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The landmark antitrust lawsuit settlement agreed to by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in March has put the practices of real estate agents in the spotlight for both regulators and clients alike. Now, with agent commissions starting to decline, agents naturally want to convey the value of their services to buyers and sellers. New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta attempts to answer one question — can my agent get a better sale price on my home than a competing agent?
This piece originally appeared in the September 2024 edition of MortgagePoint magazine, online now. As the mortgage industry adjusts to changes in regulatory compliance, rising interest rates, declining purchase volume, and overall economic uncertainty, servicing becomes more important to both mortgage holders and their homeowners. Homeowners are increasingly interested in a seamless and digital, user-friendly experience throughout the mortgage journey, from application to closing and on to t
More than 16 million Americans who are 65 or older are living alone, but the depth of their experiences is largely unknown. This is according to a recent story published by KFF Health News. “This slice of the older population has significant health issues: Nearly 4 in 10 seniors living alone have vision or hearing loss, difficulty caring for themselves and living independently, problems with cognition, or other disabilities, according to a KFF analysis of 2022 census data,” the story explained.
Antonio Little ServiceLink has announced the promotion of Antonio Little to VP, National Sales Manager in the company’s Origination Division, where he will oversee Account Executives across the country. Little has 24 years of industry experience, eight of which he has spent at ServiceLink. He has been a part of the Fidelity National Financial (FNF) family of companies for nearly 10 years.
Finance teams find Trellis to be particularly effective in conducting comprehensive due diligence on both individuals and businesses. With our court data solution, financial experts can access critical litigation insights, making it an invaluable resource for informed decision-making in the financial sector.
Starter homes are more affordable to the average American than they were a year ago, but they have become significantly less affordable over the past decade. That’s the conclusion Redfin reached in a data report released Monday. The national real estate brokerage analyzed household income levels and monthly housing payments to calculate its affordability metric.
August showed an improvement in homeowner affordability, with purchase applicants’ national median payment falling from $2,140 in July to $2,057 in August. This is supported by the Mortgage Bankers Association ‘s (MBA) Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI), which uses information from the MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey (WAS) to assess how new monthly mortgage payments change over time in relation to income.
August showed an improvement in homeowner affordability, with purchase applicants’ national median payment falling from $2,140 in July to $2,057 in August. This is supported by the Mortgage Bankers Association ‘s (MBA) Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI), which uses information from the MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey (WAS) to assess how new monthly mortgage payments change over time in relation to income.
Slightly more than half of Americans say that weather events are becoming an increasing risk factor for their homes, while nearly one in five report difficulties in accessing homeowners insurance. This is according to results of a survey conducted by NeighborWorks America , a congressionally chartered community development organization. The heightened concern reflects “a growing recognition of climate change and its direct implications for housing security,” NeighborWorks said.
The 16th annual Appraisal Summit , held from September 14th to 17th, 2024 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, provided attendees with a packed agenda of education, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and more. With experts from across the industry sharing their insights, attendees left with fresh perspectives on both challenges and innovations shaping the future of appraising.
The rate of home sales is picking up! The number of homes under contract across the country has risen for the last few weeks. Purchase mortgage applications are up for five weeks in a row. It seems like mortgage rates are getting closer to 6% are shaking loose a few transactions. These are small moves, and it’s early. It’s not a big rush of home sales of course, we’re just looking for any signs of resuscitation, and we can finally start to see some.
Construction projects are high-stakes operations where even minor inefficiencies can lead to costly delays, safety concerns, and budget overruns. Managing risk in construction has always been a challenge, but as projects grow in complexity, traditional methods no longer cut it. Enter Digital Transformation - a game changer approach that replaces inefficiency with AI-powered analytics, real-time monitoring, and automated workflows to proactively manage risk.
Two of the top five lenders in the reverse mortgage industry are now engaged in a legal skirmish over marketing practices that one lender calls deceptive. Longbridge Financial , a top five reverse mortgage lender and servicer based in New Jersey, is suing Mutual of Omaha Mortgage over a series of websites maintained by the latter. Longbridge alleges that these websites are both deceptive and in violation of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) as well as guidance from the Federal Tr
In the newest episode of the Power House podcast, host Clayton Collins chats with Robert Pieklo, chief operating officer of American Financial Resources (AFR), and Adam Carmel , CEO of Polly. They discuss the latest developments in the mortgage market, along with key dynamics and growth strategies for lenders as interest rates continue to fall. The conversation also covers cost-to-completion metrics, new technology and tactics strategies for making customers happy in today’s market.
The nation’s largest independent brokerage has launched a new natural language search experience on its website, powered by ListAssist to rival portals.
Trellis is a state trial court research and analytics platform that provides Real Estate Professionals (Buyers, Foreclosure, Loan Modification, etc.) with LEADS on Pre-Foreclosures, Lis Pendes, Distressed Assets and more — to help uncover **new** opportunities and grow their business. The process is quick and easy — and all in real time. Trellis will supply you with a link to the relevant dockets, a Leads sheet and access to its UI where applicable.
