Tue.Jan 14, 2025

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From bartender to $463k GCI in two years of cold calling

Housing Wire

Does experience matter for first-year Realtors? If you dig a little deeper into the backgrounds of the agents on the Real Trends Verified list, you might think so. Most have blue-chip professional experience or personal connections with wealthy homeowners. Some have both. But Brandon Halperin had neither. He was a bartender who started his real estate career in a market that was brand new to him.

Agents 370
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Investor sentiment nosedives as rates rise, rents fall

Real Estate News

After improving earlier in the year, sentiment plunged between the third and fourth quarters of 2024, though flippers were less pessimistic than landlords.

Investor 309
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How to become a real estate broker & launch a brokerage — Advice from a KW mega broker

Housing Wire

When I started my first brokerage in my late twenties, I was full of ambition but had no idea what to expect. While I would like to say I knocked it out of the park on my first try, I had to make many mistakes before considering myself an expert. Despite the learning curve, becoming a broker has been one of the most fulfilling decisions of my career.

Brokerage 369
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The Truth About Credit Scores and Buying a Home

Keeping Current Matters

Your credit score plays a big role in the homebuying process.

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299
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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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Home-price growth ramped up in Q4, Fannie Mae report shows

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae ‘s latest Home Price Index (HPI) shows single-family home prices increased 5.8% from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024, a surprising increase from the previous quarter’s downwardly revised annual growth rate of 5.4%. Quarterly, home prices rose a seasonally adjusted 1.7% in Q4 2024, an increase from the downwardly revised 1.2% growth rate in Q3 2024.

Mortgages 418
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Clear Cooperation lawsuit dismissed (again)

Real Estate News

TAN, a private listing network, has agreed to drop its case against NAR after nearly five years of litigation and previous dismissals. Will this be the end?

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More Trending

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Co-ownership of Michael Jordan’s former mansion starts at $1M

Inman

After languishing on the market for more than a decade, the basketball legend's Highland Park, Illinois, estate is now a timeshare, with co-ownership beginning at $1 million, plus 2 percent annual expenses.

Marketing 156
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Appraisers have new time adjustment requirements starting Feb. 4

Housing Wire

Appraisers are getting more responsibilities. As of Feb. 4, appraisers will be required to submit a report that the market analysis they produced supports both the indicated overall market trend and market-derived time adjustments for changes in market conditions. They will also have to include an illustration of the methodology used to determine specific comparable sale time adjustments for changes in market conditions, according to a Fannie Mae selling guide published in early November.

Finance 370
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Rocket lays groundwork for Super Bowl ads with ‘brand restage’

Inman

In addition to subtle tweaks to the company's logo and other details, brand revamp is aimed at positioning Rocket as a fintech platform supporting an 'end-to-end homeownership experience.

Branding 158
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Compass strikes again with leadership changes in the Southeast

Housing Wire

Leading brokerage Compass announced some key leadership moves this week to bolster its operations in the Southeast, including Florida. The brokerage has hired industry veteran Nikol Solares as senior managing director of new development marketing. Adam Vellano was promoted to managing director of the South Florida market. And Erika Sheridan was promoted to senior director of marketing and operations in the Southeast.

Brokerage 370
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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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Go Mortgage and PacRes seek economies of scale in merger

Inman

Executives and employees of the combined company will continue to serve a nationwide footprint as Go Mortgage, which is hiring retail branch managers and loan originators.

Mortgages 158
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Most people view homeownership as part of the American dream

Housing Wire

For the majority of Americans, homeownership remains an important part of the American dream, according to a study published Tuesday by Realtor.com. Through a survey of a random sample of more than 2,000 adults conducted in early November, Realtor.com found that 75% of Americans believe homeownership is part of the American dream. Additionally, the survey found that 64% of Americans identify homeownership as one of their life goals, while 50% of respondents believe that homeownership is necessar

Land 397
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Something as small as a sesame seed can sink an experience

Inman

Coach Darryl Davis offers insight into how a small mistake or moment of carelessness can undermine not only your professional reputation but the industry as a whole.

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Professional fix-and-flip market poised for growth in 2025

Housing Wire

Improving and selling or refinancing houses for investment purposes has long been the purview of part-time entrepreneurs looking to earn additional income. However, as capital available to fix-and-flip and fix and hold investors becomes more institutionalized through the issuance of Residential Transition Loan (RTL) and Debt Service Coverage Ratio Loan (DSCR) securitizations, the opportunity to turn part-time investing into a full-time business for these entrepreneurs will continue to grow subst

Marketing 397
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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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Rebuilding Lives After the L.A. Wildfires: A Resource Guide for Recovery

BAM Media

Its one thing to see L.A. wildfires on the news and in social media. Its another to see the destruction and heartbreak in your own neighborhood. The Broke Agent , who lives in the area, has seen plenty of SoCal agents going above and beyond to help their fellow residents in any way they can. People love to take shots at real estate agents. Feels like they are often the public punching bag.

