WebCE's Weekly Wrap-Up: October 3, 2025
WebCE Staff
By
October 3, 2025
.jpg)
What will a new Texas Stock Exchange mean for the financial markets? Could your health insurance premiums really double next year? This week's wrap-up tackles these critical questions and more.
We dive into the SEC's landmark approval of the TXSE, explore the urgent issue of expiring ACA tax credits, and cover crucial updates from the IRS and FinCEN affecting real estate and business.
We also have essential stories on insurance fraud, leadership strategy, and a massive new data-sharing agreement in the Texas real estate market.
To help you finish Q4 strong, our featured podcast answers agents' most pressing questions, and we close with a look at the so-called "Taylor Swift Tax" shaking up the vacation-home industry.
Let’s dive in.
Top News of the Week
Texas Stock Exchange Receives SEC Approval, Will Launch in 2026 (D Magazine)
“The United States Securities and Exchange Commission approved the Texas Stock Exchange’s Form 1 registration today. Submitted for approval on Jan. 31, 2025, the TXSE becomes the first fully-integrated exchange to get greenlit in decades and will launch in 2026...
“TXSE’s pitch includes lighter structural restrictions—for example, fewer complex order types—and freer board decision-making ability than what some critics view as prescriptive rules at incumbent exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.”
ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire (KFF Health News)
“Based on the earlier federal data and more recent other publicly available information, KFF now estimates that, if Congress extends enhanced premium tax credits, subsidized enrollees would save $1,016 in premium payments over the year in 2026 on average. In other words, expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits is estimated to more than double what subsidized enrollees currently pay annually for premiums—a 114% increase from an average of $888 in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026. (The average premium payment net of tax credits among subsidized enrollees held steady at $888 annually in 2024 and 2025 due to the enhanced premium tax credits).”
State insurance commissioners urge Congress to extend NFIP (Insurance Business Magazine)
“A group of state insurance commissioners is urging Congress to approve a long-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and to implement measures that would encourage growth in the private flood insurance market.”
Former Adjuster Charged With Creating Then Approving $190K in Fraudulent Claims (Insurance Journal)
“According to court documents, Philbin was a property claims adjuster for Assurant Insurance Co. and had authority to approve insurance claims. From October 3, 2022, to May 22, 2023, Philbin allegedly knowingly created or caused to be created 11 fictitious claim files under false identities. According to prosecutors, he also fabricated vendor estimates and invoices purporting to reflect emergency mitigation or restoration work by non-existent companies.”
The one question every business leader must ask (Investment News)
A leadership mantra that’s worth following is “Run every decision through the client lens.” It keeps your business anchored in purpose, even as markets shift and pressures mount. When leaders adopt this mindset, they fuel sustainable growth, deepen client trust, and build businesses that endure. The question to ask daily: “How will this impact our clients?”
IRS removes associated property rule in final interest capitalization regulations (Journal of Accountancy)
“The IRS on Wednesday issued final regulations (T.D. 10034) that remove the associated property rule and similar rules from regulations under Sec. 263A(f) regarding interest capitalization requirements for improvements constituting designated property. The final regulations also modify the definition of “improvement” as it applies to the existing regulations, and, because of the removal of the associated property rule, they modify other rules.”
IRS Posts Guidance on Opportunity Zone Tax Incentives for Rural Areas (CPA Practice Advisor)
“Notice 2025-50 provides clarification on two important OBBBA provisions: the definition of “rural area” and the application of the substantial improvement threshold for certain improvements to property located in a QOZ that is comprised entirely of a rural area.”
Texas’ 2 largest MLSs activate data share (Real Estate News)
“The Houston Realtors Information Service (HAR.com), announced today that its data sharing agreement with North Texas Real Estate Information Systems (NTREIS) is now active. HAR.com's deal with Texas' largest MLS follows other significant partnerships unveiled last year. In October 2024, the Houston-based MLS inked similar agreements with Unlock MLS in Austin and the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR) MLS — recently rebranded as LERA MLS — bringing together the second, third and fourth-largest MLSs in the state.”
FinCEN Announces Postponement of Residential Real Estate Reporting Until March 1, 2026
“To reduce business burden and ensure effective regulation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today announced that it will postpone reporting requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Residential Real Estate Transfers Rule (RRE Rule) until March 1, 2026. FinCEN is taking this step to provide industry with more time to comply—consistent with the Administration’s agenda to reduce compliance burden—while still adequately protecting the U.S. financial system from money laundering, terrorist financing, and other serious illicit finance threats.”
Break the Curse of Knowledge (Association for Talent Development)
“When humans learn something new, not only does it quickly become a part of our internalized body of knowledge, but we forget what it was like to not know it. We lose empathy for people who don't know it, and we cannot comprehend how they got so far in life without it. That phenomenon is called the Curse of Knowledge. It hampers communication, muddies the knowledge that subject matter experts try to impart to others, and is poison to onboarding. Thankfully, we can break the curse.”
Top Podcast of the Week
The Real Estate Q&A That Agents Need This Q4
The Tom Ferry Podcast Experience
30 Minutes
“After the recent Success Summit, Tom Ferry received hundreds of questions from high-performing agents on the front lines of today’s market.
In this podcast episode, he’s answering some of those questions for you. These are likely the same challenges you’re facing right now, with practical strategies to help you win.
You’ll get advice on:
The best new tech and tools for agents to adopt right now
Why some popular content trends can hurt your brand more than help it
How to leverage Google Maps to raise your price point
The first steps for agents who are retiring or planning to leave the business
Secrets for successful cold outreach
This is a real estate Q&A designed to give you clarity, confidence, and direction so you can finish the year strong and enter the next with unstoppable momentum.”
Weekend Wind-Down
‘Taylor Swift Tax’ targets owners of RI summer homes, alters vacation real estate
“A new surcharge on second homes valued at or exceeding $1 million will take effect July 1, 2026. The Non-Owner Occupied Property Tax will apply to all residences occupied by their owner or long-term renter for less than 183 days per year, and will issue an additional charge of $2.50 for every $500 in property value above the first $1 million.”
“The bill has been nicknamed the “Taylor Swift Tax” on social media. While Swift has no relation to the tax, the pop star owns a $17.75 million mansion in Westerly and would have to pay an additional $136,000 in taxes starting next year.”