Wed.Dec 11, 2024

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How to track housing data to know what’s coming next

Housing Wire

Tracking live weekly housing data would have been nearly impossible just a few years ago, but now we can gather and analyze real-time housing demand data. This valuable information can significantly enhance our understanding of housing economics and what is coming next. The question is: How can we harness the data to give you more confidence when talking about the housing market?

Mortgages 458
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Why Moving to a More Affordable Area Makes Sense

Keeping Current Matters

Moving to a more affordable area could be the fresh start you need to get ahead financially.

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Winning the mental game: Keys to real estate success in 2025

Housing Wire

The work you do now is what will set you up for success in the first quarter of 2025. The majority of sales success is mental, preparing yourself mentally is just as crucial as setting your priorities and goals for the year ahead. Whether you liked or disliked what 2024 brought, soon youll be facing a clean slate. Even if the year was challenging and you felt like quittingguess what?

As-is 397
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DOJ tells Supreme Court it has a right to investigate NAR policies

Inman

In its response to an NAR appeal, the DOJ acknowledged that, although it had closed an investigation into two NAR policies in 2020, it didn't agree not to reopen it.

Closing 177
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The 2025 Real Estate Roadmap to Success

Don’t just react to changes, plan for them, so you can approach the new year with confidence, direction, and a competitive edge for your business. Having a well-defined business plan helps you chart a clear course, navigate challenges, and set a foundation for growth. This workbook gives you the key steps to outline what matters and will ensure you’re moving ahead.

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Mortgage demand is up 5.4% as interest rates ramp down

Housing Wire

Mortgage applications increased 5.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis during the week ending Dec. 6, stemming from a 27% jump in refinance activity, according to a report released Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). This is the latest weekly increase in mortgage applications, following a trend of steady demand increases over the past several weeks.

As-is 397
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South Florida association launches consumer education ad campaign

Inman

Titled Perfect Strangers, the latest commercial is part of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors' stated goal of creating a national movement to change how consumers think of real estate agents.

More Trending

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Mobile home prices surge but remain an affordable alternative

Inman

The price of mobile homes has surged by approximately 58 percent between 2018 and 2023, outpacing the 37.66 percent growth in traditional single-family home prices.

Lending 153
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FHA publishes final rule to establish permanent single-family loan sale program

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Wednesday published a final rule in the Federal Register, establishing a permanent program to sell seriously delinquent, FHA-insured single-family mortgages following the release of a proposal over the summer. A public inspection version of the rule was released on Tuesday prior to its final publication. This rule amends the requirements for the sale of eligible single family mortgage loans insured by the [FHA] that have been assigned to the secretary

Loans 397
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First American adds real-time fraud alerts to title tech platform

Inman

Order Insights helped protect over 130,000 files in November by validating transaction data, notifying title agents of discrepancies and identifying other potential fraud indicators.

Title 147
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The best real estate website design trends for 2025 (+ why they work)

Housing Wire

Real estate website design is evolving fast. Todays sites are sleeker, faster and capture leads based on data from tens of millions of user interactions. To keep up, your site needs to offer more than just a pretty picture of a lakefront mansion. In 2025, effective websites leverage beautiful imagery, videography, graphics, copywriting, captivating typography and user experience design (UX) to educate buyers and sellers and sell you as a hyper-local market expert and trusted advisor.

Design 396
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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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Lesson Learned: Real estate needs patience, empathy, a listening ear

Inman

Find out how this Pacific Palisades luxury agent and new development expert has grown her career alongside the growth of her market.

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United Real Estate continues expansion efforts in South Carolina

Housing Wire

Dallas -based United Real Estate has announced another strategic expansion in the Carolinas. Charlotte -headquartered United Real Estate Queen City will open a new affiliate location in Fort Mill, South Carolina. According to a company statement, this move will strengthen the brokerage’s presence in the Carolinas. The Fort Mill brokerage is the second United Queen City location in the region and the expansion “reinforces Uniteds eastern service areas stretching over a thousand miles

Brokerage 369
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December Fed rate cut seen as a lock — then caution may prevail

Inman

The latest Consumer Price Index reading is in line with expectations, but progress in fighting inflation has stalled. Forecasts for a slower pace of easing next year might keep mortgage rates above 6 percent.

Mortgages 143
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Longbridge, Mutual of Omaha attempt to reach settlement over deceptive marketing accusations

Housing Wire

An ongoing lawsuit between two major reverse mortgage lenders, Mutual of Omaha Mortgage and Longbridge Financial , over marketing practices could come to an end if both parties can reach a settlement agreement prior to going to trial. But such an outcome isnt guaranteed, and Mutual of Omaha has requested additional time to provide a response to the allegations Longbridge laid out in its complaint, according to a court filing reviewed by HousingWire s Reverse Mortgage Daily (RMD).

Marketing 370
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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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What’s your favorite thing about being an agent? Pulse

Inman

Pretty houses? Grateful clients? The art of the deal? Tell us what you love most about real estate and about being an agent.

Agents 129
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HUD takes a closer look at senior finances, housing affordability pain points

Housing Wire

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)s Office of Policy Development and Research recently published a report that more closely examines the housing needs of older Americans and the pain points that have exacerbated their needs stemming from a national housing crisis. The material featured came from a workshop hosted by Fannie Mae and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia , which highlighted research assessing the impact of demographic shifts, including the aging U.S. popu

Finance 370
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The Agency’s Red Paper report shows luxury market thriving

Inman

Luxury clientele's resiliency toward interest rates and a well-performing stock market were primary factors in the luxury market's positive performance in 2024.

