Fri.Feb 14, 2025

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Mortgage rates dip below 7% after retail sales surprise

Housing Wire

This Valentines weekend brought an unexpected gift to the housing market as a weaker-than-expected retail sales report sent the 10-year yield tumbling, bringing mortgage rates down to under 7%. Although its a welcome decline, were still seeing rates considerably higher than the near-6% levels we enjoyed for a fleeting moment last year. Its been a rollercoaster week for the bond market, particularly after a relative calm in mortgage pricing.

Retail 476
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ATTOM: Foreclosure Starts Increased 8 Percent in January

Appraisal Buzz

Foreclosure filings including default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions increased 8% in January compared the December but were down 7% compared with January 2024, according to ATTOMs latest Foreclosure Market Report. The report shows there were a total of 30,816 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings in January. Of particular note, foreclosures starts increased 8% in January, compared with the month prior, to reach a total of 20,994 for the month.

Marketing 363
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Fannie Mae’s mortgage acquisition volume rose in 2024, but profits shrank slightly

Housing Wire

On Friday, Fannie Mae reported $17 billion in net income in 2024, down slightly from its $17.4 billion profit in 2023. The government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) had net income of $4.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking its 28th consecutive quarter of positive earnings. Fannie Mae president and CEO Priscilla Almodovar said during Friday’s earnings call that at the end of 2024, the GSE grew its net worth to nearly $95 billion.

Mortgage 341
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Fannie/Freddie Close 2024 on a High Note

Appraisal Buzz

While the U.S. housing market continues to struggle with mortgage rates nearing the 7% mark , and the average U.S. home valued at $355,328 (up 2.7% over the past year), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both closed out 2024 on a high note, both reporting quarterly and annual gains. Fannie Mae reported $17 billion in annual net income, and $4.1 billion Q4 2024 net income, with its net worth reaching $94.7 billion as of December 31, 2024.

Finance 221
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Leverage Trellis Court Data To Identify More Investment Opportunities

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.

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The ‘silver tsunami’ could slam into California’s economy

Housing Wire

Older residents of the state of California , meaning those aged 65 or older, made up roughly 14% of the states population in 2020. That figure is poised to rise to 22% by 2040, marking a 59% increase, while the number of residents between the ages of 20-64 is projected to remain largely unchanged during that period. However, the range of people between the ages of 0 and 17 will also drop by 24% during that time, resulting in an old-age dependency ratio of 38 older adults per 100 working-age adul

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West Coast MLSs form partnership to share listings data

Housing Wire

Three multiple listings services (MLSs) on the West Coast have formed a strategic partnership that will expand the reach of their real estate listings. Californias MetroList, the Northern Nevada Regional MLS (NNRLMS) and Oregon Data Share (ODS) will share real-time data, market insights and transaction history between the more than 30,000 subscribers to the three MLSs.

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Tool Kit: Upgrade your media literacy skills to know what’s real

Inman

It's hard to tell fact vs. fiction these days. Get the tools and tips for becoming a smart agent who can spot fake news, deepfakes and misinformation a mile away with trainer Rachael Hite.

Tools 133
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Optionality of NAR’s no-commingling rule takes center stage at REX appeal hearing

Housing Wire

The appeal of REX Real Estate s antitrust suit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Zillow began in earnest on Thursday when the three parties, along with the Department of Justice (DOJ), gathered at the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Honolulu for oral arguments before a three-judge panel. Originally filed by REX in March 2021 , the lawsuit alleges that changes made to Zillows website unfairly hides certain listings, shrinking their exposure and diminishing competition amon

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HUD faces massive staff cuts, while a lawsuit buys time for CFPB

Real Estate News

The D.C. shakeup continues as Elon Musks DOGE team takes on HUD, looks to cut staff by half; the CFPB awaits a new director and retains funding for now.

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The Constructor's Digital Transformation Playbook: Reducing Risk With Technology

Speaker: Dylan Secrest

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.

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MISMO announces 2025 board of directors

Housing Wire

MISMO , the real estate finance industrys standards organization, on Thursday announced its board of directors for 2025. MISMO brings key problem solvers together to collaborate on critical issues in the mortgage industry, said Bob Broeksmit , president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), which oversees MISMO. I welcome this talented group of industry executives to MISMOs Board of Directors and am confident that they will provide valuable leadership to guide the organization into

Finance 296
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DeepSeek AI: Game-changer or data privacy minefield?

Inman

Should real estate agents trust using the AI app DeepSeek? Trainer Bernice Ross examines the benefits and data privacy concerns.

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Hawaii bill seeking state-run reverse mortgage program appears dead for now

Housing Wire

A bill in the state of Hawaii that seeks to establish a state-run equivalent of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage ( HECM ) program appears to be dead in its current form, having failed to reach key deadlines following its submission to three different legislative committees. This is according to the office of the bills chief sponsor, Rep.

