Sat.Feb 24, 2024 - Fri.Mar 01, 2024

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Rocket to shut down origination channel for real estate and insurance agents

Housing Wire

Rocket Companies will soon shut down Rocket Pro Originate , a mortgage origination platform for real estate agents, insurance agents, tax professionals and other financial professionals who are also licensed to originate mortgages. According to a copy of an email sent to affected originators this week and reviewed by HousingWire, the Rocket Pro Originate platform — part of the company’s third-party origination channel — is to be sunset by the end of June.

Agents 516
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Why We Aren't Headed for a Housing Crash

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re holding out hope that the housing market is going to crash and bring home prices back down, here’s a look at what the data shows.

Marketing 345
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US housing market posted record-setting value growth in 2023

Inman

Despite slowing sales, the value of the U.S. housing market experienced record-breaking growth in 2023, according to Redfin's latest housing report. The total value of 90 million U.S. homes rose from $45.1 trillion in December 2022 to $47.5 trillion in December 2023 — a 5.3 percent annual difference.

Marketing 180
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Keller to buyer agents: Explain your value or ‘get the hell out’

Real Estate News

Keller Williams’ charismatic co-founder kicked off the Family Reunion event with his hot takes on the housing market “winter” and how to get through it.

Agents 345
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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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Why are there only 80,000 new homes available in the US?

Housing Wire

The homebuilders only have 80,000 completed new homes for sale — in a country of over 336 million people with more than 157 million people working. Why so low? Well, builders are in business to make money, they’re not a charity. It’s not the safest business model either because builders take a contract to buy a home and then, from start to finish, hope that mortgage rates don’t jump on the buyer by the time the home is ready.

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The First Step: Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re looking to buy a home in 2024, getting pre-approved is a key piece of the puzzle. Mortgage pre-approval means a lender checks your finances and decides how much you’re qualified to borrow.

More Trending

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A strong start to the year for new home sales

Real Estate News

Sales of new homes rose in January and inventory remained robust. Median prices were up even as some builders continue to offer buyer incentives.

Sales 297
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FHFA sets transition to new credit models for late 2025

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on Thursday that the transition to new credit score requirements is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2025, a decision commended by the mortgage industry. That’s when the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will acquire single-family loans based on the FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 credit models, replacing the Classic FICO score that has been in place for decades.

Lending 501
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The Truth About Down Payments

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re planning to buy your first home, saving up for all the costs involved can feel daunting, especially when it comes to the down payment.

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338
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Buyer agency contracts riddled with ‘unfair’ terms, CFA declares

Inman

The Consumer Federation of America, a watchdog group, examined 43 contracts from 37 states, most from state or local Realtor associations, and found practices it believes worthy of scrutiny.

Brokerage 194
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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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The housing market needs 7 million more homes

Real Estate News

A new Realtor.com report found that the housing supply gap has grown considerably over the past decade as household formation has outpaced home construction.

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Owning a condo in Florida is becoming less attractive: Redfin

Housing Wire

The cost of owning a condominium in Florida has shot up significantly in recent months, prompting a wave of homeowners to offload their properties. The cost of homeowners insurance has surged in Florida as insurance companies have grappled with significant losses due to an increase in natural disasters. The average cost of a policy increased 40% in 2023 alone, according to a report by Redfin.

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Why Today’s Housing Supply Is a Sweet Spot for Sellers

Keeping Current Matters

Wondering if it still makes sense to sell your house right now?

Marketing 351
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Gary Keller says ‘right now, real estate is in a recession’

Inman

The real estate industry took a beating in 2023 — rising mortgage rates froze home sales, consumer sentiment slid to new lows, several landmark lawsuits threatened buyer-broker commissions, and the National Association of Realtors couldn't keep itself out of trouble. Although the industry is hoping for a brighter 2024, Keller Williams co-founder Gary Keller said agents need to prepare for another round of bitter headwinds.

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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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Century 21 CEO: How to grow, even in the toughest times

Real Estate News

C21 President and CEO Mike Miedler says growth is more than numbers, it’s creating opportunities for the future — and being “ready, willing and able to grow.

