August, 2020

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Inside an Impeccable New Home in Beverly Hills

Sotheby's International Real Estate

L.A.-based master architect William Hefner is known for his proficiency in both traditional and modernist styles and for his devotion to translating classic details for sophisticated contemporary living. His versatility and dedication are easily apparent in this new Beverly Hills home, where sleek, refined modern style is inflected with time-honored flair.

Design 132
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The Top Reasons People Are Moving This Year

Keeping Current Matters

Today, Americans are moving for a variety of different reasons. The current health crisis has truly re-shaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending extra time where we currently live is enabling many families to re-evaluate what homeownership means and what they find most important in a home. According to Zillow : “In 2020, homes went from the place people returned to after work, school, hitting the gym or vacationing, to the place where families do all of the above.

Design 326
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A Quarter of San Francisco Home Sellers Are Dropping Their Prices, the Highest Rate on Record

Redfin

San Francisco has seen a greater increase in price drops than any other U.S. metro, with the share of sellers slashing prices more than doubling from a year ago as the pandemic drives homebuyers out of the Bay Area. A quarter (24.5%) of San Francisco -area home sellers cut their list prices during the four weeks ending Aug. 16, the highest share since at least 2015, when Redfin began recording this data.

Sales 87
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U.S. home sales and median price soar to a record in July

Housing Wire

Existing-home sales jumped 25% in July from June, beating the prior record of a 21% gain set a month earlier , as low mortgage rates fueled demand for real estate. Sales of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops rose to a seasonally adjusted 5.86 million, the National Association of Realtors said in a report on Friday. The median price increased 8.5% from a year ago to $304,100, breaking through the $300,000 threshold for the first time.

Sales 546
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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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New Home Sales Surge in July

Eye on Housing

New single-family home sales surged in July, as housing demand was supported by low interest rates, a renewed consumer focus on the importance of housing, and rising demand in lower-density markets like suburbs and exurbs. Census and HUD estimated new home sales in July at a 901,000 seasonally adjusted annual pace, an approximate 14% gain over June and the strongest.

Sales 145
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5 Rampant Mortgage Myths You’ll Hear These Days—Completely Debunked

Realtor.com

Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images These days, things are changing so fast, it’s tough to keep up. That’s especially true in the mortgage industry, where interest rates and the overall home loan landscape are shifting with such head-spinning speed, it’s easy for outdated information to circulate, leading home buyers and homeowners astray. You may have heard, for instance, that everyone can score a record-low interest rate, or that refinancing is a no-brainer, or that mortgage forbearance m

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Why Is It so Important to Be Pre-Approved in the Homebuying Process?

Keeping Current Matters

You may have heard that pre-approval is a great first step in the homebuying process. But why is it so important? When looking for a home, the temptation to fall in love with a house that’s outside your budget is very real. So, before you start shopping around, it’s helpful to know your price range, what you’re comfortable within a monthly mortgage payment, and ultimately how much money you can borrow for your loan.

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Housing Market 2020 Forecast: Will It Crash or Recover?

Marco Santarelli

Here are the updated national housing market trends— home prices, inventory, sales, and forecast. If you're wondering what the state of the housing market 2020 will be like over the next twelve months, especially if you're an investor, then here is some good news for you. Given the current fundamentals, real estate sales should remain strong in most U.S. houisng markets for the foreseeable future.

Marketing 145
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New home construction shoots up 22.6% in July

Housing Wire

New home construction continues to climb, as privately owned single-family housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.496 million, a 22.6% jump from June , according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Privately owned single-family housing starts showed growth not only over the previous month but the previous year – jumping 23.4% from last July.

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Housing Rebound: Year-over-Year Gains for June Single-Family Permits

Eye on Housing

Over the first six months of 2020 – and after the onset of the impact of the coronavirus – total single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 433,484. On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, this is an 3.8% increase over the June 2019 level of 417,453. Year-to-date ending in June, single-family permits across the four regions ranging from an increase of.

Marketing 145
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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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Your Ultimate Guide to Property Maintenance Services

App Folio

From collecting rent to facilitating repairs, as a property or community association manager, you juggle a lot when it comes to managing your business’ operations. Whether you oversee large-scale apartment buildings or single-family homes, property maintenance is essential to keep your property values up, and keep your residents safe and satisfied. .

