Thu.Feb 08, 2024

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Cost of Living in New York: A Guide for Homebuyers

HomeLight

If you’re considering a move to New York, you might want to get a good idea of the cost of living in the Empire State before making a decision. This guide will break down the cost of living in New York, from housing to food and healthcare costs. We’ll provide data from state cost of living index tools and how New York ranks in the nation for livability.

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Housing affordability remains historically low: NAHB

Housing Wire

Mortgages rates reached their highest level since 2000 , construction costs rose and building regulations remained burdensome, leaving U.S. housing affordability near a 10-year low point at the end of last year, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). According to the fourth-quarter 2023 iteration of the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), only 37.7% of new and existing homes sold during the final three months of last year were considered affordable to househ

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Lower mortgage rates haven’t materialized yet

Real Estate News

30-year mortgage rates have remained in the upper-6% range since December. Will predicted rate drops arrive in time for the spring buying season?

Mortgages 224
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Mortgage rates show little movement as markets digest new economic data

Housing Wire

Mortgage rates stabilized this week despite newly released economic data. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.64% as of Feb. 8, a slight increase from last week ’s figure of 6.63%, according to Freddie Mac ’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey released on Thursday. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed rate averaged 5.90% this week, down from 5.94% during the prior week.

Mortgages 465
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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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Seeing red — or blue — as politics enters homebuying decisions

Real Estate News

New reports from Redfin and Allied Van Lines shed light on the impact that local laws and political divides can have on buying and selling.

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Housing credit data in Q4 looks nothing like 2008

Housing Wire

People have been screaming about a housing bubble crash on social media sites for over 12 years. The truth is, U.S. housing credit looks very different than in 2005, 2006, 2007 or 2008. Homeowners have actually never looked better and the data from the Federal Reserve ‘s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit shows why. Homeowners are not the people we need to be concerned about this time.

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DocuSign lays off 400 employees following stalemate in sale talks  

Housing Wire

E-signature company DocuSign laid off 6% of its workforce, or about 400 employees, following reports that the fintech company’s talks in exploring a sale have stalled. A majority of the impacted positions came from the company’s sales and marketing organizations, the company said. DocuSign had 7,336 employees at the end of 2023. DocuSign began to cut operating costs for fiscal year 2025, including areas such as program spending, professional fees and noncritical open roles, according to a messag

Sales 455
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CoStar to spend a billion dollars on marketing in fight for portal crown

Inman

The company plans to advertise during the Super Bowl and other major cultural events in what it describes as the "biggest marketing campaign in real estate history.

Marketing 199
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Agents in Illinois grapple with the state’s housing inventory shortage

Housing Wire

Last year marked the 10th consecutive year of population declines for Illinois. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau , the state lost 32,826 residents from July 2022 to July 2023. Despite the population decline, Illinois’ housing market remains relatively strong. The state has an Altos Research Market Action Index score of 44, which is above the national score of 39.

Agents 459
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Flagstar mortgages could help NYCB shore up its balance sheet

Inman

Troubled New York Community Bancorp is reportedly ready to pledge about $5 billion in home loans originated by Flagstar Bank as collateral for risk transfer that would bolster its capital.

Banks 180
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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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Home prices grew on the back of lower mortgage rates: NAR

Housing Wire

Home prices increased in the fourth quarter of 2023 as mortgage rates declined. More than 85% of U.S. metro markets analyzed registered home price increases, up from 82% in the previous quarter, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Among the 221 metro areas studied, 15% experienced double-digit price gains during the same period, up from 11% in the third quarter.

Mortgages 445
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Falling rates helped drive home price growth in Q4, NAR says

Inman

U.S. home prices shot up in 86 percent of the 221 metropolitan areas tracked by the National Association of Realtors and rose 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter, according to data released Thursday by NAR.

Brokerage 180
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How to write a lead-winning, memorable real estate agent bio (+ examples)

Housing Wire

As a real estate agent, you may think clients should care more about their next home than your life story. And while that may be true, well-crafted real estate agent bios can build trust and credibility and serve as a powerful tool in an agent’s marketing arsenal — giving prospective clients. After all, prospective clients are trusting you with one of their biggest financial decisions.

Agents 433
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Treasury releases proposed rule for reporting all-cash luxe sales

Inman

Real estate professionals who handle closings and settlements will be required to report information to the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network when an all-cash residential sale is made to shell companies, legal entities and trusts.

Sales 176
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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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FAR expert urges consideration of the home when planning for retirement

Housing Wire

When creating retirement plans, people often consider their investments and other financial assets when determining the future course to take, but they rarely consider what is often their most valuable asset: their home. This is according to Steve Resch, vice president of retirement strategies at Finance of America Reverse (FAR), in a new column published by The Street.

Equity 439
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Mortgage rates lead to biggest pending sales drop since October

Inman

Rising interest rates and harsh winter weather have dampened homebuyer activity, leading to the biggest drop in pending sales since October. However, there's optimism for a rebound as spring approaches, fueled by increasing home tours and new listings.

