Thu.Feb 01, 2024

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Opinion: The elephant in the real estate room? Lowballed appraisals

Housing Wire

Sports TV personality Stephen A. Smith, speaking on Detroit as the Detroit Lions were in the final four contenders to play in Super Bowl LVIII, described the city as follows: “Detroit. Phenomenal fan base. Great city. It’s been through a lot. The downtown area, big time. The stadium, big time. But you go to the outskirts of the Detroit area and it looks like a damn desert town.

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Don’t Wait Until Spring To Sell Your House

Keeping Current Matters

As you think about the year ahead, one of your big goals may be moving.

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Realtor.com Reports 8 Consecutive Months of “Softening” Rent Prices

RIS Media

In December 2023, the U.S. median rent price decreased across all 0-2 bedroom properties, and rent was slightly lower than its 2022 peak—according to a year-end report from Realtor.com. As indicated in the report, median rent saw a year-over-year decline for the eighth consecutive month in December—down -0.4%—in the leading 50 metropolitan areas, at a… The post Realtor.com Reports 8 Consecutive Months of “Softening” Rent Prices appeared first on RISMedia.

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Keller Williams settles the Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit for $70 million

Housing Wire

Keller Williams has decided to bow out of the Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit. On Thursday, the Gary Keller-helmed brokerage notified the federal court in Missouri that it had entered into a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in the Sitzer/Burnett suit. The settlement settles all home seller lawsuits nationwide. According to Keller Williams spokesperson Darryl Frost, the firm will pay $70 million as part of the settlement agreement.

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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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Keller Williams reaches $70M settlement in commissions case

Real Estate News

The deal will leave just NAR and HomeServices of America as defendants in Sitzer-Burnett and similar commissions cases, with billions of dollars at stake.

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Announcing the 2024 Tech100 Real Estate winners!

Housing Wire

The Tech100 Real Estate award celebrates the most innovative and impactful organizations in housing. More than just an acknowledgment; the Tech100 award is a testament to the transformative impact these companies have made, propelling the real estate sector into new realms of efficiency, transparency and accessibility. Now in its 5th year, the Tech100 Real Estate program provides housing professionals with a comprehensive list of the most innovative and impactful organizations in the industry.

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Announcing the 2024 Tech100 Mortgage Winners!

Housing Wire

The Tech100 Mortgage award celebrates the most innovative and impactful organizations in housing. More than just an acknowledgment; the Tech100 award is a testament to the transformative impact these companies have made, propelling the mortgage sector into new realms of efficiency, transparency and accessibility. Now in its 12th year, the Tech100 program provides housing professionals with a comprehensive list of the most innovative and impactful organizations in the industry.

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Mortgage rates dip slightly as Fed continues its pause

Real Estate News

Rates have remained relatively stable since December, with the average 30-year mortgage rate posting a modest decline this week.

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9 tips for high-converting real estate landing pages

Housing Wire

Sure, your real estate landing pages look great — but do they convert? A good real estate website includes more than just drool-worthy images of homes priced to sell. Your real estate website should serve multiple functions, almost like a digital business card with an MLS listing storefront, a booking platform, a home valuation page, and even your background story and biography.

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New American Funding acquires Draper and Kramer Mortgage

Inman

"Strategic move" expands New American's footprint in the Midwest and East Coast regions, with a majority of DKMC's loan originators and support staff to be retained.

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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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Mortgage rates decline after Fed pauses hikes once more

Housing Wire

Mortgage rates continued their downward plunge this week as inflation keeps decelerating. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.63% as of Feb. 1, a decrease from last week’s figure of 6.69%, according to Freddie Mac ’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey released on Thursday. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed rate averaged 5.94% this week, down from 5.96% during the prior week.

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Side CEO urges agents to reject negativity, lean into community

Inman

Guy Gal spoke out last week about the challenges of 2023 and the way agents can avoid falling prey to negativity even during tough times.

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In video message, NAR mistakenly claims it has never set commissions

Housing Wire

In a bizarre turn of events, the National Association of Realtors posted, then removed before reposting, a video featuring the trade group’s interim CEO Nykia Wright “setting the record straight” on agent commissions. The video was first posted on Wednesday around 9 a.m. ET before being removed roughly two hours later. It reappeared on NAR’s website later in the day around 6 p.m.

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5 Expert Tips for a Faster Home Sale: Selling Your House Swiftly and Successfully

RIS Media

Selling a house can be a significant undertaking. For many homeowners, the desire to sell a house fast is a top priority. When relocating, downsizing, or having other reasons for a speedy sale, implementing effective strategies can make a substantial difference. Whether selling a stigmatized property or a glamorous mansion, the home sale process can… The post 5 Expert Tips for a Faster Home Sale: Selling Your House Swiftly and Successfully appeared first on RISMedia.

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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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NewRez restructures retail division, cuts senior managers

Housing Wire

Top 10 mortgage lender and servicer NewRez is restructuring its distributed retail mortgage business, which has resulted in cuts to regional and divisional managers. The restructuring also includes reduced compensation for loan officers, and sources said that many are seeking new opportunities at rival lenders. Nonproducing regional and divisional managers were let go on Wednesday as part of the restructuring, multiple sources told HousingWire.

