Thu.Nov 07, 2024

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Climate risk is rising. It calls for a rethinking of home insurance coverage

Housing Wire

Climate change is increasing the intensity and severity of natural disasters. It’s resulting in calls to reimagine the costs of homeowners insurance (Image generated by AI in Midjourney) As the planet warms and extreme weather intensifies, the rising cost of homeowners insurance is stopping real estate deals in their tracks. In just the past two months, two major hurricanes battered Florida, inflicting physical and financial damage that is projected to exceed $100 billion.

Design 482
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Real continues its rise, focused ‘on what we can control’

Real Estate News

The company says its innovative AI and financial products give it an edge as it increases revenue and agent count despite a difficult housing market.

Agents 300
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Moving big talent to the Big Apple  

Housing Wire

Relocating to New York City can be an exciting yet daunting experience, especially for professionals moving for work. This article will guide you in choosing the right neighborhood and show how HR teams can better support their relocating staff. Choosing the right neighborhood 1. Understanding the boroughs New York City is divided into five boroughs, each with its unique charm and characteristics: Manhattan : Known for its bustling city life, iconic landmarks, and vibrant neighborhoods li

HR 396
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Renting vs. Buying: The Net Worth Gap You Need To See

Keeping Current Matters

Trying to decide between renting or buying a home?

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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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Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman: ‘We do tech so you can do real estate’

Housing Wire

In a new episode of the “Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered Podcast,” hosts James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson are joined by Zillow Group CEO Jeremy Wacksman for a deep dive conversation that covers the role of technology in real estate and Zillow’s “ Super App.” This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. To kick off the episode, Wacksman discusses the importance of technology in real estate.

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Fed action not enough to keep mortgage rates from surging

Real Estate News

Despite a 25-point cut by the central bank, rates rose for a sixth straight week while applications fell sharply.

Banks 231

More Trending

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eXp continues to lose agents, but transaction volume gets a boost

Real Estate News

The company suffered losses due to its payout in the commissions settlement, but touted agent productivity, international growth and positive revenue.

Agents 176
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UWM delivers highest volume in three years amid mini refi boom

Housing Wire

When rates dropped in the third quarter of 2024, UWM Holdings Corp. , the parent of United Wholesale Mortgage , notched its biggest production quarter in three years while improving margins due to a higher refi volume. However, it also made a more modest profit, mainly because of the financial impact of lower rates on its servicing book. “The refi boom is not fully materialized, but we have seen a preview of it,” Mat Ishbia, chairman and CEO of UWM, told analysts during an earnings call on Thurs

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Opendoor lays off 300 workers after posting $78M Q3 loss

Inman

The San Francisco-based iBuyer bought and sold more homes during Q3 than it did a year ago and trimmed its net loss by 14 percent from Q2 and 26 percent from a year ago.

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Terry Schmidt says Guild is seeing more interest in reverse mortgages

Housing Wire

Guild Mortgage CEO Terry Schmidt said during a third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday that Guild’s reverse mortgage division continues to contribute to companywide strategies, and that additional interest in reverse has been observed. Guild’s current reverse lending division, built off its 2023 acquisition of Cherry Creek Mortgage , has expanded its reverse mortgage activities this year.

Mortgages 370
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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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After NAR deal, MLSs will have to reinvent themselves — or else

Inman

At NAR NXT, panelists Marilyn Wilson, James Dwiggins and Clint Skutchan advised MLSs to make themselves essential without guaranteeing compensation.

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Fannie Mae adds homebuilding veteran Scott Stowell to its board of directors

Housing Wire

Government-sponsored enterprise Fannie Mae announced on Thursday the appointment of Scott D. Stowell, a homebuilding executive with nearly 40 years of industry experience, to its board of directors. “Mr. Stowell brings nearly 40 years of experience in the U.S. homebuilding industry to Fannie Mae’s accomplished and diverse board, which guides the company’s efforts to responsibly expand access to mortgage credit and finance quality, affordable rental housing ,” the company said in a statement.

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The Real Brokerage posts revenue gain as recruitment soars in Q3

Inman

The Real Brokerage added more than 2,000 new agents in the third quarter while revenue rose to $372.5 million, according to quarterly earnings Thursday. The company posted a net loss of $2.5 million.

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Mortgage delinquencies declined slightly. Are homeowner tensions easing?

Housing Wire

In second-quarter 2024, high home prices and soaring mortgage rates caused more homeowners to struggle with their loan payments. But data shows a slight recovery as mortgage delinquencies fell in the third quarter. That silver lining comes from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s National Delinquency Survey. According to the MBA, the seasonally adjusted rate for residential property (one- to four-unit) delinquencies dropped to 3.92% at the end of September.

