Housing Wire

OCTOBER 21, 2020

The housing market faced a lot of uncertainty when COVID-19 caused the real estate industry to pause under shut-downs, but low interest rates and the desire for more space has turned this year into a boom time for real estate agents. “It’s been a circus, really,” said Anthony Lamacchia, Realtor and owner of Lamacchia Realty in the Boston suburbs. “Anything right outside of Boston is going like wildfire, but especially the single-family homes.” Even though the averag

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Keeping Current Matters

OCTOBER 19, 2020

The 2020 housing market has surpassed all expectations and continues to drive the nation’s economic recovery. The question is, will this positive trend continue throughout the rest of the year, especially given the uncertainty around the current health crisis, the upcoming election, and more? Here’s a look at what several industry-leading experts have to say.

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Realtor.com

OCTOBER 22, 2020

CatLane/iStock If you’re buying a home, choosing the right amount of home insurance for your property is key. Buy too much, and you’re wasting cash on coverage you’ll never use. Buy too little, and if a hurricane, hailstorm, or other disaster strikes your home, your insurance might not cover the costs to fix the damage—which means you’ll be paying out of your own pocket.

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RIS Media

OCTOBER 19, 2020

The streak of record-shattering home sales stretched to three months in September, as closings rose 21.1 percent from a year ago. On average, homes sold in a mere 39 days—a full week faster than in September 2019. Meanwhile, inventory plummeted 31.9 percent year-over-year as the number of homes on the market dropped to an all-time low in the 13-year history of the report.

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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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Housing Wire

OCTOBER 19, 2020

The U.S. forbearance rate measuring the share of mortgages with suspended payments fell to 5.92% last week, the lowest since mid-April, according to the Mortgage Banker Association. The rate dropped from 6.32% in the prior week, MBA said in a report on Monday. The decline was largely led by portfolio loans and private-label securities as their share of mortgages in forbearance fell to 8.86% from 10.06% the week prior.

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Keeping Current Matters

OCTOBER 23, 2020

Some Highlights. Demand from homebuyers has skyrocketed this year, which means today’s sellers are poised to win big. This ideal moment in time to sell your house won’t last forever, though. With more sellers coming to the market in the spring, waiting until next year means buyers will have more choices, so your home may not stand out from the crowd.

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Coldwell Banker

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Since lockdown, our kitchens have seen more use than ever, whether that’s more cooked meals to pass the time or doubling up as a home office. Even as restrictions continue to change amidst the current ‘new norm’, it’s expected that our attitude towards kitchen interior design will be forever changed with more emphasis on hygiene, flexibility and storage.

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Housing Wire

OCTOBER 21, 2020

Major forbearance policy changes have been set into motion. The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on Tuesday an extension allowing single-family homeowners with Federal Housing Administration -insured mortgages to request an initial forbearance through Dec 31, 2020. Homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages that needed assistance due to financial hardship from the pandemic initially had through Oct. 30 to request forbearance.

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Keeping Current Matters

OCTOBER 22, 2020

As we enter the final months of 2020 and continue to work through the challenges this year has brought, some of us wonder what impact continued economic uncertainty could have on home prices. Looking at the big picture, the rules of supply and demand will give us the clearest idea of what is to come. Due to the undersupply of homes on the market today, there’s upward pressure on prices.

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Realtor.com

OCTOBER 19, 2020

phototechno/Getty Images When the coronavirus pandemic gutted the strongest U.S. economy, many assumed another recession would bring rock-bottom home prices along with it. Instead, home prices defied logical assumptions—and soared to new heights. Paradoxically enough, one of the biggest drivers of the double-digit price hikes is the very same record-low mortgage interest rates that put homeownership within reach for the masses.

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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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Eye on Housing

OCTOBER 23, 2020

With the recent increases in the price of many residential construction materials, and in particular softwood lumber, NAHB wanted to get a better understanding of how these price increases are impacting remodelers. In the Q3 2020 Remodeling Market Index (RMI), remodelers were asked to report on material shortages, if any, as well as material price changes over the last six.

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Housing Wire

OCTOBER 22, 2020

The NAR existing home sales report released today blew out all estimates with 6,540,000 in existing home sales. This epic headline punctured any bubbles the 2020 bubble boys had left in their arsenal. But before we get too excited, keep in mind we are still down 0.2% year to date compared to 2019 levels. Still, this seems like a booming housing market, right?

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Keeping Current Matters

OCTOBER 20, 2020

The September Jobs Report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate dropped to 7.9%. Though that percentage is well below what experts projected earlier this year, it still means millions of people are without work. There’s no way to minimize the tremendous impact this pandemic-induced recession continues to have on many Americans.

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Realtor.com

OCTOBER 20, 2020

bruev/Getty Images Home sellers know that a tidy, tasteful home will catch any buyer’s eye. That’s why many people put effort into fixing up—and even staging—the interior of their home before putting it on the market and hosting open houses. But did you know that an unkempt exterior could deter potential buyers from even setting foot in the door?

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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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Eye on Housing

OCTOBER 20, 2020

Single-family starts experienced continued gains in September, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Census Bureau. Contrasting the different subsectors of housing, while single-family permits are showing continued strength, multifamily permits continue to weaken as a consequence of the 2020 virus crisis.

