Mon.Apr 15, 2024

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GSEs will not count buyer agent commissions as IPCs

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not count buyer’s agent commissions as part of their allowable interested party contributions (IPCs), according to announcements from the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) on Monday. The GSEs noted that this guidance was not an update to their selling guides but a clarification on the treatment of seller-paid real estate agent fees.

Agents 532
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Supreme Court to HomeServices: Sitzer/Burnett verdict stands

Real Estate News

The brokerage lost its bid to have the verdict tossed out, leaving it with fewer options as the lone defendant in the landmark commissions case.

Brokerage 258
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Reuters: Reverse mortgages can help caregivers avoid ‘raiding’ savings

Housing Wire

As older people increasingly express their preference to age in place in their own homes, family members will oftentimes be required to provide some semblance of care for their loved ones in later life. Caregiving challenges can be compounded if there’s only one child in the family, but a reverse mortgage could offer a solution, according to a column published by Reuters.

Mortgages 476
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Ways To Use Your Tax Refund If You Want To Buy a Home

Keeping Current Matters

Have you been saving up to buy a home this year?

Mortgages 335
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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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As a ‘higher-for-longer’ rate scenario unfolds, how is the mortgage industry adapting?

Housing Wire

Last week’s above-consensus inflation figures brought the mortgage market back to a sour reality: The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, an index closely watched by industry experts, may be close to or even above the 7% level for longer than previously expected. If this scenario unfolds, analysts and executives will be ready to update their baseline expectations for 2024, including fewer refinance and purchase loans than previously forecast.

As-is 481
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How the MLS has endured, and what the future holds

Real Estate News

In the third of a three-part series, RESO CEO Sam DeBord explains why rules are critical to the MLS and how shifts in the industry influence MLS functions.

MLS 203

More Trending

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No quick judgment for home sellers in commissions case

Real Estate News

The judge in Sitzer/Burnett declined the plaintiffs’ motion to enter a $5.4 billion award, saying other motions and settlements need to be finalized.

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Coastal California metros were the priciest  in March: Zillow

Housing Wire

Competition in the housing market is heating up heading into May and June. Home prices are surging in major U.S. metros, with coastal California cities and Seattle leading the charge in monthly home value growth, according to Zillow’s newest market report. San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego and Los Angeles reign as the priciest markets among the nation’s top 50 metros.

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AJ Canaria Creative Services joins LeadingRE Solutions Group

Inman

Global real estate network Leading Real Companies of the World (LeadingRE) has added photography services provider AJ Canaria Creative Services to its Solutions Group, a family of industry vendors it champions to its 550 members.

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REcolorado MLS CEO on the power of data and the MLS

Housing Wire

Gene Millman, president and CEO, REcolorado The value of the MLS cannot be understated. REcolorado has strategically boosted that value with a focus on building a trusted, cooperative, and comprehensive real estate marketplace to position customers for success. With the real estate industry adjusting to the National Association of Realtors commission lawsuit settlement agreement , the importance of a tried and trusted MLS business partner is undeniable.

MLS 446
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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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3 ways to lead by example — and focus on what you can control

Inman

Want to increase your impact and improve your business? New Inman contributor Amy Hullet says the key is taking a genuine interest in people and getting out there to meet them where they are.

MLS 182
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High mortgage rates are fueling strong inventory growth

Housing Wire

We saw a big jump in mortgage rates last week. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage, according to the HousingWire Mortgage Rates Center , is now over 7.2% — that’s 50 basis points above where we were at the start of the year. At that time, most of the voices in the media assumed that mortgage rates had peaked and would fall by now. But the U.S. economy continues to be powerfully strong and with each new economic data release, it seems less likely that we’ll see the Federal Reserve cut short-term inte

Mortgages 454
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Will lawsuits end 6% commissions? Probably not, 1 law professor says

Inman

A provision in NAR's settlement barring listing agents from offering buyer agents compensation is "largely symbolic," USC professor Jordan Barry said Friday at a University of Minnesota conference.

Agents 185
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Q2 AgentPulse survey: Low inventory is greatest challenge

Housing Wire

Although more agents are fielding questions about the commission lawsuits than they were a quarter ago , they also remain optimistic about where the housing market is headed in the second quarter of 2024, according to the RealTrends Q2 2024 AgentPulse survey. The survey, which was conducted between the end of March and early April, garnered 138 respondents: 34 from the Northeast, 29 from the Southeast, 21 from the Midwest, 38 from the Southwest and 16 from the Northwest.

Agents 443
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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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Coldwell wins St. Louis agent Laura MacDonald back from Compass

Inman

MacDonald is the latest agent to boomerang back from a previous brokerage amid intense competition. In 2023, while an agent at Compass, she closed approximately $20 million in sales volume.

