Wed.Jan 15, 2025

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Natural disasters like the LA fires will deepen the U.S. housing crisis

Housing Wire

Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) released an in-depth study this week in which they argue that decades of policy missteps have created a shortage of affordable housing across the U.S. and are pushing homeownership out of reach for millions of Americans. The full study , which was published in the January edition of The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, goes back 20 years to examine the origins of the current housing crisis.

Lending 418
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Mortgage rates ease on benign December inflation report

Inman

Investors bid up shares of mortgage lenders and real estate companies after "relatively benign" CPI report ends speculation that inflation worries might force the Fed to raise rates this year.

Mortgages 173
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What to expect in 2025: Securing customer insurance in a volatile real estate market

Housing Wire

The year 2025 will be transformative for real estate. Rising personal home insurance rates, fueled by escalating claims costs, increasing property values and the growing frequency of natural disasters, will all have a profound impact on market dynamics and homeowners insurance costs. For real estate professionals and mortgage lenders, these shifts present both challenges and opportunities.

Marketing 369
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RE/MAX taps Christie’s Real Estate vet Chris Lim as chief growth officer

Inman

Lim, who vacated the presidency of Christie's International Real Estate in 2023, will be tasked with growing RE/MAX at a time when the brokerage has struggled with falling revenue and U.S. agent count.

Brokerage 158
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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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Younger generations are more likely to pursue home renovations this year

Housing Wire

As high home prices continue to impact the market, many homeowners are deciding to stay put in their homes. But most still have plans to purse home renovations and younger generations are leading this new focus on home improvement. Emmy Award-winning home improvement platform This Old House conducted a survey of 2,000 homeowners on their renovation plans for 2025.

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Georgia looks to protect residents from title theft with new law

Housing Wire

Georgia has upped its defenses against deed fraud and title theft. Gov. Brian Kemp signed a new law, which went into effect at the start of the year, that creates a spate of new requirements for those filing property-related documents and notaries involved in electronic document filing. Georgia House Bill 1292 was enacted to ensure that the persons presenting electronic documents for recording provide identifying information, according to the state Legislature.

Title 397
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Housing Market Decoded: Why Fed cuts haven’t kept mortgage rates down

Real Estate News

When the Fed lowers interest rates, a drop in mortgage rates often follows but recently, the opposite has happened. Heres why.

Mortgages 329
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RE/MAX hires Chris Lim as EVP and chief growth officer

Housing Wire

RE/MAX on Wednesday announced that it has hired Chris Lim as executive vice president and chief growth officer. Lim, who has 22 years of leadership experience in the real estate industry, will officially step into his new role on Feb. 3. Lim will focus on fostering franchise growth in key U.S. regions and ensure that existing franchisees have everything they need to succeed.

Agents 370
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California agents scramble to help clients affected by LA wildfires

Real Estate News

As the fires rage on, some agents are working on the front lines to help displaced residents facing big losses while navigating scarcity and price-gouging.

Agents 313
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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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HUD voucher recipient in Indiana will lose benefits after disclosing marijuana use

Housing Wire

An Elkhart, Indiana , resident who is a beneficiary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assistance is poised to lose his benefits on Jan. 31 after disclosing on a form that he had ingested marijuana a single time, according to local reporting by a South Bend-based NBC affiliate. This will cause him to lose his home in a few months time, he said.

Mortgages 370
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Top 10 Housing Markets for 2025: Zillow’s Predictions

Marco Santarelli

If you're trying to pinpoint where the real estate action will be in 2025, look no further! According to Zillows analysis, the hottest housing markets for 2025 will be largely concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest, with Buffalo, NY topping the list again. These markets stand out due to their mix of relative affordability, job growth, and a fast pace of sales.

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Mortgage applications up 33.3% from holiday week

Housing Wire

With an adjustment for the New Year’s holiday, mortgage applications increased 33.3% from one week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey, released today. This week’s reading, for the week ending Jan. 10, 2025, is a stark difference from last week’s applications , which reflected a seasonal lull following Christmas.

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Roughly 11,000 Homes Will Sell Today – Will Yours Be One of Them?

