Thu.Oct 31, 2024

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This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s spread awareness about real estate wire fraud

Housing Wire

Over the last decade, real estate transactions have increasingly become a prime target for cybercrime. Far from slowing down, the scams are becoming more prevalent, sophisticated, and difficult to recognize as fraudulent. With October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it is important that the real estate industry and consumers speak up and spread the word about how to prevent these real estate cybercrimes.

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How Real Estate Agents Take the Fear Out of Moving

Keeping Current Matters

Feeling a bit unsure, or even afraid, to move with everything going on right now?

Agents 297
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ClearValue teams with Restb.ai to bring computer vision to appraisal process

Housing Wire

The real estate industry is racing to find ways that artificial intelligence (AI) can improve business practices. ClearValue Consulting thinks it’s found a way. The firm has partnered with Restb.ai to bring computer vision to its valuation review platform called Certainty. The companies hope Restb.ai’s technology can help ClearValue’s appraisal review clients improve efficiency and quality control while also reducing costs.

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The fall housing rally may have come and gone

Real Estate News

September’s low rates gave pending sales a boost, but as mortgage rates climb for a fifth straight week, enthusiasm is expected to wane.

Mortgages 287
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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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Year of change: Real estate pros reflects on anniversary of Sitzer/Burnett verdict

Housing Wire

It’s been one year since the Sitzer/Burnett verdict was rendered in Missouri. What has changed for real estate brokerages since then? (Image generated by AI in Midjourney) Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of articles that will explore the effects of the landmark Sitzer/Burnett case, which was decided on Oct. 31, 2023, and has since reshaped the business practices for real estate brokerages and agents across the country.

Brokerage 448
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Howard Hanna expands its presence in Ohio, South Carolina

Real Estate News

The major independent firm announced a pair of deals this week that support its strategy of steady growth across the eastern U.S.

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Judge approves brokerage settlements totaling $110 million

Real Estate News

Defendants including Compass, Redfin and seven other large firms can now move on from litigation in the sell-side commissions cases.

Brokerage 278
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Purchase mortgage applicants are seeing more reasons to smile

Housing Wire

By at least one measurement, affordability is improving for prospective homebuyers, even as home prices continue to rise and mortgage credit availability remains relatively low. According to data released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the median payment for purchase loan applicants declined by 0.8% from August to September. The median payment for these prospective borrowers dropped to $2,041 last month.

FHA loan 446
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What’s spookier, ghosts or mold? Owners and buyers weigh in

Real Estate News

In the “spirit” of Halloween, a new survey finds that many people would settle for a haunted house over one with maintenance issues or political neighbors.

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CubiCasa launches AI tool that creates virtual home tours in minutes

Housing Wire

Interior property data company CubiCasa announced the launch of an interactive touring product for listing agents. The new CubiCasa Tour product will create interactive, virtual property tours within minutes. The new product uses similar software to CubiCasa’s Floor Plans, another virtual listing tool that builds floor plans in five minutes or less.

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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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Commissions held steady after Aug. 17, Redfin study shows

Inman

Commissions have been slowly declining over the last decade, but since the NAR settlement terms went into effect this summer, buyer's agent commissions have seen little impact.

Agents 193
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NerdWallet enters the mortgage broker world with acquisition of Next Door Lending

Housing Wire

California-based personal finance company NerdWallet has struck a deal to acquire brokerage firm Next Door Lending. Jonathon Haddad, chairman and CEO of the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME), is one of the owners of Next Door. As part of the deal that closed Oct. 1, NerdWallet is paying $1 million in cash for the outstanding equity interests of Next Door.

Lending 490
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Judge grants final approval to 9 commission lawsuit settlements

Inman

Judge Stephen Bough granted approval for settlements involving Compass, Douglas Elliman, @properties and other companies. Collectively, the companies will pay $110 million to resolve the litigation.

Brokerage 187
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The mortgage industry braces for (more) FICO price hikes

Housing Wire

In the halls of the Colorado Convention Center on Monday, it was hard not to overhear mortgage bankers gnashing their teeth over the rumored price hikes for Fair Isaac Corp (FICO) scores. “They’ve got us by the balls,” said one mortgage pro in an interview between sales meetings at Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Annual 2024 in Denver. “It’s an abuse of power, a complete monopoly.” “It’s outrageous,” huffed another in an interview as he wa

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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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KW relaunches BOLD coaching program amid changing times

Inman

Onward BOLD gives Keller Williams agents access to lead generation resources, among many other things. The program is relaunching amid a period of upheaval for the real estate industry.

