Sat.Mar 23, 2024 - Fri.Mar 29, 2024

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Opinion: How to win the coming mortgage refi race

Housing Wire

One of the most critical moments in any race is the very beginning. A mistake at the start can snatch away a win before the race is even underway. Any coach will tell you that springing into action the moment the shot is fired is a critical success factor for any athlete. A race is a useful analog for the mortgage business, especially as it relates to the refinance business.

Mortgages 466
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What Every Homebuyer Should Know About Closing Costs

Keeping Current Matters

Before making the decision to buy a home, it's important to plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for.

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Moehrl attorney: Market shift after NAR settlement ‘will take time’

Inman

Robby Braun, partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, addresses "misconceptions" about the NAR deal's impact and says Realtors who try to ignore the changes "will get left behind.

Marketing 197
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Industry seeking clarity — and change — in FHA and VA lending

Real Estate News

NAR this week sent letters asking government lending agencies to allow buyers to finance agent compensation. Thursday, it started getting answers.

Lending 353
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3 Real Estate Office Hacks to Help Kickstart the Busy Season

Ready to better your Back Office? Dive into the secrets to a powerhouse back office with Brokermint expert, Jessica Souza. In this free download, she shares her 3 transformative hacks designed to clean house, get everyone on the same page, and set yourself up for success. From optimizing agent profiles to ensuring flawless transactions and boosting agent retention, these strategies are your ticket to a seamless operation.

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Mortgage rates helped by the Fed’s moderate stance

Housing Wire

Mortgage rates had a chance to break to new highs this year, but the Federal Reserve took a moderate tone at the last Fed meeting. We saw the benefit of lower mortgage rates with the last two existing home sales reports, which showed growth. Then mortgage rates rose, facilitating five weeks of negative purchase application data. As rates were hitting year-to-date highs, the fear was that the Fed would go hawkish in their March meeting, which could push mortgage rates toward 8% and tank 2024 dema

Mortgages 515
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Is It Easier To Find a Home To Buy Now?

Keeping Current Matters

One of the biggest hurdles buyers have faced over the past few years has been a lack of homes available for sale.

Sales 242

More Trending

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California homeowners face another insurance company pullout

Real Estate News

State Farm, which stopped issuing new homeowner policies in the state last year, will no longer renew existing policies starting in July.

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Keller Williams faces three lawsuits tied to its profit-sharing program 

Housing Wire

Three agents formerly affiliated with Keller Williams Realty — Jerri L. Moulder, David L. Bueker and Robert E. Hill — have taken legal action against the real estate brokerage by filing three separate class-action lawsuits, Inman first reported on Tuesday. The lawsuits contest alterations made to Keller Williams’ profit-sharing program, with one of them seeking a court order to halt further payouts until the case concludes.

Brokerage 500
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Single Women Are Embracing Homeownership

Keeping Current Matters

In today's housing market, more and more single women are becoming homeowners.

Marketing 258
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Barbara Corcoran on the $418M NAR settlement: It’s ‘not a big deal’

Inman

Corcoran told Yahoo! Finance she doesn't believe the effects of the settlement will be as earth-shattering as many make them out to be, but that "the confusion it's causing is amazing.

Finance 196
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Need Curated Pre-foreclosure Lists to Generate New Real Estate Leads? Trellis Has the Data!

Trellis is a state trial court research and analytics platform that provides Real Estate Professionals (Buyers, Foreclosure, Loan Modification, etc.) with LEADS on Pre-Foreclosures, Lis Pendes, Distressed Assets and more — to help uncover **new** opportunities and grow their business. The process is quick and easy — and all in real time. Trellis will supply you with a link to the relevant dockets, a Leads sheet and access to its UI where applicable.

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These MLSs could be on the hook for $34 million

Real Estate News

The 30 broker-owned or hybrid MLSs not covered by NAR’s settlement agreement must decide whether to pay into a settlement fund, request mediation, or fight on.

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As insurance costs rise, Florida homeowners are given a new option

Housing Wire

Florida is reckoning with a severe homeowners insurance crisis. The recent surge in both the frequency and intensity of hurricanes that have battered the state has prompted numerous insurers and reinsurers to exit the market , leaving Florida homeowners grappling with skyrocketing premiums and limited coverage options. According to the Insurance Information Institute , this exodus has resulted in Florida homeowners paying an average of nearly $4,000 a year in insurance , which is nearly three ti

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What’s the Latest with Mortgage Rates?

Keeping Current Matters

Recent headlines may leave you wondering what’s next for mortgage rates.

Mortgages 256
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Let’s debunk 7 mainstream media falsehoods, post-NAR settlement

Inman

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty President and CEO Budge Huskey corrects the record on commissions — and the potential impact of the NAR settlement on buyers, sellers and agents.

Agents 194
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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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It's cheaper to rent than buy in nearly every big city

Real Estate News

A new report from Realtor.com looks at the cost gap between renting and owning and finds that many markets are now significantly more favorable to renters.

Marketing 316
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Renters gain financial edge over homebuyers in key U.S. markets: Realtor.com

Housing Wire

As first-time homebuyers contemplate their housing options, the financial calculus between renting and owning is essential. Against the backdrop of elevated mortgage rates and soaring home prices , discerning the evolving financial dynamics between renter-friendly and buyer-friendly markets is also paramount. A report released Tuesday by Realtor.com highlights a significant disparity in costs between buying and renting a starter home across the country’s 50 largest metropolitan areas.