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Mortgage rates hold steady at key level for now

Housing Wire

Mortgage rates have risen recently but they could be much worse than they are today. As someone who doesn’t believe the Federal Reserve has pivoted and that the Fed enacted a COVID-19 housing policy to keep existing home sales depressed, It’s not shocking to me that rates are still this high, even though we had lower rates with a higher growth rate of inflation data.

Mortgages 502
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Why You Want an Agent’s Advice for Your Move

Keeping Current Matters

No matter how you slice it, buying or selling a home is a big decision.

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331
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The Agency Seattle’s No. 1 broker realigns with Engel & Völkers

Inman

Alee Heidar is a rising star and was The Agency Seattle's No. 1 broker for the last two years. Now he and his brother, Yama Heidar, have joined Engel & Völkers Kirkland.

Brokerage 183
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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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Home price growth bucked historical norms in 2023

Real Estate News

Despite market challenges, the Case-Shiller Index was up 5.5% annually in December, exceeding national averages over the past three decades.

Marketing 258
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Mortgage rates flirt with 7% mark again

Housing Wire

Mortgage rates continued to trend up this week and dampen homebuyer momentum. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.94% as of Feb. 29, an increase from last week ’s figure of 6.90%, according to Freddie Mac ’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey released on Thursday. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed rate averaged 6.26% this week, down from 6.29% during the prior week.

Mortgages 491
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Freddie Reports Surge in Multifamily Serious Delinquencies

Calculated Risk Real Estate

This is no surprise, but still a very large monthly increase in the delinquency rate. The multifamily rate increased recently as rent growth has slowed (and rents are falling in some areas), vacancy rates have increased, and borrowing rates have increased sharply. Freddie Mac reports that the multi-family serious delinquency rate increased sharply in January to 0.44% from 0.28% in December, and up from 0.12% in January 2023.

As-is 143
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Meet a program unlike any other: Agents to list Offerpad homes

Inman

Discover Offerpad, founded by a former agent with firsthand experience, providing innovative and customized solutions for sellers and buyers nationwide for fast, convenient real estate transactions.

Agents 190
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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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Redfin targeted in new commissions suit blasting buyer agents

Real Estate News

The plaintiff, who paid a 2% commission, argues in the filing that “a truly competitive rate for buyers’ agents would in fact be 0%.

Agents 263
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Older homeowners want to age in place but are averse to extracting equity: Fannie Mae

Housing Wire

By and large, homeowners who are 60 and older love where they live and have a preference to age in place. They may also see the equity in their homes as a “financial reserve” and are generally confident in their retirement plans, but they are far less interested in employing their home equity in retirement. This is according to Doug Duncan, chief economist at Fannie Mae , in a new blog post that explores the homeownership patterns of older Americans.

Equity 486
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Navigating House Options During a Divorce

RIS Media

Divorce is not just an emotional upheaval but also a time of significant financial and legal decisions. It’s especially true when it comes to shared housing. The marital home is often more than just an asset. It’s a repository of memories and dreams. Deciding what to do with it during a divorce can be particularly… The post Navigating House Options During a Divorce appeared first on RISMedia.

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Scarce inventory, falling rates could boost home prices

Inman

In December, a Pulsenomics panel of more than 100 housing experts expected homes to appreciate by 2.4 percent in 2024. Now they're predicting prices will go up by 3.8 percent.

Mortgages 186
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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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ShowingTime+ gives Howard Hanna exclusive access to AI tool

Real Estate News

Zillow’s Listing Showcase product will be available only to Hanna agents in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh metros.

Agents 254
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HUD, VA announce $14.5M for veterans seeking permanent housing

Housing Wire

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) this week announced the awarding of more than $14.5 million that will be distributed by public housing agencies (PHAs) across the country in an effort to house veterans. The funds will be distributed by the PHAs through more than 1,400 HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers.

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Investors Are Buying a Record Share of Low-Priced Homes—What Does It Mean for the Market?

Bigger Pockets

In Q1 2023, investors bought 49% fewer homes than the year prior. Now, we're seeing a rise in investor activity again, with certain property classes more popular than others. What are investors doing, and what should you be buying?

Investor 132
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US housing market is short 7.2M single-family homes: Realtor.com

Inman

The US housing market is short 7.2 million homes, according to Realtor.com's latest housing market analysis. Nearly 18 million households have been formed over the past decade; however, only 10 million single-family homes were constructed during the same time period.

Marketing 186
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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.