Sat.May 18, 2024 - Fri.May 24, 2024

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Worried about Home Maintenance Costs? Consider This

Keeping Current Matters

If one of the main reasons you’re hesitant to buy a home is because you’re worried about the upkeep, here’s some information you may find interesting on both new home construction and existing homes.

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Why buyer representation should matter so much to sellers

Inman

Managing broker and new Inman contributor Cassie Walker Johnson writes that in the evolving real estate market, investing in buyer agent compensation is a wise decision that benefits everyone involved.

Agents 183
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Mortgage rates fall below 7% for the first time in 6 weeks

Real Estate News

Buyers may be able to take advantage of lower rates and increasing inventory, but many are still priced out, dampening sales.

Mortgages 289
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VA to roll out temporary fix to buyer agent commission problem

Housing Wire

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs will soon release a circular that “bridges the gap” on an agency law that prohibits a VA buyer from paying their real estate agent compensation, a VA official announced on Tuesday. Michelle Corridon, deputy policy director at the VA, announced at the Mortgage Bankers Association ‘s Secondary & Capital Markets Conference in New York that the circular would be issued between now and June 12.

VA loan 523
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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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What’s Next for Home Prices and Mortgage Rates?

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re thinking of making a move this year, there are two housing market factors that are probably on your mind: home prices and mortgage rates.

Mortgages 332
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Veterans Affairs will suspend rule blocking vets from paying agents

Inman

Deputy Director of Policy Michelle Corridon said Tuesday the agency would lift rules preventing vets from using low-cost VA loans to pay agents until it engages in a formal rule-making process.

VA loan 195

More Trending

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Expect the growth rate of existing home prices to cool down this year

Housing Wire

I anticipated solid year-over-year home-price growth in today’s existing home sales report, so I’ve tried my best on social media to inform people that we have a low bar in home-price comps for this report and the next one. This is the context for why the home-price growth data was strong, which took some people by surprise. As you can see below, even though home prices rose in 2023, the median sales price showed negative year-over-year growth in April, May and June of last year.

Sales 498
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Questions You May Have About Selling Your House

Keeping Current Matters

There’s no denying mortgage rates are having a big impact on today’s housing market.

Mortgages 332
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Compass CEO Robert Reffkin says the luxury market is back

Inman

The luxury market is back. That was Compass co-founder and CEO Robert Reffkin's primary message during his latest appearance on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street," where he talked about home price trends, mortgage rates, and stock market ebbs and flows.

Marketing 197
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A third of homes for sale are new construction

Real Estate News

With many owners of existing homes hesitant to give up their low mortgage rates, new homes continue to account for an outsize share of the market.

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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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Fraud, forgery claims are costliest expenses for title insurers

Housing Wire

Fraud and forgery claims represented more than one-fifth of the total dollars spent by title insurers on claims expenses and losses over the past decade, according to a study conducted by Milliman and commissioned by the American Land Title Association (ALTA). Between 2013 and 2022, title insurers recorded 203,181 claims for policies written during that time, and they paid out $4.4 billion in claims related to losses and loss expenses.

Title 491
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Your Agent Is the Key To Pricing Your House Right [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

The asking price for your house can impact your bottom line and how quickly it sells.

Agents 313
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US inventory rises to highest level since 2022 as new-home sales fall

Inman

Newly built homes available on the market rose to 480,000, representing a supply of 9.1 months at the current sales rate, up from an 8.5 month supply in March, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Sales 193
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VA will allow homebuyers to pay agents — at least for now

Real Estate News

Comments made by a Department of Veterans Affairs official Tuesday “ensures veterans have the same opportunity as others to compete in a tight housing market.

Agents 271
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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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New listings data falls for third week in a row 

Housing Wire

New listings data has been moving lower over the last few weeks. I usually wouldn’t care too much about this as its a data line that can be volatile week to week but now it’s been three weeks. The moves haven’t been significant and our weekly pending contracts data picked up this week. But, we need to see more growth in new listings data just to grow from 2023 levels. 2023 new listings data was the lowest ever on record, so it’s already a low bar.

Mortgages 488
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How Many Homes Are Investors Actually Buying?

Keeping Current Matters

Are big investors really buying up all the homes today?

