Fri.May 17, 2024

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Chase Home Lending increases its closing guarantee

Housing Wire

Chase Home Lending , the consumer and commercial banking arm of JPMorgan Chase & Co. , has raised its closing guarantee from $5,000 to $20,000 until July 27, 2024, the bank announced on Thursday. The guarantee means that the bank promises an on-time closing on or before the contract closing date, or it will pay the homebuyer $20,000. This grant can be used to discount underwriting fees paid at closing, or to reduce the interest rate and down payment.

Lending 481
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Should I Rent or Buy a Home? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

While renting may be less expensive in some areas right now, there are two big benefits homeownership provides that renting can’t.

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Why is real estate tech a hot topic?

Housing Wire

At “ The Gathering ” this year, every room seemed to share a certain buzz. Conversations across panels, roundtables, announcements, and everywhere in between seemed to trend toward the same general topic: How do we make the most of a market that continues to offer as many challenges as it does chances? Expectations for real estate professionals are higher than ever—along with mortgage interest rates , the length of time that listings spend on the market, and the percentage of listings off-mark

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Keller Williams cancels plan to cut profit share for ex-agents

Real Estate News

President and CEO Mark Willis called the move “unprecedented," and said the vote by the company’s agent-led IALC passed by an “overwhelming majority.

Agents 297
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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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East Coast, Midwest cities dominate 2024 best places for veterans to live

Housing Wire

The East Coast and Midwest stand out as prime locations for veterans and current military service members, according to the 2024 Best Cities for Veterans to Live list compiled by Veterans United Home Loans. Tampa emerged as the top metro area for veterans. It was followed by Rochester, Minnesota; Wichita Falls, Texas; Fargo, North Dakota; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Watertown, New York; Charleston, South Carolina; Medford, Oregon; Altoona, Pennsylvania; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

VA loan 468
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eXp CEO: ‘Treat your buyers like you treat your sellers’

Real Estate News

Company leaders hosted a livestream to discuss NAR settlement outcomes, including buyer agreements and how to talk to sellers about buy-side compensation.

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Report: Lower mortgage rates key to improving affordability

Real Estate News

An NAR/Realtor.com study on the effects of rate reductions and price cuts found that a 1% mortgage rate decline could put a noticeable dent in monthly payments.

Mortgages 209
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FOA’s Resch on the evolution of reverse mortgages for financial planning

Housing Wire

Financial planners are an important referral source for reverse mortgage professionals, and Finance of America (FOA) vice president of retirement strategies Steve Resch has been at the head of the company’s conversations with planners to help them understand how much utility a reverse mortgage could have for improving a client’s retirement. In this second part of a recent discussion , Resch explains how financial planner conversations about reverse mortgages have evolved in recent years, a

Mortgages 459
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Tech Bytes: News from Zillow, TrustFunds, Planitar, Revive

Real Estate News

Zillow launches BuyAbility tool; Bright MLS teaming up with TrustFunds; Planitar adds interactive Lead Magnet to 3D tours; Revive shows value of renovation.

MLS 203
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Planning for retirement: Essential strategies for real estate agents

Housing Wire

As a real estate agent , you’re in the business of helping people plan for their future — whether it’s helping prospective buyers find their forever home, starter house , or next investment property. But when it comes to planning for your future, it’s important to start early. Saving for retirement is crucial so you can lead the life you envision after you’ve sold your last home.

Agents 459
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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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7 reasons great real estate agents will always be needed

Inman

Now is the time to expand your skill set, broaden your knowledge and provide value at a higher level than you’ve ever provided, Jimmy Burgess writes, so that you won't just survive, you'll thrive.

Agents 197
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FHA amends identifier requirement for lenders, other entities seeking government business

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) this week published a mortgagee letter (ML) amending a 2022 requirement for mortgage lenders, and anyone seeking to do business with FHA, to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in order to be eligible for such business. In ML 2024-09, the agency’s UEI policy for FHA-approved lenders has been updated to streamline reporting requirements from a policy established in the summer of 2022 and implemented by the end of that year.

Mortgages 458
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7 reasons great real estate agents will always be needed

Inman

Now is the time to expand your skill set, broaden your knowledge and provide value at a higher level than you’ve ever provided, Jimmy Burgess writes, so that you won't just survive, you'll thrive.

