October, 2023

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Missouri jury finds NAR, brokerages guilty of conspiring to inflate commissions

Housing Wire

A Kansas City jury has found the National Association of Realtors , HomeServices of America and Keller Williams guilty of colluding to inflate or maintain high commission rates through NAR’s Clear Cooperation Rule, in the Sitzer/Burnett buyer broker commission lawsuit. The defendants have been ordered to pay damages of $1.78 billion. The jury reached its verdict after a little over two weeks of testimony from the plaintiffs and defendants.

Brokerage 545
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The Latest Expert Forecasts for Home Prices in 2023

Keeping Current Matters

Are you thinking about making a move?

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23 Tips for Selling a Home with Kids: A Helpful Guide

Realty Biz

Selling a home can be a stressful and challenging process, and when you add kids into the mix, it can become even more complicated and overwhelming. Children can create chaos, and their needs and routines can clash with the demands of home showings and open houses. However, with some careful planning and a bit of patience, you can successfully navigate the home-selling process while keeping your kids happy and your sanity intact.

Staging 132
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How luxury agents can leverage buyer trends for historic homes

Inman

The desire for uniqueness is driving a rising demand for historic homes in the luxury real estate sector. Buyers today love the character and craftsmanship that a historical property exudes, and want a home that expresses their one-of-a-kind personality and preferences.

Agents 197
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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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Jury sides with home sellers in commissions trial

Real Estate News

After less than three hours of deliberation, the jury ruled for the plaintiffs in the landmark Sitzer/Burnett trial, awarding nearly $1.8 billion.

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Property Taxes by State – 2022

Eye on Housing

NAHB analysis of the 2022 American Community Survey data shows that New Jersey leads the nation with the highest average annual real estate tax (RET) bill ($9,285)—$8,425 more than yearly property taxes paid by Alabama’s homeowners ($860). The size of this disparity grew 1.1% in 2022 and has increased 9.3% since 2017. Vermont was the only state for which the.

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Why Home Prices Keep Going Up

Keeping Current Matters

If you've ever dreamed of buying your own place, or selling your current house to upgrade, you're no stranger to the rollercoaster of emotions changing home prices can stir up.

Marketing 350
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Common Myths About Selling Houses

RIS Media

Selling a house can be complex and daunting, often filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Unfortunately, several myths and misconceptions surrounding home sales can further complicate matters for homeowners looking to sell their properties. We will delve into the common myths about selling houses and debunk them, providing clarity and valuable insights for anyone embarking on… The post Common Myths About Selling Houses appeared first on RISMedia.

Sales 143
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Sitzer | Burnett: Live updates from the buyer-agent commission trial

Inman

The long-awaited Sitzer | Burnett commission trial is underway in Kansas City, Missouri, and Inman is covering it all live as it unfolds. Check back early and often for news, views, schedules and more.

Agents 217
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Anywhere, RE/MAX drop buyer commission and NAR requirements

Real Estate News

The brokerage giants have agreed to significant policy changes as part of their settlement agreements in the Sitzer/Burnett and Moehrl commissions cases.

Brokerage 322
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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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The Landlord’s Guide to Security Deposits

Bigger Pockets

Renting properties to tenants is a great way to earn passive income, but you must follow many laws and rules, including collecting security deposits. Before you begin renting to tenants, it’s important to understand the answer to what is a security deposit and all the factors that go into it.

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Housing industry pleads with Biden administration to narrow the mortgage spread

Housing Wire

A coalition of trade associations — including the Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA), National Association of Realtors (NAR), and Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) — on Thursday called on the Biden administration to reduce the historically large spread between the 30-year mortgage rates and 10-year Treasuries. The trade groups noted that the spread sits at over 300 basis points (bps) compared to the historic norm of about 150 bps.

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Home Price Growth Is Returning to Normal [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

If you're wondering what’s happening with home prices, know they’re still rising, just at a slower pace – and that’s perfectly normal for this time of year.

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Plaintiffs Triumph in Burnett Case as Jury Finds NAR, Brokerages Conspired to Fix Prices

RIS Media

KANSAS CITY—After four years working its way slowly through the federal judicial system and two weeks of contentious courtroom drama, the landmark Burnett class-action case delivered a massive blow to organized real estate today, with an eight-member jury deliberating for less than three hours before finding that real estate power players conspired to inflate commissions… The post Plaintiffs Triumph in Burnett Case as Jury Finds NAR, Brokerages Conspired to Fix Prices appeared first on RIS

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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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Why high-net-worth individuals are purchasing secondary homes

Inman

Owning multiple properties is relatively common with ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Agents should be well-versed in helping them identify and acquire secondary homes that fulfill their needs and goals.

