Sat.Sep 25, 2021 - Fri.Oct 01, 2021

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Mortgage rates finally eclipse the 3% mark

Housing Wire

The average 30-year-fixed mortgage rate rose 13 basis points to 3.01% for the week ending Sept. 30, according to Freddie Mac’s latest PMMS survey. Mortgage rates had been roughly flat for seven weeks, and this is the first time it rose above 3% since June. Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement that rates rose across all loan types, in conjunction with the 10-year U.S.

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Don’t Tackle Selling Your Home on Your Own – an Agent Can Help

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re looking to maximize your sale and minimize your effort, you need to work with a real estate professional. In a sellers’ market like today’s, it can be tempting to list your house on your own – known as For Sale By Owner (FSBO). But the truth is, a real estate professional can save you time and money by managing every step of the process, from pricing your home to reviewing documents and handling negotiations.

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Share of New Homes With 4 or More Bedrooms Jumped in 2020

Eye on Housing

The U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Construction’s (SOC) 2020 estimates of the shares of the number of bedrooms in new single-family homes showed a sharp upswing in the percentage of new homes started with 4 or more bedrooms, unlike in prior recent years. The most recent SOC data show the shares in the varying number of bedrooms in new homes.

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Buying a Home With Your Partner? Watch Out for These Common Disagreements

Lighter Side of Real Estate

Buying a home together is a major step for any couple. And while it’s an exciting step, it can also be a stressful one—particularly if there are things you and your partner just don’t agree on. But what, exactly, might you disagree on as you search for your dream home? A recent survey from LendingHome asked American couples about what they disagreed on while looking for a home—and a few key disagreements emerged, including: The price of the home (53 percent).

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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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Pending home sales data crushes housing bears

Housing Wire

Today’s pending home sales came in at a big beat of estimates, running at 8.1% for this report. More importantly, this data line looks just right. One of my main goals for sharing housing sales data in 2021 is to give people a sales trend range to work off this year to know if home sales are doing well. Last year we had an abnormal burst of housing demand that was just make-up demand from the COVID-19 pause in the second half of 2020.

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As Home Equity Rises, So Does Your Wealth

Keeping Current Matters

Homeownership is still a crucial part of the American dream. For those people who own a home (and those looking to buy one), it’s clear that being a homeowner has considerable benefits both emotionally and financially. In addition to long-term stability, buying a home is one of the best ways to increase your net worth. This boost to your wealth comes in the form of equity.

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6 Things People Say About Buying a Home Today That Actually Aren’t True

Realtor.com

It's a seller's market, but not everything you hear about buying a home today is true. We asked real estate agents to weigh in on some homebuying myths. The post 6 Things People Say About Buying a Home Today That Actually Aren’t True appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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US home prices hit record level (again)

Housing Wire

July marked the fourth consecutive month in which the growth rate of home prices set a record, according to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index Report released on Tuesday. The index showed a 19.7% annual gain for the year ending in July 2021, up from 18.7% a month prior. This is the highest annual rate of price growth since the index began in 1987 and the fourteenth consecutive month of accelerating prices.

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Early October is the Sweet Spot for Buyers

Keeping Current Matters

Are you looking to buy a home? If so, we’ve got good news for you. While there’s no denying the housing market is having a great year, many of the headlines are focused on the perks for sellers. But what about buyers today? As a buyer, you’re likely braving bidding wars and weighing low mortgage rates versus price appreciation as you search for your dream home.

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Canada And The United States Have The Highest Inflation In The G7

Better Dwelling

High inflation might seem like a global phenomenon these days, but that appears to be a media bias. The August Consumer Price Index (CPI) for G7 countries shows not all have elevated levels of inflation. Canada and the US are showing significantly higher headline inflation than their peers. Initially it was sold as transitory, but […]. The post Canada And The United States Have The Highest Inflation In The G7 appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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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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What’s Old Is New Again: 5 Homes Built in the 1800s

Sotheby's International Real Estate

In sought-after locations from Southampton to San Francisco, these irreplaceable homes afford the opportunity to own a personal piece of history. Serene Southampton Compound. Dawn Petrillo & Pat Petrillo, Sotheby’s International Realty – Southampton Brokerage. Dating to 1893 and conscientiously renovated in 2014, this estate is nestled an idyllic gated setting.

