Fri.Oct 18, 2024

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One mortgage lender abandons the Florida condo market

Housing Wire

California-based Provident Funding Associates LLC is getting out of the Florida condo lending business , it told broker partners on Friday. In an email sent Friday morning, Provident said that it would “no longer be accepting new applications for condominiums ” effective that day. Provident told broker partners that all loans in the pipeline must be locked by 11:59 p.m.

Mortgages 521
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Why Buying Now Is Worth It

Keeping Current Matters

You may be torn between buying a home now or waiting. But don’t forget to factor in the equity you’ll gain as prices rise.

Equity 281
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Open house power up: A realtor’s guide

Housing Wire

Important Note * Check your local forms for options around discussing buyer agency with visiting prospects. Follow your local MLS and broker rules and regulations and master how to speak to the prospects about their options. Open houses are still a fundamental pillar of the business. NAR reports that 53% of home buyers visit open houses. So more than half of the buyers out there shopping, at some point in their search, will be visiting open houses.

Agents 454
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Veterans could drive homebuying demand in 2025

Real Estate News

A recent survey found that while both veterans and civilians are feeling more prepared to buy, veterans are more likely to purchase a home in the next year.

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Avoiding Lease Accounting Pitfalls in 2025: Lessons Learned from Spreadsheet Errors

Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant

Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.

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Home construction data offers glimmers of optimism — but with a caveat

Housing Wire

The number of housing units that came online in September showed a big year-over-year jump, but data on earlier stages of construction suggest not much is coming through the pipeline. That’s according to monthly data on new residential construction from the U.S. Census Bureau, which shows year-over-year declines in building permits (-5.7%) and housing starts (-0.7%).

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NAR breaks down listing agreements, how agent pay ties in

Real Estate News

The latest consumer guide covers different types of contracts between sellers and their agents, and the “fully negotiable” nature of agent compensation.

Agents 226

More Trending

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For one pandemic boom town, balance is returning

Real Estate News

Buyers flooded the Austin market a few years ago, sending home prices sky-high. Now, the market has come back to earth, but affordability is still an issue.

Marketing 208
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Flagstar Bank lays off 700, with 1,200 more to depart after asset sale to Mr. Cooper

Housing Wire

New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) this week announced that it rebranded to Flagstar Bank , laid off 700 employees and anticipated the transition of another 1,200 to Mr. Cooper Group as part of the sale of its third-party origination (TPO) business and mortgage servicing rights (MSRs). The changes come after NYCB, which concluded a merger with Flagstar in December 2022 and acquired some of Signature Bank ‘s assets in March 2023, faced a confidence crisis related to its commercial real estate port

Banks 428
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‘Unfiltered’: Tech investors don't get ‘the nuances of our business’

Real Estate News

Watch the conversation with broker and proptech expert Heather Harmon, who discusses her time at Opendoor — and what tech companies get wrong about real estate.

Investor 189
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Fairway’s Steve Jacobson is ’focused on speed’ as he builds company culture

Housing Wire

In this week’s episode of the Power House podcast , HousingWire President Diego Sanchez speaks with Steve Jacobson, CEO of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. The pair explore best practices for building a company culture surrounded by humility and loyalty, growth strategies, community engagement and more. The duo also discusses Fairway’s status as a top 15 mortgage lender even after its decision to leave the wholesale channel.

As-is 427
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Driving Profit: 4 Pillars for Growing Your Real Estate Brokerage

In the rapidly changing real estate landscape, achieving profitability requires a strategic approach beyond traditional methods. Our guide, "The 4 Pillars to Brokerage Profitability," outlines four essential pillars for scaling your real estate business: a seamless lead-to-close technology ecosystem, tailored integrated solutions for teams and agents, value-added success services and community support, and consumer-centric operations throughout the full homeownership lifecycle.

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A 25-acre ‘tree house’ haven with an airplane guest room hits market

Inman

The unique getaway completed in 2010 by late craftsman and entrepreneur Reggie Whibley is on the market for $1.75 million. The hunt is on for a buyer who doesn't care about cell or internet service.