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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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Redfin Next commissions take a bite out of earnings

Real Estate News

CEO Glenn Kelman apologized to shareholders but also said expansion of the company’s new agent pay plan will help the brokerage “go on the attack” in 2025.

Brokerage 167
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FOA posts robust Q3 earnings as company touts product, platform changes

Housing Wire

Finance of America (FOA), the reverse mortgage industry’s leading lender, announced its third-quarter 2024 earnings results on Wednesday evening. It delivered adjusted net income of $15 million, or $0.67 per share. The company noted that Q3 2024 marked the fifth consecutive quarter of improved operating performance, including a recovery from the second quarter in which it posted a net lossof $5 million.

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Following the leadership journey of a Latina broker-owner

Inman

Eva Angelina Romero, a top real estate broker, shares her insights on life, success and building a business you are passionate about.

Brokerage 165
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Ginnie Mae allows for risk-based capital relief to issuers that hedge MSRs

Housing Wire

Ginnie Mae announced on Thursday that it will allow relief from its risk-based capital ratio (RBCR) requirements for any mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issuers that effectively hedge the value of their mortgage servicing rights (MSRs). One housing advocacy group said the move will create flexibility for independent mortgage banks (IMBs). A new memorandum reiterates that beginning on Dec. 31, 2024, “certain issuers and applicants will also be required to maintain a Risk Based Capital Ratio (RBC

Banks 392
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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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US home prices rose in 90% of metro areas in Q3, NAR says

Inman

Home affordability improved as mortgage rates dipped, bringing the monthly mortgage payment on a typical single-family home with a 20 percent down payment to $2,137 — a 5.5 percent decrease from Q2, though still up 2.4 percent year over year.

Mortgages 158
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Blend achieves financial milestone, says mortgage pipeline is strong

Housing Wire

After delivering two straight quarterly losses to start this year, mortgage technology company Blend Labs predicted correctly that it would soon move into the black by one key accounting measure, finally delivering a non-GAAP operating profitability third-quarter 2024 earnings. The earnings report , released Wednesday, revealed that Blend’s GAAP loss from operations improved to $13.3 million in the third quarter of this year compared to $36.2 million in the same period last year.

Mortgages 221
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Weichert reaches a deal in Georgia commissions case

Real Estate News

The franchise went the same route as eXp, agreeing to settle with plaintiffs in the Hooper case even though it was originally named in Gibson.

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Record number of Americans say they’d rather rent than buy

Inman

Housing market sentiment rose in October to the highest level since February 2022, but 8 in 10 consumers still said it was a bad time to buy, Fannie Mae survey finds.

Marketing 156
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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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How to Invest in Real Estate: A 7-Step Beginner’s Guide

The Close

Investing in real estate may seem as simple as buying a property and collecting money, but it is far more complicated than that. Don’t stop reading, though. I said it was complicated, not impossible! This beginner’s guide will help you understand how to invest in real estate successfully, one step at a time. While The Close likes to keep our articles short, this topic needs a bit more explanation, but trust us, it will be worth your while.

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The art of team selection: 10 tips for finding the right showing agent

Inman

Showing homes is a time-consuming, yet vital, part of the buying process. Coach Verl Workman shares how outsourcing the task can benefit your team.

Agents 155
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FSBO Sellers Fall to Historic Low

BAM Media

BAM Key Details: The National Association of Realtors®’ 2024 report reveals that the typical home seller’s age has climbed to 63, with married couples making up 69% of sellers, marking an increase for the first time in four years. Most sellers are motivated by a desire to live closer to family, while the share of FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sellers has dropped to a historic low of 6%, highlighting an increased reliance on real estate agents for smoother transactions.

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EXp posts modest revenue gain, reaching $1.2B in 3rd quarter

Inman

The virtual brokerage grappled with losses as it paid out its settlement in antitrust commission lawsuits and increased agent losses in a bid to offload less productive agents from the platform.

Brokerage 154
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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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JONATHAN ROLANDE: Reports say we are in a property boom but where are all the buyers?

Estate Agent Today

If the latest news headlines are to be believed we are in the middle of a property boom.

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Mortgage rates not expected to budge on latest Fed rate cut

Inman

Move was anticipated by investors that fund most home loans, who have been driving up mortgage rates over concerns about inflation and pace of future Fed rate cuts.

Mortgages 154
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Sam Mitchell: ‘Why I’m leaving Purplebricks’

Estate Agent Today

Sam Mitchell has revealed the reasons behind his exit from Purplebricks following a restructure of the online agent.

Agents 116
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Anywhere unfazed by 3% revenue decline as luxury segment thrives

Inman

Revenue, closed transaction volume and net income fell in Q3, earnings data on Thursday shows. But a strong luxury push and October uptick in buyer activity have set the stage for a robust Q4.

Staging 152
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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.