OneUnited Bank Launches $50K Homebuyer Grant, Bill Ackman to Take Howard Hughes Private for $1B, Sixth Suspect Charged in Killing of Markham Realtor Yuk-Ying Mui

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OneUnited Bank Launches $50K Homebuyer Grant

In a move to empower first-time homebuyers, OneUnited Bank, the nation’s largest Black-owned bank, is launching a new program in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The bank is rolling out its Lift Up Homeownership Program, which offers grants of up to $50,000 to help cover down payment and closing costs for qualifying buyers from communities of color. This initiative, supported by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, aims to address the racial wealth gap and make homeownership more accessible to those historically excluded from the housing market.

Teri Williams, President and COO of OneUnited Bank, says the cost of buying a starter home is simply too high, and this program is designed to help bridge that gap. “We hope our participation in down payment assistance programs will make a real difference, especially in areas like L.A., which is recovering from recent wildfires,” she added.

The program will be available starting April 1st, and grants will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit oneunited.com/firsthome.

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Sixth Suspect Charged in Killing of Markham Realtor Yuk-Ying Mui

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is making headlines with a bold $1 billion offer to take Howard Hughes Holdings private, modeling it after Berkshire Hathaway. Ackman, through his hedge fund Pershing Square, already owns 37.6% of the real estate giant and plans to buy out the remaining shares at $85 each, a 9.5% premium from its current value.

The aim? To transform Howard Hughes into a modern-day Berkshire Hathaway, acquiring controlling stakes in operating companies, much like Warren Buffett’s iconic model. Ackman, who’s been involved with the company for over a decade, criticized its stock price performance and sees this as the way forward.

Shares of Howard Hughes jumped to nearly $79 following the announcement, as Ackman plans to increase his stake to between 61% and 69%. The company, which owns and manages a vast portfolio of commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate across the U.S., is valued at $3.6 billion.

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Bill Ackman to Take Howard Hughes Private for $1B

A 19-year-old Toronto man, Javin Liu, has been charged in the high-profile killing of Markham Realtor® Yuk-Ying (Anita) Mui, bringing the total number of suspects to six. Court records reveal Liu, along with two others, is accused of using a firearm to kill Mui in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario, on August 9, 2024, the day her family reported her missing. Liu faces charges including manslaughter, accessory after the fact to murder, and kidnapping.

Mui’s remains were discovered days later, burned in McDougall Township—more than a week before authorities made the announcement. Police also revealed that Zhixiong “Marko” Hu, one of the co-accused, fled Canada for Hong Kong after the crime. A Canada-wide arrest warrant is in effect for Hu, who faces first-degree murder charges.

York Regional Police are still investigating the motives behind the killing and whether any of the suspects knew Mui. Investigators are working with RCMP to track down Hu. As of now, no additional suspects are being sought, but police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

This case continues to develop, with six people now charged in connection to the disappearance and death of this prominent real estate agent.

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