Wed.Jun 26, 2024

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New-home sales fall in May as inventory piles up

Housing Wire

Homebuilders with unsold inventory are feeling the pinch of high mortgage rates — and it’s showing up in new-home sales data. The U.S. Census Bureau ’s new-home sales report for May shows that transactions took a nosedive to a seasonally adjusted annual sales volume of 619,000. Despite May being part of the prime homebuying season, that number represented a 16.5% year-over-year drop and was 11.3% below the revised rate in April.

Sales 459
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Focus on Time in the Market, Not Timing the Market

Keeping Current Matters

Should you buy a home now or should you wait?

Marketing 292
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Breaking barriers: The down payment assistance revolution

Housing Wire

To address one of the largest barriers faced by first-time homebuyers, Freddie Mac has introduced an innovative platform for housing professionals called DPA One®. Launched in September 2023, this platform streamlines the often frustrating and confusing process of searching for and matching down payment assistance (DPA) programs. Recently, the team behind DPA One shared insights into their dedication to making homeownership more accessible and their vision for the platform’s future.

Loans 418
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New home sales plummet, but prices barely budge

Real Estate News

May sales were well below April numbers and down 16.5% year-over-year, a sign that builder incentives may not be enough to overcome high rates and prices.

Sales 253
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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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Finance of America announces debt restructuring, staving off 2025 maturity risk

Housing Wire

Reverse mortgage industry leader Finance of America (FOA) announced this week that it has restructured its unsecured debt into new, secured debt that will come due beyond the original 2025 maturity date. This is according to an announcement and an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that was reviewed by HousingWire ’s Reverse Mortgage Daily (RMD).

Finance 416
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Judge pauses New York antitrust suits over plaintiff objections

Inman

Plaintiffs allege REBNY and dozens of real estate brokerages perpetrated a "wholly separate conspiracy" from the claims resolved by the NAR settlement, but defendants disagree.

Brokerage 161

More Trending

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Proposed sale of REcolorado MLS a response to commission litigation

Inman

Denver Metro Association of Realtors and South Metro Denver Realtors Association say sale to private equity firm would offer protection during a time of intense litigation in the real estate industry.

MLS 160
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New American Funding hires Craig Stammler to oversee Western markets

Housing Wire

Craig Stammler has joined New American Funding (NAF) as a regional vice president, the California -based mortgage lender announced Tuesday. Stammler, who previously worked for loanDepot , Wells Fargo and Countrywide , will be responsible for overseeing the company’s southern Idaho and northern California markets. His duties include growth of existing teams, managing profitability and development of branch leadership.

Marketing 397
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What’s the best advice you’ve heard (so far) in 2024? Pulse

Inman

Whether it was from your favorite colleague or a wise mentor or coach, what are the words of wisdom you've heard lately?

Brokerage 157
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Reverse mortgage advocates talk product misconceptions and advancements: Morningstar

Housing Wire

Reverse mortgage products have a lot of potential utility for older American homeowners, but many consumers remain skeptical of their usefulness due to lingering reputational problems and institutional aversions, despite becoming more regulated in recent years. This was part of a series of perspectives shared on Morningstar ’s “The Long View” podcast by American College of Financial Services professors Don Graves and Wade Pfau.

Mortgages 397
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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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12 ways to build strong lender partnerships for happier clients

Inman

Clever CEO Luke Babich writes that partnering with well-qualified lenders helps you help your clients, build your brand and add value to every real estate transaction.

Branding 154
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Tennessee AG turns Graceland investigation over to federal authorities

Housing Wire

The office of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has passed an investigation into an attempted fraudulent foreclosure auction of music icon Elvis Presley’s former home to federal authorities, according to reporting from the The Associated Press (AP). The famous home known as Graceland was purchased by Presley in 1957 after his career skyrocketed, landing him the moniker of the “King of Rock n’ Roll.

Land 397
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Zillow partners with Moody’s on multifamily rental data

Inman

The partnership will give larger multifamily rental operators access to Moody's data on topics such as rents, vacancies and inventory.

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Total Expert launches marketplace for marketing technologies

Housing Wire

Customer engagement platform Total Expert is launching a marketplace this week for financial institutions to build their marketing technology stack. Partners will plug into the Total Expert platform to offer solutions such as chats and texts supported by artificial intelligence (AI), targeted mail campaigns, and management of their online reputation.

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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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Lower rates boost homebuyer demand for 3rd week in a row

Inman

Mortgage rates have been on the decline since late April, as closely watched data releases suggest the economy is cooling and that the Fed may start cutting rates as soon as September.