Investor 291
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House made famous by ‘Home Alone’ hits market for $5.25M

Inman

The red brick Georgian mansion, known by children all over the world as Kevin McCallister's home, is back on the market after 12 years and comes with a large Kevin Lego figure for the home theater.

Marketing 195
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NAR continues its battle to keep DOJ case closed

Real Estate News

An appeals court ruled that the government could reopen its investigation. NAR says that decision involved “far-reaching and exceptionally important” errors.

Closing 271
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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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FHA issues immediate cybersecurity reporting requirements

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Thursday published Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2024-10 , outlining reporting requirements that lenders must follow if they detect a cybersecurity intrusion. Effective immediately and applicable to all FHA-insured mortgage programs, the letter states that all lenders “that experience a potential or actual cyber incident must notify HUD via the FHA Resource Center at answers@hud.gov and HUD’s Security Operations Center at cirt@hud.gov within 12 hours of detect

Mortgages 485
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DOJ Lawyer Says No Offers of Compensation ‘Anywhere’

RIS Media

Antitrust regulators at the Department of Justice (DOJ) appear unsatisfied with the agreement struck between the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and plaintiffs in commission lawsuit class-actions, with a DOJ lawyer saying explicitly that they do not want any offers of compensation made by seller agents to buyer agents At a court hearing today in… The post DOJ Lawyer Says No Offers of Compensation ‘Anywhere’ appeared first on RISMedia.

Agents 136
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NextHome CEO on the ‘stupidest’ part of the commission settlement

Inman

James Dwiggins spoke at the inaugural Inman Connect Miami on Tuesday, arguing that clinging to the current status quo when it comes to commissions is a recipe for disaster.

Brokerage 190
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Homes.com president out

Real Estate News

David Mele, the longtime leader of CoStar’s home search site, confirmed to Real Estate News that he has left his position as president of Homes.com.

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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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Off-the-grid deals: Distressed property trends and market insights

Housing Wire

In a supply-constrained housing market , even landing a deal at foreclosure auction has become challenging, but those deals tend to be more readily available in markets or neighborhoods that are off the beaten path. “It’s oddly enough in states where people are leaving,” said Florida-based real estate investor Paul Lizell of the markets where he is more focused on acquiring investment properties in 2024.

Marketing 473
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Tips to Stage a Home That Needs Repairs and Improvements

Realty Biz

Are you wondering how to stage a home that needs an overhaul due to its condition? Selling a house in need of repairs can be challenging. However, you can enhance its appeal with strategic staging and attract potential buyers without completing all the repairs. I will provide tips and advice on how you can accomplish your goal of selling fast without investing a ton of money: How to highlight the home's potential and minimize flaws.

Staging 131
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DOJ sends signal to industry in first commission comment since March

Inman

Statements made by a DOJ attorney during a May 21 status hearing in the Nosalek commission case offer new insights into the Justice Department's impression of the proposed NAR settlement.

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A closer look at NorthstarMLS’s path through a tricky year

Real Estate News

Minnesota’s largest multiple listing service embraces its “broker-centric, tech-forward focus” as it works through rules changes and pursues collaboration.

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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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Private equity and insurance companies piling into residential mortgages

Housing Wire

After two years of limited demand, private equity and insurance companies are increasing their allocations to single family residential mortgages. This increased flow of funds appears to be driven by strengthening macro factors that favor residential mortgages over other yield assets such as commercial real estate (CRE) and commercial (C&I) loans.

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Investors Are Putting Their Money in Build-to-Rent Homes at a Record Rate—What’s Causing the Frenzy?

Bigger Pockets

Investors are building single-family rental properties at an unprecedented rate, catering to a growing segment of renters seeking more space without the commitment of buying a home or the budget […]

Investor 130
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How commission changes could lead to transactional transparency

Inman

This journey is not without its challenges, broker Bob Mathew writes, but the rewards — enhanced transparency, consumer trust and a more competitive marketplace — are worth the effort.

MLS 186
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Movoto wants to win on tech, experiences — not ad spend

Real Estate News

CEO John Berkowitz says the home search company offers agents and consumers “a better chance of succeeding” than its deep-pocketed competitors.

Agents 257
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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.