Tue.Mar 04, 2025

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Mortgage rates have dropped sharply. How will borrowers respond?

Housing Wire

March figures to be a crucial month for gauging consumer interest in the 2025 housing market. The pace of home sales remains near a 30-year low point as home prices and mortgage rates keep potential borrowers in wait-and-see mode. But mortgage rates have posted an unusually large decline in the past week. On Tuesday, HousingWires Mortgage Rates Center showed that the average 30-year conforming rate was 6.89%, down 12 basis points (bps) from a week ago.

Mortgages 479
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Eternal confusion: Mixed messages on amending buyer agreements

Inman

Six months after commission lawsuit changes took effect, compliance expert Summer Goralik writes, uniformity in implementation and guidance remains elusive, making industry confusion the norm and compliance an ever-moving target.

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What comes next for remote online notarization oversight?

Housing Wire

Remote online notarization (RON) continues to stake its claim as a critical innovation for real estate professionals and homebuyers, opening the door for faster closings and largely eliminating the need for in-person meetings. However, enhanced accessibility and improved security has also come with regulatory challenges and risks that every stakeholder in the property transaction process must navigate.

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Today’s Mortgage Rates March 4, 2025: Rates Have Dropped Sharply

Marco Santarelli

Today's mortgage rates on March 4, 2025, show a slight decrease, particularly in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate, which sits at an average of 6.26%. However, mortgage rates have dropped nearly 30 basis points from their February average and plunged last week amid market fears of an economic slowdown. It signifies a potentially more favorable environment for entering the housing market or adjusting your current mortgage terms.

Mortgages 119
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The 2025 Real Estate Roadmap to Success

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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With lower costs and other value, rural areas are enticing for older homebuyers

Housing Wire

Rural areas are often in need of different kinds of expertise that is easier to find in urban areas, but they can also provide more value for homebuyers and a sense of community that is difficult to replicate in other, more populated areas of the U.S. This is according to a syndicated article originally published by the Daily Yonder , a national news publication focusing on stories from rural America.

Equity 406
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More Buyers Are Making Moves — Is It Time To Sell?

Keeping Current Matters

More people are taking steps to buy a home. And, if you’ve been waiting for the right time to move, this may be the sign you’ve been looking for.

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More Trending

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Community Workshop Will Reimagine the Future of East New York Train Station

Brownstoner

Share your vision for a bit of East New York history at a community workshop designed to spark ideas for preserving the Long Island Railroad Substation 2. Hosted by Preserving East New York (PENY) and East New York Community Land Trust (ENYCLT), the event will bring together community members and students… Read More > The post Community Workshop Will Reimagine the Future of East New York Train Station appeared first on Brownstoner.

Land 105
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Is Alabama’s buyer representation bill a legal protection or liability?

Housing Wire

The Department of Justice ( DOJ ) raised some eyebrows when it hinted that buyer representation agreements, if used as mandated in the National Association of Realtors (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement, may be a source of future antitrust litigation based on its statement of interest in the Sitzer/Burnett suit. But in Alabama , this proclamation did more than just pique the interest of the states Realtor trade group.

Brokerage 371
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Sweeping tariffs could increase new home costs by $10k

Real Estate News

After a 30-day pause, 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico major providers of construction materials took effect Mar. 4, creating uncertainty for builders.

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Treasury halts business ownership information reporting

Housing Wire

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that it will not be handing down penalties stemming from violations of the beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting rule as part of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). According to a press release, the Treasury will not enforce any penalties or fines associated with the beneficial ownership information reporting rule under existing regulatory deadlines.

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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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‘There Is a Wave Coming’

RIS Media

Above (from left to right): National Association of REALTORS President Kevin Sears and Anthony Lamacchia According to Anthony Lamacchia, real estate professionals will look back on 2023 and 2024 and say, “That wasn’t easy.” But those days are over, he adds. “Folks, I’m telling you, there is a wave coming in the next five years.… The post ‘There Is a Wave Coming’ appeared first on RISMedia.

