Sat.Dec 19, 2020 - Fri.Dec 25, 2020

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Don’t expect home sales to slow down in 2021

Housing Wire

Real estate agents across the U.S. have been busy as a result of the pent-up demand from homebuyers due to COVID-19. From facing uncertainty in March from COVID-19-related shutdowns, to seeing home sales skyrocket through the summer into fall, it looks like homebuyers won’t be slowing down anytime soon, despite the holiday season approaching. Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug Duncan said he expects existing home sales to ultimately “be up a percent or more in 2021.

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The Do’s and Don’ts after Applying for a Mortgage

Keeping Current Matters

Once you’ve found the right home and applied for a mortgage, there are some key things to keep in mind before you close. You’re undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new place, but before you make any large purchases, move your money around, or make any major life changes, consult your lender – someone who is qualified to tell you how your financial decisions may impact your home loan.

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2021 Home Decor Trends That’ll Rid Your Home of That 2020 Vibe

Lighter Side of Real Estate

With the arrival of each new year, it’s fun to freshen up your home and make it look and feel contemporary. Especially as we usher out 2020—a year we’ve spent far too much time looking at the same interiors—you’re probably eager to create a different vibe with the help of some new decor. What’s going to be in style for 2021? Designers agree it’s all about comfort and color!

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Planning a Remodel in 2021? 4 Hardwood Flooring Trends You Should Know About

Realtor.com

lookslike/Getty Images As the new year brings new resolutions, many of us have put home renovations high on our list. Maybe you’re pledging to fix up your home in preparation for selling it in 2021. Or perhaps you’re looking to enliven the place in which you’ve spent many, many hours of the day while sheltering in place in 2020. No matter your motivation, updating your flooring may be a good place to start. “Homeowners are seeking tranquility and peace from all the noise

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The 2025 Real Estate Roadmap to Success

Don’t just react to changes, plan for them, so you can approach the new year with confidence, direction, and a competitive edge for your business. Having a well-defined business plan helps you chart a clear course, navigate challenges, and set a foundation for growth. This workbook gives you the key steps to outline what matters and will ensure you’re moving ahead.

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Existing home sales are still too hot

Housing Wire

In recent articles, I have written that although current sales data for the U.S. housing market has outperformed expectations, I expected these upward trends to moderate. Growth in home sales in recent months, I proposed, was primarily due to the catch-up demand from the stalled sales during the worst weeks of COVID-19. Today, the National Association of Realtors reported a 2.5% decline in existing home sales compared to last month, which I guess could be considered moderation.

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The Difference a Year Makes for Homeownership

Keeping Current Matters

Over the past year, mortgage rates have fallen more than a full percentage point, hitting a new historic low 15 times. This is a great driver for homeownership, as today’s low rates provide consumers with some significant benefits. Here’s a look at three of them. 1. Move-up or Downsize: One option is to consider moving into a new home, putting the equity you’ve likely gained in your current house toward a down payment on a new one that better meets your needs – something that’s truly a perfect

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Ice Dams: How to Get Rid of and Prevent Ice Damming Including Video

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

Preventing The Cause of Ice Dams Do you have an ice dam problem at your home? Are you looking for the best methods to get rid of your ice dams? The first part of the process of removing ice dams is to prevent them, to begin with. Preventing ice dams is just smart as they […]. The post Ice Dams: How to Get Rid of and Prevent Ice Damming Including Video appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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Mortgage applications increase for second straight week

Housing Wire

Borrowers looking to refinance their VA and FHA loans contributed to another uptick in mortgage applications for the week ending Dec. 18, according to the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Mortgage applications jumped 0.8% a week after the 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped five basis points to 2.85%, the trade group noted. The 30-year rate is up to 2.86% in the most recent MBA survey, according to Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting

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Did You Outgrow Your Home in 2020?

Keeping Current Matters

It may seem hard to imagine that the home you’re in today – whether it’s your starter home or just one you’ve fallen in love with along the way – might not be your forever home. Many needs have changed in 2020, and it’s okay to admit if your house no longer fits your lifestyle. If you’re now working remotely, facilitating virtual school, trying to exercise at home, or simply just spending more time in your own four walls, you may be bursting at the seams in your current house.