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Development 130

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 22, 2020

The average U.S. mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan fell to 2.8% this week, another record low, Freddie Mac said in a report on Thursday. The rate fell one basis points from the week prior and is now six basis points lower than the original all-time low set in mid-September. The average fixed rate for a 15-year mortgage was 2.33%, falling from last week’s 2.35%.

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Keeping Current Matters

OCTOBER 21, 2020

Many housing experts originally voiced concern that the mortgage forbearance program (which allows families impacted financially by COVID to delay mortgage payments to a later date) could lead to an increase in foreclosures when forbearances end. Some originally forecasted that up to 30% of homeowners would choose to enter forbearance. Less than 10% actually did, and that percentage has been dropping steadily.

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The Mortgage Report

OCTOBER 21, 2020

If you can make lenders compete for your mortgage, you can lower your interest rate and get the best deal on your home loan and closing costs. Here's how.

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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.

Sales

RIS Media

OCTOBER 22, 2020

As the real estate market continues its hot streak, homes are selling faster and receiving more offers than ever before. With listings receiving multiple offers, you have to make your client’s offer be the one that stands out. Keller Williams real estate maverick, Alexis Bolin, joined us this week on a Secrets of Top Selling Agents webinar to discuss what you can do to navigate a hot market and distinguish your client’s offer from the others.

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Housing Wire

OCTOBER 23, 2020

In the third quarter, luxury home sales jumped 41.5% , the biggest year-over-year shift since 2013, according to Redfin. And while real estate agents repping luxury homes aren’t seeing as many bidding wars as they did this summer , their respective housing markets are still crazy right now. “What we’re seeing here in Palm Beach is a total frenzy,” Dana Koch, a sales associate with Corcoran Group , the Koch Team in Palm Beach, told HousingWire.

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The American Genius for Real Estate

OCTOBER 21, 2020

(PRODUCTIVITY) As the old method of pen-to-paper planning comes back in style, see how its use can help with time management. The post How calendars can stop your procrastination, boost productivity appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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Realtor.com

OCTOBER 23, 2020

realtor.com If you’re itching to become an entrepreneur, make your way to the hills of West Virginia. We’ve found a listing for a buyer looking to break into the business world in one fell swoop. A 5.43-acre spread offers a roller-skating rink, a birthday-party venue, a haunted house, and assisted-living apartments, all under one roof. Oh, and there are owners’ quarters, so you can keep a close eye on your investment.

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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.

Brokerage

Agent Drive

OCTOBER 21, 2020

In 2020, content marketing will dominate the real estate marketing landscape. High-quality, informative and interesting content will remain the best way to generate and nurture online leads and establish a strong digital presence. If you’re looking to take your real estate content marketing efforts up a notch, your journey starts here. This is why a […].

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Marketing 124

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Sales of existing homes took off in September, jumping 9.4% from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.54 million, the National Association of Realtors said in a report on Thursday. Compared to a year ago, sales are up 20.9%. “Home sales traditionally taper off toward the end of the year, but in September they surged beyond what we normally see during this season,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

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The Mortgage Report

OCTOBER 22, 2020

If you want to build your own home, you'll likely need a construction loan. Learn how construction loans work and why they're different from mortgages.

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Realtor.com

OCTOBER 20, 2020

Cindy Ord/Getty Images, realtor.com Radio shock-jock Anthony Cumia has listed his shockingly nice home in Roslyn Heights, NY, for $3.1 million. The controversial radio personality, a native of Queens, purchased the Long Island abode in 2006 for $2.9 million. Cumia built an acoustic studio at his residence and began broadcasting from the home from 2012 until 2015.

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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.

Agents

Jason Fox

OCTOBER 21, 2020

Top 3 Changes in SEO that Real Estate Agents Need to Look Out for in 2021. Search engine optimization (SEO) has gone through a lot of changes over the years, and we're only going to see more throughout the new year. From creating content for the user to bracing for Google's big algorithm updates, Real Estate Agents and Brokers have had to adapt in many ways to account for the evolution.

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Housing Wire

OCTOBER 20, 2020

The leaders of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sat down with Mortgage Bankers Association Chair-elect Kristy Fercho on Tuesday at the MBA Annual conference to discuss how the GSEs have managed the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Freddie Mac’s David Brickman and Fannie Mae’s Hugh Frater also offered their takes on challenges with affordable housing, racial disparities with homeownership, expectations for 2021 and – yes, you knew it was coming – the 50 bps adverse market fee that’s due to hit lenders do

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Fancy Pants Homes

OCTOBER 23, 2020

Canadian ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky is looking for a buyer for his sprawling Colonial Revival-style estate in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The gated (and highly private) compound has 13,000 square feet of luxury living space spread across a 6-bed, 8-bath main house and two guest houses, which Gretzky and his wife, Janet, are hoping will fetch them $22.9 million.

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Realtor.com

OCTOBER 21, 2020

Julie Migliacci First-time home buyers have it harder today than ever. Caught between high real estate prices, low housing inventory, and a pandemic that has many of us nervous about leaving our house, home shoppers might be wondering: Is it even possible to buy right now—and how? If you’re curious about what it takes to purchase property in today’s marketplace, look no further than this new series, “ First-Time Home Buyer Confessions.” We’ll profile home buyers who

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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.

Agents