Thu.Oct 03, 2024

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Homebuyer demand gains steam in response to lower mortgage rates

Housing Wire

The real estate industry illuminati believe that mortgage rates dropping below 6% will get housing markets moving again, but there’s growing evidence that the recent decline in rates is already doing so. Redfin ’s Homebuyer Demand Index — which measures homebuyer requests for agent services like home tours — was up 9% month over month at the end of September, hitting its highest level since April.

Mortgage 440
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Homebuyers No Longer Spooked by Market Conditions

Appraisal Buzz

Following the Federal Reserve ‘s 50 basis point reduction in the jumbo rate in September, mortgage rates significant fell to a 24-month low, prompting sellers to move. The Realtor.com 2024 September Housing Report states that actively listed properties increased by 34.0%, while newly listed homes increased by 11.6% over the previous September. This represents a major reversal from the 0.9% fall in August 2024.

Marketing 341
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14 spooktacular Halloween real estate marketing ideas

Housing Wire

Vetted by HousingWire | Our editors independently review the products we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. It’s almost that time of year! The leaves are starting to turn, kids are back in school, and the fall real estate market is in full swing. We have only three months until the end of the year, so if you’re looking to close a few more deals and fill your pipeline for the spring, the time to put in the work is now.

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Risk Exposure in the Title Insurance Space 

Appraisal Buzz

First American Financial Corporation , a provider of title, settlement and risk solutions for real estate transactions, has published a data-driven analysis of the vital role that the title insurance industry plays in protecting the smooth functioning of the real estate economy in the United States. Authored by First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming , “ What Is the Risk of Not Curating Property Ownership Records?

Insurance 221
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Why downsizing is not an easy call for seniors and families to make

Housing Wire

Seniors often face a range of emotions when the discussion of downsizing to a different home arises. (Image generated by AI through Midjourney While many older homeowners often entertain the idea of downsizing into a smaller home to better accommodate natural changes to mobility in later life, this doesn’t mean the decision is an easy one for either the senior or their family.

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Mortgage Rates Increased for a Second Week, With 30-Year Averaging 6.12 Percent

Appraisal Buzz

Mortgage rates increased slightly for a second week, as the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 6.12%, up from 6.08% last week, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. A year ago at this time, the average rate for a 30-year was 7.49%. “The decline in mortgage rates has stalled due to a mix of escalating geopolitical tensions and a rebound in short-term rates that indicate the market’s enthusiasm on rate cuts was premature,” says Sam Khater, chief economi

Mortgage 195

More Trending

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NAR tells sellers they don’t have to list on the MLS

Real Estate News

In its latest consumer guide, the association offers general education about MLSs while alluding to the ongoing debate over its Clear Cooperation Policy.

Sellers 216
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SitusAMC sells majority stake in mortgage risk management biz

Housing Wire

SitusAMC has struck a deal to sell a majority stake of two subsidiaries focused on mortgage risk management to investment firm VineLight Venture. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The transaction involves the loan insurance firm Securent Risk Retention Group along with its data, brokerage and services business, Risk and Insurance Services.

Mortgage 415
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A new CEO for REcolorado; C-level execs join MoxiWorks, Opendoor

Real Estate News

Dana Shipley brings brokerage as well as MLS experience to REcolorado; MoxiWorks hires its first CMO as it eyes expansion to mid-market and agent customers.

Brokerage 206
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Getting ready for what’s next: lower rates, more refis, more tech

Housing Wire

The game plan is not to survive until 2025. The executives in this session are rising above and operating from a growth mindset. They have decades of experience with receipts to show their approach works, and they’re going to share their hard-earned wisdom with our audience. Watch the full session below. To go back to the full IMB Summit on demand page, go here.

Lending 415
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Buyers are getting ‘a leg up’ for the first time in years

Real Estate News

Mortgage rates remain relatively low, and buyer activity, including home tours and mortgage purchase applications, are up.

