Thu.Feb 22, 2024

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Fannie Mae appoints Peter Akwaboah as COO

Housing Wire

Government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Fannie Mae announced on Thursday the appointment of Peter Akwaboah as executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective May 20, 2024. Akwaboah, who is currently serving as COO for technology and global head of innovation at Morgan Stanley , has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.

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Expert Home Price Forecasts for 2024 Revised Up

Keeping Current Matters

Over the past few months, experts have revised their 2024 home price forecasts based on the latest data and market signals, and they’re even more confident prices will rise, not fall.

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‘It’s scary out there’: Mortgage industry reacts to cyberattacks

Housing Wire

Recent cyberattacks at mortgage companies have put the industry in alert mode, executives at top lenders, servicers, tech vendors and investors told HousingWire. Mr. Cooper Group , loanDepot , First American and Fidelity National Financial Inc. , parent of servicer LoanCare, have temporarily shut down their systems to contain cyberattacks that exposed their customers’ data.

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Nick Bailey out in RE/MAX leadership shakeup

Real Estate News

Amy Lessinger, former SVP of Region Development, takes over as president, while two other execs receive promotions.

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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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Median home prices, new listings move higher in Florida

Housing Wire

The housing market in the state of Florida saw higher median home prices, more real estate listings and a higher number of active listings during the month of January, according to data released Thursday by Florida Realtors , a state-based trade organization for real estate professionals. The figures in each metric are higher compared to the same attributes from one year ago, but a spike in interest rates have also had impacts on the state’s real estate market.

Sales 468
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eXp drops nearly 2K agents in fourth quarter as profits fall

Real Estate News

The company said its "decision to offboard a significant number of unproductive agents" in Q4 was offset by "excellent" retention of strong producers.

Agents 270

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Dream of homeownership still alive with young buyers

Real Estate News

Millennial and Gen Z buyers have a higher tolerance for elevated mortgage rates, and many believe it’s a good time to buy, a Realtor.com survey found.

Mortgages 265
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Rocket Mortgage bleeds red ink in 2023 despite cutting costs

Housing Wire

Rocket Companies , the parent of Rocket Mortgage , was in the red again in 2023 as it reported a GAAP net loss of $390 million. The company reduced its cost structure by nearly 20% in 2023 following a nearly 25% reduction in 2022, but lower origination volume failed to keep the company profitable as the industry is still going through a challenging period for mortgage lending.

Mortgages 459
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Existing home sales up after a year marked by declines

Real Estate News

Sales rose by more than 3% in January, suggesting a turnaround in 2024, but mortgage rates still hold the key to the future of the market.

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Existing-home sales make a comeback in January: NAR

Housing Wire

Existing-home sales picked up in January as buyers took advantage of the lowest mortgage rates seen in several months. Existing-home sales rose 3.1% from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4 million in January, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Year over year, sales dipped 1.7%, down from 4.07 million in January 2023.

Sales 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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Mortgage rates near 7% are stalling sales

Real Estate News

Inventory is building as buyers stay on the sidelines, but there’s still hope for more activity as the spring shopping season gets underway.

Sales 200
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‘Worst possible outcome’: Industry experts weigh in on DOJ’s desire to decouple commissions

Housing Wire

When the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed last week the changes it would like to see in how real estate agents and brokers are compensated through its statement of interest filed in the MLS Property Information Network commission lawsuit , few in the real estate industry were surprised by the agency’s desire to decouple commissions. In early September 2023, Steve Murray , the co-founder of RealTrends Consulting , told HousingWire that he believed this was a possible outcome.

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Tech Bytes: News from Zillow, HomeStack, SkySlope, more

Real Estate News

Zillow's Listing Showcase expands; HomeStack joins MoxiWorks network; Bright MLS adds SkySlope; Luxury Presence launches AI lead tool; Rechat adds partners.

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Title earnings marred by slow market, cybersecurity incidents

Housing Wire

Despite slower housing market conditions , Big Four title firms Stewart , First American and Fidelity National Financial all managed to earn profits in 2023. Stewart, which reported its earnings earlier in February, posted a revenue of $2.26 billion in 2023 and a net income of $30.4 million. Both figures were down significantly from 2022 when it recorded $3.07 billion in revenue and net income of $162.3 million.

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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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RE/MAX CEO Nick Bailey exits as company revenue falls again in Q4

Inman

RE/MAX announced it was making changes to its executive team after revenue fell for a sixth consecutive quarter to end 2023. Amy Lessinger will succeed Bailey as president.

Brokerage 187
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HUD IG comments on inquiry into Ginnie Mae’s handling of RMF

Housing Wire

Late last year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced the launch of an inquiry into Ginnie Mae ’s monitoring of now-bankrupt lender Reverse Mortgage Funding (RMF), and its extinguishment from the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)-backed Securities (HMBS) program. While the office has not yet issued any formal updates on the investigation, HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis addressed the matter during a recent interview

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Broker Spotlight: Sally Robling, Realty Executives Arizona Territory

Inman

Learn why, for this Arizona luxury broker, real estate is a family affair, and find out how mentorship has helped her grow her impact.

