Wed.Sep 04, 2024

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UWM debuts new 75-bps incentive on refis

Housing Wire

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) is rolling out a new 75 basis-point incentive program for conforming conventional and government-backed rate-and-term refinances. The program, dubbed “Refi75,” effectively replaces and expands on “Govy 125,” a 125-bps incentive that ended Tuesday for Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans (IRRRLs) through the U.S.

Loans 487
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NAR to consumers: Agents must put client interests first

Real Estate News

With new industry rules now in effect, the association has released additional resources for buyers and sellers that focus on ethics and steering.

Agents 295
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Mortgage affordability improves in August, boosting refi incentive: ICE

Housing Wire

Declining mortgage rates in August provided some relief for U.S. homebuyers and made it the most affordable month since February. Of the 2.5 million “in-the-money“ mortgage holders as of Aug. 22, more than 60% took out their mortgages in the past two years, including 850,000 in 2023 and 560,000 this year. The average highly qualified candidate who took out a mortgage within the past two years could save $264 per month by refinancing at today’s prevailing rate, according to the newest Mortgage M

Mortgages 459
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How about a 0.3% mortgage? A world of difference in Japan

Real Estate News

The “free” ride may not last as officials seek solutions for a deflationary economy and a glut of homes — the mirror image of what the U.S. is dealing with.

Mortgages 267
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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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FHA finalizes updates to reverse mortgage debenture interest rates

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Wednesday published Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2024-18 , which implements updates to debenture interest rates and reimbursements for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage ( HECM ) program claims proposed in July. The ML goes into effect on Sept. 28. Debenture interest refers to the percentage of a return that an investor would receive for lending money through a debenture.

Mortgages 459
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How the Federal Reserve’s Next Move Could Impact the Housing Market

Keeping Current Matters

Now that it’s September, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve (the Fed).

Marketing 329

More Trending

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MoxiWorks rolls out settlement-friendly agent products

Real Estate News

The company said its product suite has “been upgraded so buyer's agents can more quickly and easily display their value” — and see compensation offers.

Agents 235
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Mortgage demand sees slight uptick as rates trend down

Housing Wire

Mortgage demand rose slightly last week as mortgage rates moved lower. Loan application volume increased 1.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Aug. 30 compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The MBA’s refinance index decreased 0.3% from the previous week but was 94% higher than the same week in 2023.

Mortgages 448
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Judge recuses herself from Moehrl, Batton cases

Real Estate News

The commissions cases will be reassigned after Judge Andrea Wood was made aware of a possible conflict of interest.

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Judge overseeing Moehrl, Batton suits recuses herself over possible conflict of interest

Housing Wire

Judge Andrea R. Wood, who is overseeing the two Batton homebuyer commission lawsuits and the Moehrl commission suit, has recused herself from the cases, according to a legal filing on Wednesday. In the filing, the Chicago -based U.S. district court judge said that it had recently come to her attention that the spouse of a person related to her within the third degree of relationship is a partner at a law firm that represents a defendant in the suits.

Equity 458
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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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Data points to another mortgage boom if rates continue to tumble

Inman

If mortgage rates fall by another percentage point, ICE Mortgage sees homebuyers' monthly payment dropping by $236 and nearly 7.2 million homeowners "in the money" for a refinance.

Mortgages 187
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Guild announces new ‘Flex Payment Mortgage’ suite of reverse products

Housing Wire

Guild Mortgage announced on Wednesday the introduction of a new product line called the “ Flex Payment Mortgage ,” which includes Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-sponsored Home Equity Conversion Mortgages ( HECMs ), refinances, proprietary jumbo options and HECM for Purchase (H4P) loans. “Guild’s Flex Payment Mortgage is a suite of products combining federally-insured [HECMs] with options for larger loan amounts as well as the reverse mortgage for purchase,” the company stated.

Mortgages 447
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Big Brother’s little brothers are watching you

Inman

Feeling like your listings are under scrutiny? They are. Bernice Ross lets you know more about the tools and techniques MLSs are using to ensure compliance with new commission rules.

MLS 187
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“Zillow, find me a pink house under $600,000 within 30 minutes of downtown Dallas”

Housing Wire

Artificial intelligence is already a tool in Zillow’s search experience, and now the company is adding natural language capabilities to it. Zillow’s existing AI search capabilities already allowed for surfacing homes on the basis of things related to the home itself. Now the AI can search by commute times, affordability and “nearby points of interest.” For example, a user can type in “homes within 30 minutes of downtown Dallas” and it will show options, and it can do so whether the user

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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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Unlock set to expand product set, footprint with $30M Series B

Inman

Strategic partnership with D2 Asset Management will help shared equity pioneer go nationwide, after signing home equity agreements with more than 10,000 homeowners in 16 states.

Equity 197
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Figure hires Ronald Chillemi as its first chief legal officer

Housing Wire

Figure Technology Solutions , the parent company of Figure Lending LLC , announced on Wednesday the hiring of Ronald Chillemi as its first chief legal officer and corporate secretary. Chillemi has more than 25 years of experience in regulatory affairs, government relations and compliance across a number of fintech companies and law firms. He also previously served as a federal and state prosecutor, including with the U.S.