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is jumping into the artificial intelligence (AI) technology game. On Monday, the family-owned firm announced the launch of HomeFinder AI through a partnership with technology firm ListAssist. HomeFinder AI users can type their exact search parameters into the platform — including phrases like a “modern kitchen with tons of natural light” or a “spacious backyard with a pool” — and they will be matched with properties.
Fay Servicing SVP of Data Science Josh Balson Fay Servicing has announced that Josh Balson has joined the company as SVP of Data Science. In this newly created role, Balson will lead Fay’s data science initiatives, focusing on leveraging advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the overall borrower experience and drive internal operational efficiencies.
Compass has announced yet another addition to its team in Texas. Adrian Jacobs, a luxury agent who has sold more than $29 million in volume over the past year, has rejoined Compass’s Dallas office from Douglas Elliman. Coming with him is Genna Skolnik, the leader of The Venture Group. She rejoined Compass last year from The Agency. “Understanding quality real estate opportunities requires both a broad marketplace context and a detailed understanding of asset types,” Jacobs said in a statement.
Brookstone Management Director of Operational Initiatives Kerrie Crace Brookstone Management has announced the appointment of Kerrie Crace as new Director of Operational Initiatives. Crace brings more than two decades of experience in mortgage, banking, and default servicing to her new role with Brookstone, with long tenures at both Wells Fargo and Key Bank.
Mauricio’s Umansky’s The Agency is getting into the mortgage business. The brokerage has entered into a joint venture with Barrett Financial Group to offer what the companies believe will be a wide range of mortgage products and streamlined underwriting to The Agency’s luxury clients. Dubbed Aclara Lending, the joint venture will start in Southern California with plans to expand in the near future.
Steve Schulz Informative Research , a technology platform that delivers data-driven solutions to the lending community, has announced the addition of Steve Schulz as EVP of Product Management, where he will lead the vision, strategy and innovation methodologies to introduce disruptive ideas, improve existing products and processes, and foster a culture of innovation.
According to a recent report by Forbes, over half of all real estate investors are now turning to private lenders. With this comes a more crowded marketplace, which means that existing lenders need to consider ways to stand out from the crowd, to survive. The rise of private lending Private lenders disrupted the monopoly of traditional banks and the private lending market has since seen a remarkable rise, reaching $1.5 trillion in assets under management globally at the start of 2024.
Home affordability improved in August, due mainly to lower mortgage rates, according to First American. It was the first time since 2021 that affordability improved, according to the firm’s Real House Price Index. First American, however, remains cautiously optimistic about the housing market’s future. Although rates have dropped, home prices continue to rise, and may rise at a faster pace once rates drop more.
California-based loanDepot on Monday announced it has closed a $300 million offering of notes backed by a revolving warehouse line of credit and secured by mortgages. loanDepot said this is the 10th time it has closed a transaction of this kind. It follows other strategies to strengthen its financial position, including selling mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) and extending debt.
M2 Lending Solutions is using LenderLogix ’ mortgage point-of-sale and automation software to provide an automated, digital-first borrower experience. Specifically, M2 lending has implemented LenderLogix’ QuickQual, LiteSpeed, and Milestone Text Updates solutions to provide borrowers high-touch, white-glove service. “Our philosophy is to find the best mortgage product for each customer, so it made sense to apply this same philosophy to our technology,” says Chris Murphy, founder and principal at
Cooler fall temperatures have brought less intense housing market conditions to the once white-hot market of Bergen County , New Jersey. “We are not seeing that same buyer frenzy we were seeing six months ago,” said Audra Fontanella, the broker-owner of Bergen County-based RE/MAX Venture Realtors. “We are seeing some price drops start to happen and a little bit longer days on market.
University of Buffalo contracts law professor Tanya Monestier's sample form makes clear the buyer is on the hook for buyer broker compensation so long as they successfully close a deal.
In September, mortgage rates maintained their downward trajectory, returning to levels last seen two years ago. According to Freddie Mac, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.18%, a decline of 32 basis points (bps) from August. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage saw an even steeper decline, decreasing by 42 bps from August.
Most real estate professionals say little has changed since new commission rules went into effect in August. But for a smaller group, the changes have unleashed a completely different experience.
The latest NAHB study on home buyer preferences – What Home Buyers Really Want Study – asked consumers about the features and amenities they would want in a home, specifically regarding windows and exterior doors. Respondents were asked to rate eight window and four exterior door features using the following four-point scale: Windows ENERGY STAR.
CV3 Financial Services , a private money lending firm, is using the loan servicing component of The Mortgage Office ‘s platform. As one of the largest private lenders in the country, CV3 selected The Mortgage Office following an extensive evaluation process to achieve greater scale, control, and efficiency in servicing its loans in-house. By moving its loan servicing onto The Mortgage Office’s platform, CV3 gains a trusted system of record with robust functionality, underscoring its commitment t
As 2025 approaches, Ophir Adar writes, many real estate agents are wondering how to thrive in a rapidly changing market. The key to success lies with your focus, mindset and ultimately, your results.
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