Keeping Current Matters

Are you hesitant to sell your house because you’re worried no one’s buying with rates and prices where they are right now?

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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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First American Title has a new direct division president

Housing Wire

First American Titles direct division is starting the new year off with a new division president. The big four title firm announced the appointment of Jim Dulle as the new division president on Wednesday. Dulles appointment comes as the previous division president, Janette Waller, is set to retire in March 2025. The company said Waller will remain on staff through March to help with the transition.

Title 370
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Compass boosts outlook, expects 2024 revenue to top $5.6B

Real Estate News

The brokerage revised its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings forecast upward, also noting that it added more than 650 agents in Q4.

Brokerage 261
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AARP study highlights how tech can help with aging in place

Housing Wire

Technology has a lot of potential to assist older people with the goal of aging in place. A new study from AARP and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) aims to make the case by arguing that tech can empower independence. Combining the work of a quantitative study from CTA and qualitative research from AARP, the report finds that older adults are largely comfortable with using more technology in their daily lives and find it useful as they seek to age in place.

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Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno Reestablishes Independence

RIS Media

Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno has announced that it will return to complete independence as a 100% locally owned and operated brokerage after Co-Founders Chris Trapani and Ryan Iwanaga have finalized an agreement to reacquire the company. The organization will also maintain exclusive rights to the Christie’s International Real Estate brand across all of its… The post Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno Reestablishes Independence appeared first on RIS

Brokerage 110
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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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NAR names Jarrod Grasso to new industry relations post

Housing Wire

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced Wednesday that it has appointed Jarrod Grasso as its senior vice president of industry relations, a new position created to engage with state and local Realtor associations, in addition to individual Realtors. NAR’s reputation has been under attack over the last few years and the trade group has taken action to change that.

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Single-Family Permits Up in November 2024  

Eye on Housing

Over the first eleven months of 2024, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 912,910. On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, this is an increase of 8.2% over the November 2023 level of 843,654. Year-to-date ending in November, single-family permits were up in all four regions. The range of permit increases spanned.

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Howard Hanna closes third acquisition in three months

Housing Wire

It may be a new year, but Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is picking up right where it left off. On Wednesday, the family-owned brokerage announced its acquisition of Ohio -based Home Experts Realty. Founded in 2011, Home Experts Realty has grown to nearly 400 agents. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Home Experts Realty has built a strong, values-driven foundation that aligns perfectly with Howard Hannas mission and culture, Shawn Adams, the president of Howard Hannas

Closing 370
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NAR hires insider as ‘first-ever’ senior VP of industry relations

Inman

Jarrod Grasso will lead the trade group's efforts to "deepen engagement with state and local associations, MLS executives and other critical industry partners.

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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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Mutual of Omaha denies Longbridge allegations, files counterclaim

Housing Wire

Mutual of Omaha Mortgage , which rose to the No. 1 position on the reverse mortgage industry leaderboard for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements in 2024, has responded to a September legal complaint by competitor Longbridge Financial. Mutual is denying allegations that it misled potential customers and is demanding a jury trial and for litigation to determine the monetary losses inflicted upon it by Longbridges alleged activities.

Branding 370
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PlanetRE’s latest bolsters its AI productivity portfolio

Inman

PlanetRE, an enterprise software solution for the real estate industry, has released new AI tools for brokerages and MLSs.

Brokerage 165
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How to Outsmart Zillow During Listing Appointments

BAM Media

I think youre smarter than Zillow. Zillow cant see the hoarders next door. Zillow cant smell the lingering dog odor. And Zillow certainly cant understand the emotional nuances of a neighborhood like you can. But where do most sellers look to find their home value? Zillow. No matter how skilled you are at pricing a property, many sellers walk into the conversation with a preconceived number in mind thanks to the estimates theyve seen on online portals.

Sales 59
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Freddie Mac deepens integrations with ICE’s Encompass platform

Inman

Mortgage giant claims lenders who embrace automation enjoy fewer loan defects and cut loan production time and cost compared to lenders with lower technology utilization.

Loans 158
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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.