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PennyMac, UWM raise conforming loan limit ceiling

Housing Wire

PennyMac announced this week that it is upping conforming loan limits by almost 14% through broker and correspondent channels. According to PennyMac, for a one-unit property a borrower could receive $625,000, an increase of almost $75,000 from the maximum loan limit dictated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The 2021 baseline national conforming loan limit for a one-unit property is currently capped at $548,250, though this number is expected to increase sometime in November.

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If You’re a Buyer, Is Offering Asking Price Enough?

Keeping Current Matters

In today’s real estate market, buyers shouldn’t shop for a home with the expectation they’ll be able to negotiate a lower sales price. In a typical housing market, buyers try to determine how much less than the asking price they can offer and still get the home. From there, the buyer and seller typically negotiate and agree on a revised price somewhere in the middle.

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Here’s What to Expect From A Home Appraisal So You Don’t Blow It

HomeLight

Updated September 27, 2021. With a stellar offer in hand, you’re relieved to have the bulk of your home sale behind you. But the deal isn’t set in stone yet. There are several steps ahead that could impact your ability to close, including the home appraisal. A home appraisal is a professional opinion of your property’s value from a licensed appraiser. “It’s one person’s opinion on one single day,” explains Jolene Jacobs , who sells homes 57% quicker than

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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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Inside a Striking Cow Hollow Aerie

Sotheby's International Real Estate

On the top floor of this striking modern four-bedroom home in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood, walls, doors, and a ceiling of glass blur the lines between its stylish interiors and the iconic views of the city and the bay, which sweep past the Marin Headlands and the Palace of Fine Arts to the Golden Gate Bridge. The soigné living and entertaining spaces here—which include dining space with richly hued hardwood floors, an open gourmet kitchen, and a family room with a wood-burning firepl

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LoanDepot sued 7 LOs after they left for a rival

Housing Wire

LoanDepot CEO Anthony Hsieh. After an origination team departed loanDepot in April of this year, loanDepot slammed the seven ex-employees and their new employer, CrossCountry Mortgage , with a lawsuit alleging they “hatched and implemented a scheme to loot loanDepot’s business.”. The Orange County, California-based retail lender , led by CEO Anthony Hsieh, in a lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court in June, alleged that the seven employees — the Meredith-Rogers team¸— stole client lists and

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Reasons Renters Buy [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

. Some Highlights. When deciding whether you should rent or buy , make sure you’re considering these factors. Buying a home means consistent monthly payments. Homeownership also helps to build your wealth. And owning a home gives you greater flexibility than renting. If you’re ready to take advantage of the perks of homeownership, talk to a trusted real estate professional to explore your options.

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From Rules to Average HOA Fees: What to Know About Homeowners Associations

HomeLight

Nearly half of all homeowners in the U.S. live in a community with a homeowners association, also known as an HOA. While HOAs come with a number of benefits, they also come with fees and guidelines residents need to follow. The percentage of people living by the rules of an HOA continues to grow. So if you’re in the market for a new home, chances are you’ll consider homes in a community association-governed neighborhood.

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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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Berlin Residents Just Voted In Favor of Nationalizing 240,000 Apartments From Landlords

Better Dwelling

Germany is one of the world’s biggest real estate bubbles, and it might pop in a spectacular way. Yesterday the majority of Berlin residents voted to nationalize 240,000 rental units. The move was driven by Deutsche Wohnen & Co. enteignen (DW enteignen), a housing activist group looking to cut large corporate landlords. The referendum isn’t […].

