March, 2025

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Home sellers who didn’t list on the MLS lost $1B in sale proceeds: Zillow

Housing Wire

Home sellers who did not list their properties on the MLS lost out on more than $1 billion in sale proceeds over the past two years, according to a study published Monday by Zillow. The study also found that these losses were deepest in communities of color. Zillow defined communities of color as ZIP codes where a majority of households are headed by Blacks , Hispanics , Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders or Native Americans.

MLS 501
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No, homeowner delinquency rates aren’t elevated

Housing Wire

Homeowner delinquency rates are rising from record low levels but arent even back to pre-COVID-19 levels yet. This weekend, there has been a lot of discussion on social media surrounding homeowners’ delinquency data. This situation has prompted me to write this article and bring some reality into this discussion because the narrative being pushed is simply not true.

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Lower mortgage rates spark housing demand heading into spring

Housing Wire

Earlier this year, when mortgage rates soared to 7.26%, a cloud of worry hung over the housing market many feared that home sales would tumble in 2025, fueled by concerns about inflation and tariffs. But when it seemed doom and gloom would prevail, the 10-year yield dropped, pulling mortgage rates lower in a lovely slow dance. This unexpected turn of events breathed new life into the market, pushing purchase application data into positive territory for the year.

Mortgages 536
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Rocket Companies to acquire Mr. Cooper in bombshell $9.4B deal

Housing Wire

Rocket Companies is buying Mr. Cooper , America’s largest mortgage servicer, in a market-shattering deal that could reshape the mortgage industry for years to come. The Detroit-based fintech , which is also in the midst of acquiring real estate brokerage and home search portal Redfin for $1.75 billion , is paying an equity value of $9.4 billion in stock, the companies said in a statement early Monday morning.

Finance 468
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The 2025 Real Estate Roadmap to Success

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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Pulte makes sweeping changes to boards of GSEs

Housing Wire

Not wasting any time following his Senate confirmation last week, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte made a series of major changes to the boards of government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The news was first reported by Inside Mortgage Finance.

Finance 511

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Lowest mortgage rates in months create surge in applications

Housing Wire

Mortgage applications increased 20.4% from one week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis as buyers pounced on lower rates , according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending Feb. 28, 2025. On an unadjusted basis, applications increased 22% compared with the previous week. The refinance index increased 37% from the previous week and was 83% higher than the same week one year ago.

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Mortgage rates have dropped sharply. How will borrowers respond?

Housing Wire

March figures to be a crucial month for gauging consumer interest in the 2025 housing market. The pace of home sales remains near a 30-year low point as home prices and mortgage rates keep potential borrowers in wait-and-see mode. But mortgage rates have posted an unusually large decline in the past week. On Tuesday, HousingWires Mortgage Rates Center showed that the average 30-year conforming rate was 6.89%, down 12 basis points (bps) from a week ago.

Mortgages 484
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Stone Point Capital takes a stake in Keller Williams

Housing Wire

Keller Williams has entered into a strategic partnership with private equity firm Stone Point Capital , according to an announcement on Monday. Stone Point is no stranger to the real estate industry, as it also holds strategic investments in Lone Wolf Technologies , Homepoint , CoreLogic and Meridian. This is an exciting milestone for all Keller Williams agents and franchisees, Gary Keller, the co-founder and executive chairman of Keller Williams, said in a prepared statement.

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What’s keeping homebuilders from large-scale layoffs?

Housing Wire

Todays new construction report from the Census Bureau showed month-to-month growth in housing starts, but falling housing permits. Both of these data lines are currently still at the levels we saw in the early part of the COVID-19 recession. However, employment for residential construction workers hasnt fallen at all, even with the decline in housing starts and permits.

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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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The intensifying rental market: Why agents must be prepared

Housing Wire

The U.S. rental market has become more competitive than ever, driven by a combination of rising demand, limited availability due to a lack of new rental housing supply, and regional economic pressures. As affordability challenges push more people into renting the average age of first-time homebuyers has moved up to an all-time high of 38 years real estate professionals must stay ahead of market trends and equip themselves with the right knowledge and tools to navigate and command this evolving

Agents 416
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Will home prices fall in 2025 with more inventory?

Housing Wire

Fluctuating interest rates have been a feature of the housing market over the last three years. As mortgage rates rose, homebuyer demand slowed and inventory grew. In 2025, mortgage rates have stayed stubbornly high for yet another spring buying season. Today, home sales still remain super slow. Our 2025 housing market predictions are based on the assumption that lower mortgage rates will spur demand and boost the number of homes sales transactions.

Mortgages 428
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Sell more homes: 17 home staging tips for real estate agents

Housing Wire

If you thought winning a listing was challenging, just wait until you have to start telling a homeowner what to do with their home in order to sell it quickly. Home staging is your chance to transform a property into a home that buyers cant wait to get their hands on. Homeowners can be reluctant to make some of these changes, but its your job to guide them through the process.

Staging 428
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Survey: Nearly 90% of homeowners are worried about selling

Housing Wire

A large majority of homeowners (88%) have concerns about selling their homes, with financial uncertainty and housing market conditions ranking among their top fears, according to a recent survey by Clever Real Estate. The survey , which polled 1,000 homeowners at the end of 2024, found that the most common concerns include the stress of the sale (42%), the high costs of selling (40%), the inability to afford a new home (32%) and not selling for a high enough price (32%).