Sales 170
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Mortgage delinquencies increase for second straight quarter: MBA

Housing Wire

Mortgage delinquencies kept rising slightly in the fourth quarter of 2023 as Americans continued to indulge in personal spending. But delinquency rates remain well below historic averages, according to new data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Delinquent home loans on one- to four-unit properties rose to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.88% of all loans outstanding at the end of Q4 2023, up from 3.62% in the previous quarter but slightly below the rate of 3.96% a year earlier, accord

Mortgages 440
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Collaboration isn’t a buzzword. It’s a strategic imperative

Inman

Is the path to prosperity in real estate paved by fierce competition, or does the real power lie in collaborative endeavors? Coaches Emily Bossert and Melanie Klein share how teamwork can create optimal outcomes.

Agents 174
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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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CSBS general counsel John Gorman dies after battle with cancer

Housing Wire

John “Buz” Gorman, a key figure in financial regulation for nearly 30 years, passed away on Monday following an eight-month battle with glioblastoma, a form of cancer. Throughout his tenure as general counsel for the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), Gorman contributed to significant legislative milestones and nurtured the next generation of regulators.

Banks 427
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11 things I wish they taught agents in real estate school

Inman

Building a real estate business is about more than memorizing lists of terms and laws, Jimmy Burgess writes. Find out what it takes to launch smarter.

Agents 172
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Q&A: George Morales on new role with Mortgage Cadence and why a big bank could enter reverse

Housing Wire

This week, Mortgage Cadence announced that it had appointed longtime reverse mortgage industry professional George Morales to serve on its sales team. The company is aiming to bring more reverse mortgage technology solutions to potential partners already in the industry and those that have yet to enter it. To understand the dynamics of his new role, RMD sat down with Morales to learn more about his individual and company goals, including the potential for a large national bank to become involved

Banks 424
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Broker Spotlight: Jeff Valentino, Valentino Group

Inman

Find out why this North Carolina broker says that real estate is as much a hospitality business as a sales and marketing one.

Sales 183
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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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A customer experience playbook for the $14T servicing industry

Housing Wire

For the past three decades, I have been a fierce advocate for mortgage servicing innovation, that supports the industry’s forward momentum while increasing operational efficiency and exceeding customer expectations along the way. And what fuels my excitement is our customers’ reactions when that innovation comes to fruition. A precise focus on the customer experience should be a core tenet for all in servicing — one of the main reasons I joined Sagent was because of their innate focus on the cus

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A softer rental market isn’t enough to help hopeful homebuyers

Inman

The rental market is stabilizing with fewer landlords planning rent increases, according to Realtor.com's latest survey. But the rent slowdown won't significantly ease financial burdens for renters who are struggling to save for a down payment or qualify for a mortgage.

Marketing 152
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ACES CEO on compliance: “95% might as well be zero”

Housing Wire

Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler sat down with Trevor Gauthier , CEO at ACES Quality Management , to talk about the benefits of tech partnerships and how the company is building a moat around their regulatory and compliance business. Sarah Wheeler: How do you think about build versus buy? Trevor Gauthier: For us, it’s actually four-fold. We look at building, purchasing or licensing, partnering and potential acquisition.

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ERA Real Estate expands presence in NOLA with veteran-owned firm

Inman

Slidell-based firm Top Agent Realty is now part of ERA Real Estate. Military veteran Stephen Molero purchased the firm in 2013 and serves consumers throughout Southeastern Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Agents 148
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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.

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Real estate farming: Become the go-to agent in your area using these tips, tools & strategies

Housing Wire

Real estate farming, otherwise known as geo-farming, is a dependable lead generation method that can help to create a steady pipeline of real estate leads and clients in your area. Real estate farming is a slow-burn strategy where consistency and intentionality matter, but when it’s done right, your efforts can yield long-ranging results when guided by a community-first approach.

Agents 408
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Forget what you think you know about holiday listings

Inman

To achieve extraordinary results, The Agency's Deedee Howard writes, sometimes it pays to ignore conventional wisdom and pursue a more strategic marketing plan.

Marketing 149
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Two Harbors CEO speaks on strategic origination business 

Housing Wire

New York-based real estate investment trust Two Harbors has hired industry veteran Kyle Kilpatrick to lead its newly created mortgage originations division, which is part of the company’s strategy to retain borrowers from its servicing portfolio when interest rates drop. “He has experience building direct-to-consumer channel products and businesses from scratch,” Bill Greenberg, president and CEO of Two Harbors, said in an interview.

Lending 403
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Teams Spotlight: Ed Kaminsky, Kaminsky Real Estate Group

Inman

Troy Palmquist profiles luxury team leader Ed Kaminsky, a member of the council of eXp Luxury and founder of SportStar Relocation.

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Maximizing Your Online Presence: Tips for Real Estate Agents on Social Media

Speaker: Sarah Santa Ana, Real Estate Coach, Move4Free Realty

Networking is one of the crucial elements in every real estate organization's success. Both agents and real estate companies need to maintain robust networking links. This is why social media is essential for any real estate professional! Social media enables you to stay in touch with your present clients, maintain connections with your past clients, and engage potential customers and investors.