Marketing 187
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The month in reverse mortgage rates: October 2024

Housing Wire

When older homeowners wish to access a portion of their equity, there are multiple options. Of course, selling the home is generally not desirable. A cash-out refinance is also not a prudent pathway for retirees. A refinance not only saddles the homeowner with a required monthly payment but will also typically result in a higher interest rate for those that refinanced in the last decade.

Mortgages 427
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Flagstar shedding 1,900 workers, but many could land at Mr. Cooper

Inman

A majority of the 1,200 Flagstar employees being let go in $1.4 billion sale of the company's mortgage servicing business will be offered the opportunity to transfer to Dallas-based Mr. Cooper.

Land 184
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Ruoff Mortgage teams with Calque on ‘buy before you sell’ offering

Housing Wire

Indiana-based lender Ruoff Mortgage is making a move designed to help more homeowners get into new homes with ease. Ruoff Mortgage is teaming up with fintech company Calque to offer two “buy before you sell“ programs to customers. The Trade-In Mortgage and the Contingency Buster will be available to Ruoff Mortgage borrowers via the company’s online platform and mobile app.

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Tech-Forward Strategies for Scaling Agent Efficiency & Accelerating Growth

As the real estate market evolves, technology has become essential for success. According to NAR, only 26% of agents feel their brokerage provides the necessary tech tools and, as a result, agents seek teams and brokerages who prioritize technology investments! Whether you manage an established team or are forming a new one, this guide outlines key considerations and necessary applications to thrive.

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Majority of sellers know they aren’t on hook for buyer commission: Poll

Inman

In a nationwide Inman-Dig Insight poll of active homebuyers, fewer than 5 percent of shoppers now listing their current home said they didn't realize that they could decline to pay buyer-side commissions.

Brokerage 166
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What should other brokerages glean from Howard Hanna’s commission lawsuit dismissal?

Housing Wire

Real estate professionals will be looking to the recent decision in the Moratis commission lawsuit as they seek clarity on the outcomes of related cases. (Image generated by AI in Midjourney) In the nearly 12 months since a Missouri jury found the real estate industry liable for colluding to artificially inflate real estate agent commissions, much of the discussion has centered upon the settlement agreements that have followed and how the industry can move on from this verdict.

Brokerage 416
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Breaking bad news: How to have tough client conversations

Inman

The energy you bring to client communication, Rachael Hite writes, can be the difference between a peaceful process and buyer or seller meltdown.

Agents 179
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ICE Mortgage Technology: An all-in-one solution for the modern mortgage market

Housing Wire

The mortgage industry today demands speed, accuracy, and satisfied customers. ICE Mortgage Technology presents their solution that also serves as an overhaul of the home financing process. They’ve built a digital platform that brings together loan origination , closing, servicing, and data analysis into an all-in-one mortgage solution. This comprehensive system is aimed at making life easier for lenders, servicers, and real estate professionals while giving borrowers a smoother, better exp

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The Broker Action Plan for the Post-NAR Lawsuit Landscape

Now more than ever, brokers need to provide agents with the right tools, strategies, and training to effectively demonstrate their expertise, negotiate successfully, and foster strong client relationships. So – what should brokers do to ensure this? Invest in the right technology, continuous education, and innovative marketing strategies that empower agents to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

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FootFallz hits high notes, but it’s a familiar tune: Tech Review

Inman

FootFallz is a mobile-first application that fastens the listing agent to their title rep and mortgage partners and marries productivity with new business generation.

Title 169
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FHLBanks respond to FHFA report on affordable housing investments

Housing Wire

The Council of Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) lauded this week’s release of a report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which highlighted the banks’ growth in support of affordable housing and community development efforts in 2023. The report detailed FHLBanks’ activity across several programs that include the Affordable Housing Program (AHP), the Community Investment Program (CIP), the Community Investment Cash Advance Program (CICA) and other “voluntary targeted mission-activi

Banks 381
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Real estate investors ran $230M Ponzi ploy to recoup shareholders

Inman

Executives of investment firm iCap ran the scheme from 2013 to 2022, a federal bankruptcy judge ruled this week. They turned to the scheme when their real estate portfolio failed to yield results.

