Thu.May 16, 2024

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UWM cuts out title insurer with updated TRAC+ program, rolls out 0% down purchase initiative

Housing Wire

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) has launched a new service to handle all the title work for its brokers on refinancings. As a result, brokers no longer need to deal with a title company or settlement agent to close a refi. The top U.S. mortgage lender announced the service on Thursday during an annual meeting with its broker partners in Pontiac, Michigan.

Title 419
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The Number of Homes for Sale Is Increasing

Keeping Current Matters

There’s no denying the last couple of years have been tough for anyone trying to buy a home because there haven’t been enough houses to go around.

Sales 265
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California leads all states for highest bankruptcy risk to seniors

Housing Wire

Across all states, California poses the highest risk of bankruptcy for Americans ages 65 and older, according to a study released by personal finance website Moneywise. The study analyzed 11 factors to determine which states put elderly U.S. citizens at the greatest risk of bankruptcy. It determined each state’s risk of bankruptcy by assigning a risk score on a scale of 100 based on factors like poverty rates, debt-to-income ratios, health care expenses and overall cost of living.

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CoStar CEO says competitors are ‘going to adopt our model’

Real Estate News

Will Homes.com sell buyer agent leads? “Never,” says Andy Florance, who believes all the portals will eventually move to “your listing, your lead.

Agents 247
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Ready for the Post-NAR Lawsuit Landscape? Get the Broker Action Plan

Now more than ever, agents need 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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RealReports enhances property document analysis with new multimodal AI feature

Housing Wire

Proptech firm RealReports unveiled a new feature for its AI-powered assistant, Aiden, the company announced on Thursday. The new feature harnesses the capabilities of multimodal artificial intelligence to instantly analyze and summarize complex property documents, including inspection reports, appraisals and seller disclosures. Multimodal AI technology allows advanced artificial intelligence systems to process and integrate various types of data inputs — including text, images and audio.

More Trending

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New York-based Corcoran affiliate acquires independent brokerage

Housing Wire

Corcoran Baer & McIntosh , a franchisee of Corcoran Group based in New York City , acquired New Jersey -based Woodward Realty Group , the companies announced on Wednesday. Through this merger , Corcoran Baer & McIntosh will welcome Woodward Realty Group’s 26 agents, bringing the brokerage ’s agent count to more than 130. Woodward Realty Group serves clients across 53 unique municipalities of Monmouth County, New Jersey — including Rumson, Middletown, Fair Haven, Freehold, Little Silver,

Brokerage 321
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'Unfiltered' podcast: MLS CEO talks tech, settlement pros and cons

Real Estate News

Watch the conversation with NorthstarMLS’s Tim Dain as he discusses how technology can work better for agents, and the not-so-simple outcomes of the NAR deal.

MLS 222
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Snapdocs announces partnership with SitusAMC

Housing Wire

Digital closing provider Snapdocs is partnering with real estate technology provider SitusAMC to integrate the Snapdocs eVault to SitusAMC’s ProMerit platform, a warehouse lending technology tool, the companies announced on Thursday. This collaboration allows warehouse lenders to seamlessly and securely manage eNote transactions within their warehouse lending system of record.

Lending 313
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People on the Move: A C-suite shakeup at HomeServices of America

Real Estate News

Christy Budnick is out after three years as HSF Affiliates CEO; Gino Blefari to take on dual CEO roles. Plus, a new VP of operations at United.

As-is 224
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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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HECM program study assesses policy impacts of recent years

Housing Wire

A study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) in 2022 aimed to assess the state of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program over a 20-year period. The study, commissioned by the HUD PD&R and compiled by analytics firm SP Group LLC and its subcontractor Econometrica Inc. , assessed three separate elements of the HECM program’s effectiveness from 2000 to 2020 — including borrower impacts, financ

Loans 306
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What should I tell clients? Question leads to free-for-all at NAR midyear

Inman

May 6 remarks from Anthony Lamacchia spurred at least one NAR midyear attendee to leave the MLS Forum in protest, others to hurl steering accusations, and NAR's senior counsel to intervene.

MLS 166
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Christy Budnick out, Gino Blefari in as HomeServices undergoes C-suite changes

Housing Wire

Just weeks after announcing it reached a nationwide settlement agreement in the commission lawsuits , HomeServices of America is undergoing some major changes to its leadership team. Last week, Christy Budnick announced that she will be stepping down as CEO of HSF Affiliates , the franchisor of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices , effective June 3. In a message to network leaders that was obtained by HousingWire , Budnick stated, “The last three years have been the best of my professional car

Branding 288
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Marketing listings through qualified buyer financing options

Inman

For real estate agents, highlighting diverse financing options is one of the easiest ways to attract more traffic to their listings. Clever's Luke Babich shares a few programs and options to know about.

Finance 148
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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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Study: Listings on Bright MLS show $54,000 benefit for sellers compared to off-MLS

Housing Wire

With the latest industry turmoil around compensation, steering and more due to lawsuits and the investigation by the Department of Justice , those outside the housing industry would assume the benefit to listing a home on the MLS would be negligible. They would be wrong. The MLS is crucial for home sellers , even in a strong seller’s market, as it provides significant financial benefits and access to more potential buyers, according to a recent study by Bright MLS called “On-MLS Stud

MLS 284
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How to engage brokerage clients through SEO and content creation

Inman

Unique, engaging and highly specific content can make you a trusted resource for buyers and sellers locally and regionally, Chicago broker David Marden writes.