Brokerage 181
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Mortgage delinquency decline reflects ‘continued resiliency’ of borrowers

Housing Wire

Delinquencies improved in January, highlighting the resiliency of U.S. mortgage holders. The national delinquency rate fell to 3.38% in January, down from 3.57% in December, according to the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) First Look Mortgage Performance report. The rate remained flat on a year-over-year basis and was the lowest recorded since October.

Mortgages 447
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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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Shares in Rocket up after hours as investors roll with $233M Q4 loss

Inman

Mortgage giant reports positive adjusted earnings for the third consecutive quarter, "despite some of the most difficult industry conditions in three decades," CEO Varun Krishna says.

Investor 178
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Hispanic household wealth tripled over the past decade: NAHREP

Housing Wire

Hispanic household wealth ballooned to $63,400 in 2022, growing more rapidly than any other demographic group in the country, according to a recent report published by Hispanic Wealth Project , a nonprofit established by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals ( NAHREP ). While other racial and ethnic demographics have seen an increase in household wealth during that same period, Latinos were the only racial or ethnic demographic to increase their wealth by more than three

Equity 435
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Corcoran brings on 3rd Houston franchise, Corcoran Genesis

Inman

The new franchise, led by owners Nicole and Doug Freer, will service clients in Houston's suburbs. The couple's team was No. 1 in Texas based on 2022 sales volume and transaction sides.

Sales 177
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The current REO market requires an expansion of services for business growth

Housing Wire

Demand for existing homes — including REO assets — outpaces the available supply. Growing and changing is vital to expand your services and business growth so that you can tailor services in REO. Tiffany Fletcher, senior vice president of operations support and operational risk for VRM Mortgage Services , offers strategies for doing just that, showing how VRM is growing and changing during these unique times.

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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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Inman Connect Miami: Get to know these featured speakers

Inman

Get acquainted with some of our exciting, world-class headliners, and grab your tickets for Inman Connect Miami.

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CrossCountry Mortgage unveils cash-offer loan product

Housing Wire

As demand for homes continues to outpace new listings, CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) is introducing a new cash-offer product, the company announced Thursday. The Cleveland -based retail mortgage lender unveiled CCM CashPlus to help buyers gain an edge in the bidding process by turning preapprovals into cash offers. CashPlus has no appraisal or financing contingencies.

Loans 435
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Teams Spotlight: Josh Muncey, Muncey Group

Inman

Learn how Boston team leader Josh Muncey built his business through community presence, networking and smart leverage.

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FundingShield to provide title fraud solutions to CoreLogic amid spike in cyberattacks

Housing Wire

Fintech FundingShield will provide comprehensive title fraud solutions via an advanced programming interface (API) integration to CoreLogic ‘s digital mortgage platform. The partnership comes amid wire and title fraud risk reaching an all-time high in fourth-quarter 2023. About 52% of transactions had issues that led to a risk of wire and title fraud, according to FundingShield.

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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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EXp posts revenue uptick in Q4 — but not enough to turn a profit

Inman

The company best-known for its virtual brokerage brought in $983 million in revenue between October and December, even as a difficult market took a toll, according to Q4 earnings released Thursday.

Brokerage 152
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MLS defendants look to dismiss antitrust suit filed by Zillow

Housing Wire

Arizona Regional MLS and Wisconsin -based Metro MLS are looking to have the antitrust lawsuit filed against them by Zillow Group and ShowingTime dismissed. Filed in late December 2023, the lawsuit alleges that ARMLS, Metro MLS and the parent company of showing platform Aligned Showings, MLS Aligned, are “unlawfully attempting to monopolize the market for real estate showing management services in the geographic regions they control and from unlawfully conspiring to exclude or severely limit Show

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Emotional Considerations and Conflict Resolution In a Home Buyout

RIS Media

Home buyouts, especially in the throes of a divorce or during the challenging process of family inheritance, are laden with more than just financial considerations; they carry a heavy emotional weight. Often seen as a haven and a repository of memories, the home becomes a central figure in these life-altering events. Recognizing and addressing the… The post Emotional Considerations and Conflict Resolution In a Home Buyout appeared first on RISMedia.

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Jason Cave, formerly of FHFA, on government’s role leading tech

Housing Wire

HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler sat down with Jason Cave , former deputy director at the FHFA where he ran their FinTech Office, to talk about where mortgage tech is falling short, and what the government should do to help. Sarah Wheeler: What led you to leave FHFA for the private sector? Jason Cave: I spent 30 years in the government — 27 at FDIC and three at FHFA.

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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.