Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

In a new episode of the Top of Mind podcast , host Mike Simonsen sits down with Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow. They explore forecasts for the 2025 housing market, key macroeconomic trends to monitor, solutions to the housing affordability crisis and more. This conversation has been summarized and edited for length and clarity. To start the conversation, Divounguy dives into the past two years of economic developments and how they impact today’s housing market.

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Real Estate News

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Signed agreements can be changed but only under certain circumstances. NARs general counsel provides scenarios and addresses other common questions.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

The race is on for brokerages to capture clients in an incredibly difficult housing market, and Compass believes a new technology offering will give it an advantage. The brokerage on Monday launched Compass One, a client-facing portal that provides a guide through the process of both home buying and selling. Compass One gives clients easy access to relevant documents, calendars, listings and communication with their agent.

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Keeping Current Matters

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

The past few years have been challenging for homebuyers, especially with higher home prices and mortgage rates.

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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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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

A “blank check” special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) affiliated with asset manager Rithm Capital has filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise $200 million for an acquisition in the financial services and real estate sectors. We intend to target companies in the financial services and real estate sectors where our management has extensive investment and operational experience, the SEC filing reads.

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Real Estate News

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

The brokerages latest tech offering, Compass One, is an end-to-end platform focused on consumers and private listings.

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Agents Brokerage 187

Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Climate change has shaken up the U.S. real estate market, with buyers no longer simply seeking better quality of life or affordable housing but also considering climate risks before purchases.

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Marketing 165

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Homeowners in California with an insurance policy from State Farm could see a 22% rate hike. The insurer sent a letter to the California Department of Insurance on Monday that described its dire financial situation due to the wildfires in Los Angeles County and a request for an emergency insurance rate hike. In addition to the 22% rate hike for owners of single-family homes, State Farm is also requesting an emergency rate hike of 15% for condominium owners and a 38% rate hike for rental homes.

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Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Wendy DiVecchio points to disagreement with the board over LVR's ownership of its MLS as a potential reason she was suspended, investigated and subsequently fired last week.

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MLS Brokerage Agents 158

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Nationwide private lender RCN Capital on Tuesday announced the acquisition of BLN Software , which offers a loan origination system and loan management system for the private mortgage lending industry. The announcement from Connecticut-based RCN said that “the lender is looking to provide even more robust tools for its wholesale clients by investing in a state-of-the-art software platform that they can leverage to grow their businesses.” BLN, which is also headquartered in Connecticu

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Lending Loans Industrial Mortgages 288

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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Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

First Team CEO Michele Harrington's company just settled a commission suit. But while speaking to Inman, she was critical of the way the suits, and NAR's involvement, have played out.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

A bill introduced in January to the New York state Senate is seeking to bolster the disclosures that reverse mortgage lenders make to potential clients in an effort to broaden their understanding of the product, as well as the obligations that a borrower assumes when engaging with the industry. This is according to the text of the bill reviewed by HousingWire s Reverse Mortgage Daily (RMD).

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Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Achieving a national multiple listing service should be our top priority as Realtors, Michigan-based @properties Christies International Real Estate broker Chris Marzke writes for Inman.

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MLS Brokerage Agents 154

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Cornerstone Capital Bank , a national mortgage originator and servicer, is launching a community lending division to serve underserved communities, the company announced this week. The new division will be based in Arlington, Texas. Cornerstone plans to close the homeownership gap for underserved communities in the 45 states that the company operates in.

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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.

Agents

Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Protecting fair housing must be a non-negotiable part of building a more inclusive and equitable future, Keller Williams' Julia Lashay Israel writes.

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Equity Brokerage Agents Marketing 122

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

The debate on Clear Cooperation Policies (CCPs) continues, with the real estate industry almost unanimously rallying behind these supposedly virtuous rules. Meanwhile, anyone challenging the status quo may be branded as “self-serving” or “indifferent to consumers.” But lets cut through the noise and examine whats really going on.

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Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Nominations are now open in four awards categories for 2025, including a slate of new honors meant to spotlight achievements in artificial intelligence and recognize real estate's emerging leaders.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

ICE PPE ICE PPE (Product and Pricing Engine) is a powerful pricing tool integrated within the Encompass mortgage software solution. It streamlines pricing, locks, and compliance, enhancing growth, efficiency, and profitability in a single platform. With ICE PPE, you can quickly access rates, verify eligibility, maintain accurate data, and stay updated on changes that impact loan scenarios.