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Young Adults Are Living at Home, but Homeownership Could Be Their Next Address

NAR: Economic Outlook

Young Adults Are Living at Home; Homeownership Next? The share of young adults living at home is back on the rise; this might make it easier for them to save for a down payment on a home.

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Rocket adds AI and fintech expert to newly created board of director position

Housing Wire

Rocket Companies expanded its board of directors from eight to nine, adding an artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech expert. Rocket — under the helm of Varun Krishna , a veteran in the financial technology world — is becoming more focused on technology than ever. Onboarding Alastair (Alex) Rampell highlights Rocket’s priority of becoming a fintech company.

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Top 10 Coldwell Banker Stories of the Month – January 2024

Coldwell Banker

Extra, extra! Read the Top 10 news items that ran in January about Coldwell Banker and its stellar agents. This is just a sampling of the 1,000+ mentions that occur every month. The post Top 10 Coldwell Banker Stories of the Month – January 2024 appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue Matter.

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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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EasyKnock announces two new executive hires

Housing Wire

Shortly after EasyKnock acquired home equity investment platform Balance Homes , the company appointed former Balance Homes co-founders Judd Schoenholtz and Aaron LaRue as chief revenue officer and chief technology officer, respectively. “Judd and Aaron’s respective leadership is key as we continue on EasyKnock’s path to develop the first marketplace in the industry,” Jarred Kessler, CEO and founder of EasyKnock, said in a statement.

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The Pros and Cons of Buying a Home Under Construction

RIS Media

Buying a house under construction is a more viable option now than it has been in the recent past. That’s because a lot of builders are undertaking to fill market needs due to the limited inventory of current homes for sale. Mortgage rates in the mid-sixes have kept some potential home sellers staying put so… The post The Pros and Cons of Buying a Home Under Construction appeared first on RISMedia.

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Sagent CTO Uday Devalla on how to transform servicing

Housing Wire

Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler sat down with Uday Devalla, chief technology officer at Sagent and a 2023 Vanguard , to talk about his focus on transforming servicing, what really counts with data and the right approach to using artificial intelligence. Sarah Wheeler: After spending several decades leading tech at lenders, including Stearns and Bank of America, what drew you to join Sagent four years ago?

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Equity Angels

GeekEstate

[Note from editor: The “Mastermind Showcase” highlights companies and news from members of GEM Diamond. Today’s showcase: Equity Angels] Co-founded by Katherine Winston and Kenya Burrell-VanWormer , Equity Angels is a new accelerator “that will provide professional mentorship, fractional executives and fundraising preparation for companies started by entrepreneurs from diverse demographics,” according to Inman News.

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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 2024 Tech100 Mortgage and Real Estate winners are now live

Housing Wire

For the past 12 years, HousingWire’s Tech100 program has recognized the industry’s most innovative and impactful technology companies that are continuing to bring long-awaited solutions to the challenges that mortgage and real estate professionals have struggled with for decades. The award uncovers the innovators that are unleashing insight with analytics, powering growth and efficiency with AI and automation, providing leaders and production teams the tools they need to accelerate.

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How to Make Money as an Artist

Bigger Pockets

Most people pursuing financial independence own businesses or have stable jobs, working as hard as they can to make any extra dollar, throwing their money into the stock market or […]

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Review of MMI Fund’s reverse mortgage book sheds light on evolving HECM

Housing Wire

The report on the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) book of business inside the Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund was another positive overall development for the program, with the estimated economic net worth of the HECM MMI at $15.368 billion, according to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Annual Report to Congress released in November.

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WA lawmakers weigh tax breaks for developers turning offices to homes

Seattle Times Real Estate

As offices across Washington sit empty, some say the government should offer developers a tax break to turn those buildings into housing.

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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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United Bank to consolidate its mortgage subsidiaries

Housing Wire

United Bank will consolidate its mortgage subsidiaries into one unified mortgage business amid the housing industry struggles with elevated interest rates. United Bank has been delivering mortgage services through three channels, including two mortgage subsidiaries — Crescent Mortgage Co. and George Mason Mortgage — and an in-bank channel. “In an effort to better serve our communities and provide a best-in-class mortgage business, we are consolidating our mortgage subsidiaries into one unified

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RISMedia Announces More Than 300 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers

RIS Media

From rising interest and mortgage rates, to elevated home prices and persistent inventory deficits, to ongoing lawsuits and unexpected scandals, 2023 presented more than its fair share of challenges to the real estate industry. While we saw some make headlines for all the wrong reasons, there were many more who were doing newsworthy work for… The post RISMedia Announces More Than 300 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers appeared first on RISMedia.

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MetroTex Association of Realtors pegs new CEO

Housing Wire

The Dallas-based MetroTex Association of Realtors has a new CEO. The trade group announced Wednesday that it has pegged Justin Landon to take the helm. “I’m honored to join the MetroTex Association of Realtors team as CEO. With exceptional leadership, industry-leading staff, and a clear vision, we’re poised for great success,” Landon said in a statement.

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How Does a Property Value Website Work, and Why Use One?

HomeLight

Knowing how much your home is worth can be helpful, even if you’re not thinking about selling it anytime soon. Property value websites offer a handy way to gauge your home’s market value, but how accurate are they? Can you trust the figures they present? Are they free, and how do you make the best use of them? In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of property value websites, introduce you to 10 of the best options available, and discuss why keeping an eye on your home’s

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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.