Sat.Nov 14, 2020 - Fri.Nov 20, 2020

article thumbnail

Mortgage rates break record again, down to 2.72%

Housing Wire

The average U.S. mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan fell this week to 2.72%, Freddie Mac said in a report on Thursday – the lowest rate in the survey’s near 50-year history. This week’s rate broke the previous record set on Nov. 5 by 6 basis points. The average fixed rate for a 15-year mortgage also fell by 6 basis points to 2.28%. After this week’s record drop, there have now been 17 consecutive weeks when average mortgage rates have been below 3%.

Mortgages 546
article thumbnail

It Pays to Sell with a Real Estate Agent [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights. Today, it’s more important than ever to have an expert you trust to guide you as you sell your house. From your safety throughout the process to the complexity of negotiating the deal, you need a professional on your side. Before you decide to take on the challenge of selling your house on your own, reach out to a local real estate professional to discuss your options.

Agents 317
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

What you need to know about no-code vs low-code (and what it means)

The American Genius for Real Estate

(REAL ESTATE MARKETING) The no-code movement is putting more power in the hands of folks with zero programming skills. So what makes it different from low-coding, and what choice is right for your business goals? The post What you need to know about no-code vs low-code (and what it means) appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

Marketing 145
article thumbnail

How Much Does a P.O. Box Cost

Realty Biz

What to Know About P.O. Boxes. Are you considering getting a P.O. box? Do you know what a P.O. box costs? There are many reasons why you might need a P.O. box. Maybe you want to keep your home address separate from a business address, or you want to make sure you don’t lose mail during a house move. When people want to know how to change a mailing address , they sometimes opt for getting a P.O. box simultaneously.

As-is 145
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

DOJ sues NAR for alleged antitrust violations

Housing Wire

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) on Thursday, alleging a series of violations of antitrust law, including commission arrangements and consumer disclosure requirements. NAR has adopted a “series of rules, policies, and practices governing, among other things, the publication and marketing of real estate, real estate broker commissions, as well as real estate broker access to lockboxes, that have been widely adopted by NAR’s m

article thumbnail

Why Working from Home May Spark Your Next Move

Keeping Current Matters

If you’ve been working from home this year, chances are you’ve been at it a little longer than you initially expected. Businesses all over the country have figured out how to operate remotely to keep their employees healthy, safe, and productive. For many, it may be carrying into next year, and possibly beyond. While the pandemic continues, Americans are re-evaluating their homes, floorplans, locations, needs, and more.

As-is 318

More Trending

article thumbnail

How to Get a Free Credit Report Including a Helpful Video

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

Get Your Credit Report FREE! Are you interested in learning how to get a free credit report? How about a free credit score? Your credit report is an important financial document that you should review at least once a year. Three leading credit reporting companies produce credit reports, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Your credit report […].

139
139
article thumbnail

The housing market is hot, but not in a bubble

Housing Wire

Existing home sales came in at a whopping 6,850,000 , beating estimates with the highest print since 2006. Days on market fell from 36 days to 21 days on a year-over-year basis. Cash buyers remain at a historically high level of 19%, the same as last year, while sales grew 26.6% year over year. The housing market is hot. While we celebrate these strong numbers, keep in mind these three points: First, expect the data to moderate, so don’t freak out when we see the rate of growth cool down.

Marketing 545
article thumbnail

Will Mortgage Rates Remain Low Next Year?

Keeping Current Matters

In 2020, buyers got a big boost in the housing market as mortgage rates dropped throughout the year. According to Freddie Mac , rates hit all-time lows 12 times this year, dipping below 3% for the first time ever while making buying a home more and more attractive as the year progressed (See graph below): When you continually hear how rates are hitting record lows, you may be wondering: Are they going to keep falling?

Mortgages 307
article thumbnail

Nashville Real Estate Market Trends & Investment Outlook

Marco Santarelli

Nashville housing market remains one of the hottest markets in the US. Despite the pandemic led economic slowdown, there is healthy demand to purchase homes in the Nashville real estate market. Across the nation, we have seen people moving from big cities to the suburbs. Nashville too has seen an influx of buyers coming from larger markets like Seattle, New York, and California.

