Sat.Oct 24, 2020 - Fri.Oct 30, 2020

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Redfin faces lawsuit claiming it favors white neighborhoods

Housing Wire

The National Fair Housing Alliance and nine other housing organizations filed a lawsuit against Redfin on Wednesday, accusing the online brokerage of racial discrimination and favoritism toward predominately white neighborhoods. “Redfin redlines communities of color in this digital age by setting minimum home listing prices in each housing market on its website under which it will not offer any real estate brokerage services to buyers or sellers,” the lawsuit states.

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How Down Payment Assistance Opens the Door to Homeownership

Keeping Current Matters

Many people are eager to buy a home right now while affordability continues to be a highlight of the current housing market. However, a recent survey by Sparks Research shows that 20% of first-time homebuyers cite a lack of financial education as a barrier to homeownership. This is definitely understandable. If you don’t feel comfortable with the financial process of buying a home, it’s hard to make a confident decision.

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9 Comics That Show What It’s Like Being a Real Estate Agent

Lighter Side of Real Estate

Agents: Share articles like these with your branding on them. Learn More. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Members: Sign in here to share this article with your branding. Sign in here. Not a member? Seriously? Learn how you can share articles like this one with your branding. Learn more. The post 9 Comics That Show What It’s Like Being a Real Estate Agent appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

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Home Price Appreciation Accelerates in August

Eye on Housing

In August, home price appreciation accelerated in major markets across the nation. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, reported by S&P Dow Jones Indices, rose at a seasonally adjusted annual growth rate of 12.1% in August, faster than an 8.9% increase in July. It marks the highest annual growth rate since April 2013.

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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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Is 2021 a good time to buy a house?

Housing Wire

This year’s housing market has been plagued with low inventory, rising home prices, and endless bidding wars, making it hard for some would-be homeowners to get their foot in the door. Will 2021 be any different? Or, will it be a good time to buy a home? If you’ve been eyeing a home purchase but have sat out due to 2020’s competitive market (not to mention the other challenges the year has come with), you might be wondering just that.

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Should I Renovate My House Before I Sell It? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights. In today’s hyper-competitive market, buyers are often willing to overlook cosmetic or minor repair needs if it means snagging a home in their price range. With so few houses available for sale today, you may be able to skip the bigger renovations before you sell and cash in on the current demand for your house. If you’re ready to move, reach out to a local real estate professional to determine your best next steps in this sellers’ market.

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Renting an Apartment for the First Time

Point2Homes

Image: Antonio Guillem / Shutterstock.com. If you’re considering moving out of your parent’s home and into your first apartment, you’re probably pumped. Renting an apartment for the first time can be an exciting experience. Suddenly, you have the freedom to do what you want and create a living space that’s just right for your needs. But, of course, renting does come with some downsides — like having to pay your own bills.

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Holy smokes — new home sales are up 32.1% year over year

Housing Wire

The one economic sector that has blown away my estimates this year has been the new home sales market. I predicted peak year-to-date growth of 4.7% but this was before COVID-19, which temporarily crushed bond yields and mortgage rates. This sector is very sensitive to yields in both a positive and negative direction. When mortgage rates got to 4.75% -5% in 2018, demand fell and inventory for new homes went up.

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Two Important Impacts of Home Equity

Keeping Current Matters

Equity continues to rise, helping American homeowners secure a much more stable financial future. According to the most recent data from CoreLogic , the average homeowner gained $9,800 in equity over the past year. In addition, experts project 2020 home prices to continue rising. With prices going up, equity gains will also keep accelerating. Black Knight just reported : “The annual percent change in the overall median existing single-family-home price has skyrocketed in the past several months,

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Kiss Frontman Gene Simmons Selling His Rock Star Estate for $22M in Beverly Hills

Realtor.com

Christopher Amitrano, Kevin Winter/Getty Images Kiss frontman Gene Simmons is ready to part with his Beverly Hills home of nearly 35 years. On the market for the first time ever, the palatial estate can be yours for $22 million. Josh and Matt Altman of Douglas Elliman hold the listing. Fans of the rock legend may recall that the one-of-a-kind abode was the setting for the singer’s reality TV show “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” which ran on the A&E network from 2006 until 2012.