Agents 173
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Donald R. Horton, founder of the largest U.S. homebuilder, dies

Housing Wire

Donald R. Horton, founder and chairman of D.R. Horton , the largest homebuilder by volume in the U.S., has died at the age of 74, the company announced on Friday morning. Board members have named David V. Auld as executive chairman, effective immediately. Horton, who was involved in the real estate and homebuilding industries since 1972, served as chairman of D.R.

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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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Keller Williams retreats on profit sharing cuts for defecting agents

Inman

The cuts, initially approved last summer, were set to go into effect this July. But as of this spring, Keller Williams was facing multiple class action lawsuits over the changes.

Agents 173
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Former HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge becomes a partner at law firm Taft

Housing Wire

About two months after resigning as the 18th secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Marcia Fudge has joined law firm Taft as a partner and chair of public policy, the company announced this week. Fudge will “dedicate a portion of her time to the firm’s ongoing efforts to combat the harmful effects of forever chemicals” and bolster the firm’s relationships with “governmental and corporate leaders both in her home state of Ohio and across the United States,” the l

Land 448
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UWM expands program that dispenses with title insurance

Inman

Nation's largest mortgage lender says brokers "will no longer need to work with a title company or settlement agent for title work, balancing fees, scheduling closing or any related communication.

Title 170
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Mortgage advisory firms Stratmor Group, Teraverde merge

Housing Wire

Mortgage advisory firm Stratmor Group has merged with Teraverde , a mortgage advisory firm and technology solutions provider, in a deal that the companies say will allow them to expand the markets they serve and the depth of services provided. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Both firms will operate under the Stratmor brand , the companies said in a statement on Friday.

Mortgages 448
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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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Redfin expands new compensation plan to agents in 25 more markets

Inman

With the expansion, Redfin Next is now available to agents in 36 markets nationwide, according to an announcement Friday. Redfin execs said the plan has "proven to be even better" than expected.

Agents 167
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Former rivals become partners as Mynd merges with Roofstock 

Housing Wire

Roofstock , a real estate services and investment platform, is merging with housing operator Mynd , the companies announced on Thursday. Both firms guide real estate investors in buying, selling and managing single-family rental (SFR) homes across the country. The unified platform will offer real estate investors robust technology, deep data insights and a property management system specifically designed for SFRs.

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What are you supposed to tell your clients now? The Download

Inman

In the face of so much rapid change and an often-frustrating lack of clarity from The Powers That Be, what the heck are you supposed to tell your buyers and sellers now?

MLS 163
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Jonathan Scarpati joins NRMLA board of directors

Housing Wire

The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) this week announced that Jonathan Scarpati, senior vice president of wholesale production at Finance of America (FOA), has joined its board of directors for the remainder of the 2024 term. Scarpati is a 20-year reverse mortgage industry veteran, having joined Senior Lending Network in 2003 as vice president of sales for the company’s wholesale and lead distribution divisions.

Equity 447
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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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Suddenly, it appears that portal traffic is a non-zero-sum game

Inman

Based on estimates of Homes.com’s traffic increase, it's additive to the market and not affecting other portals’ traffic, Mike DelPrete writes. However, that’s not to say it won’t affect their businesses.

Marketing 157
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Forget Supply and Demand: Only One Major Market is Seeing Housing Prices Decline Right Now

Bigger Pockets

We examine housing market indicators to explain why prices are not decreasing in more metros as demand drops and rates continue to rise.

Marketing 133
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PayHOA closes Series A funding round of $27.5M

Inman

PayHOA, a software company in the HOA management space, gets $27.5 million in Series A venture capital, led by Elephant.

Closing 156
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We’re in a Home Construction Golden Age—Here’s How Investors Would Benefit From Building

Bigger Pockets

This may be the best time ever to invest in new construction. We'll explain why the demand for homebuilding could mean big bucks for investors.

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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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Even sweeter. Honey Homes draws $9.25M with latest funding round

Inman

Era Ventures, led by Clelia Peters, was the lead investor in the round, its second since October, according to an announcement Thursday. Khosla Ventures and Pear VC also contributed to the round.

Investor 154
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A New South Carolina Law Would Severely Crack Down on Wholesaling

Bigger Pockets

We break down the bill and explain how the new regulations would impact investors in South Carolina and across the country.

Investor 132
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Sun Belt cities see fastest rent deflation amid building boom

Inman

Nine of the 10 cities with the steepest drops in rent in April were in the Sun Belt, according to Redfin.

Marketing 152
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5 Ways to Capitalize on Public Investments in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts

Bigger Pockets

These smart TIF district strategies make the most of infrastructure improvements and community investments while increasing your profitability.

Finance 131
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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.