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Pantone Color(s) Of The Year 2021: Ultimate Gray And Illuminating

Coldwell Banker

After a most unique year, it only makes sense that we would launch into 2021 with an unexpected color of the year choice. In fact, Pantone has gone with not one, but two, hues in its annual proclamation. In a news release, Pantone called them “two independent colors that come together to create an aspirational color pairing, conjoining deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the optimistic promise of a sunshine filled day.”.

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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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All in the Family: How the Pandemic Accelerated the Rise in Multigenerational Living

Realtor.com

miodrag ignjatovic/Getty Images Tiffany Lequerique-Considine , 37, and her partner, Steve , 48, were trying to figure out a more supportive living arrangement for his 88-year-old mother at the beginning of this year. The couple knew that the 10,500-foot elevation of their hometown of Breckenridge, CO, would not be ideal for her health. The family talked about a nursing home, but they weren’t thrilled about the cost and had other concerns—and then COVID-19 struck, highlighting the risks to the vu

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The mortgage industry is ripe for blockchain in 2021

Housing Wire

The next time you apply for a mortgage, or your lender services that loan or sells it on the secondary market, you might be helping to disrupt an industry. That’s because the entire transaction, or at least parts of it, may be powered by blockchain in the not-too-distant future. Robyn A. Friedman HW+ Columnist. Blockchain – most simply defined as a decentralized, immutable digital ledger – is perhaps best known as the technology underlying digital currency.

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Turning a House into a Happy Home

Keeping Current Matters

We talk a lot about why it makes financial sense to buy a home, but more often than not, we’re drawn to the emotional reasons for homeownership. No matter the living space, the feeling of a home means different things to different people. Whether it’s a certain scent or a favorite chair, the feel-good connections to our own homes are typically more important to us than the financial ones.

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Best Moving Truck Rental Companies: Truck Rentals Reviewed

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

Who Are The Best Companies For Moving Trucks Are you considering renting a truck to move? You are not alone as many folks decide to move by themselves rather than hire a moving company. Moving truck rentals have become a booming business. If you are the kind of person who tends to go the cheapest […]. The post Best Moving Truck Rental Companies: Truck Rentals Reviewed appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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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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Still Not Organized? Here’s Why—and What To Try in 2021

Realtor.com

CarmenMurillo / Getty Images Ever resolve to organize your closet or junk drawer, only to see your efforts devolve into a (slightly different) cluttered mess? Maybe it’s because you tried a method that doesn’t fit your personality. It turns out, people have different approaches to organizing—how to do it, and what they want to get out of it.

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Why new home sales are finally moderating

Housing Wire

Reports on housing data are headline-driven, and headlines are designed to cause folks to overreact in both positive and negative ways. We’ve seen our share of hyperbolic headlines in the housing reports this year, and for that reason, I have been compelled to reiterate my belief that the “too-hot” data will moderate to a more normalized trend. But, we hadn’t seen that moderation in any meaningful way until today’s new home sales data.

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Thank You for All Your Support

Keeping Current Matters

The post Thank You for All Your Support appeared first on Keeping Current Matters.

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REAL Trending Special Edition: Tami Bonnell

Real Trends

Want to learn from the brightest minds in real estate, then you'll love our REAL Trending special edition podcasts. Editor-in-chief of content, Tracy Velt, interviews brokerage leaders, top agents and teams and industry experts on leadership, recruiting, marketing, and more. Subscribe today on realtrendsinc.podbean.com.

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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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10 Kids Room Wall Decor Ideas That Adults Won’t Hate

Realtor.com

FollowTheFlow / Getty Images Decorating kids bedroom walls is a tough challenge—that is, if you don’t want them to outgrow that fire engine mural or “Frozen” decals anytime soon. Isn’t there anything out there more original that both parents and kids will enjoy for years to come? Of course there is. “Kids, by nature, are creative and imaginative, so it makes sense that their bedrooms should be just as colorful and full of life,” says Anna Shiwlall , owner of t

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Will 2021 bring more balance to home sales?

