Tue.Mar 26, 2024

article thumbnail

Keller Williams faces three lawsuits tied to its profit-sharing program 

Housing Wire

Three agents formerly affiliated with Keller Williams Realty — Jerri L. Moulder, David L. Bueker and Robert E. Hill — have taken legal action against the real estate brokerage by filing three separate class-action lawsuits, Inman first reported on Tuesday. The lawsuits contest alterations made to Keller Williams’ profit-sharing program, with one of them seeking a court order to halt further payouts until the case concludes.

Brokerage 511
article thumbnail

Fannie Mae: Mortgage Rates Likely to Remain ‘Higher for Longer’

Appraisal Buzz

Mortgage rates will likely remain “higher for longer” than previously forecast, according to Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. Because the job market remains strong and inflation continues to rise faster than expected, the number of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve could be curtailed later this year. As a result, Fannie Mae has downgraded its expectations for total home sales and mortgage originations in 2024.

Mortgage 396
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Mortgage rates rise following a surge in Treasury yields

Housing Wire

Mortgage rates rose this week as the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note inched up. As of Monday, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note was about 4.25%, according to Tradeweb, up from 3.86% at the end of last year. As a result, HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center showed the average 30-year fixed rate for conventional loans at 7.16% on Tuesday, up from 7.07% one week earlier.

Mortgage 508
article thumbnail

It's cheaper to rent than buy in nearly every big city

Real Estate News

A new report from Realtor.com looks at the cost gap between renting and owning and finds that many markets are now significantly more favorable to renters.

Marketing 352
article thumbnail

Home prices showed sustained growth in January

Housing Wire

Home prices maintained their upward trajectory in the opening month of the year. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index posted a 6% annual gain in January, up from a 5.6% gain in December , according to a report released Tuesday. It was the seventh consecutive month of annual price growth and the biggest increase since November 2022.

Buyers 493
article thumbnail

Judge says Sitzer/Burnett will remain a class action

Real Estate News

HomeServices of America’s decertification request was denied, and the case will now shift to other post-verdict motions, including a request for a new trial.

312
312

More Trending

article thumbnail

2019 commissions case now on track for January trial

Real Estate News

The Moehrl suit, like Sitzer/Burnett, was filed 4 years ago and has just one defendant left: HomeServices of America, which hasn't chosen to settle.

275
275
article thumbnail

SFR and fix-and-flip investors expect a better market in 2024

Housing Wire

Last year might best be described as a risk-prone atmosphere for the single-family rental sector and the related fix-and-flip market. The risky operating environment has been marked by volatile, high interest rates (with 30-year fixed rates now hovering around 7%), high financing costs and moderating rental rates as an influx of multifamily rental properties continues to come online across the country.

Investors 482
article thumbnail

‘NAR’s days are numbered’: Ben Belack of ‘Buying Beverly Hills’

Inman

The Agency's Ben Belack shares his thoughts on NAR settlement news, the current industry landscape and the American Real Estate Association ahead of Season 2 of the popular Netflix real estate reality TV show.

article thumbnail

‘This is a great time for women to be in real estate,’ survey finds 

Housing Wire

Since its inception in 1908, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has undergone a remarkable transformation, with women now accounting for 62% of its membership, according to data for the trade organization. AceableAgent , an online real estate school, surveyed more than 600 female real estate agents near the end of 2023 to understand the motivations and experiences of women in the field.

article thumbnail

Former Keller Williams agents sue over profit share changes

Inman

One of the class-action suits seeks $250 million in damages while the other is asking the court for a preliminary injunction stopping Keller Williams from distributing profit share payments.

Agents 197
article thumbnail

Longbridge parent completes proprietary reverse mortgage securitization

Housing Wire

Ellington Financial , the parent company of reverse mortgage industry lender and servicer Longbridge Financial , announced the successful closing of a new securitization backed by a pool of proprietary reverse mortgages initially originated by Longbridge. The securitization was valued at $208 million and Longbridge will continue to act as the servicer of the underlying assets, according to a company announcement.

Mortgage 468
article thumbnail

Case-Shiller: Home Prices ‘Continued to Drive Higher’ in January

Appraisal Buzz

U.S. home prices increased 0.4% on an adjusted basis in January compared with December and were up 6.0% compared with January 2023, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index. The index’s 20-city and 10-city composites – measuring home prices in the 20 largest U.S. metros – posted month-over-month increases of 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.

Appraisal 195
article thumbnail

Opinion: How did homeowners get into home equity prison?

Housing Wire

Just for a moment, let’s imagine a world in which a person purchases a home shortly before a global pandemic. Even though they have a low mortgage rate on their home loan, the pandemic causes unanticipated financial hardships which lead to a decrease in their annual income as well as the necessity of using credit cards for their basic needs. Then, the housing market takes off like a rocket with home values exceeding all expectations.

article thumbnail

Navigating the Slow-Down

Appraisal Buzz

In a recent reflection on my appraisal business, I want to share an inspiring story about a fellow appraiser who defied market challenges and achieved remarkable success. This individual, relatively new to running their own appraisal business, exemplifies the power of dedication and strategic learning. Amidst a general market slowdown, this appraiser not only weathered the storm but thrived.

Business 195
article thumbnail

loanDepot settles appraisal bias lawsuit 

Housing Wire

loanDepot has settled a lawsuit filed by a Maryland couple accusing the firm of appraisal bias, ending a case that gained national attention two years ago. Court documents filed on March 22 show that the lender and plaintiffs Nathan Connolly and Shani Mott — the latter a scholar of Black studies at Johns Hopkins University who died March 12 in Baltimore of adrenal cancer — agreed with a voluntary dismissal with prejudice.

