Fri.Jun 21, 2024

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Why are home prices at all-time highs with more inventory?

Housing Wire

Both existing housing inventory and home prices have been rising together year over year, which might seem odd at first glance since existing home sales are trending near all-time lows. However, I can clear up any confusion on this topic. Let’s keep it simple: total active listings are still below 2019 levels nationally, and the days on market are under 30 days today.

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DOJ ‘formal inquiry’ delays release of C.A.R. forms

Real Estate News

The California Association of Realtors informed members that the DOJ expressed concern over new forms related to the NAR settlement and MLS practices.

MLS 306
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FHFA grants conditional approval for Freddie Mac second mortgage pilot

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Friday announced that it has given conditional approval for Freddie Mac to begin purchasing closed-end second mortgages through a pilot program. The pilot program includes several limitations to the types of loans the government-sponsored enterprise will be allowed to purchase. The program is only for primary residences and the first mortgage must have a minimum seasoning period of 24 months.

Mortgages 459
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The Downsides of Selling Your House Without an Agent

Keeping Current Matters

Considering selling your house without an agent? You should know there are some serious downsides to handling it on your own.

Agents 319
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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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Don’t expect a ‘ramp up’: Fannie Mae trims estimates for home sales, origination volume

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae ’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group said on Friday that it expects a slower recovery of the U.S. housing market than previously forecast. That’s because volatility in inflation readings and resilience in nonfarm payroll growth may provide the Federal Reserve confidence to cut benchmark rates only once in 2024. “Unfortunately, we’re still not forecasting a ramp-up in housing activity, which will require some combination of continued household income growth, a further slow

Sales 435
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Home prices soar even as sales, construction slow

Real Estate News

The median sale price for existing homes hit a record $419,300 in May, NAR reported, but home sales were lackluster and new construction has cooled.

More Trending

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DOJ says REX deserves a do-over in Zillow/NAR case

Real Estate News

Can NAR’s optional rules still add up to anticompetitive behavior? Yes, the Department of Justice says in a brief filed June 20 in the case of REX vs. Zillow.

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Could aging in place be ‘a poor long-term decision?’

Housing Wire

In survey after survey in which Americans are asked about their preferred living situations in retirement, recent data is clear — they want to age in place in their current homes and remain in the familiar environs of their house and community. But a closer look at aging in place by NextAvenue asserts that there could be unforeseen, long-term consequences to the concept.

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People on the Move: CEO changes at Bluegrass, Raleigh associations

Real Estate News

Richard Gibbens will take on the top leadership role at Bluegrass Realtors and Imagine MLS; Dave Phillips, CEO of RRAR, announces his departure.

MLS 167
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Existing-home sales drop even as prices hit all-time high: NAR

Housing Wire

Low levels of for-sale inventory, high mortgage rates, and record-high home prices continue to hamper existing-home sales. According to the May 2024 existing-home sales report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales volume fell 2.8% year over year to an annualized rate of 4.11 million. That number also marked a decline of 0.7% from April.

Sales 423
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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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By-women, for-women: 3 resources to grow your wealth this summer

Inman

It's up to you to advocate for a fiscally fit future for yourself, senior housing advisor Rachael Hite writes. Here are three women-run resources to help guide you.

Agents 174
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Proof, Qualia introduce security features designed to combat fraud

Housing Wire

It was a big week on the cybersecurity front as remote online notarization (RON) firm Proof —formerly Notarize — and digital closing platform Qualia each launched new security features aimed at fraud prevention. Proof’s new security feature is known as Identify, which the firm describes as a no-code solution to overcome falsified records, forged signatures and identity theft. “Proof’s Identify weeds out fraud well before the close of a transaction, and it eliminates friction for any

Design 429
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Median home sale price in US rises to record high as transactions dip

Inman

The median sale price for an existing home in the U.S. has grown to a whopping $419,300 — the highest since NAR began tracking the metric — following 11-consecutive months of price gains.

Sales 169
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Court denies West Penn MLS’ motion to stay Moratis commission suit

Housing Wire

The future for West Penn MLS is a bit uncertain after Judge William Stickman denied its motion to stay the Moratis commission lawsuit (formerly known as the Spring Way suit ) on Thursday. West Penn MLS filed its motion to stay the case on Wednesday , noting that it has opted into the nationwide commission lawsuit settlement agreement reached by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

MLS 417
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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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$25M real estate team RR Galaxy joins Keller Williams in Naperville

Inman

Naperville, Illinois-based team RR Galaxy has joined Keller Williams, it was announced Friday. The 4-person team has closed more than $74 million in sales over the past 2 years, executives said.

Closing 163
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Top-performing New Jersey team joins SERHANT.