Banks 116
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Uncertainty surrounds insurance pricing after wildfires

Housing Wire

As wildfires continue to ravage the LA area a week after starting, the impact on insurance premiums and costs to rebuild are still very uncertain. Despina Buganski, head of North America personal lines for global insurance brokerage and consulting firm WTW , sat down with Reporter Sarah Wolak to talk about how the company is assessing responses from past wildfires as it anticipates the damages from the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Brokerage 365
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Fund services for homeless with transfer fees: Colorado lawmaker

Inman

Colorado State Representative Manny Rutinel has introduced a bill that would allow county clerks and recorders to give documentary fees to fund short and long-term housing for the homeless.

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Conforming mortgage share hit record low in December

Housing Wire

At the tail end of 2024, mortgage borrowers shifted their attention away from conforming mortgages and toward refinance opportunities. A report released Tuesday by Optimal Blue found that the conforming loan share sank to historic lows in December. Optimal Blue’s December 2024 Market Advantage report is a monthly study that analyzes key indicators to provide insights into U.S. mortgage market trends.

VA loan 369
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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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How real estate turns commission trauma into strategic wisdom

Inman

As the industry continues to evolve, the ability to convert market trauma into strategic wisdom will separate the next generation of leaders from those who remain trapped in reactive cycles, marketing strategist Molly McKinley writes.

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Brookfield Properties’ rental division to acquire Divvy Homes in ‘fire sale’

Housing Wire

Troubled rent-to-own startup Divvy Homes will be acquired by Maymont Homes , a division of Brookfield Properties that manages single-family rental homes. Divvy and Maymont have not released any formal statements to announce the acquisition. Fast Company reported the move last week, describing it as a “fire sale” based on multiple unnamed sources.

Sales 364
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Lawsuit between NAR, Top Agent Network dismissed — again

Inman

TAN and NAR have agreed to dismiss their lawsuit, according to court documents filed on Monday. However, Top Agent Network can re-file charges or bring the case to another court in the future.

Agents 167
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Fresh coat of paint: Rocket unveils the first stage of its rebrand

Housing Wire

Rocket Companies , the parent of Rocket Mortgage , on Tuesday unveiled a refresh to its brand identity in an effort to unify Rocket’s many companies under a single umbrella. As part of this effort, Rocket is rebranding some of its businesses. Its title producer and appraisal management arm, Amrock , will now be known as Rocket Close. Additionally, Amrock Title Insurance Co. has relaunched as Rocket Title Insurance Co.

Staging 370
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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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Can’t miss sessions at Inman Connect New York 2025

Inman

Inman Connect New York is renowned for gathering the brightest minds in real estate, offering unparalleled access to expert insights and networking opportunities. This January, join industry leaders at the Hilton Midtown for transformative discussions on technology, branding, and market strategies to propel your business into 2025. Discover how to leverage this premier event to enhance your professional growth and adapt to the ever-changing real estate landscape.

Branding 148
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CertifID acquires digital payment platform Paymints.io

Housing Wire

Wire fraud protection firm CertifID has acquired digital money transfer firm Paymints.io , according an announcement on Tuesday. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Paymints.io is frequently used by title companies , law firms and real estate brokerages to transfer funds between parties in a real estate transaction. The company provides a white-labeled digital payment platform to customers, allowing title companies and law firms to integrate digital payments into their own client

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To sell or not to sell? Homeowners reprioritize reasons for waiting

Inman

What are the root causes of the ongoing listing lock-in effect? Team leader Carl Medford looks at seller attitudes and how to tap into the percentage of homeowners who are willing to move.

Agents 158
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Lower names former Redfin exec Adam Wiener as its new president

Housing Wire

Digital mortgage lender Lower on Tuesday announced the hiring of Adam Wiener as its new president. Wiener, who previously served as president of real estate services at Redfin , will lead Lowers technology, marketing, data science and direct-to-consumer sales organizations. In an exclusive interview with HousingWire , Wiener shared that he started his new role on Dec. 9. “I took about a year off after Redfin,” Wiener explained. “But certainly, as I started to look for new oppor

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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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Nominations are open for Inman’s 2025 real estate awards program

Inman

Inman Awards recognizes outstanding accomplishments across the residential real estate industry with eight distinctive categories. Each award shines a spotlight on the companies and individuals at the forefront of the real estate industry, as well as in specialties including mortgage and finance, marketing, proptech, leadership and AI.

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NAR and Top Agent Network agree to dismiss lawsuit

Housing Wire

The on-again-off-again legal battle between Top Agent Network (TAN) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is now off. On Monday, the parties notified Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, that they had agreed to dismiss the suit without prejudice. According to the filing, the parties are going to bear their own attorneys fees, costs and expenses.

Agents 370
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Zillow taps Uber executive as vice president of market operations

Inman

Former Uber and Expedia Group executive Zuhairah Washington will be tasked with helping lead growth in the Flex and Enhanced Market segments, according to an announcement on Monday.

Marketing 157
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New FHFA final rule seeks to expand liquidity for FHLBank system

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Tuesday announced the publication of a new, final rule in the Federal Register seeking to expand liquidity for the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) system, which would be accomplished by adjusting the treatment of some short-term FHLBank investments. The rule modifies the systems limit on the extension of specified forms of unsecured credit, according to FHFA, giving the banks more control over how they manage short-term investments.

Banks 365
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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.