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Decorating Tips You Can Steal From This Blockbuster Store-Turned-Airbnb

Lighter Side of Real Estate

Most homeowners and real estate agents will agree that decor from the 1980s and ‘90s can make a room feel dated, and perhaps even unappealing. But one iconic brand from that era is leaning hard into the nostalgia aesthetic and generating plenty of interest. The last standing Blockbuster video store, located in Bend, Oregon, is offering movie buffs the chance to visit the past and spend the night inside the film emporium in September.

Branding 145
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Three Ways to Win in a Bidding War

Keeping Current Matters

With so few houses for sale today and low mortgage rates driving buyer activity, bidding wars are becoming more common. Multiple-offer scenarios are heating up, so it’s important to get pre-approved before you start your search. This way, you can put your best foot forward – quickly and efficiently – if you’re planning to buy a home this season. Javier Vivas, Director of Economic Research at realtor.com, explains : “COVID-19 has accelerated earlier trends, bringing even more buyers than the mark

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California Housing Market 2020 Overview

Marco Santarelli

The coronavirus pandemic has literally gone viral and the California real estate market also got impacted by it. Today, we decided to take a look at the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the California housing market. We’ll also look at the likely medium and long-term effects of the outbreak. After the real estate market suffered its worst month in 13 years, California’s Realtors and landlords saw a big rebound in the housing market in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and Sac

Marketing 145
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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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New interest from city dwellers raising home prices in rural areas

Housing Wire

The pandemic is pushing homeowners out of the big cities and into rural and suburban areas , pushing up home prices in previously sleepy towns. In July, less densely populated areas showed more buyer interest than urban areas, Redfin said. Before the pandemic, 9% of homebuyers said they were searching for a home in rural areas. Now, 19% say they are looking at rural options.

Sales 545
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Cook Up Some Questions! 10 Things To Ask Your Agent During a Video Tour of the Kitchen

Realtor.com

Feverpitched/Getty Images Video tours have become an indispensable tool for house hunters in the COVID-19 era, although they do have their drawbacks—you won’t notice a bad odor through a video screen, after all. And if there’s one room for which you really need a sense of how you’ll be able to use it, it’s the kitchen. After all, it needs to work for your needs, whether you’re enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee in the morning, putting together school lunches, baking

Agents 145
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Renting a Room in Your House: What to Know

RIS Media

If you have a spare room in your home, renting it out can be a way to earn extra to pay the mortgage. There can be problems with this sort of arrangement, however, that could make you wish you hadn’t invited a renter into your home, so it’s important to be educated about the process as much as possible. Renting out part of your home does put you in the position of a landlord with the associated responsibilities.

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Refinance Appraisal vs Purchase Appraisal: Is There a Difference?

HomeLight

Picture this: You’ve been in your home for a few months, and lately, it seems like you’re getting more and more junk mail encouraging you to refinance your mortgage. And it seems like it might be a good deal, so you do a little research into what you need to do. Now you’re confused because you need a refinance appraisal, but you just got a purchase appraisal before being approved for a mortgage — is there a difference between a refinance appraisal vs. purchase appraisal?

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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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The Cost of Renting Vs. Buying a Home [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights. The percentage of income needed to afford a median-priced home today is declining, while that for renting is on the rise. This is making buying a home an increasingly attractive option for many people, especially with low mortgage rates driving purchasing power. If you’d like expert guidance on exploring your homebuying options while affordability is high, reach out to a local real estate professional.

Mortgages 329
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Water Works | 5 Baths with Distinctive Design

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Few spaces in the modern home take higher design priority than the bath. These five distinctive spaces feature details that range from rugged stonework to striking tile patterns and lovely mosaics that double as works of art. Unique Elegance in Manhattan. New York, New York | Debbie Korb , Sotheby’s International Realty – Downtown Manhattan Brokerage.

Design 143
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Is the FHFA about to delay the refi fee?

Housing Wire

According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, the Federal Housing Finance Agency has been communicating with mortgage industry groups about delaying the implementation of a fee which would add a 0.5% surcharge to refinance mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starting Sept. 1. According to the article, the FHFA is considering a delay to the adverse market fee implementation date, but is not planning to rescind it.

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10 Things Your Home Doesn’t Need Anymore: How Many Do You Still Have?