Agents 180
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Profit-sharing lawsuits continue to pile up on Keller Williams

Housing Wire

Keller Williams was named to an additional class-action lawsuit this week that takes issue with alterations made to the brokerage’s profit-sharing program. In the past few weeks, 11 agents formerly affiliated with Keller Williams — Jerri Moulder, David Bueker, Robert Hill, Kevin Ortiz, Edward Fordyce, Paul Davis, Penny Alper, Jana and Dennis Caudill, Eric Mendoza and Jack Levine — took legal action against the real estate brokerage by filing seven separate class-action lawsuits.

Brokerage 442
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LA nets biggest deal yet this year at $62.8M for spec mansion

Inman

The European-style home is located in the Hollywood Hills' coveted Bird Streets. The sale marks a breakthrough for a market that's been crippled by high interest rates and a mansion tax.

Sales 184
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NAMB partners with Roomvu on digital marketing efforts

Housing Wire

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) announced a partnership with artificial intelligence (AI)-based video marketing platform Roomvu to provide mortgage brokers with marketing tools. The new partnership will make digital marketing easier for NAMB members to market their services with automation tools to create content and distribute newsletters, the association said.

Marketing 404
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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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Recruiting War ’24: For brokerages, headhunt pivots to cream of crop

Inman

Agent headcount — once a ubiquitous barometer of brokerage success — has faded, interviews and new Inman Intel Index results reveal. Instead, focus has shifted to "the better and best agents.

Brokerage 176
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A&D Mortgage revamps its partner portal

Housing Wire

Wholesale lender A&D Mortgage unveiled a new and enhanced version of its partner portal, Artificial Intelligence in Mortgage, or AMI, on Monday. The AI -powered portal integrates advanced technologies into A&D Mortgage’s existing partner portal. It notably features a more intuitive user interface, seamless point-of-sale integration, and robust compliance and data security measures.

Mortgages 350
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3 ways to help homeshoppers engage more with your listings

Inman

More home listings will mean more competition. Stand out by using virtual tours, staging and advanced technologies such as Apple Vision Pro and the Zillow Immerse app.

Staging 171
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Builder Sentiment Unchanged in April

Eye on Housing

Builder sentiment was flat in April as mortgage rates remained close to 7% over the past month and the latest inflation data failed to show improvement during the first quarter of 2024. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes was 51 in April, unchanged from March, according to the National Association of.

Closing 130
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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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Ditch generic marketing: Convey your value with storytelling

Inman

Forget the infographics, lists and pie charts, broker Teresa Boardman writes. Instead, tell a compelling story about how you've helped your clients.

Marketing 180
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How to Assess the Financial Stability of an HOA

RIS Media

Understanding a Homeowner Association’s (HOA) financial stability is crucial for maintaining property values and ensuring residents’ high quality of life. Key examination elements include reserve funds, special assessments and financial planning. Reserve funds cover significant repairs and replacements, special assessments address unforeseen expenses and financial planning ensures long-term stability.

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Federal courts hand HomeServices a win (and a loss) in Sitzer | Burnett

Inman

The U.S. Supreme Court denied the real estate franchisor's request for consideration on Monday, but the plaintiffs won't be able to lay $4.7 billion in damages at HomeServices' feet — at least not yet.

Brokerage 171
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Report: Myths and Facts on Buyer-Agent Commissions and the MLS

RIS Media

Above, Lisa Sturtevant and Brian Schneider After its new report, Dispelling Myths About Real Estate Commissions and the MLS, was released April 12, Bright MLS Chief Economist Lisa Sturtevant and legal counsel Brian Schneider spoke in-depth at a virtual presentation about how the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) proposed settlement and other current issues have… The post Report: Myths and Facts on Buyer-Agent Commissions and the MLS appeared first on RISMedia.

MLS 122
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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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Agents feel the pain as BoomTown outage extends into another week

Inman

Since April 10, brokerage websites across the country have been dark as BoomTown scrambles to resolve service disruptions. The outage has already impacted the bottom line, agents told Inman.

Agents 164
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Homebuilder Sentiment Flat in April as Buyers Are Hesitant

RIS Media

After a strong start to the spring selling season, homebuilder sentiment flattened in April as buyers hesitate to step into the market due to continued unrest in the mortgage market and other affordability challenges. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) registered at 51 in April, the same reading seen… The post Homebuilder Sentiment Flat in April as Buyers Are Hesitant appeared first on RISMedia.

Mortgages 119
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Instead of cutting rates, what if the Federal Reserve raises them?

Inman

Mortgage rates have already reclaimed much of the territory ceded last year and are poised to continue rising this week as inflation continues to run hot.

Mortgages 165
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5 of the Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Boise

HomeLight

There are many advantages to considering a cash buyer for your Boise, Idaho home instead of listing it on the open market. If your home is outdated or needs work, or you need to sell quickly due to a new job opportunity or the purchase of a new home, a “We Buy Houses” company could be a viable option. Unlike selling the traditional way, which typically involves making repairs, investing in staging, and hiring professional cleaners, selling to a “We Buy Houses” company allows you to skip all of t

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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.