Trending Articles

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loanDepot returns to profitability, announces new strategic plan 

Housing Wire

loanDepot achieved profitability in the third quarter of 2024, ending an 11-quarter streak of financial losses. Cost reductions and revenue growth drove this turnaround amid lower interest rates, which boosted refinancing activity. As a result, loanDepot is retiring its Vision 2025 strategic plan, which began in July 2022 to help the company reduce its non-volume expenses by more than $730 million.

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Who Is the Typical U.S. Homebuyer?

Appraisal Buzz

According to the National Association of Realtors ‘ (NAR) 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the market share of first-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of 24% (down from 32% last year), while the average age of home buyers reached all-time highs of 56 years (compared to 49 last year), 38 years for first-time buyers (compared to 35 last year), and 61 years for repeat buyers (compared to 58 last year).

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Why home prices are holding steady despite higher rates

Housing Wire

Home prices have remained firm over the last two months, even with higher mortgage rates and inventory data. Our weekly tracker data is created to look ahead of the traditional monthly reports such as Case Shiller and the NAR existing home sales report, and what I have seen over the past few weeks has shocked me. I want to show you how the data changed with mortgage rates heading toward 6% so the next time this happens, we have a better idea of what to expect in the housing market.

Inventory 511
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Which U.S. Cities Are Facing the Highest Mortgage Delinquency Rates?

Appraisal Buzz

A recent WalletHub report sheds light on mortgage delinquency rates across 100 U.S. cities, with rates spanning from around 3% to a staggering 23%. Based on data collected between Q1 and Q2 of 2024, WalletHub’s study ranks cities according to the proportion of mortgage holders behind on payments, a critical metric in assessing financial strain within communities.

Mortgage 433
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Flat prices & the insurance mess

Sacramento Appraisal Blog

Prices have been pretty flat. That’s a really good way to describe the housing market lately in many areas across the country. Let’s talk about that today as well as dig into insurance. I have some encouragement to share too about mindset. UPCOMING SPEAKING GIGS: 11/7/2024 Think Like an Appraiser (3 hours) TBA 11/19/24 Downtown […] The post Flat prices & the insurance mess first appeared on Sacramento Appraisal Blog.

Insurance 323
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A year after Sitzer/Burnett, are the biggest impacts yet to come?

Real Estate News

A lot has happened — leadership changes, settlements, new rules — but some say it's still too early to know how the landmark verdict will affect the industry.

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Why did mortgage rates rise after the negative jobs report?

Housing Wire

Today’s jobs report showed the lowest job-growth data for the year at 12,000. You would think this would cause the 10-year yield and mortgage rates to go lower. At first, this did happen, but after more digestion of the data, not only did the bond market give up all the early morning gains, but it headed higher for the day, which confused many. So, I will give you my best explanation, but I need to show all the data that came out this week.

Mortgage 507
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Is a Horde of Deadbeat Borrowers Again Walking Among Us?

Appraiserblogs

There are signs of a new horde of deadbeat borrowers, but the foreclosure filings are being delayed and masked by the government itself. Some of the current deadbeat borrowers will learn to expertly work the system… In 2022, a San Ramon, California, couple who hadn’t made a mortgage payment since 2009 was finally evicted. Anita and Mahesh Khurana had put on a masterclass in the use of the courts to keep foreclosure at bay.

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Judge largely dismissive of objections to settlements

Real Estate News

In a lengthy filing, Judge Bough outlined his reasons for approving nine brokerage settlements last week, which he said got plaintiffs “the best deal possible.

Brokerage 221
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The economy is humming along — leaving real estate in the dust: Intel

Inman

Brokerages have been plagued by falling sales and tapering price growth, rendering broker fees stagnant at a time when most sectors are enjoying robust gains, according to a new Intel analysis.

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A homebuyer’s personal story from the post-Sitzer, post-settlement world

Housing Wire

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of articles that will explore the effects of the landmark Sitzer/Burnett case, which was decided on Oct. 31, 2023, and has since reshaped the business practices for real estate brokerages and agents across the country. What does a real estate reporter do to mark the one-year anniversary of the Sitzer/Burnett jury verdict ?

Agents 434
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Pending Home Sales Climb to Highest Level Since March

Appraisal Buzz

The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reports that pending home sales increased in September. Transactions increased month over month in all four major regions. While sales in the Midwest and South stayed stable, the Northeast and West saw gains year-over-year. September saw a 7.4% increase in the Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a measure of future home sales based on contract signings, to 75.8, the highest level since March (78.3).

Contracts 418
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Residential Building Wages Grow at Unprecedented Rate

Eyes on Housing

Wages for residential building workers grew at a fast pace of 9.9% in September, following a 10.8% gain in August. These year-over-year growth rates in the past four months were unprecedented in the history of the data series since 1990. After a 0.3% increase in June 2023, the YOY growth rate for residential building worker.

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A spate of objections to NAR, HomeServices settlements

Real Estate News

With less than a month until the deals are finalized, objectors are making claims of insufficient damages, harm to minorities, lack of accountability and more.

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Proposed NAR settlement ‘worst of all possible worlds’: Law professor

Inman

Tanya Monestier says the settlement "reinforces the existing system of seller-paid inflated compensation while pretending to eliminate it" as attorneys walk away with $333 million in cash.

Law 190
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CubiCasa launches AI tool that creates virtual home tours in minutes

Housing Wire

Interior property data company CubiCasa announced the launch of an interactive touring product for listing agents. The new CubiCasa Tour product will create interactive, virtual property tours within minutes. The new product uses similar software to CubiCasa’s Floor Plans, another virtual listing tool that builds floor plans in five minutes or less.