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Competing in the sizzling housing market of Provo, Utah

Housing Wire

Nestled between Utah Lake and the towering peaks of the Wasatch Mountain Range, it is hard to imagine that anything in the Provo-Orem metropolitan area could be anything other than serene. But for the past 12 months, the metro’s housing market has been in complete chaos. “It is hot, hot, hot here,” Clay Winder, a real estate agent for Keller Williams Westfield , said.

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Understanding the CMA – Comparative Market Analysis

Realty Biz

Whether you are a seller, buyer, or investor, the Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is an essential real estate pricing tool to understand. The basic purpose is to determine the current value of the property that constantly varies based on local market activity. Many factors are taken into consideration with local market values having the greatest effect, but other influences do strongly impact the current value of a property.

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Sotheby’s International Realty Opens First Office in Morocco

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Sotheby’s International Realty today announced the opening of Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty, signifying the brand’s first office in Northern Africa. The addition brings the brand’s total number of affiliated offices in the EMEIA region to nearly 200. Morocco Sotheby’s International Realty is owned and operated by David Chicard who brings 15 years of experience to the company.

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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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Best Ways of Finding History of Properties Online and Offline

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

Tips For Researching a Home You Want to Purchase Would you like to know how to research the history of a property online? If you’re smart you’ll be shaking your head in the affirmative right now. Before buying it is vital to gather all the information on a property that you can. When you are […]. The post Best Ways of Finding History of Properties Online and Offline appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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VA extends deadline for loan deferment

Housing Wire

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced this week that it is extending the timeframe for borrowers to request loan deferment. According to the VA’s circular, servicers may continue offering loan deferment until July 1, 2023, thus pushing the deadline nearly two additional years. The original expiration of this option was supposed to occur on Oct. 1, 2021.

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How Does Buying A Foreclosure Work? Take Our Hand, We’ll Walk You Through It

HomeLight

You’ve heard stories about people buying foreclosures, and you’ve seen them pop up on listing sites — but you have questions. Questions like: How does buying a foreclosure work? What even is a foreclosure? How do you get your hands on one? Do they really save you money? And is it a good idea to buy one in the first place? Worry not, we have answers.

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Consumer Confidence Falls to 7-month Low in September

Eye on Housing

Consumer confidence fell for a third consecutive month in September, as concerns about the Delta variant and higher prices continued to dampen optimism. Spending intentions for homes, cars, and major appliances all retreated. However, consumer confidence was still at a high level and the consumer price index has shown signs of easing inflation. The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by the.

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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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Canada Has Never Seen So Many Homes Under Construction At The Same Time

Better Dwelling

Canadians are about to see a flood of housing supply like they’ve never seen before. An RBC analysis found multi-year highs for various stages of new home construction in Q2 2021. New housing starts reached the highest level in over three decades. Homes completed are expected to hit a similar multi-decade high in the next […]. The post Canada Has Never Seen So Many Homes Under Construction At The Same Time appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Can real estate brokerages survive without mortgage?

Housing Wire

Real estate brokerages can survive, but only if they seriously invest in mortgage. So said members of a panel Tuesday on the evolution of the real estate brokerage during HousingWire Annual in Frisco, Texas. Today the value of a single mortgage origination is that of 10 real estate sales, said Chris Kelly, president and CEO of Ebby Halliday Companies.

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12 Exterior Home Improvements That Delight and Add Value

HomeLight

On the never-ending list of projects you could tackle as a homeowner, exterior home improvements deserve a spot at the top. Additions like patios provide the perfect place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, while a well-maintained lawn keeps the neighbors happy. An inviting exterior will also preserve your home’s value and make it infinitely more appealing at resale.

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Cultivating Well-Being Through Gardening | An Interview with Landscape Designer Steven Mackler

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Photo courtesy of The Landscape Group (TLG Design). A lot has changed over the course of Steven Mackler’s 45-year career in gardening—and much of it has been for the better. “There’s been a tremendous increase in beautiful new plant varieties and cultivars, and the ability for both professional and lay gardeners to access them,” he explains. That’s why he encourages every homeowner to get better acquainted with their gardens, whether indoor or outdoor.

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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.