Buyers 215
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Copycat commission lawsuits continue as Illinois homebuyers take action

Housing Wire

Homebuyers in Illinois have filed yet another commission lawsuit. The newest suit was filed Sept. 26 in U.S. District Court in Chicago by plaintiffs Dawid Zawislak and Michael D’Acquisto against Equity Realtors , HomeSmart International and Fathom Realty. While the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was not named as a defendant in the suit, it was listed as a co-conspirator along with several Realtor-owned MLSs.

Realtors 413
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More objections pour in over settlements involving Compass, Redfin

Real Estate News

A total of nine brokerages have settled in the Gibson/Umpa case, but objectors balk at damage amounts and cite concerns over the impact on homebuyer claims.

Brokerage 163
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ICE launches pilot to sunset old Encompass CRM

Housing Wire

ICE Mortgage Technology is continuing to accelerate the adoption of its more modern technologies by sunsetting older tech stacks. The mortgage tech behemoth on Wednesday told clients that it would be launching a pilot program to ultimately sunset Encompass CRM in favor of its more modern Surefire product (which it picked up in the Black Knight acquisition).

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State of Local Homeownership Prior to the Election

Eyes on Housing

With housing being a key issue for the 2024 election cycle, it is worth analyzing distinct characteristics as well as similarities that housing markets in congressional districts share. The differences start with a substantial variation in homeownership rates across congressional districts. While the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) reports that close to two thirds of.

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William Chang steps down as Pennymac’s capital markets leader

Housing Wire

William Chang is stepping down from his roles as chief capital markets officer at PennyMac Financial Services and chief investment officer for PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust , the company announced Thursday. Industry veteran Mark Elbaum will succeed him. Chang, who joined the company in 2012, will “pursue other interests in the mortgage banking industry” after leaving on Oct. 11.

Marketing 398
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Shareholders say eXp mishandled assault allegations in new lawsuit

Inman

A "culture of fear and retaliation" has damaged eXp World Holdings' image, goodwill and monetary performance amid several sexual assault lawsuits, two shareholders claim in a suit filed Wednesday.

Realty 154
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Understanding PPC (pay-per-click) advertising

Housing Wire

In today’s digital marketing landscape, Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising has emerged as a powerful tool for real estate and mortgage businesses seeking immediate visibility and results. According to recent studies, businesses make an average of $2 in revenue for every $1 spent on Google Ads, highlighting PPC’s potential to drive growth and profitability.

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48-agent firm joins ERA Real Estate amid luxury market boom

Inman

Home Sales Palm Beach (HSPB) will merge into Atlantic Shores Realty Expertise ERA Powered, part of Anywhere’s ERA Real Estate division.

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MBA’s Broeksmit says ‘harassment, deception and distrust from trigger leads’ must end

Housing Wire

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is prioritizing its legislative work on a bill that would ban the practice of trigger leads, in which consumer credit reporting agencies share with other lenders that a “hard credit report” was pulled for a mortgage application. This can lead to an onslaught of calls to the consumer vying for their lending business.

Law 394
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Building a real estate team? Here’s how to structure it for success

Inman

Team leadership coach Verl Workman offers step-by-step strategies for building and maintaining an effective and productive real estate team.

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Midwest, Northeast markets dominate Realtor.com list of investor hot spots

Housing Wire

The Midwest and Northeast regions seem to be the new hot spots for real estate investors. This week, Realtor.com named markets in Ohio , Michigan , Pennsylvania , New York and Connecticut among the top markets for real estate investment opportunities in 2024. The list was compiled through an analysis of the 75 largest metro areas in the country. The metrics used include affordability, vacancy rates, rent increases and buyer demand based on 12 months of listing information and other public data.

Investors 392
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Mauricio Umansky on international market challenges, opportunities

Inman

As the world becomes more connected, it's time to explore the opportunities that international markets may have to offer both you and your clients, The Agency's founder and CEO writes.

