successfully navigate the home-buying journey.

Transcripts for courses taken through the Association of REALTORS® School are available in your Secure Member Portal. To access these transcripts, log in using your credentials, navigate to the Events Tab → My Classes. A copy of any transcript for a course taken through the Association of REALTORS® School will appear beneath each course, labeled PA Cert.

When applying for license renewal, agents are not required to submit transcripts at the time of application for renewal. However, agents may be prompted to attest that they have completed the educational requirements associated with their licenses. Transcripts must be provided if an agent is selected for audit by the Real Estate Commission.

Please retain copies of your transcripts for your records. Transcripts do not need to be uploaded to your PALS account when you apply for renewal.

Reminder: The license renewal deadline is May 31, 2026.

This is notably higher than the national homeownership rate, which is estimated at 65.3% of households.  

Pennsylvania’s higher homeownership rate may be attributed to its affordability, as saving for a home in the Keystone State is quicker than in 38 other states. In comparison to other larger metros, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are often lauded for their affordable housing and high quality of life, and the same holds true for smaller cities like Harrisburg  and Lancaster. 

In addition, homeowners in Philly and Pittsburgh are paying less for property insurance than in 19 of the U.S.’s other largest metros.  

Pennsylvania’s also has a higher homeownership than several of its neighboring states, including New York (54.3%), New Jersey (63.9%), Maryland (67.8%) and Ohio (68.0%). 

Click here for the full list on PAR's JustListed Blog.

More than nine in 10 Americans think housing affordability is a problem, according to a nationwide survey of more than 3,000 Americans conducted by Bright MLS in December 2025. Consumers see relatively low incomes and high mortgage rates as the main reasons housing affordability is a concern.

According to survey respondents, the most commonly cited reason for the current housing affordability challenge is that people do not earn enough money to afford the purchase of a home (55.5%). High mortgage rates were the second most common response given (50.1%).

Americans do see a lack of supply of housing as a key constraint, though far fewer report that a lack of new construction is driving unaffordable housing. While 43.2% of respondents said that not enough housing is being built at lower price points, less than a quarter (24.5%) said that there is not enough housing being built where people want to live. Investors buying up homes was cited as a more important driver of the housing affordability challenge (32.3%) despite investors accounting for a relatively small share of home purchases. This survey was conducted before the Trump administration proposed a ban on the purchase of single-family homes by institutional investors.

Source: Bright Research; 2/3/2026

A proposed land deal tied to a controversial development in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, would give Delaware County its first state game lands by transferring 177 acres of the former Sleighton Farm School property in Edgmont Township to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. In the proposed land swap, warehouse developer Limerick Town Center LLC would trade 614 acres across three counties for 55 acres of State Game Land 234 near its industrial holdings in Limerick. The Sleighton parcel, now owned by Elwyn and once part of a 300-acre school for “troubled children” that closed in 2001, would become protected open space for hunting, hiking and wildlife habitat, though Edgmont officials say they only learned of the proposal last week and have not yet taken a position. While Limerick residents packed a township meeting to oppose the swap over fears it could pave the way for data centers or other intensive development, Delaware County leaders are weighing whether the unexpected chance to preserve a large swath of land near Ridley Creek State Park represents a rare public benefit.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/23/2026

February 6th | 9:00am-12:00pm
Ethics in Real Estate
Association of REALTORS^® School

February 9th | 9:00am-12:00pm
PA Req Agency Relationship Education 2024-2026
Association of REALTORS^® School

February 9th | 1:00pm-3:00pm
PA Req Fair Housing Education 2024-2026
Association of REALTORS^® School

February 13th | 9:00am-12:00pm
Contracts and the Pennsylvania Agreement of Sale for Residential Real Estate
Virtual via Zoom

February 13th | 1:00pm-3:00pm
Keep an Eye on the Exits: Time is of the Essence and Termination Options with the Agreement of Sale
Association of REALTORS^® School

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info@tcsr.realtor

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Malvern, PA 19355