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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.

Sales

Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Buyers may cancel a purchase at the last minute due to anxiety about the market, trepidation about taking on financial obligations or a nagging feeling that a more perfect home might be out there, Luke Babich writes.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

DigitalTax Onboarding Decisions DigitalTax Onboarding Decisions automates tax line setups during loan onboarding, leveraging closing data and customizable rules to reduce errors and streamline exception management. With clear audit trails and dashboard tools, it simplifies reporting, reduces manual work, and ensures accuracy, helping servicers ensure accurate tax line setup from day one.

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Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

The insurer asked the California Department of Insurance to raise rates by an average of 22 percent "to help avert a dire situation" as the company pays thousands of claims related to the fires.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Arrival Home Loans on Tuesday announced a partnership with zavvie a fintech company that specializes in bringing liquidity to residential real estate in an effort to enhance the homebuying experience for its customers. The collaboration combines Arrival Home Loans’ niche in owner-occupied bridge loans with zavvie’s advanced technology platform for single-family homes.

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Loans Loan Officer Finance Brokerage 249

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.

Agents

RIS Media

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

When the Federal Reserve raises or lowers its benchmark interest rate, many people expect mortgage rates to follow suit. But the relationship isn’t that straightforward. The federal funds ratethe rate banks charge each other for overnight loanshas an indirect impact on mortgage rates. The Federal Reserve sets a target rate range for its ratecurrently 4.25%… The post Heres What Moves Mortgage Ratesand Why Its Not Always the Fed appeared first on RISMedia.

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Brownstoner

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

In the News Brooklyn Neighborhoods Rank Among NYCs 10 Most Pricey [NYP] Brooklyn Streets Glow Red and Gold for Lunar New Year [BP] Beloved Thai Spot Ugly Baby Is Reborn as Hungry Thirsty [BK Mag] The Changing Tides of Bed Stuy's Tompkins Avenue [BK Reader] NYC Blames Late Section 8 Rent Checks on Federal Disarray… Read More > The post Daily Links: Fed Funding Freeze Delays Section 8 Payments to NYC Landlords appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

In his first act as interim Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent froze action on all rules and litigation. Here's what that potentially means for the recent slate of rules and lawsuits targeting the mortgage industry.

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Estate Agent Today

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

February and March have been named as the best months to list a home for sale, based on the likelihood that the home goes on to sell.

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Speaker: Trey Willard, Realtor/Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

In order to create continued success in today’s real estate market, realtors need to utilize an arsenal of technology that will increase their efficiency and presence on social media. Using technology to manage your prospects and tap into their needs through websites, social media, and other channels is critical for real estate success in 2022 and beyond.

Agents

Brownstoner

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

This week, a look back at four of our featured listings from six months ago focuses on homes in Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, and Flatlands. How did they fare? First up, in the Prospect Heights Historic District, this row house is a two-family with an owners triplex and a top floor… Read More > The post Brooklyn Listings Six Months Later: Two Sold, One Still Available, One off the Market appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Marketing 78

Estate Agent Today

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

The Lifetime ISA (LISA) should be reformed so it focuses on first-time buyers, a wealth manager claims. MPs on the Treasury Committee are investigating how the LISA tax-free savings product could be improved. It currently lets saver age 18 to 40 save money tax-free for their first home or their retirement.

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BAM Media

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Start the year off right with BAM Pro Bowl 2025the Super Bowl of Real Estate Knowledge. Join us for two hours of exclusive real estate content wrapped in nonstop entertainment on February 5th at 12 PM EST. Its also free (though it shouldnt be). Secure your spot now! Time management is the foundation of a successful real estate business. Yet, most agents dont value their time as they shoulddespite it being their most finite and valuable asset.

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Estate Agent Today

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

The HomeOwners Alliance has partnered with My Bespoke Room to give users access to interior design tips. The property advice website will give users discounted access and special offers on My Bespoke Rooms interior design packages and expert advice.

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Design 62

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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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