Marketing 137
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

10 Amazing Black Friday Bargains First-Time Home Buyers Will Love

Realtor.com

ArtistGNDphotography / Getty Images Nothing, not even a coronavirus pandemic , can stop Black Friday from arriving—in fact, many of this year’s hottest bargains rolled out weeks before Thanksgiving, rather than adhering to the tradition of waiting until the day after. And for first-time home buyers , this is truly a prime opportunity to stock up on all the essentials you need to keep your house in good shape without draining your wallet.

Finance 137
article thumbnail

Existing home sales increase for the fifth month in a row

Housing Wire

Existing home sales grew for the fifth consecutive month in October, up 4.3% from September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.85 million, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors on Thursday. Compared to last October, sales are up 26.6%. “The surge in sales in recent months has now offset the spring market losses,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. “With news that a COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available, and with mortgage rates projected to

Sales 545
article thumbnail

Homes for Sale Are Rapidly Disappearing

Keeping Current Matters

Through all the challenges of 2020, the real estate market has done very well, and purchasers are continuing to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates. Realtor Magazine just explained : “While winter may be typically a slow season in real estate, economists predict it isn’t likely to happen this year…Low inventories combined with high demand due to record-low mortgage rates is sending buyers to the market in a flurry.”.

Sales 307
article thumbnail

4 Ways to Revamp Your Long-Forgotten Garage

Coldwell Banker

Join us today in exploring 4 tried and tested methods you can use to show your long-forgotten garage some much-needed TLC, revamping your cluttered space into one fit for function. The post 4 Ways to Revamp Your Long-Forgotten Garage appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue Matter.

135
135
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Hold On to Your Hats! How the Coronavirus Has Changed the Home-Buying Game This Winter

Realtor.com

Blair_witch / Getty Images Winter is typically a buyer’s market. Between the chilly weather and the holidays, homes for sale often sit much longer without offers, which means that the few buyers who do venture out are poised to have the upper hand with sellers and get a great deal. Yet this winter, buyers might not have it so easy. “Normally winter is a good time for buyers,” says Danielle Hale , chief economist at realtor.com®.

article thumbnail

What the surge in COVID cases means for the housing market this winter

Housing Wire

With COVID infection rates exploding and hospitalization rates rising as we go into the cold winter months, the risk this poses to our recovering housing market is a question that should be addressed. In a previous article, I identified infection rates during the winter months as one of the economy’s high-risk variables. Before COVID-19 hit our shores, we were trending at 10% growth, working at cycle highs in demand.

Marketing 545
article thumbnail

Chances of Another Foreclosure Crisis? “About Zero Percent.”

Keeping Current Matters

There seems to be some concern that the 2020 economic downturn will lead to another foreclosure crisis like the one we experienced after the housing crash a little over a decade ago. However, there’s one major difference this time: a robust forbearance program. During the housing crash of 2006-2008, many felt homeowners should be forced to pay their mortgages despite the economic hardships they were experiencing.

Equity 281
article thumbnail

Building Materials Prices Little Changed in October

Eye on Housing

Prices paid for goods used in residential construction climbed 0.2% in October (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The index for inputs to residential construction, goods less food and energy (i.e. the “core”)—a less volatile price measure—increased 0.2% over the month.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

8 Hidden Problems in the Bedroom You Might Not Spot in a Home Video Tour

Realtor.com

Feverpitched Video tours have quickly become the norm in the COVID-19 era as a safe way to get a closer look at the house you want to see in person. And while no doubt the kitchen and living room are high on your list to check out, the bedroom deserves more than a passing glance. After all, a bedroom isn’t just a place to catch some zzz’s; it’s also a place that can function as a retreat or a quiet workspace.

Agents 130
article thumbnail

MBA predicts record purchase mortgage volume in 2021

Housing Wire

The Mortgage Bankers Association on Tuesday released revised estimates for the third and fourth quarter of 2020 as well as predicting record purchase volume for 2021. Although The MBA expects decreased numbers of refinancings will lower overall origination next year to around $2.56 trillion, that would still be the second-highest number in the last fifteen years.