Marketing 113
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EasyKnock wins arbitration case in Texas

Housing Wire

EasyKnock , which offers sale-leaseback solutions to homeowners, announced a legal victory in Texas on Wednesday as it was awarded more than $153,000 by an arbitrator. The company has been fighting legal battles on multiple fronts through a series of consumer-initiated lawsuits and actions by regulators in several states. The arbitrator’s decision, issued in U.S.

Legal 390
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Now a Texas license holder, Tracy Tutor has entered her cowboy era

Inman

The Tracy Tutor Team founder told Inman about her recent transition into Texas, market challenges and her thoughts on hot-button industry issues like the Clear Cooperation policy.

Marketing 110
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JPAR’s Jessica Conrad on seller consultations and how agents can demonstrate value

Housing Wire

On the RealTrending podcast produced by HousingWire , host Tracey Velt chats with San Antonio-based Realtor Jessica Conrad in the final installment of JPAR Real Estate ’s four-part Settlement Strategy Playbook series. Conrad discusses best practices for transparent conversations between listing agents and sellers, the value of educating sellers on the new buyer agent compensation agreements , and ways to show your value as a professional agent.

Sellers 389
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5 must-know strategies to stay ahead of the industry’s evolution

Inman

Discover five essential strategies to stay ahead as clients and the real estate market evolve. Chris Pollinger shares expert insights on how to adapt and thrive.

Clients 111
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Josh Team accused of taking illegal kickbacks in battle between two tech firms

Housing Wire

What began as a legal battle between two companies that previously worked together on a Keller Williams technology platform has recently expanded to include industry veteran Josh Team. A lawsuit that was originally filed in early February in the Tarrant County District Court of Texas accuses the former KW president of receiving millions of dollars in illegal “kickbacks” while serving as the franchisor’s chief innovation offer.

Contracts 379
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2 more brokerages in the $2B club reach settlement agreements

Inman

John L. Scott and Real Estate One reach settlement agreements in antitrust commission lawsuit filed in Missouri.

Brokerage 128
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IMB Summit: Holstering the “money gun,” addressing the homeowner’s insurance crisis & more

Housing Wire

For too long, the mortgage industry has used “the money gun” to deal with problems. And that has consequences. Nowhere is that more evident than in the cost to manufacture a mortgage, which was more than $11,600 in the second quarter. In a panel at HousingWire’s IMB Summit in Dallas on Tuesday, Community Home Lenders of America leaders Taylor Stork of Developers Mortgage and Republic State Mortgage President Paulina McGrath tackled some of the thornier affordability issues plag

Insurance 375
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Broker Spotlight: Romeo Manzanilla, @properties Lone Star Christie’s International Real Estate

Inman

Learn more about this Texas real estate leader, his passion for building connections, and how he extends his service-minded approach to the consumers and clients he serves.

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IMB Summit: Holstering the ‘money gun,’ addressing the homeowners insurance crisis and more

Housing Wire

Taylor Stork, left, and Paulina McGrath of the Community Home Lenders of America lead a discussion at HousingWire’s IMB Summit in Dallas (Photo courtesy of Willie & Kim Photography) For too long, the mortgage industry has used “the money gun” to deal with problems. And that has consequences. Nowhere is this more evident than in the cost to manufacture a mortgage, which was more than $11,600 in the second quarter.

Insurance 229
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Top Agent Network amends suit to focus on NAR as ‘real wrongdoer’

Inman

TAN CEO: "NAR is the architect and promoter of the disastrous Clear Cooperation Policy and is the only party with the power to rescind it.

Agents 96
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Elissa Comeau Qualifies for the 2024 Lamacchia Realty President’s Club

Lamacchia Realty

Elissa Comeau Qualifies for the 2024 Lamacchia Realty President’s Club We are thrilled to announce that Elissa Comeau has officially qualified for the 2024 Lamacchia Realty President’s Club! She has hit this accredited achievement by closing on 33 homes so far this year. This is the second time Elissa has qualified for President’s Club, previously making it in 2022, shortly after she joined Lamacchia Realty with The Balestracci Group.

Realty 67