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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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What is a Townhouse: The Guide to Townhouses

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Townhouses Are you thinking about buying a townhouse? Townhouses are once again becoming popular with homebuyers. The increased popularity is thanks to buyers looking for low-maintenance homes, close to amenities that they can walk to, and offer better value. Lots of folks choose to purchase a townhouse as a second […].

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Home price index sees greatest gain in over 2 years

Housing Wire

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index of home prices in 19* U.S. cities rose 5.7% in August from a year ago, the greatest year-over-year gain since 2018, driven unsurprisingly by tightened supply amid record-low interest rates. The August increase was larger than the 4.8% advance the month prior, and the largest annual gain since July 2018, when rates sat closer to 4.52%.

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Buyer Interest Is Growing among Younger Generations

Keeping Current Matters

The demand for homes this year is extraordinary as record-breaking numbers of hopeful buyers continue to shop for homes. In a normal year, the peak homebuying season comes to a close by early fall. However, 2020 is anything but a normal year, and the housing market is no exception. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains : “ Home sales traditionally taper off toward the end of the year, but in September they surged beyond what we normally see during

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Restored by an Acclaimed Artist, Woolworth Mansion in Scranton Is a Work of Art

Realtor.com

Jack Kirby A historically significant house has been brought into the 21st century with artistic flair, thanks to a world-renowned painter. The neoexpressionist painter Hunt Slonem is selling the stately Woolworth Mansion on Jefferson Avenue in Scranton, PA, for $1.35 million. He bought the property in 2015 for $295,000, and has spent the last five years restoring it.

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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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Buying Your First House: Tips For Buyers

RIS Media

When taking on any new project, the more you know and understand, the better things are likely to go. The same is true when buying a home for the first time. With our first-time buyer tips, you should be able to avoid many of the problems that can prevent your purchase from going well. Let’s take a look at some of the key things to consider before you jump into the real estate market and buy your first house.

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Protected: A home shopper’s guide to navigating a competitive market

Housing Wire

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: A home shopper’s guide to navigating a competitive market appeared first on HousingWire.

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Three Ways Low Inventory Is a Win for Sellers

Keeping Current Matters

The number of houses for sale today is significantly lower than the high buyer activity in the current housing market. According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors ( NAR ): “There is no shortage of hopeful, potential buyers, but inventory is historically low.” When the demand for homes is higher than what’s available for sale, it’s a great time for homeowners to sell their house.

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Homeownership During the Third Quarter: Technical Issues

Eye on Housing

The Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey (CPS/HVS) reported the U.S. homeownership rate declined to 67.4% in the third quarter of 2020, from 67.9% in the prior quarter. The elevated homeownership rates are line with increases in both existing and new home sales in the second quarter. The national rental vacancy rate increased, while the homeowner vacancy rate remained unchanged.

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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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Closing on a House Checklist: 6 Things Home Buyers Must Do Before They Move In

Realtor.com

When you’re a first-time home buyer approaching the finish line in the journey to your new home, you want nothing to go wrong, right? That’s why we’ve put together a home closing checklist, which outlines your action points in those few days leading up to settlement. Keep this closing process list handy to know you’ve done what you need to in order to close the deal. 1.

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Refis lead the way as mortgage applications rise 1.7%

Housing Wire

After two weeks of slight declines , mortgage applications regained their footing last week, rising 1.7% from the week prior, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The refinance index led the rebound after it gained 3% from the previous week, however, according to Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, refinance activity has been somewhat volatile over the past few months.

