Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that he wants to eliminate property taxes in the state. In a post on X, the governor said that taxing land/property “is the more oppressive and ineffective” form of taxation. “Property taxes are local, not state. So wed need to do a constitutional amendment (requires 60% of voters to approve) to eliminate them (which I would support) or even to reform/lower them We should put the boldest amendment on the ballot that has a chance of getting that 60

Land 526

Land Sales As-is 526

Real Estate News

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

The new analysis was done by Zillow, whose CEO said private listings come at the expense of the seller and are an attempt by some brokerages to double dip.

MLS 320

MLS Brokerage 320

Keeping Current Matters

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

There’s no denying affordability is tough right now.

275

275

Inman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Climate change has shaken up the U.S. real estate market, with buyers no longer simply seeking better quality of life or affordable housing but also considering climate risks before purchases.

Marketing 174

Marketing 174

Advertisement

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.

Development

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

Home price appreciation across the country is barely positive compared to last year at this time. Depending on how you measure it, home prices are about 2% higher on average across the country than last year at this time. Late last year, prices were about 4% to 5% above last year. Now, were looking at 2%. The question worth asking now, is what happens the rest of this spring.

Sales 447

Sales Marketing Mortgages As-is 447

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 8, 2025

Another jobs week has come to an end, and amid the chaotic headlines about job numbers, tariffs , and the leadership of the Treasury , mortgage rates remained calm. Better mortgage spreads are limiting how high rates can rise in 2025. This situation contrasts with the challenges the market faced in 2023, during the banking crisis when the Federal Reserve was still raising rates.

Mortgages 489

Mortgages Banks As-is Sales 489

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Financial advisers are professionals uniquely suited to assist their clients with assessing and managing health care costs in retirement. But consumers who have access to a planners services do not appear to be better informed about the associated costs than people who do not use an adviser, according to a new research brief from Boston College s Center for Retirement Research.

Investor 428

Investor As-is 428

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

The current environment of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is evolving. There is constant movement in the mortgage industry with the desire for growth and expansion. It is easy to become blinded by the end goal of increasing loan volume and quality origination talent. Thus, it has never been more important to focus on due diligence in analyzing a mortgage industry acquisition target.

Due diligence 417

Due diligence Purchase and sale agreement Industrial Mortgages 417

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Officials with the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) are reportedly moving to aggressively cut costs, following a leadership change and audit of its financial situation. The agencys new chief financial officer reportedly identified as much as $2.8 million in misappropriated federal funds that he said were used inappropriately by his predecessors.

Bankruptcy 393

Bankruptcy Finance Development As-is 393

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Recent natural disasters such as the LA wildfires show that climate change risks can shift the real estate and mortgage industries on a dime. And these changes could be extremely costly. According to a new study, climate-induced shifts could significantly lower property values over time. But this could have a double-edged effect, depending on the market.

As-is 397

As-is Marketing Industrial Mortgages 397

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.

Industrial

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

In this week’s episode of the RealTrending podcast , host Tracey Velt traveled to the REengage Winter Conference to speak with Illinois Realtors CEO Jeff Baker and president Tommy Choi. During the conversation, the group discuss real estate market challenges, the value of being a part of an association, and growth areas for associations in 2025.

Marketing 434

Marketing Industrial Agents As-is 434

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Authorities in California on Friday arrested a driver who has three prior convictions for her alleged role in the death of an 88-year-old man. A crash involving a Land Rover SUV and a Ford Transit van happened in the Laguna Beach area at about 6:15 p.m. local time on Jan. 31, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD). The Land Rover driver was identified as 48-year-old Dana Point resident Serene Francie Rosenberg, known as Serene Vernon in her workplace as the president of

Land 416

Land Lending Mortgages As-is 416

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

While the share of first-time homebuyers has declined across the country, Black homebuyers are bucking the trend and showing resilience in an increasingly difficult housing market. A recent Zillow survey found that 62% of all Black homebuyers in 2024 were first-timers, the same level as the previous year. In contrast, first-time buyers accounted for only 44% of the market, down from 50% in 2023.

Lending 353

Lending Marketing Closing As-is 353

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Today, the Census Bureau reported the homeownership rate at 65.7%. Are we becoming a renter nation like many people are saying? Lets look at the data. Household formation Let’s first talk about household formation. I have a simple model (even more appropriate before Valentines Day). My American housing demographic model shows that Americans: Rent Date Mate Get married 3.5 years after marriage, we have kids and dual-income households buy bigger homes to live in.

Loans 394

Loans Mortgages Marketing As-is 394

Advertisement

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.

Agents

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

The labor market is showing signs of softness but is not breaking down yet, which has kept mortgage rates higher for longer. Since 2022, my guiding principle has been that the labor market is more important than inflation in determining mortgage rates. For those seeking lower mortgage rates, it’s more essential to see the labor market breaking than to just see improvements in inflation.

Mortgages 441

Mortgages Marketing Residential Construction 441

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Redfin has announced yet another round of layoffs. According to a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Tuesday evening, Redfin will be cutting 450 employees from its rental division. This announcement came just hours after Zillow announced a syndication deal with Redfin for its rental listings on its Q4 2024 earnings call with investors.