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The Fed’s monetary policy is stifling new construction

Housing Wire

Since mortgage rates have headed higher again, I was anticipating that today’s housing starts report would be the last decent print before the effects of higher mortgage rates hit the builders, but even this report was disappointing. We had a good few months of positive builder confidence data for the new home sector and positive purchase application data for existing home sales.

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Accelerating Real Estate Sales Pipelines to Streamline Buyer Journeys

Navigated 360° tours, like YourVRTours, advance pipelines by engaging clients further along the sales funnel. These immersive experiences provide comprehensive property insights, increasing buyer intent and readiness. By embracing navigated tours, agents can optimize property exposure, better qualify leads, and streamline the sales process. Stay ahead in the ever-evolving real estate landscape with innovative technology that elevates buyer journeys and progresses pipelines more effectively.

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Beverly Hills-based The Agency tips hat to latest Dallas recruits

Inman

Led by Megan and Damon Williamson, The Agency's rapidly growing Dallas office most recently onboarded luxury agents Courtney Michalek of Compass and Andrea Childress of Monument Realty.

Agents 159
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Single-Family Starts Trend Higher in September

Eye on Housing

With the Federal Reserve beginning an easing of monetary policy and builder sentiment improving, single-family starts posted a modest gain in September while multifamily construction continued to weaken because of tight financing and an ongoing rise in completed apartments. Overall housing starts decreased 0.5% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.35 million.

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How to defuse explosive real estate situations

Inman

Conflict with clients and colleagues is stressful, Bernice Ross writes. Find out how to respond to and deal with that stress so that it doesn't take a toll on you or your transactions.

Agents 153
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A Looming Data Privacy Crisis That Could Trigger a Major Disruption For Investors

Bigger Pockets

Data privacy is an ever-increasing concern, particularly in finance, where sensitive information like personal and business bank statements, loans, credit information, driver’s licenses, and Social Security numbers are involved.

Investor 119
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Boldtrail Backoffice - Take The Quiz to See What Package Is Right For You

BoldTrail BackOffice provides a single, streamlined solution to manage agent onboarding and billing and commission tracking and disbursements, along with agent management, reporting, and accounting - so your brokerage can run smoothly & profitably. Our #1-rated back office solutions have exactly what your business needs to deliver a seamless experience for your clients and your team.

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9 ways to protect yourself and your home when storms come

Inman

While we cannot control a storm’s trajectory or outcome, writes broker Cara Ameer, there are some things we can do to lessen the stress.

Agents 175
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Extension for 421-a Tax Break Could Add 71K Apartments

Brownstoner

By Adam Daly, Brooklyn Paper Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that an estimated 71,000 new apartments will be added to New York City’s housing stock after she extended the deadline for the 421-a affordable housing tax break. The extension allows for an additional six years to complete projects already in the… Read More > The post Extension for 421-a Tax Break Could Add 71K Apartments appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Clear Cooperation, NAR, SCOTUS: Inman’s Top 5 stories of the week

Inman

Looking for a quick catch-up on the buzziest stories of the week? Here’s Inman Top 5, the most essential stories, according to Inman readers.

Brokerage 167
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Global Spotlight: New Developments Present Prime Opportunities for Investors

RIS Media

Above: Experience the finest contemporary Mediterranean island living of Elounda Hills in Crete. When it comes to purchasing properties abroad, new developments can present desirable opportunities that balance investment potential with alluring lifestyles. Whether searching for a vacation home, a golden visa opportunity, a full-time residence or an investment property, broadening a home search globally… The post Global Spotlight: New Developments Present Prime Opportunities for Investors a

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Maximizing Your Online Presence: Tips for Real Estate Agents on Social Media

Speaker: Sarah Santa Ana, Real Estate Coach, Move4Free Realty

Networking is one of the crucial elements in every real estate organization's success. Both agents and real estate companies need to maintain robust networking links. This is why social media is essential for any real estate professional! Social media enables you to stay in touch with your present clients, maintain connections with your past clients, and engage potential customers and investors.