Housing Wire

Daryl Fairweather Redfin Chief Economist. This is the second installment of our economist Q&A series of the top housing market forecasts for 2021 that focus on everything from home sales to mortgage rates. To help provide as much guidance as possible on what to expect in 2021, HousingWire interviewed a top economist every Tuesday in December in the HW+ Slack channel.

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Renting In Toronto: Tips To Keep In Mind

Realty Biz

Image Source: Pexels. For some people, renting a space and calling it home in Toronto is a much more economical option than buying property. However, this brings us a few things that, as a tenant, you need to consider before you decide to live in a rented place. For your convenience, here is a list of a few very important things you need to consider before renting in Toronto.

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Help Out One of Brooklyn’s Many Mutual Aid Groups This Holiday Season

Brownstoner

As we find ourselves in the giving season of this tumultuous year, many Brooklynites may be looking around their community and want to help those in need. Below, Brownstoner has compiled a list of mutual aid groups based in Brooklyn that are looking for volunteers, donations and more. This is… Read More > The post Help Out One of Brooklyn’s Many Mutual Aid Groups This Holiday Season appeared first on Brownstoner.

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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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How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Forever Changed the Process of Selling a House

Realtor.com

FatCamera/Getty Images In normal circumstances, selling a house involves interacting with a lot of people. In-person house tours, roundtable closings, and handshakes are all standard formalities. But in a world rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic , safety and social distancing are a must, and real estate professionals and sellers have had to adapt to a new way of doing business.

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Townhouse vs. single-family house, factors to consider

Housing Wire

Comparing single-family houses vs. townhouses can be difficult. What is the right fit for your home purchase? That depends on a whole host of factors — things like your budget , your need for space and privacy, and your penchant for home maintenance. Are you trying to decide whether a townhome or a detached, single-family house is the best use of your money?

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“Neverland” No More! The Past & Present of Michael Jackson’s Former Home

Fancy Pants Homes

With the HBO 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland bringing new, bone-chilling stories to light, I felt the need to save a piece of my childhood by leaving Neverland behind myself. And that piece is the actual Neverland Ranch, the very first celebrity home I have any memory of — and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. I distinctly remember when news first came out about this incredible property Michael Jackson had bought, a ranch that stretched on for miles and that he planned o

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2020 Decor Trends We Can’t Wait to Kick to the Curb

Lighter Side of Real Estate

The pandemic has radically changed the way we live and work. It’s also had a significant impact on our home decor—and not necessarily for the better. After spending months inside, you’re probably beyond sick of looking at some of the COVID-related adjustments you’ve made. With the new year rolling in, and the coronavirus, hopefully, on its way out, chances are you’re looking forward to taking back your home and your health before too long.

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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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A Happier New Year: Eviction, Foreclosure Freeze Extended Into 2021 for Lucky Few

Realtor.com

fotog/Getty Images Many renters and homeowners won’t have to worry about losing the roof over their heads this new year. And least not at first. The Federal Housing Administration announced on Monday that it is extending the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums through February. They were set to expire at the end of the year. Protections for homeowners with government-backed mortgages who lost income due to the pandemic have been in place since March.

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The good, the bad, and the likely for housing in 2021

Housing Wire

Despite the pandemic, incredibly, the housing market has surpassed all expectations in 2020. Applications to purchase a home hit a low point in the spring due to stay-at-home orders and mandated business closures, but have rebounded swiftly. As of the week ending December 4, purchase loan applications have exceeded year-ago levels for 29-straight weeks, and cumulative purchase applications have surpassed 2019 levels.

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Meet the Real Estate Tech Entrepreneur: Ben McDougal from OpenOpen

GeekEstate

In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with Ben McDougal from OpenOpen. Without further ado… Who are you and what do you do? My name is Ben McDougal. I’m a tech founder, multimedia marketer, aspiring author and entrepreneurial ecosystem builder in our connected era. What problem does your product/service solve?

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What Are Home Equity Loans Used For?

Realty Biz

Our homes are more than special structures for raising children and sheltering families. Apart from providing shelter and security to its occupant, it can also serve several other purposes. Homes can be an asset that can be passed on to heirs and dependents. It can also function as an investment that can be sold in the future, or it can act as collateral for a myriad of loans. .

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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.