Mortgages 542
article thumbnail

Land Surveys: What to Know About a Property Survey

Realty Biz

A Land Survey Explained. Are you considering paying for a survey of a piece of property? When you purchase land, it’s not a bad idea to know exactly what you are paying for. Land surveys give you more information about the property you want to buy and can help reveal its true value. Let’s review the things you need to understand about land surveys before you decide to get one.

Land 129
article thumbnail

Single-Family Built-for-Rent Construction Expands

Eye on Housing

The number of single-family homes built-for-rent (SFBFR) posted a year-over-year increase for the third quarter of 2020. The SFBFR market is a way to add single-family inventory amid concerns over housing affordability and downpayment requirements in the for-sale market, particularly during a period of when people want more space and single-family structures.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

How To Celebrate Thanksgiving While Minimizing the Risk of COVID-19

Realtor.com

Rawf8/iStock For many of us, Thanksgiving is the official kickoff to the holiday season—the one truly American holiday that unites us all. It’s a time to gather with far-flung family members, squeeze as many people as possible around the dinner table, strenuously avoid talking about politics, and feast on a meal that may or may not feature turkey, but either way is a heck of a lot of food.

As-is 128
article thumbnail

The differences between FHA, VA, and USDA mortgages

Housing Wire

When you get a mortgage, there are several options you can choose from, including FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional mortgages. And the one you pick? That will determine how big a down payment you’ll need, what credit score you should have and all the other requirements you’ll need to meet, too. But choosing the right mortgage product can be difficult — especially if you’ve never bought a home before.

VA loan 501
article thumbnail

Historic Queen Anne Home on Bushwick Avenue Will Face Wrecking Ball

Brownstoner

One of Bushwick’s architectural gems will soon face the wrecking ball. Demolition permits were spotted outside the Charles Lindemann House, located at 1001 Bushwick Avenue, a large Queen Anne home at the corner of Grove Street. Bushwick Daily was the first to report the news. The house was featured as a Building… Read More > The post Historic Queen Anne Home on Bushwick Avenue Will Face Wrecking Ball appeared first on Brownstoner.

article thumbnail

Single-Family Starts: Best Pace Since Spring of 2007

Eye on Housing

Single-family starts experienced continued gains in October, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Census Bureau. Single-family construction is up 8.6% year-to-date, with notable gains in 2020 for the Midwest and other lower-density markets. The pace of single-family starts in October was the highest production rate since the spring of 2007.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Existing-Home Sales Soar Despite Record-Low Inventory

Realtor.com

ozgurcankaya/Getty Images The numbers: Existing-home sales rose for the fifth consecutive month in October, as the housing market finally made up for the pandemic-related downturn in sales this spring. Total existing-home sales increased 4.3% from September to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.85 million, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday.

Sales 124
article thumbnail

How will California’s Proposition 19 impact property taxes?

Housing Wire

A slim majority of California residents voted in favor of Proposition 19 on Election Day, green-lighting a motion that gives new property tax breaks to older homeowners while increasing property taxes for those inheriting their parents’ or grandparents’ properties. The latter is a big deal for the roughly 650,000 Californians who, since 2010, have received a tax break allowing them to maintain their relatives’ low property taxes when they inherit the home.

article thumbnail

How Technology Has Changed the Selling Process in the Times of COVID

RIS Media

According to some agents, not much new technology has been invented in response to COVID, but pre-existing technologies have become more important. They also agree that concerns about visiting properties have largely dissipated. However, now that people have gotten used to virtual tours and sanitary precautions, these visits usually come later in the process, after a property has been thoroughly vetted from a distance.

article thumbnail

Multifamily Market Sentiment Improves in the Third Quarter

Eye on Housing

Confidence in the multifamily housing market continued to recover from its 1st quarter trough, with the Multifamily Production Index (MPI) rising to 48 in the third quarter (up from 37 in the second quarter and 27 in the first quarter), according to the National Association of Homebuilders’ Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) (Figure 1). Meanwhile, the Multifamily Vacancy Index (MVI) decreased.

Marketing 127
article thumbnail

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.