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Done and dusted! Court grants final approval to eight brokerage settlements in Gibson suit

Housing Wire

Much to the relief of some of the nation’s largest brokerage firms, Judge Stephen R. Bough granted final approval on Thursday to eight settlements in the combined Gibson and Umpa commission lawsuits. Bough’s ruling comes on the one-year anniversary of the jury verdict in the Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit, in which a Missouri jury found the National Association of Realtors (NAR), HomeServices of America and Keller Williams liable for colluding to artificially inflate agent commissions.

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Robert Reffkin compares future of listings to Netflix video streaming

Inman

Consumers will one day visit multiple real estate sites, including Compass.com, to find listings in the same way they now search for content on Netflix and Disney+, the Compass CEO predicted.

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Optimizing originator retention: How Optimal Blue’s tools and AI solutions keep lenders competitive

Housing Wire

In an ever-changing real estate market, loan originator retention is a key challenge for lenders. Loan officers need faster product rollouts and fewer barriers to focus on core tasks. Leading capital markets platform Optimal Blue helps retain talent with pricing engines and features like generative AI and virtual originator assistants. In a exclusive executive conversation, HousingWire president Diego Sanchez sits down with Erin Wester, Optimal Blue’s vice president of product management, to exp

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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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Broker Spotlight: Josep Turro, Chi Wei Chin of The Agency Barcelona

Inman

Find out how these world travelers bring their shared global perspective to serving a worldwide network of clients and welcoming them home to Spain.

Brokerage 174
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Howard Hanna acquires two independent brokerages

Housing Wire

It has already been a busy week for Howard Hanna Real Estate Services (HHRES) and it is only Thursday. The family-owned brokerage firm announced the completion of two acquisitions on Wednesday. The financial terms of the deals are not being disclosed. While Ohio is already a stronghold for the Pennsylvania -based firm, Howard Hanna strengthened its position in the buckeye state through its recent acquisition of Dayton-based Big Hill Realty.

Brokerage 431
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Teams Spotlight: Amanda Field Jordan, The Field Team

Inman

Find out how this luxury leader puts her background in finance to work for her team and her clients and where she sees Manhattan's market headed next.

Finance 174
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Real estate agent commissions are holding steady, except at this price point

Housing Wire

Real estate agent commissions have held steady since August, but there’s a divergence at different price points. That’s the conclusion of new data from Redfin , which shows that the average commission between August and October dropped by 1 basis point to 2.34%. The data is derived from sales by Redfin agents who have closed a transaction in October or are scheduled to by the end of the month.

Agents 375
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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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Huddle up: Team meeting case study for Pardee Properties

Inman

Coach Melanie Klein looks at the way this California brokerage conducts its team meetings and the differentiators you can add to your own agenda.

Brokerage 173
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FHFA to affordable housing sponsors: We hear you on FHLBank financing

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Thursday said it will aim to simplify the process of funding affordable housing projects through the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks). The advisory bulletin came in response to comments by sponsors that have called the process too cumbersome. “Each of the 11 FHLBanks operates an Affordable Housing Program (AHP) providing grants or subsidized advances to fund rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households,” the

Finance 343
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Josh and Heather Altman leaving ‘Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles’

Inman

Power couple calling it quits after 13 years and 11 seasons on the hit reality real estate show. "We were babies when we started the show," Josh Altman told "People.

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Trying to Save Money When Hiring a Real Estate Agent? Avoid These 4 “Questionable” Qualities

Lighter Side of Real Estate

According to a recent CNBC article , 33% of homeowners are willing to hire a “questionable” contractor in order to save money, defining it as “someone who isn’t exactly honest with the price, may be overestimating their skills, doesn’t do high quality work, or simply doesn’t show up for the project.” As you can imagine, doing so comes with the risk of “getting what you pay for” in the form of shoddy work… if the project gets done at all.

Agents 115
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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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Meet iGuide’s most affordable digital twin solution, Planix R1

Inman

The new camera system, Planix R1, is designed to be more physically and technically nimble when helping agents create digital twins, executives said Wednesday. And it’s more affordable, too.

Design 173
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Buyer Representation: What’s Changed, and What Hasn’t

RIS Media

Recent changes that went into effect following the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) proposed settlement* have impacted how agents work with buyers. While some things have changed, many core principles of buyer representation haven’t. What’s changed: Mandatory written buyer agreements. One of the most significant changes is the requirement for written buyer agreements to be… The post Buyer Representation: What’s Changed, and What Hasn’t appeared first on RISMedia.

Agents 116
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Million-dollar shift: From a $100K-a-year grind to $100K-a-month win

Inman

With time and consistent effort, coach Ricky Carruth writes, you'll watch your real estate career transform from a daily grind into a glorious success.

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Why the True Cost of an Eviction Is (Much) Higher Than You Think

Bigger Pockets

Evictions suck—for everyone. They’re bad for the property owner, the tenant, and America as a whole.

Marketing 126
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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.