Realtor.com

akinshin / Getty Images Unless your home was built in the last year or two, it’s likely to be full of outdated features and systems. Some of those items may add to the home’s charm, but many distinctly will not. Replacing the outdated with modern versions or smart technology can save you time and money. “While not everyone is an uber-cutting-edge tech wiz, [home] buyers are more tech-savvy than ever before,” says Jared Wilk , principal at Shulkin Wlik Group.

Design 145
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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.

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How are smart cities impacting the construction industry?

The American Genius for Real Estate

[OPINION EDITORIALS] The movement towards smart cities will change the construction industry for the best - creating more connected, collaborative, and efficient cities. The post How are smart cities impacting the construction industry? appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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Bringing Sail Freight Back to Brooklyn, Schooner Apollonia Delivers Goods to Red Hook

Brownstoner

Packed in the hold of a 1946 steel-hulled schooner, sacks of Hudson Valley malt and corn sailed into Brooklyn last week. The journey of the Schooner Apollonia down the river from Kingston wasn't a living history exercise, but an effort to bring carbon neutral shipping back to the Hudson River.… Read More > The post Bringing Sail Freight Back to Brooklyn, Schooner Apollonia Delivers Goods to Red Hook appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Current Buyer & Seller Perks in the Housing Market

Keeping Current Matters

Today’s housing market is making a truly impressive turnaround, and it’s also setting up some outstanding opportunities for buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this year, there are perks today that are rarely available, and definitely worth looking into. Here are the top two. The Biggest Perk for Buyers: Low Mortgage Rates.

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Rustic Meets Refinement in These 5 Modern Farmhouses

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Paying homage to one of the most enduring architectural motifs, these modern farmhouses—in desirable locations from Greenwich to California’s wine country—give bucolic inspiration a sophisticated contemporary spin. Charming Wine Country Compound. Kenwood, California | Tina Shone , Sotheby’s International Realty – Wine Country – East Napa Street Brokerage.

Brokerage 140
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Rise of The Apps: Building Your Dream Tech Stack For Real Estate Success

Speaker: Trey Willard, Realtor/Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

In order to create continued success in today’s real estate market, realtors need to utilize an arsenal of technology that will increase their efficiency and presence on social media. Using technology to manage your prospects and tap into their needs through websites, social media, and other channels is critical for real estate success in 2022 and beyond.

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Sales of large homes skyrocket as homeowners seek more space

Housing Wire

Homebuyers who are juggling work and school from their home want more space, triggering an increase in the number of sales of large homes. According to Redfin , sales for large homes were up 21.2% year over year nationwide in July, compared to a 10% increase for medium-sized homes and a 2.3% increase for small homes. Redfin categorized large homes as those between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet, medium homes between 1,500 and 3,000 square feet, and small homes between 300 and 1,500 square feet.

Sales 545
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‘Good Bones’ Reveals a Cool Alternative to Open Floor Plans That You Must See

Realtor.com

Aaron Rapoport / Contributor / Getty Images On “Good Bones,” Mina Starsiak and her mother, Karen Laine , are always experimenting with new designs—and in their latest Indianapolis renovation, they reveal a clever alternative to open floor plans that could catch on fast. In the episode “The Boho Bungalow,” Starsiak and Laine take on a dilapidated home in a neighborhood that’s known for its growing artists community.

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This Week’s Top Stories: Canada Is The G7’s Biggest Real Estate Bubble, and Toronto Rental Inventory Soars

Better Dwelling

Time for your cheat sheet on this week’s most important stories. Canadian Real Estate Canada Doubled Down On Real Estate In 2005. Now It’s The Biggest Bubble The G7 Has Ever Seen, And It’s Getting Bigger Canadian real estate prices have grown rapidly, but it’s not clear how much more rapidly it grew than its […]. The post This Week’s Top Stories: Canada Is The G7’s Biggest Real Estate Bubble, and Toronto Rental Inventory Soars appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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New Single-Family Home Size Leveling Off?

Eye on Housing

New single-family home size trended lower during the second quarter 2020 at the beginning of what we are forecasting will be a pivot to larger home size over the next two years. According to second quarter 2020 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis, median single-family square floor area ticked down to.

Design 138
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5 Data Proven Ways Agents Can Do 18% More Business

Curious as to how you could do 18% more business? How about 14 more transaction sides per year? Check out this infographic with data from a RealTrends study to learn more.