Mortgages 151
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Amid a climate crisis, some good news for Florida’s housing market

Housing Wire

The Florida housing market faces an outsized risk from weather events and larger climate issues. The state has the longest coastline in the lower 48 and its average elevation is just 100 feet. That low-lying land is prime real estate, with 16.2 million people living in coastal areas primed for damage from tropical storms, hurricanes and flooding. Not surprisingly, the state also has the highest average cost for homeowners insurance , and that cost is rising.

Marketing 396
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Compass, eXp, Redfin and others file joint motion to dismiss Batton 2

Inman

Defendants in the case, which also includes Weichert Realtors and United Real Estate, say the claims lack standing, are untimely and an attempt to "parrot" arguments made in Batton 1.

MLS 150
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Nosalek suit stayed pending court ruling on NAR settlement

Housing Wire

Judge Patti B. Saris, who is overseeing the Nosalek commission lawsuit, made the decision to stay the case, pending Judge Stephen R. Bough’s ruling on the nationwide commission lawsuit settlement agreement reached by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in March. According to Saris’ order, the plaintiffs have 30 days after Bough’s ruling to file their supplemental preliminary approval of settlement.

MLS 395
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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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Tal Alexander joins brother, Oren, in stepping down from Official

Inman

Official co-founder Nicole Oge said the decision for Tal to step away from the firm was a mutual one. Tal's lawyer, Deanna Paul, said he wouldn't let recent rape claims "be a further distraction" to the firm or clients.

Brokerage 150
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iHomefinder taps SaaS veteran Womack to lead sales team

Housing Wire

iHomefinder is hoping to bolster its business with a new hire. The real estate technology provider has added sales veteran Bryson Womack as vice president of sales, a move that took effect this week. Womack has more than 30 years of experience as a CEO, founder and sales executive. “Bryson has a proven track record of success,” the company said in a statement announcing the hire.

Sales 394
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Leverage your time by using a qualified bookkeeper

Inman

Think about the time and effort you spend doing your own bookkeeping, Maeda Palius and Amy Chorew write, then contrast that with profit potential of using that time for income-generating activities.

Brokerage 141
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Former Ginnie Mae official joins Housing Policy Council

Housing Wire

The Housing Policy Council (HPC) announced on Wednesday that it has appointed Michael Drayne as its new senior vice president of capital markets, effective July 1. Drayne has three decades of capital markets experience. He served from 2011 to 2023 in various roles at government-owned company Ginnie Mae , where he helped to manage different elements of the mortgage-backed securities (MBS) programs.

Finance 387
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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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Mauricio Umansky on how to engage your online network 

Inman

Engaging with your network is not a one-and-done proposition, Mauricio Umansky writes. It's about consistent effort and effective communication.

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Grella asks court to dismiss NEXA lawsuit over breach of contract, defamation

Housing Wire

Former NEXA Mortgage President Mat Grella filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit in which the company accuses him of causing the failure of a hangar-office property purchase and acting to defame his business partner Mike Kortas. According to the document, filed on Monday in a superior court in Maricopa, Arizona, the lawsuit is the “handiwork” of Kortas.

Title 387
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How to Deal with Tenant Complaints: The Landlord’s Guide

Bigger Pockets

Learn how to deal with tenant complaints. Discover common issues, resolution strategies, and proactive measures for landlords to maintain good relationships.

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Rocket names Heather Lovier as chief operating officer

Housing Wire

Heather Lovier replaced Bill Emerson as chief operating officer of Rocket Companies following the appointment of the board of directors on June 20. Emerson will remain as Rocket’s president. An industry veteran, Lovier joined Rocket Mortgage , the company’s lending arm, in 2003. She has focused the past two decades on driving operational excellence and enhancing client experience, the company stated.

Lending 301
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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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How to Figure Out Repair, Rehab, and Renovation Costs on Any Project

Bigger Pockets

The three R's don't have to be too expensive, but it's important to run these calculations before you start.

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It’s worth trying ADR to save real estate relationships

Housing Wire

My wife and I have worked with the same real estate agent to buy and sell several homes, and we’ve referred her to help more than a dozen friends with their home transactions. This is a small example of a big truth about real estate: it’s a relationship business. In my career as an attorney, I’ve seen how legal disputes can sink relationships fast and forever.

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Home Sales Bottom Out to Near-Record Low as Prices Continue to Climb

Bigger Pockets

Home sales hit their lowest point in May since the early months of the pandemic. What comes next?

Sales 124
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‘NAR swat team’ strikes Arizona home in wild new marketing video

Inman

The Instagram video shows agents with "NAR" along the back of swat team jackets bursting into a home before tackling, tasing and hogtying a Realtor who failed to remove an offer from the MLS.

MLS 123
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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.