Housing Wire

SERHANT. is bolstering its presence in New Jersey. The brokerage firm announced Friday that top-performing Bergen County -based team The Adamo Group is making move to SERHANT. from Coldwell Banker Realty. The team is led by Victoria and Attilio Adamo. It is based in Closter, New Jersey, but also serves clients in New York City. “The Adamo Group is beyond thrilled to join SERHANT., resonating deeply with their visionary values and mission.

Brokerage 396
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24 innovative video content ideas for 2024 (with real-world examples)

Inman

Video is the best way to build a brand, connect with your ideal clients and generate quality leads, writes Jimmy Burgess. Get inspired by these proven, real-life examples from agents in the field.

Branding 156
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Real estate mailers: The ultimate guide for 2024

Housing Wire

Real estate mailers aren’t dead — far from it. With so many agents focused on digital marketing, mailers can help you stand out from the crowd to attract new leads, increase brand awareness, generate more referrals, and ultimately close more deals. To get you started on the path to dominating your farm area with direct mail, I used my experience as an agent and coach to put together this guide.

Branding 384
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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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Fathom’s Verus Title subsidiary acquires LW Traveling Title

Inman

Fathom Holdings beefs up title coverage in three states with "strategic addition" to geographic footprint, acquiring nine-person title agency with offices in Utah, Colorado and Virginia.

Title 155
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Montana aims to remind seniors about its ‘reverse annuity mortgage’

Housing Wire

The Montana Board of Housing is aiming to remind the state’s seniors about a government-administered program that is specifically designed to help older adults access their home’s equity — and it should be very familiar to members of the reverse mortgage industry. Recently, officials with the state’s housing authority have been publishing new material related to the state’s Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM) program , which was passed by the Montana Legislature in 1989 and offers a state-subsidized

Mortgages 384
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SentriLock partners with Direct Offer to provide DO AudioTour tools

Inman

The deal will put DO AudioTour tools into the hands of more than 500,000 subscribers, allowing agents to deliver market insights and listings to consumers, executives announced Thursday.

Agents 154
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HUD offers new disaster relief in Hawaii following Biden executive order

Housing Wire

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Friday announced a new round of disaster relief in the state of Hawaii that is targeted for the island of Kauai following severe storms, flooding and landslides that took place there in April. On June 17, President Joe Biden issued an executive order approving a disaster declaration in the state.

Equity 387
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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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Entrata buys Colleen AI in bid for property management autonomy

Inman

Software company Entrata acquired its second company in a year with the acquisition of the rental industry’s Colleen, which provides artificial intelligence-based tenant communications and leasing operation support.

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Right-to-list agreements now banned in 30 states

Housing Wire

Since making headlines for the first time roughly 18 months ago, right-to-list agreements — also known as Non-Title Recorded Agreements for Personal Service (NTRAPS) — have been banned in 30 states, according to an announcement from the American Land Title Association (ALTA). The title industry trade group, along with AARP, have spearheaded the effort to outlaw the agreements.

Title 363
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DOJ inquiry delays settlement-related document rollout at CAR

Inman

The California Association of Realtors postponed the release of 21 forms this week after receiving feedback from members — and an inquiry from the U.S. Department of Justice.

MLS 146
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Downtown Seattle home prices now cheaper than city as a whole

Seattle Times Real Estate

Ten years ago, the median home price in downtown Seattle was higher than the citywide median. Now downtown is cheaper than the city as a whole, writes FYI Guy.

As-is 124
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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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Anxiety over commission lawsuits looms over agent recruitment fight

Inman

Industry leaders see the lawsuits as one of the top recruiting challenges of 2024, according to Intel survey results. But the brokers who target and elevate middle-tier agents have an opportunity.

Agents 146
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What to Do When a Tenant Violates the Lease: A Landlord’s Guide

Bigger Pockets

Learn what to do when a tenant violates the lease. This guide covers common violations, step-by-step handling, and prevention strategies for landlords.

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StackWrap makes sense of your tech-stack: Tech Review

Inman

Indie broker Max Fitzgerald built this app to be the top layer of brokerage tech stack, enabling better organization, access and understanding of its most-used tools.

Brokerage 149
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The Compensation Conversation: How to Avoid ‘Steering’ in a Post-Settlement World

RIS Media

“I don’t have to offer commission to a buyer agent—why should I?” This simple seller question—one that is likely to become more common every day—is a potential minefield. In the aftermath of the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) settlement agreement, which will mandate the removal of compensation from MLSs starting next month, agents quickly pointed… The post The Compensation Conversation: How to Avoid ‘Steering’ in a Post-Settlement World appeared first on RISMedia.

Agents 119
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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.