Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) this week announced a new product proposal for government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Freddie Mac that would allow the agency to purchase certain single-family, closed-end second mortgages. This would offer borrowers an alternative way to access their home equity without surrendering a first mortgage with a more favorable interest rate than is currently available.

Closing 529

Closing Mortgages Equity Loans 529

Keeping Current Matters

APRIL 17, 2024

You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s more affordable to rent right now than it is to buy a home.

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Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Expect 2024 to be mildly better than 2023 with mortgage rates falling in the second half of the year, housing experts opined in their forecasts at the end of the year. Cuts to the Federal funds rate (and subsequently to mortgage rates) are imminent, traders enthused after December’s meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee in which committee members predicted three rate cuts in 2024.

Mortgages 493

Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgage Banks Residential 493

Real Estate News

APRIL 17, 2024

Get answers to the big questions on everyone's mind: What will happen with inventory and mortgage rates — and will the NAR settlement impact the market?

Marketing 255

Marketing Sales Mortgages 255

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.

Industrial

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Nearly half (48%) of a $65 billion portfolio of loans processed during the first quarter of 2024 contained vulnerabilities to wire and title fraud , according to a report released Wednesday by FundingShield. The portfolio of loans examined included residential, commercial investor and business purpose loans. On loans that exhibited problems, the analysis found an average of 2.22 issues, which FundingShield says indicates a lack of appropriate controls by closing agents and lenders to identify an

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Loans Title Commercial Residential 476

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

Fannie, Freddie and FHA say sellers can continue to pay the buyer's agent's commission. But it remains to be seen if buyers will be allowed to finance their agent's commission into their mortgage.

Industrial 195

Industrial Mortgages Finance Agents 195

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

The six-time No. 1 RE/MAX agent worldwide may deal with some of the loftiest stars, but he stays grounded in his work ethic and rarely deviates from a uniform of jeans and tennis shoes.

As-is 181

As-is Agents 181

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Tennessee-based multichannel mortgage lender First Community Mortgage announced on Wednesday that it has selected the Blue Sage Solutions digital lending platform and its LION Consumer POS to help scale its growth efforts across the 48 states it operates in. The move allows the lender to have “modernized its mortgage operational processes, boosted productivity and delivered an enhanced borrower experience for its customers,” the company said in a news release.

Mortgages 447

Mortgages Loan Officer Lending Loans 447

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

Co-founder of The Agency's BZP Group and regular cast member on "Buying Beverly Hills" Joey Ben-Zvi writes that professionalism and respect are essential to leaving the right way.

Brokerage 171

Brokerage Agents 171

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

The latest findings from Relitix’s Agent Movement Index (AMI) for March 2024 reveal a nuanced landscape in the real estate sector, with shifts in agent activities suggesting stabilizing and evolving market conditions. Key highlights from this month’s AMI show that the decline in the number of active agents, those with a closing in the past year, has plateaued.

Agents 446

Agents MLS Brokerage Industrial 446

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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.

Brokerage

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

No matter what's going on in the industry at large, everyone has the opportunity to get better, faster and stronger at what they do every day, broker Joseph Santini writes. Here are 10 easy things to focus on now.

Agents 165

Agents Industrial 165

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

The spring home-buying season got off to a slow start in California , where sales of single-family homes declined from February to March, according to a report released Wednesday by the California Association of Realtors (CAR). The organization reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted annualized rate of sales fell by 7.8% during the month and by 4.4% year over year.

Sales 453

Sales Marketing Mortgages 453

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

Rates for conforming loans pushed through 7 percent last week and continue to rise, as latest inflation data dims prospects that Fed will ease in June.

Mortgages 173

Mortgages Loans Marketing 173

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Capital Fundings , a Florida -based private mortgage lender, has partnered with real estate investment platform Privy , the companies announced on Tuesday. The collaboration will allow Capital Fundings’ borrowers to receive personalized investor insights. “Capital Fundings is thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with Privy,” Alex Bogumil, CEO of Capital Fundings, said in a statement.

Investor 445

Investor Renovation Technology Residential 445

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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.

Agents

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

Clients think their agents bring a ton of value, and they're willing to pay for it, according to a survey of 3,000 employed U.S. residents conducted by Intel and Dig Insights. But many consumers embrace the idea of negotiating a lower commission — and perhaps exploring new models.