Brokerage 153
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Grounding the Static: Fast-Forward from Concept to Execution for Amazing Results

Housing Wire

Open the door to the most powerful room in housing. Join us at The Gathering 2025 in Denver, CO, June 8-11. Go here to lock in special pricing with your registration. One of the first articles HousingWire Lead Analyst Logan Mohtashami wrote this year was titled, “The savagely unhealthy housing market is over.” That was back in February. Then, just three months later, he posed the question, “Is the savagely unhealthy housing market back?

Title 280
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Meet Alex 4o: The new, powerful AI business partner agents need

Inman

The rollout of the latest iteration of ChatGPT, calling itself Alex 4o, allows you and your business to do more than you ever thought possible. Author and trainer Bernice Ross shares the latest enhancements.

Agents 139
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Need Curated Pre-foreclosure Lists to Generate New Real Estate Leads? Trellis Has the Data!

Trellis is a state trial court research and analytics platform that provides Real Estate Professionals (Buyers, Foreclosure, Loan Modification, etc.) with LEADS on Pre-Foreclosures, Lis Pendes, Distressed Assets and more — to help uncover **new** opportunities and grow their business. The process is quick and easy — and all in real time. Trellis will supply you with a link to the relevant dockets, a Leads sheet and access to its UI where applicable.

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Mr. Cooper’s CIO on deploying AI for the biggest wins

Housing Wire

Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler sat down with Sridhar Sharma, executive vice president and chief information officer at Mr. Cooper , to talk about how the company is using machine learning and artificial intelligence to increase productivity while making their customers happier. Sarah Wheeler: You came into the mortgage space about nine years ago after leading teams at NTT Data and Infosys.

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SERHANT. snags sales of NYC new development from The Agency

Inman

The Agency repped the building’s sales for one year before SERHANT. stepped in to take the reins on the 21-unit UWS boutique luxury residence known as 'Fifteen.

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Housing Starts Rebound in April, Rising 5.7% 

RIS Media

With the U.S. still experiencing a housing shortage due to construction halts from the COVID-19 pandemic, housing completions, and starts, should continue to push positive, as each showed true in April—and the need for housing remains everlasting. According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, housing starts reached a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.360… The post Housing Starts Rebound in April, Rising 5.7% appeared first on RISMedia.

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S&S Christie’s International Real Estate launches in Vietnam

Inman

S&S Christie's International Real Estate, was born through a collaboration with S&S Group, a conglomerate of ultra-luxury companies that span the automotive, timepiece, fashion, art and, now, real estate sectors. Their first office will open in Saigon in June.

Brokerage 137
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The 4 Most Impactful Actions to Take in Real Estate in 2024

Strategic real estate professionals know that the name of the game right now is to stay informed, adaptable, and ready to make confident decisions. In this free download, Inside Real Estate CEO, Joe Skousen, shares what he believes are the top 4 most impactful actions in real estate right now. We've been actively engaging with industry experts, analyzing data, and listening intently to the experiences of our agents on the ground.

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We now know the price Russell Wilson got for his Bellevue mansion

Seattle Times Real Estate

Wilson bought the property for $6.7 million in 2015 and sold it when he left Seattle for Denver. Its recent sale is among the highest in the region this year.

Sales 122
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A Bay Harbor Island home in Miami sets new $21.95M sales record

Inman

Shock-Gard CEO Matthew Bullock and his wife are the buyers of the spec home. The sale bests a previous record set last month by Brazilian race car driver Claudio Dahruj's home purchase.

Sales 133
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MBA: Mortgage Delinquencies Increased Slightly in Q1 2024

Calculated Risk Real Estate

From the MBA: Mortgage Delinquencies Increase Slightly in the First Quarter of 2024 The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.94 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the first quarter of 2024, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) National Delinquency Survey.

VA loan 114
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Broker Spotlight: Seth Kaufman, ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

Inman

Find out how this chief sales officer oversees operations for 1,300+ agents and 10 managing brokers across 32 offices along the east coast of Florida.

Agents 142
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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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43% of Recent Home Buyers Struggle with Mortgage Payments

BAM Media

BAM Key Details: New research from Clever Real Estate, a St. Louis-based real estate company, shows more than two in five recent homebuyers struggle to make their mortgage payments, and 82% have at least one regret about their home purchase. 78% of upcoming buyers plan to work with a real estate agent, and 71% of those who bought a home in 2023 or 2024 used an agent.

Mortgages 111
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UWM’s controversial mortgage site now an official NBA partner

Inman

Lawsuit alleges search results on Mortgage Matchup are "designed to steer borrowers to brokers who funnel nearly all their business to UWM, regardless of whether UWM offers the most competitive loan terms.

Mortgages 129
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Proposed Crown Heights Build Would Cast Harmful Shadows on Botanic Garden

Brownstoner

A planned 14-story building on Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, next door to the former Spice Factory and tucked between Jackie Robinson Playground and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, would have “significant adverse effects” on both the garden and playground in its creation of shadows, blocking sunlight to the garden’s sensitive… Read More > The post Proposed Crown Heights Build Would Cast Harmful Shadows on Botanic Garden appeared first on Brownstoner.