Marketing 129
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At United Real Estate, the mission is always the focus. 2025 is no different

Housing Wire

In a year that has been full of noise, United Real Estate President Rick Haase has somehow managed to stay focused. Some of that focus comes from the messages written on the three colorful rubber bands adorning his wrist. The first reads, Go through life with an attitude of gratitude. A second reads, United Real Estate: Better Together. The third, a gift from the United franchise in Richmond, Virginia , states, Only the strong survive in 2025.

Brokerage 370
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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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“Friend Compounds”: The Pros and Cons of Buying Real Estate With Your Besties

Lighter Side of Real Estate

Buying your first house has never been easy, but for todays younger generations, its increasingly out of reach. High interest rates, soaring home prices, and the heavy burden of student loan debt have made it difficult for young folks to purchase a home on their own. Even cutting out lattes or avocado toast doesnt do much to bridge the gap. And forget about hanging out with friends and taking memorable trips together if youre trying to buy a house.

Land 98
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First American launches real-time fraud alert system

Housing Wire

Every season is fraud season and title firm First American is not messing around. On Wednesday, the Big Four title company announced the launch of Order Insights, a real-time fraud alert system. The tool is available to all First American policy-issuing title agents and is now included with AgentNet Services, First Americans digital title product and service storefront.

Title 365
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Broker Seeks Protective Order Against NAR for Alleged Lawsuit ‘Retaliation’

RIS Media

Amid the growing landscape of litigation in the industry, a real estate broker is claiming his livelihood has been put at risk, alleging that he is being retaliated against for suing the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). In his latest legal volley against the trade group, broker Maurice Muhammad (who is representing himself in the… The post Broker Seeks Protective Order Against NAR for Alleged Lawsuit Retaliation appeared first on RISMedia.

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New NAR commission lawsuit, this time from home reno companies

Housing Wire

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement may have received final approval , but it looks like NARs commission lawsuit woes are not over. On Tuesday, two Ohio -based companies that specialize in the acquisition, renovation and management of distressed real estate properties in Northeast Ohio, Abandoned Homes Project Scattered Site I LLC and Scattered Site II LLC., filed a suit against NAR, claiming that the trade groups now abandoned Participation Rule ,

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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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The Bad Advice Agents Need To Leave In 2024

BAM Media

Remember this time last year when mortgage rate predictions were calling for rates in the 5% range? Well, it turns out that 2024 was a year of hard lessons for agents who bet too much on falling ratesand for buyers who waited too long to act. After all, these numbers sure dont look like the year of the 5s. January: 6.64% February: 6.74% March: 6.82% April: 6.99% May: 7.06% June: 6.92% July: 6.86% August: 6.50% September: 6.18% October: 6.43% November: 6.81% December*: 6.69% The buzz around dropp

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New NAR commission lawsuit — this time from home renovation companies

Housing Wire

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement may have received final approval , but it looks like NARs commission lawsuit woes are not over. On Tuesday, two Ohio -based companies that specialize in the acquisition, renovation and management of distressed real estate properties in Northeast Ohio, Abandoned Homes Project Scattered Site I LLC and Scattered Site II LLC., filed a suit against NAR, claiming that the trade groups now abandoned Participation Rule ,

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What Do 2025’s Top 10 Housing Markets Have in Common?

BAM Media

Whats driving the housing market in 2025? According to Realtor.coms National Housing Forecast , the future belongs to metros in the South and West. These regions are leading the charge with younger populations, strong military ties, and housing options that balance affordability with opportunity. Despite ongoing challenges like high mortgage rates and stretched budgets, these top 10 markets have found ways to thrive.

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Sierra Pacific Mortgage hires Suzy Lindblom as COO

Housing Wire

Sierra Pacific Mortgage has hired Suzy Lindblom as its new Chief Operating Officer, the company announced in a LinkedIn post. Lindblom confirmed the move in her own post , adding that she has been working with Sierra Pacific as a consultant for the last six months. With more than 40 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Lindblom was most recently chief operating officer (COO) at lender and servicer Arc Home , serving in that role from August 2022 to February 2024.

Mortgages 370
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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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The Business Case for Disrupting Yourself

RIS Media

As an entrepreneur and CEO, I believe evolving isn’t optional; it’s essential. The most successful companies and leaders are ones who constantly strive for improvement and growth. Throughout my career, I haven’t shied away from challenging markets or complex circumstances. Instead, I lean in. This mindset brought me to MoxiWorks in June as its new… The post The Business Case for Disrupting Yourself appeared first on RISMedia.

Marketing 111
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I Automated My Airbnb Business—Here’s How You Can Too

Bigger Pockets

Running a successful short-term rental (STR) business can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re managing multiple properties.

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9 Tips for Buying a Preforeclosure (Especially If It’s Your First)

HomeLight

So youre thinking about buying a house, and you start looking around online just to see whats out there. As youre getting familiar with the lay of the land eyeballing homes that seem to meet your criteria and fit your budget , daring to let yourself feel excited about the possibilities maybe you stumble upon a listing marked as a preforeclosure. The photos show a home that looks like its in good shape, and the price is neither suspiciously low nor alarmingly high.

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3 Top REITs to Consider Buying in 2025

Bigger Pockets

Ive shared several articles outlining why I believe real estate investment trusts (REITs) are better investments than rental properties in most cases.

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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.