Tools 466
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Where Are the Most Expensive Zip Codes in the U.S.?

Appraisal Buzz

It’s been a year of cautious growth for luxury real estate, so it’s the perfect time for PropertyShark to come up with a list of the 100 most expensive zip codes in America. And the winner is … Atherton, California (again). Located just north of Menlo Park in northern California, Atherton takes the crown for the most expensive zip code in the nation for the eighth consecutive year, with a 2024 median sale price of $7,900,000.

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Why can commercial appraisals be so costly?

Boston Appraisal

The cost of Commercial Appraisals Commercial appraisals are more expensive due to their complexity, involving diverse property types and in-depth analysis of income potential and zoning laws. Unlike residential appraisals, which rely on comparable sales, commercial ones use multiple methods like income and cost approaches, increasing time and effort.

Appraisal 114
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‘Unfiltered’: Buyers are ‘DIYing themselves down the funnel’

Real Estate News

Watch the conversation with Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman as he explains why savvy shoppers are better for agents, and why private listing networks are “just bad.

Buyers 193
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Judge grants final approval to 9 commission lawsuit settlements

Inman

Judge Stephen Bough granted approval for settlements involving Compass, Douglas Elliman, @properties and other companies. Collectively, the companies will pay $110 million to resolve the litigation.

Brokerage 184
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FHFA Simplifies the Funding of Affordable Housing

Appraisal Buzz

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has issued AB-2024-05 , an Advisory Bulletin that simplifies the process for project sponsors to receive Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) funds for affordable housing projects. Each of the 11 FHLBanks operates an Affordable Housing Program (AHP) providing grants or subsidized advances to fund rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households.

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Private Residential Construction Spending Rises in September 

Eyes on Housing

Private residential construction spending inched up 0.2% in September, according to the Census Construction Spending data. The September report shows a 4.1% rise compared to a year ago. The monthly increase in total private construction spending for September was largely due to more spending on single-family construction. Spending on single-family construction rose by 0.4%.

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Making your pitch: What sellers want to know

Real Estate News

10 questions every listing agent had better be able to answer, from whether to list on the MLS or offer buy-side compensation to what goes into pricing a home.

Sellers 227
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Brokerage that announced free childcare says, ‘We are just getting started’

Inman

Weekends are packed with potential buyers and sellers, from open houses to whole-family showings. Agents are expected to work weekends, and childcare on the weekends can be expensive.

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Pending home sales jumped in September behind lower mortgage rates

Housing Wire

Lower mortgage rates in September had a measurable impact on home sales. According to data released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), pending home sales in September jumped 7.4% compared to August and 2.6% year over year. NAR’s index reading of 75.8 is the highest number since March. An index reading of 100 equates to sales activity in 2001.

Mortgage 466
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Real Estate Agents Weigh in on Impact of NAR Settlement

Appraisal Buzz

Commissions paid to real estate agents representing buyers have remained essentially unchanged since new rules on commissions went into effect on August 17 , according to a new analysis from Redfin. The average buyer’s agent commission for homes sold in October was 2.34%, ticking down just one basis point from 2.35% for homes sold in August, when the new changes took effect.

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Hurricanes and Strikes Hit Labor Market in October

Eyes on Housing

Job growth decelerated significantly in October, driven by the effects of strikes and hurricanes. As stated in this month’s job report, October data are “the first collected since Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the United States”. Despite lower monthly job gains, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, indicating the labor market remains solid.

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Brokerage Beat: ERA and C21 affiliations; an NFL career change

Real Estate News

Twin Cities and Houston-area independents embrace the Anywhere family of brands; NFL'er joins Douglas Elliman's luxury division; Christie's expands in the Alps.

Brokerage 218
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Real Brokerage adds 400 agents with Amerivest Realty partnership

Inman

Amerivest Realty owner Joe Ballarino has brought a slew of agents based out of Florida, Colorado, Minnesota and Wisconsin to the cloud-based brokerage, according to an announcement Monday.

Realty 155
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Here’s what buyers and sellers want from their real estate agent

Housing Wire

The role of the real estate agent has been under the microscope of late as a result of class-action litigation over agent commissions, but the feedback agents want most about their practices comes from two sources — home buyers and sellers. A new report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) surveyed buyers and sellers on what they want from their real estate agents.

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Four in Five Recent Homebuyers Interested in Refis 

Appraisal Buzz

A new TransUnion survey has found that many consumers feel their existing mortgage and auto payments are putting a strain on their household finances, as the prospect of falling interest rates has them ready to consider refinancing those loans. TransUnion’s survey found that four in five recent home buyers say their mortgage payments are straining their finances, and are looking to refinance their mortgage payments in the next 12 months.

Finance 393
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Appraising Kitchens

Appraisal Today

Newz: FHFA Waiver Expansion, AMC Appraisal Fees, Appraising Kitchens November 1, 2024 What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down) Construction Progress Inspection Reports: Claims Involving ADUs and Remodels Appraising Kitchens: Understanding Trends, Functionality, and Market Expectations Lake Tahoe Ranch Hits the Market for $188 Million, Making It One of the Priciest Listings in the U.S.

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Today’s buyers look vastly different from a generation ago

Real Estate News

NAR’s annual profile of homebuyers, which includes several new records, illustrates just how hard of a market it’s been for would-be homeowners.

Buyers 208
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First-time homebuyers fell further behind this year, NAR says

Inman

The share of recently bought homes that went to first-time homebuyers fell to less than 1 in 4 between July 2023 and June 2024, according to a new report.

Brokerage 167