Marketing 473
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What Are the Benefits of a Modular Home?

RIS Media

Built in sections at a factory and assembled on-site, modular homes offer a unique blend of efficiency and customization. Their popularity stems from their ability to provide affordable, durable and sustainable housing options. We will examine the various benefits of modular homes and highlight why they are becoming a preferred choice for many. If you… The post What Are the Benefits of a Modular Home?

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Former Keller Williams agents sue over profit share changes

Inman

One of the class-action suits seeks $250 million in damages while the other is asking the court for a preliminary injunction stopping Keller Williams from distributing profit share payments.

Agents 189
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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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Agents Decoded: Burned out? It’s time to slow down

Real Estate News

Constantly reacting to real estate market whiplash — or industry-shaking news — takes a toll, and veteran agent Jill Leberknight suggests a different approach.

Agents 291
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What a tech entrepreneur has discovered about reverse mortgages

Housing Wire

Anna Frankowska was recognized in 2017 as one of Forbes’ “ 30 Under 30 ” in Europe, having studied economics in London before moving to work in investment banking. A passion for technology led her to work in the fintech and blockchain spaces, and she has now turned her attention to the senior finance space by founding a company called Graceful Finance.

Mortgages 458
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NAR Submits Comments to VA on Allowable Fees; Urges GSEs and Regulators to Confirm Support for Buyer Financing

RIS Media

In ongoing efforts to address housing policy and lending concerns surrounding the recent National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) settlement, NAR issued two letters this week to both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), GSEs and regulators. The letter to GSEs was also sent on behalf of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), delivered to the Federal… The post NAR Submits Comments to VA on Allowable Fees; Urges GSEs and Regulators to Confirm Support for Buyer Financing appeared first on

Finance 130
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Will uncertainty drive agents out? Maybe — but don’t let it be you

Inman

After the National Association of Realtor's proposed settlement, Coldwell Banker Realty President and CEO Kamini Lane offers 3 tips for agents amid commission compression chaos.

Agents 183
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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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KW hit with $250M lawsuit over profit sharing reductions

Real Estate News

The class action case, brought by a former Keller Williams agent, argues that the brokerage doesn’t have the right to retroactively alter the program.

Brokerage 289
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FHFA assisted nearly 44,000 troubled homeowners in Q4 2023

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed 43,903 foreclosure prevention actions in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to a new report published by the Federal Housing Finance Agency ( FHFA ). Over the course of 2023, the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) completed 192,897 foreclosure prevention actions. This brought the total to 6.905 million since the start of the GSE conservatorships in September 2008, the FHFA foreclosure prevention and refinance report showed.

VA loan 466
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MBA: New-Home Mortgage Applications Surge Nearly 16% in February

RIS Media

Homebuyers are continuing to turn to new construction as the antidote for a continued lack of existing homes for sale. Mortgage applications for newly built homes jumped 15.7% in February from a year ago, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest Builder Application Survey. While new-home mortgage applications only rose 1% from… The post MBA: New-Home Mortgage Applications Surge Nearly 16% in February appeared first on RISMedia.

Mortgages 130
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Better hiring real estate agents to originate mortgages in 26 states

Inman

As Better reports $543 million 2023 loss, CEO Vishal Garg says the company has made fundamental changes to its business model that will help it pivot to providing purchase loans to homebuyers.

Agents 185
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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.

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Judge says Sitzer/Burnett will remain a class action

Real Estate News

HomeServices of America’s decertification request was denied, and the case will now shift to other post-verdict motions, including a request for a new trial.

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How to empower your team to spot cybersecurity risks

Housing Wire

When it comes to reducing cybersecurity risks, your team plays a crucial role. To ensure the safety of your digital assets and sensitive information, it’s important to make sure all users are well-informed about cybersecurity and receive periodic training. To reduce risks , we’ll explore why empowering your team through education and training is essential to mitigate risks and keep your business secure.

Title 458
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Pending Home Sales See Slight Increase in February

RIS Media

Pending home sales increased 1.6% in February, with the Midwest and South each posting monthly gains in transactions, while the Northeast and West posted losses. All four U.S. regions saw year-over-year decreases, however, according to a March 28 report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)—a forward-looking indicator of… The post Pending Home Sales See Slight Increase in February appeared first on RISMedia.

Sales 129
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‘Apologize’ and 17 other common-sense ways to begin reforming NAR

Inman

Even before the courts resolve how agents are compensated, the National Association of Realtors has an opportunity to set a course for victory, Inman founder Brad Inman writes.

Agents 184
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How Enriching the Lives of Your Clients Leads to Greater Sales Success

Speaker: Ari Capogeannis, Director - Revenue Marketing at NVIDIA and Bill Pappa, Sales and Marketing Leader at Ai Media Group

Building strong personal and professional relationships with clients is a critical success factor. Sales professionals who focus on relationship building generate more leads and raise their brand awareness. Because this can take time, having regular engagements can help you cultivate these relationships more efficiently. The most effective way to accomplish this is through direct hyper-personalized touchpoints.