Agents 154

Agents Brokerage Marketing 154

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

JaroInspect JaroInspect is the mobile inspection tool in the Jaro suite of appraisal tools. JaroInspect is revolutionizing the industry as the first platform to enable direct field transmission of the 1004D. It is now introducing LIDAR floor plan technology to expedite the submission process. Product Fast Facts #1 JaroInspect enables direct field transmission of the 1004d, streamlining the submission process and facilitating automatic retrieval of vital report data from previous files. #2 The Ja

Inspection 453

Inspection Technology Industrial As-is 453

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

Don't let your office, your team or your website be a barrier to someone with disabilities, Rachael Hite writes. Accessible design benefits everyone.

Design 161

Design Equity Agents Marketing 161

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Real Estate Lead Generation 6 best places to buy real estate leads in 2024 Mar 18, 2024 By Megan DeMatteo, Meghan Thibault and Megan DeMatteo, Meghan Thibault We recommend the best places to buy real estate leads to give you a shortcut to the closing table. The 9 top real estate lead generation companies for 2024 Mar 18, 2024 By Megan DeMatteo, Meghan Thibault and Megan DeMatteo, Meghan Thibault SmartZip Review: Can data improve your prospecting game?

Marketing 453

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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.

Agents

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

Rental price growth for single-family apartments surged 3.4 percent in February, with Boston, Seattle and New York City rising fastest among U.S. cities, according to CoreLogic data released Tuesday.

Marketing 147

Marketing 147

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied HomeServices of America’s request to hear its argument that the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals wrongly rejected arbitration agreements with unnamed class members in the Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit , according to a court docket entry on Monday. In a writ of certiorari filed in early February, HomeServices told the Supreme Court that each of its client contracts state that the “signatories can arbitrate any claim or dispute arising out of the contrac

Brokerage 441

Brokerage As-is Agents 441

Eye on Housing

APRIL 17, 2024

According to the latest What Home Buyers Really Want Study*, the vast majority of home buyers are looking for a home with at least one home office (or space dedicated to work/study). More specifically, 66% would prefer to buy a home with exactly one home office, 13% want at least two offices, and 20% want.

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Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

U.S. home prices grew by 0.9% from February to March, according to First American Data & Analytics ’ national house price index released Tuesday. This growth trajectory follows a revised upward figure of 1% price growth from January to February, and prices are now 52% higher than pre-pandemic levels of February 2020. “Persistent inflation has diminished any optimism that the Federal Reserve may start to cut rates in June, meaning mortgage rates seem more and more likely to remain ‘higher for

Mortgages 447

Mortgages Sales Marketing As-is 447

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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.

Sales

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

Charles "Todd" Hill, 58, starred on "Flip It to Win It" in 2013. He has been ordered to pay $9.4 million in restitution for committing real estate fraud.

Agents 153

Agents 153

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Market Intelligence Market Intelligence is a robust data visualization tool that combines the power of CoreLogic’s data assets with clear and actionable insights that give you a better understanding of the mortgage industry, allowing you to adapt to industry trends, improve LO recruitment and foster deeper relationships within the industry.

Marketing 440

Marketing Industrial Mortgages 440

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

As commission lawsuits and subsequent settlements have unfolded, they've set the stage for misunderstanding, misinformation and many, many mistakes.

Staging 150

Staging Brokerage Agents 150

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Boost Boost by Lone Wolf is the simple way to market your real estate business online. Whether you’re looking to build brand awareness, draw in more engagement for listings, or take your client experience to the next level through digital advertising, Boost is here to help agents and brokers alike. Product Fast Facts #1 Boost simplifies online advertising for real estate professionals with high-performing campaigns across various ad channels, comprehensive performance tracking, and advertising

Technology 417

Technology MLS Branding Agents 417

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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.

Brokerage

Inman

APRIL 17, 2024

Seventy percent of Florida homeowners — or the area in which they live — have been impacted by changes to cost or coverage of home insurance in the last year, according to a report issued Wednesday by Redfin.

Marketing 140

Marketing 140

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Following the submission of a letter by Indiana Sen. Mike Braun (R) to Ginnie Mae President Alanna McCargo about concerns related to the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)-backed Securities (HMBS) program, McCargo’s predecessor, Ted Tozer, hopes the senator will dive deeper into the program’s mechanics and what led to the collapse of Reverse Mortgage Funding (RMF).

Mortgages 411

Mortgages Loans Equity Banks 411

Seattle Times Real Estate

APRIL 17, 2024

The idea is about cultivating "15-minute" neighborhoods, where people can meet their basic needs by walking or biking from home, and spreading housing to areas where not much development has occurred in decades.

Development 112

Development 112

Housing Wire

APRIL 17, 2024

Navigator Borrowers can view and compare the loan details of available loan options, combining all loan offers into one seamless experience.

Land 437

Land Loans Marketing 437

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.

Agents