Lending 447
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Zillow, unfiltered: Portal giant adds AI-fueled natural language feature

Inman

Consumers using Zillow's mobile application can now search homes with simple voice prompts based on commute, points of interest, affordability and school access, according to executives.

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Pretium Partners adds two execs to strengthen homebuilder finance efforts

Housing Wire

New York City -headquartered investment firm Pretium Partners announced Wednesday that it has hired two new managing directors as its seeks to bolster its real estate debt strategy. The firm hired Brendan Bosman, a former senior managing director and head of U.S. housing investing at Minneapolis -based Värde Partners , and Karen Kulvin, a former senior managing director and co-head of the real estate debt platform at Los Angeles -based Kayne Anderson Real Estate.

Finance 446
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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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MoxiWorks rolls out bevy of new buyer agent representation tools

Inman

Updates to presentation templates and the ability to include offered buyer broker commissions as a percent or dollar are among the buyer-focused tools touted by the company on Wednesday.

Agents 187
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Portland, Oregon, passes a housing production strategy

Housing Wire

The city council of Portland , Oregon , unanimously passed what it is calling the city’s first-ever housing production strategy , which is based on a proposal introduced this summer by Commissioner Carmen Rubio. Like many major metropolitan areas across the country, Portland is facing a housing shortage as well as an affordability crisis. The only viable solution to these problems, as other municipal leaders and housing industry experts have previously suggested, is the construction of more home

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I’m a real estate broker, but I’m no longer a Realtor. Here’s why I quit

Inman

Massachusetts broker Nadine Hiser outlines the differences between NAR-affiliated brokers and independents like her — and why her company, Key Realty Group, made the choice to leave NAR.

MLS 158
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MoxiWorks launches updates to help agents navigate post-NAR settlement world

Housing Wire

Real estate marketing software provider MoxiWorks is looking to help agents up their game while complying with the business practice changes outlined in the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement that went into effect last month. To achieve this goal, the company has released a series of product updates that are designed to support agents as they navigate the post-NAR settlement environment.

Agents 434
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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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Mortgage rates are tumbling again as job openings hit 18-month low

Inman

Bond market investors who fund most mortgages are already certain the Fed will slash rates this month. The question has become how much will policymakers cut on Sept. 18, Nov. 7 and Dec. 18?

Mortgages 183
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Staying Ahead of the Market: A United Approach

RIS Media

Hannah Matlock NeSmith Broker United | Leading Edge Real Estate Group Huntsville, Alabama www.LeadingEdgeUnited.com Region served: Alabama Years in real estate: 11 Number of offices: 8 Number of agents: 325 Key to continued growth and success: I have always lived with the motto that we should surround ourselves with people who know more than we… The post Staying Ahead of the Market: A United Approach appeared first on RISMedia.

Marketing 126
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CoStar Group dismisses year-old lawsuit against Homesnap founder

Inman

The residential and commercial real estate company sued over misuse of trade secrets in 2023, but revealed in a new court filing that a rival tech platform's "limited nature" is no longer a threat.

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Reffkin Calls for ‘Emergency Decision’ on Clear Cooperation as MLS Industry Absorbs Settlement Changes

RIS Media

Photo credit: AJ Caneria WASHINGTON D.C.—There were two stories being told on stage yesterday at RISMedia’s CEO & Leadership Exchange, with half a dozen MLS and brokerage executives each sharing their own parts of both sides. On the one hand, the settlement agreement struck by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has not caused that… The post Reffkin Calls for ‘Emergency Decision’ on Clear Cooperation as MLS Industry Absorbs Settlement Changes appeared first on RISMedia.

MLS 128
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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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Judge in Moehrl, Batton recused after revealing conflict of interest

Inman

Judge Andrea Wood, who oversaw the cases for years, said she discovered a relative's spouse was a partner at a law firm in a case known as Moehrl. She recused herself in a surprise filing on Wednesday.

MLS 174
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Judge Recuses Herself in Moehrl, Batton Commissions Cases

RIS Media

In a stunning development concerning major commissions lawsuit cases, U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood today recused herself from Batton vs. NAR, Moehrl vs. NAR and Batton v. Compass, Inc., citing a potential conflict of interest. “It has come to my attention that the spouse of a person related to me within the third degree… The post Judge Recuses Herself in Moehrl, Batton Commissions Cases appeared first on RISMedia.

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Why onsite management will remain essential to multifamily

Inman

Good property managers build relationships and communities, and that's something no app can do, multifamily expert Michael Zaransky writes.

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Five Agents Named Regional Rookie of the Year Winners

RIS Media

Designed to honor real estate agents who are new to the business yet already achieving extraordinary levels of success, RISMedia’s third annual Real Estate Rookie of the Year award—sponsored by industry education leader, Colibri Real Estate—has announced five Regional Rookie of the Year winners for 2024. The five winners, representing the Midwest, Northeast, South, Southeast… The post Five Agents Named Regional Rookie of the Year Winners appeared first on RISMedia.

Agents 122
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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.