MLS 111
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Compass invites outside agents to use Coming Soon listings in latest shot at CCP

Housing Wire

Compass has taken its fight against the Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) to another level. The brokerage is giving agents at all brokerages access to Coming Soon, which houses its exclusive listings. Compass says that the listings protect home sellers against negative insights, such as days on market. In a news release, Compass CEO Robert Reffkin appeared to openly taunt the National Association of Realtors (NAR), whose CCP rulerequires a Realtor to put a home for sale on the local NAR-affiliated

Agents 369
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Brooklyn Real Estate Listings Six Months Later: All Four Sold

Brownstoner

This week, a look back at four of our featured listings from six months ago focuses on homes in Beverly Square West, Park Slope, Flatbush, and Canarsie. How did they fare? First up, in the Flatbush micro nabe of Beverly Square West, this expansive house has been renovated with an open… Read More > The post Brooklyn Real Estate Listings Six Months Later: All Four Sold appeared first on Brownstoner.

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New executive leaders at FOA to focus on ‘modernizing’ tech, customer experience

Housing Wire

Top five reverse mortgage lender Finance of America (FOA) announced on Tuesday the hiring of two new executive leaders to modernize the companys digital and customer experience strategies. The hires are designed to bolster the companys efforts to accelerate its strategy of redefining the reverse mortgage market through digital transformation, with a particular emphasis on modernizing a corner of the mortgage industry that presents significant opportunity to improve customer experiences with inno

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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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Fannie and Freddie: Single Family Serious Delinquency Rates Increased in January

Calculated Risk Real Estate

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in January was 0.61%, up from 0.59% December. Freddie's rate is up year-over-year from 0.55% in January 2024, however, this is close to the pre-pandemic level of 0.60%. Some of the recent increase in the 90+ day delinquency rate is probably related to the hurricanes last year. Freddie's serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.17% in August 2020 during the pandemic.

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Palisades, Altadena property values are actually soaring post-wildfires

Housing Wire

Since mid-February, over 80 listings for burned lots in Pacific Palisades and Altadena have appeared on the market following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that took place in January, with land parcels fetching prices exceeding initial expectations. The wildfires ravaged over 16,000 structures in total, which left homeowners to grapple with the choice to either rebuild with insurance money or sell.

Land 238
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Newsmakers Spotlight: How Katey McGrath Created Connections that Led to Leadership

RIS Media

Katey McGrathvice president and director of Operations of Elfant Wissahickon REALTORSwas recently named as a Crusader in RISMedias 2025 class of Real Estate Newsmakers. She was recognized for her leadership on the Philadelphia Womens Council of REALTORS, Philadelphia Commission for Women and BrightMLS Board of Directors, as well as having a successful career in the… The post Newsmakers Spotlight: How Katey McGrath Created Connections that Led to Leadership appeared first on RISMedia.

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Xactus, FICO launch Score Mortgage Simulator

Housing Wire

Xactus has become the first technology partner to introduce the FICO Score Mortgage Simulator, a new tool designed to help lenders and borrowers understand how credit decisions impact mortgage eligibility. The simulator, developed by FICO , is the only mortgage industry tool that uses FICO scores and FICO score algorithms. It is now available through verification platform Xactus360.

Mortgages 259
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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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Cabinet and Countertop Solutions for Apartment Renovations or Builds

AAOA

In today’s market, the kitchen and bathroom design, look, and feel are major contributors and factors in renting and buying decisions. With more and more renters turning to class B and C properties , its never been more important for property owners and managers to stand out from the competition and keep vacancies to a minimum. Whether youre thinking of remodeling a single unit or a whole block of units, there is no better solution than preassembled kitchen countertops and cabinets.

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Floify launches tool to streamline mortgage applications, support compliance

Housing Wire

Floify has introduced Dynamic Apps, a new feature that allows mortgage lenders to customize loan applications based on loan type. The no-code tool aims to simplify the application process for borrowers while ensuring regulatory compliance and expediting approvals. We see allowing lenders to collect information specific to the type of loan they are originating as a game-changer, streamlining the approval process and providing a red carpet experience for loan applicants, said Sofia Rossato , presi

Mortgages 230
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Average Home Selling at a 19.47% Premium, According to New Market Analysis

RIS Media

In a recent analysis, real estate economist Ken Johnson, who serves as the Christie Kirkland Walker real estate chair at the University of Mississippi, reports that the average home price is being sold at a significant premium. Using 25 years of data from Zillow dating back to January 2000, Johnson’s analysis compares average home prices… The post Average Home Selling at a 19.47% Premium, According to New Market Analysis appeared first on RISMedia.