Appraisal 454
article thumbnail

Redfin: New Listings Continue to Increase, Bringing Some Buyers Back to Market

Appraisal Buzz

The total number of U.S. homes for sale climbed 5% during the four weeks ended March 17, the biggest year-over-year uptick since May 2023, according to Redfin. As of March 17, there were roughly 795,645 active listings. There were roughly 88,902 new listings added during that same four weeks – and increase of 15% and the biggest increase since June 2021.

article thumbnail

Pacaso is now offering shares in homes for as little as $130K

Inman

The new price point marks a strategy shift for the company, which buys homes in vacation markets, converts them into LLCs and sells shares to up to eight buyers.

Buyers 190
article thumbnail

Consumer Confidence Remains Stable Despite Concerns About Future

Eyes on Housing

Consumer confidence held steady in March, with optimism about current conditions offset by concerns about the future economic outlook. This pessimism was primarily driven by persistent inflation, especially elevated food and gas prices. The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by the Conference Board, stood virtually unchanged at 104.7 in March, the lowest level since November 2023.

158
158
article thumbnail

US home price growth accelerates in January at fastest pace since ’22

Inman

The S&P Core Logic Case-Schiller National Home Price Index tallied a 6 percent annual increase in January, reaching its fastest annual rate in more than a year, according to data released Tuesday.

Marketing 188
article thumbnail

5 Crucial Investment Criteria for Out-of-State Turnkey Investors

BiggerPockets

Sloppy renovations and corner-cutting maintenance efforts aren’t good enough. As you navigate the world of single-family investing, focus on these five essential elements of due diligence.

article thumbnail

Mastering Social Media with Sotheby’s International Realty

Inman

In this hour session Sotheby’s International Realty will explore what has worked for the three brokers to grow their business and drive leads with their online personalities.

Realty 187
article thumbnail

From No Savings to Building 60 Houses in 5 Years!

BiggerPockets

Feeling scared to do your first or next real estate deal?

article thumbnail

Rent is now more affordable than buying in every major US market

Inman

Austin and Seattle were the friendliest cities for renters as the monthly mortgage payment on a starter home in each of the top 50 cities soared above the average rent by more than $1,000.

Marketing 183
article thumbnail

Strategically Reduce Your W-2 Taxes with Real Estate

BiggerPockets

There are several ways that you may be able to reduce your W-2 taxes with a real estate investment. The type and whether you have an equity or debt investment determines the strategies you will qualify for.

article thumbnail

Corcoran launches first franchise in Oregon, with emphasis on Portland

Inman

Corcoran Prime is owned and led by Becky Jackson, and the franchise boasts approximately two dozen agents and staff with services across greater Portland, according to an announcement.

Agents 183
article thumbnail

Can a New Construction Sale be Used as a Comp for an Older Home?

Birmingham Appraisal

A Different Market I think we can all agree that the real estate market we are currently in, as of the writing of this post, is not the same one we were in from 2020 to 2022. The market dynamics have changed namely interest rates. Prices have held steady and even increased in some areas due to limited inventory. The lack of homes available for sale and the increase in interest rates have resulted in a decline in homes sold in most areas of the country.

article thumbnail

Dave Liniger celebrates 50 years of RE/MAX in book ‘The Perfect 10’

Inman

In his second book, "The Perfect 10," RE/MAX co-founder and Chairman Dave Liniger leans on 50 years at the brokerage's helm to offer keys for leading during moments of intense change.

Brokerage 180
article thumbnail

BoC's battle against inflation shows signs of success

Mortgagebroker News

Could this mean a gentler grip on interest rates?

83
article thumbnail

[Webinar] GoFormz Office Hours: Discover the Latest Updates (April 2024)

GoForrmz

Join the live GoFormz Office Hours webinar all about the latest GoFormz features and what’s coming soon. Live on April 9th, 2024, at 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET, the GoFormz team is happy to share with you all the latest updates to the GoFormz platform. Hosted by VP of Product, Kelsey Griswold, and GoFormz Marketing Manager, Victoria Horn, you’ll get in-depth feature walkthroughs, a sneak peek at the newest features coming soon, and a live Q&A session to cover any GoFormz questions you have.

article thumbnail

Homebuyers may wait on sidelines for further rate drops, says economist

Mortgagebroker News

Analyst sees buyers taking time, prices stabilizing after recent declines

Buyers 83
article thumbnail

Can New Construction Sales be Used in an Appraisal of an Older Home?

Birmingham Appraisal

A Different Market I think we can all agree that the real estate market we are currently in, as of the writing of this post, is not the same one we were in from 2020 to 2022. The market dynamics have changed namely interest rates. Prices have held steady and even increased in some areas due to limited inventory. The lack of homes available for sale and the increase in interest rates have resulted in a decline in homes sold in most areas of the country.

article thumbnail

Rural PEI towns secure $1M funding for housing push

Mortgagebroker News

Federal funds aim to accelerate the creation of 150 new homes over next decade

81
article thumbnail

Price Adjustments in Florida Rise Rapidly

Lamacchia Realty

The Florida real estate market has shifted, and the number of active listings has increased at a much faster rate than the rest of the country over recent months. Condo sales in particular have experienced a significant decline in recent weeks which can be attributed to the ongoing insurance crisis in the state and to the increased association fees and/or added special assessments for condos due to the more stringent regulations resulting from the tragic Champlain Tower Collapse in Surfside, Flo