Investor 420

Investor As-is Marketing Brokerage 420

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

The combined cost of mortgages, taxes and insurance now takes up a larger share of household income than it has since the early 1980s, according to an affordability index from John Burns Research & Consulting. The company’s newest National Housing Market Outlook shows that buyers are gravitating toward government-backed loans in their search for affordability.

Debt-to-income ratio 380

Debt-to-income ratio Loans VA loan FHA loan 380

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Our economy faces many challenges persistent high mortgage interest rates , a declining rate of existing home sales, elevated costs for basic goods and services, labor market imbalances, and rising health care costs to name just a few. As a new Administration takes over, dozens of policy prescriptions are being discussed that aim to unshackle the greatest economy in the world.

Lending 387

Lending Development Banks Loans 387

Advertisement

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

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Nearly 90% of U.S. metropolitan areas analyzed experienced annualized home-price gains in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to data published Thursday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR found that 201 of 226 metro areas (89%) saw sale prices for single-family homes rise on a yearly basis in Q4 2024, up from 87% in the prior quarter.

Mortgages 409

Mortgages Marketing Sales 409

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Mortgage applications increased 2.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis from last week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending January 31, 2025. On an unadjusted basis, the index measuring applications increased 19% compared with the previous week. The refinance index increased 12% from the previous week and was 17% higher compared to the same week one year ago.

Fixed-rate mortgage 346

Fixed-rate mortgage Loans Mortgages FHA loan 346

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Homeowners in California with an insurance policy from State Farm could see a 22% rate hike. The insurer sent a letter to the California Department of Insurance on Monday that described its dire financial situation due to the wildfires in Los Angeles County and a request for an emergency insurance rate hike. In addition to the 22% rate hike for owners of single-family homes, State Farm is also requesting an emergency rate hike of 15% for condominium owners and a 38% rate hike for rental homes.

Commercial 439

Commercial As-is Marketing 439

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

High interest rates and home prices are causing some prospective homebuyers to avoid applying for a mortgage. But despite this trend, some buyers are willing to adjust their loan term expectations to achieve homeownership, according to a recent report by real estate technology company REsimpli. REsimpli questioned 1,200 respondents who had plans to buy or upgrade a home this year.

Mortgages 359

Mortgages Renovation Technology Sales 359

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

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

New data released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) revealed that the delinquency rate for mortgages on one- to four-unit residential properties increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.98% of all loans outstanding at the end of 2024. The national delinquency rate was up 6 basis points (bps) from Q3 2024 and up 10 bps from one year ago.

VA loan 390

VA loan FHA loan Debt-to-income ratio Loans 390

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

The hits keep coming for now-defunct residential sale-leaseback platform EasyKnock. After the company failed to have new council file an appearance, the court dismissed EasyKnocks defamation lawsuit against law firm Feldman & Feldman last Monday. Originally filed by EasyKnock in Nov. 2021 in federal court in Houston, the suit accused Feldman & Feldman of defaming EasyKnock in a post the law firm made on its website cautioning consumers to scrutinize the companys transactions with financi

Lending 389

Lending Equity Investor Residential 389

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Homeowners have noted for some time that property taxes have risen precipitously, and this has the potential to heavily impact people living on a fixed income. But certain tax deferral options available to seniors and veterans should be employed if necessary, according to a Tennessee county official who spoke with a local radio station in Rutherford County.

Mortgages 421

Mortgages Staging Equity Loans 421

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Real estate thank you notes are an easy, underutilized tool in the real estate world. With so many aspects of our lives and businesses going virtual, a snail mail thank you note is more impactful and memorable than ever before. It adds a personal touch and makes me stand out from all the other agents out there. Ive used thank you notes in my business for over a decade and even received referrals from people Ive met at networking events because they were so impressed by my immediate follow-up not

Agents 340

Agents Closing As-is Land 340

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

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Rithm Capital , which owns multichannel mortgage lender Newrez , built upon its success in 2023 with net income of $835 million in 2024. That figure represented a 57% increase from its profit of $533 million a year earlier. In its fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings report released Thursday, New York-based Rithm posted GAAP net income of $263.2 million in the final three months of the year.

Loans 398

Loans Equity Principal Mortgages 398

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

A majority of agents believe 2025 is going to be a great year for the housing market. Around 85% have an optimistic outlook , and 70% believe the market will be more stable, according to a new survey from Clever Real Estate. Although agents are split on whether its going to be a buyers or a sellers market, 87% predict that demand will remain very strong over the next year.

Agents 346

Agents Construction As-is Banks 346

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Whether you grew up dreaming of a career in real estate or journeyed into it, it’s important to prepare yourself for the challenges of this career. I happen to be one of the kids who actually dreamed of working in real estate. My grandfather was a builder and owned and managed several properties himself. As a young girl, I would sit at his desk with pens, paper, and Post-it notes, pretending to run the business.

Branding 354

Branding Agents Investor As-is 354

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

RedKey Realty Leaders , an independent agency based in St. Louis , recently announced a major expansion move. The company added Circa Properties , another boutique brokerage with a strong local presence, but the merger is more about alignment than anything else, according to RedKey leaders. RedKey Realty is the top independent real estate agency in St.

Brokerage 357

Brokerage Agents Development Sales 357

Advertisement

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