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Patent infringement suit against Redfin dismissed

Housing Wire

The load carried by Redfins legal team just got a bit lighter. The patent infringement suit filed by Virtual Creative Artists (VCA) over the system Redfin uses to power its listing portal has been dismissed. VCA notified the U.S. District Court in Seattle, where it filed the lawsuit a month and a half ago, that it was voluntarily dismissing the suit with prejudice, meaning that the plaintiff cannot file a new suit with the same claims, on Monday.

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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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Mortgage Rates Drop: Income Needed for $250K, $400K, $1M Homes

Marco Santarelli

Dreaming of owning your own home? You're not alone. Its a goal for so many of us, that feeling of having your own space, building memories, and putting down roots. But let's be honest, lately, the path to homeownership has felt more like climbing a mountain than strolling through a park, especially with those mortgage rates seeming sky-high. So, if you're wondering, “ Mortgage rates are falling.

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Is Keller Williams pointing toward an IPO after Stone Point’s strategic investment?

Housing Wire

Rumors that Keller Williams is considering an initial public offering (IPO) have circulated since the dawn of time or at the very least, over the past few decades. But until now, the rumors have appeared to be nothing more than speculation. But after entering into a strategic partnership with private equity firm Stone Point Capital on Monday, industry analysts and experts believe that Keller Williams may actually be on the path to go public.

Equity 195
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Ninth Circuit Affirms REX v. Zillow Ruling, Rejects DOJ Argument

RIS Media

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday affirmed a lower court decision denying listing service startup REXs attempt to revive claims that Zillow and the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) conspired to implement the no-comingling rule in violation of antitrust statutes, as the long-running lawsuit appears to have finally fizzled. In a six-page ruling, Judges… The post Ninth Circuit Affirms REX v.

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Florida Housing Market: Record Supply Expected to Favor Buyers in 2025

Marco Santarelli

Is the Sunshine State about to get a little too sunny for its own good? The Florida housing market supply has surged to a record high, leaving many wondering if this is a temporary blip or a sign of a potential housing market crash. While a crash isn't guaranteed, the increased inventory does signal a shift towards a buyer's market and increased price negotiation opportunities.

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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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A Decade of Home Price Growth in 5 Years

BAM Media

BAM Key Details: The latest Zillow report reveals a 45.3% rise in U.S. home values since February 2020, with Miami, Austin, and New York City seeing the highest growth in both home values and rent prices. Zillows report also highlights shifts in million-dollar homes, construction trends and homebuyer preferences. In just five years, home values have seen a decades worth of typical growth, rental prices have skyrocketed, and the way buyers shop for homes has shifted.

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The Top-Producing Agents Are Doing These 5 Things in 2025

RIS Media

In 2025, top-producing agents are setting themselves apart by adapting to new trends, using cutting-edge technology and refining their strategies. Here are five things the best agents are doing this year to outperform the competition. Finding their niche Successful agents arent trying to be everything to everyonetheyre carving out a niche and becoming the go-to… The post The Top-Producing Agents Are Doing These 5 Things in 2025 appeared first on RISMedia.

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HBGI Q4 2024: Single-Family Construction Ends Year with Growth

Eye on Housing

The continued shortage of existing homes for sale has helped to keep new single-family construction growing across all regions, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders release of the Home Building Geography Index (HBGI).

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19 Staycation Ideas: How to Create the Ultimate Spring Break Vacation at Home

Redfin

Springtime is here, with its promise of warmer weather, longer days, and the kind of daydreams that transport you to sandy beaches. But what happens when those dreams hit a snagyour vacation gets canceled, you’re tightening the belt to afford a new house , or travel just isnt in the cards this spring break? Fear not, the answer is simpler than you think: staycation ideas are the perfect solution to make the most of the season, without ever leaving your doorstep.

Design 59
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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.