Agents 209
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'Conspiracy' front and center as commissions trial kicks off

Real Estate News

On day two of the Sitzer/Burnett trial, the plaintiffs presented opening arguments, while the defense said conspiracy claims are "conjecture.

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Redmond could be a national model for reinventing suburban downtowns

Seattle Times Real Estate

While Seattle suburbs have felt growing pains as their populations soar, this bustling Eastside suburb rebuilt itself to prioritize transit and life downtown.

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New listings data unfazed by 8% mortgage rates

Housing Wire

The haunted house ride with the bond market and mortgage rates continued this week, but one housing data line hasn’t been spooked. New listing data appears unafraid of the mortgage rate ghost story over the last few months. Unlike last year, when new listings data had a noticeable move lower once mortgage rates reached 6%, 8% mortgage rates haven’t had any noticeable impact on the latest new listings data.

Mortgages 537
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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 Perks of Selling Your House When Inventory Is Low

Keeping Current Matters

When it comes to selling your house, you’re probably trying to juggle the current market conditions and your own needs as you plan your move.

Marketing 353
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What to Do With an Unfinished Basement

RIS Media

An unfinished basement, often overlooked and underutilized, holds immense potential to become a functional and inviting space in your home. By employing innovative design ideas, you can transform this neglected area into a valuable addition that enhances your living space and property value. From experience as a Realtor, a finished basement is one of the… The post What to Do With an Unfinished Basement appeared first on RISMedia.

Design 135
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RE/MAX becomes 3rd major firm to distance itself from NAR

Inman

In announcing the details of its settlement in the bombshell commission suits, the franchisor said that agents and brokerages would "have the freedom to set and/or negotiate commissions as they see fit.

Brokerage 207
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NAR might have more paths to victory in commissions cases

Real Estate News

Defendants presented opening arguments during week one of the Sitzer/Burnett trial. An industry lawyer sees two additional ways they might prevail in court.

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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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Seattle voters to decide on $970M levy to fund affordable housing

Seattle Times Real Estate

Supporters say the levy marks a "critical investment" in the city's housing stock, while a sole prominent skeptic argues for other strategies to address the housing shortage.

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DataDigest: Nearly 100,000 LOs have washed out

Housing Wire

For years broker channel evangelists told me that a down market would give them an edge on their retail brethren. Well, it’s certainly been a down market. How has the broker channel fared in the wake of the Fed rate hikes ? I asked the good folks at mortgage data technology firm InGenius to run the numbers. Take a look. “From the first six months of 2022 to first six months of 2023, brokers have increased their percentage from 23% to 28% while retail has decreased by that same percen

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Unpacking the Long-Term Benefits of Homeownership

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re thinking about buying a home soon, higher mortgage rates, rising home prices, and ongoing affordability concerns may make you wonder if it still makes sense to buy a home right now.

Mortgages 317
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Spec House vs. Custom Home: What’s the Difference?

RIS Media

When it comes to buying a new home, you’ll often hear terms like “spec house,” “spec home,” or “spec housing” alongside “custom home.” These terms refer to distinct real estate and new construction approaches offering unique advantages and considerations. We will examine the differences between spec houses and custom homes to help you decide when… The post Spec House vs.

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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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Anywhere unveils the details of its bombshell commission settlement

Inman

Among the proposed changes, Anywhere said its company-owned brokerages, franchisees and affiliated agents will no longer be required to belong to the National Association of Realtors.

Brokerage 207
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New commissions lawsuit filed on the heels of Sitzer/Burnett verdict

Real Estate News

After the jury unanimously found for the plaintiffs in the Missouri case, the lead attorney announced he was filing a nationwide suit naming NAR, 7 brokerages.

Brokerage 308
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Are Rental Properties a Good Investment?

Bigger Pockets

For many years, rental properties have been one of the best (and most popular) ways to generate passive income. However, before you go down this path, it’s important to understand the finer details of investing. The knowledge you collect upfront will improve the likelihood of a positive experience.

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The upside of 8% mortgage rates? More inventory

Housing Wire

If I had told you on Dec. 31, 2022, that mortgage rates would hit 8% in 2023, you would reasonably assume housing inventory would sky rocket higher, home prices would fall noticeably, and the number of price cuts would be higher year over year. Instead, the opposite has happened: home prices nationally hit an all-time high, inventory is still down year over year and the percentage of price cuts is 4% below last year’s level.

Mortgages 516
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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.