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A definition of the term Starter Home and why no one should use it

The American Genius for Real Estate

(HOMEOWNERSHIP) You see the term in the MLS for fixer uppers. You hear it when Realtors are working with first time buyers. But the term "starter home" shouldn't be in anyone's vocabulary. The post A definition of the term Starter Home and why no one should use it appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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Low Mortgage Rates Continue to Convert Passive Buyers into Active Buyers

Eye on Housing

Of the 13% of American adults considering a future home purchase in the third quarter of 2020, 50% have moved beyond planning and are actively trying to find one to buy. That is a solid gain from the comparable figure a year ago (44%), which suggests that the COVID-19 crisis and its accompanying record-low mortgage rates continue to convert some. Read More › The post Low Mortgage Rates Continue to Convert Passive Buyers into Active Buyers first appeared on Eye On Housing.

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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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9 Surprising Things Home Insurance Doesn’t Cover: Do You Know Them All?

Realtor.com

tiero / Getty Images Whether your home is hit by lightning, hail, or some other calamity, you’ll be awfully glad you have a home insurance policy in place to help foot the cost of repairs. Yet while homeowner insurance typically covers a variety of common hazards that can befall your home, don’t get too confident, because it may not cover every mishap that may come your way.

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Is now a good time to sell a home?

Housing Wire

As news of rising home prices spreads, more and more homeowners consider selling their properties. . After all, higher home prices mean bigger profits, right? Unfortunately, home prices aren’t the only thing you’ll want to think about before listing your home—especially amid a pandemic. If you’re considering selling your home in the current environment, here’s what you’ll want to factor in: Buyer demand: Do people want to buy your home?

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#282: The Smart Way to Start a Side Hustle, with Alan Donegan

Afford Anything

Has the economic uncertainty of 2020 made you think about creating your own stream of income? Has the turmoil of 2020 also caused you to feel so overwhelmed that you bought a plot of sand in which you bury your head on a daily basis? We get it. It’s normal to feel paralyzed by everything you need to do before you get your side hustle off the ground.

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Some Buyers Perceive an Improvement in Housing Affordability

Eye on Housing

For some home buyers, housing affordability improved in the last 12 months. According to the Housing Trends Report for the third quarter of 2020, 27% of buyers report being able to afford half or more of the homes available for-sale in their markets. A year earlier, that share was 20%. The increase is an indication that lower mortgage rates have. Read More › The post Some Buyers Perceive an Improvement in Housing Affordability first appeared on Eye On Housing.

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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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What Does Home Insurance Cover? The Facts on Fire, Flooding, and More

Realtor.com

ChristinLola / Getty Images Few things give new home buyers peace of mind about their real estate purchase as much as a solid home insurance policy. This ensures that if disaster strikes—in the form of a tornado, house fire, or otherwise—homeowners won’t be on the hook to foot the bill for expensive repairs on their own. Exactly what does home insurance cover, though?

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Here are the top 15 cities where Gen Z wants to buy a home

Housing Wire

Gen Zers are finally starting to break into the housing market. According to TransUnion, Gen Z mortgage originations jumped 84% at the end of last year, and if recent survey data from Freddie Mac rings true, those numbers should grow substantially over the coming years. . The GSE’s Generation Z Study shows that of Gen Zers — the cohort ranging in age from 8 to 23 — a whopping 89% plan to buy a home by age 30. .

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Best Upgrades for Your Rental Property

Realty Biz

A beautiful, well-maintained property is paramount to securing a potential renter. If you’re searching for high-quality renters, there are a few simple ways you can attract them. Here are some of the best upgrades for your rental property. By making these changes, your property is sure to catch people’s attention. Upgrade Amenities. Upgrading to high-quality, efficient appliances won’t just save your tenants money, but it’ll save you money, too.

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Expectations for Housing Availability Improve

Eye on Housing

Strong new and existing home sales in the summer of 2020 may have been a factor contributing to buyers’ improved expectations for housing availability. According to the latest Housing Trends Report**, 28% of prospective buyers in the third quarter of 2020 expect their search for a home to become easier in the months ahead, while 61% percent expect it will.

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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.