Marketing 492
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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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Rocket Companies announces deal to acquire Redfin for $1.75 billion

Housing Wire

Today, Rocket Companies announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase digital real estate brokerage Redfin in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.75 billion in equity. The deal, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both Rocket Companies and Redfin, is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2025. Rocket’s press release stated that Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman will continue to lead the Redfin business, reporting to Rocket Companies CEO Varun Krishna.

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What went wrong at Redfin?

Housing Wire

Glenn Kelman seemed unusually down. The Redfin CEOs playful demeanor and quotable banter was notably absent on the companys fourth-quarter 2024 earnings call at the end of February. There could have been many innocuous reasons for sounding a bit deflated not enough sleep or a bad day at work. But in light of Redfins blockbuster sale to Rocket Mortgage that was announced less than two weeks later, hindsight dictates that Kelman may have known that the end of independence was coming for the compa

Brokerage 395
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Home price signals continue to weaken for 2025

Housing Wire

There are three big trends in the spring 2025 housing market: Supply continues to build. This is measurable in both the total unsold inventory and the number of new listings each week. Because each week we have 815% more sellers than last year, the total inventory will continue to build unless and until demand shifts dramatically, which would require notably lower mortgage rates.

Sales 362
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2025 labor market holds key for mortgage rates

Housing Wire

Labor over inflation has been my mantra since late 2022. Today, the BLS jobs report showed that the labor market is getting softer, but it’s not breaking. This gives us a glimpse of what may happen over the next 10 months for mortgage rates, especially since, since Jan. 14, we’ve seen them move lower. However, there is a limit to the downside on mortgage rates until the labor market breaks, or we get more than 1% rate cuts from the Fed.

Mortgages 439
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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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Have lower mortgage rates boosted housing demand yet?

Housing Wire

Mortgage rates are declining, and recent purchase application data shows a promising 9% week-to-week increase and a 2% rise compared to the previous year. Does this indicate that the housing market is beginning to wake up just in time for spring? While I wouldn’t say we’re experiencing a full revival just yet, the latest data suggests a stabilization.

Mortgages 451
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What comes next for remote online notarization oversight?

Housing Wire

Remote online notarization (RON) continues to stake its claim as a critical innovation for real estate professionals and homebuyers, opening the door for faster closings and largely eliminating the need for in-person meetings. However, enhanced accessibility and improved security has also come with regulatory challenges and risks that every stakeholder in the property transaction process must navigate.

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Disaster recovery for mortgage servicers: Navigating crisis with compliance & resilience

Housing Wire

Lessons from California wildfires and other natural disasters Californias wildfires highlighted the chaos that natural disasters continue to unleash not just on homeowners, but also on the mortgage servicers tasked with supporting them and the insurance industry that covers the cost of rebuilding. From wildfires to hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, each crisis tests a servicers ability to manage compliance, borrower support and investor expectations.

Mortgages 351
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Price reductions: 6 things to consider before lowering the price

Housing Wire

Before rushing to a price reduction for your real estate listing, its important to take a step back and evaluate all the factors that could be affecting the sale. Is the home being marketed effectively? Does it show well? Is the seller being flexible with showings? Have seasonal trends been taken into account? Is the price aligned with current market conditions?

Staging 363
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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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Rocket’s ‘Apple of homeownership’ flywheel is getting more complex

Housing Wire

Rocket Companies industry-shaking plan to acquire Mr. Cooper in a $9.4 billion deal comes just weeks after the Detroit-based lender announced its acquisition of real estate brokerage Redfin for $1.75 billion. Rocket CEO Varun Krishna and Mr. Cooper CEO Jay Bray who is slated to report to Krishna as the president and CEO of Rocket Mortgage told HousingWire in an interview that the merger is expected to generate $100 million in revenue synergies and $400 million in expense savings.

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The housing market is ‘failing older adults,’ Urban Institute says

Housing Wire

The state of the U.S. housing market particularly its levels of affordability, available inventory and accessibility for those with mobility or cognitive challenges presents a unique challenge for older Americans on fixed incomes. This has led to a failure to properly serve the senior cohort. These are the assertions of a report published last week by the Urban Institute.

Marketing 364
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Homebuilders face rising risk unless mortgage rates fall

Housing Wire

At the end of 2024, I wrote that the homebuilding sector could be a potential wildcard for 2025 and that was before the new tariffs on building materials and firing of federal workers. If mortgage rates don’t drop, we may see this sector facing supply issues and shrinking profit margins. Why is this important? To avoid a job loss recession, closely monitoring the homebuilding industry is essential.

Mortgages 478
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With lower costs and other value, rural areas are enticing for older homebuyers

Housing Wire

Rural areas are often in need of different kinds of expertise that is easier to find in urban areas, but they can also provide more value for homebuyers and a sense of community that is difficult to replicate in other, more populated areas of the U.S. This is according to a syndicated article originally published by the Daily Yonder , a national news publication focusing on stories from rural America.

Equity 413
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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.