Mortgage 249
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Homebuyers Still Struggling as Sellers Offer Price Cuts

Appraisal Buzz

According to recent Zillow data, as the home-buying season draws near, buyers are more affected by persistently high mortgage rates than sellers. Most purchasers in the market today have a high probability of seeing a price reduction on their bookmarked listing, even though competition varies significantly by region. Homeowners are finally coming back to the market as the effects of rate lock ease over time, but buyers are still struggling with high monthly costs, saidSkylar Olsen, Zillow chief

Sellers 268
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Need Curated Pre-foreclosure Lists to Generate New Real Estate Leads? Trellis Has the Data!

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.

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How ‘granny flats’ might save LA from affordable housing doom

Housing Wire

“Granny flats” are having their image spruced up as Los Angeles recovers from the deadly wildfires of January 2025. Local officials are turning to smaller homes to deal with an affordable housing shortage. (Image generated by AI in Midjourney) Last month’s wildfires in the Los Angeles area have left many homeowners in need of affordable housing options to replace destroyed properties.

Law 367
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Real Brokerage aims to trade agents’ other debit cards for its own

Real Estate News

The company will roll out more features for its Real Wallet soon, including rewards that can offset brokerage fees, its CTO told Real Estate News.

Brokerage 261
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M&A: Run your business like it’s for sale, so it never has to be 

Housing Wire

Managing M&A Integration for mortgage companies is like being a wedding planner for arranged marriages. Not everyone is happy to be at this party, but I’ll be damned if they aren’t 1. impressed with the aesthetic and 2. dancing and laughing by the end of the night. Mergers and acquisitions amongst non-bank lenders have been on the rise for several years, with about a 20% growth from 2018 (remember, rates spiked into the 5’s for the first time in years that year and margin c

Business 255
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NAR spent more on lobbying than any other group in 2024

Real Estate News

The association shelled out $86.3 million to influence election-year campaigns and housing-related initiatives, according to a report on political spending.

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Average real estate brokerage gross margin continues to decline

Housing Wire

The dual shocks of the 20222024 housing market downturn and the outcomes of significant litigation are now in the rearview mirror. In response, many brokerage firms have adapted their business models to navigate these challenges. While these adjustments have allowed firms to achieve profitability at current sales levels and comply with the changes to MLS policies resulting from the settlement, it does not necessarily signal a return to the heights previously seen in the industry.

Brokerage 222
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DOJ debates ‘commingling’ with Zillow and NAR in REX case

Real Estate News

The Justice Department is concerned the case, which Zillow won in 2023, could set a bad precedent and allow other organizations to circumvent antitrust laws.

Law 207
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Alabama Realtors back law to change timing of buyer agreements

Housing Wire

When the Department of Justice (DOJ) came out in opposition of buyer representation agreements as they are defined in the National Association of Realtors (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement, Alabama Association of Realtors took notice. The state trade group is currently championing a bill that would change state law to prevent a consumer from being forced to sign a buyer representation agreement before they can tour a property with a Realtor.

Realtors 204
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MMI Acquires Borrower Monitoring and Predictive Analytics Platform MonitorBase

Appraisal Buzz

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), which offers data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, has acquired MonitorBase , a borrower monitoring and predictive analytics platform. This acquisition, following MMIs recent addition of Bonzo , a CRM and conversation platform, unites data intelligence, borrower monitoring, and automated engagement into a seamless, end-to-end system for mortgage professionals.

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From tradition to trend: Lessons from the next generation of agents

Inman

Think you know it all? Jimmy Burgess shares the insights you can glean from working with younger Gen-Z and millennial real estate agents.

Agents 144
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Active and New Home Listings Increased in January, But Potential Buyers Aren’t Biting 

Appraisal Buzz

Active listings of homes for sale increased in January to the highest level since early in the pandemic, Redfin reports. They climbed 0.3% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted basis in January and 12.9% year-over-year. In addition, new listings are now at the highest level since July 2022, increasing 1.9% month over month and 4.7% year over year.

Buyers 195
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Doomscrolling detox: Stay informed without spinning out

Inman

Spiraling over the latest news reports? Check out Christy Murdock’s five tips for keeping up without freaking out.

Brokerage 131
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AMCs Overcharging Consumers? Morgan & Morgan Investigates

Appraiserblogs

Morgan & Morgan, a prominent law firm, is currently investigating the practices of Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) and their potential role in driving up the cost of appraisals for consumers. The firm is actively seeking input from individuals who believe they have been overcharged or misled about the allocation of their appraisal fees between the AMC and the appraiser.

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Pasadena ADU program offers second shot at affordable housing

Inman

To qualify, applicants must have owned and occupied the main property for at least five years, maintain a credit score above 650 and have a debt-to-income ratio below 40 percent.

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Carney backs modular housing as affordability crisis solution

Mortgagebroker News

Liberal contender wants to incentivize prefab housing to lower costs and speed up construction

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Onity restructures debt and has most profitable year since 2013

Inman

After posting $33 million in profit in 2024, PHH Mortgage's parent company said Thursday it will invest further in loan servicing and the originations technology that handles a majority of its customer inquires.

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33.2% of All Listed Homes Have Cut Prices, The Highest Mark in February For Over a Decade

BiggerPockets

Remember the heady months after the pandemic, when interest rates and inventory were at rock bottom, and house prices and bidding wars for them were through the roof?

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Now live: Inman On Tour Miami early bird tickets

Inman

Inman Connect New York is renowned for gathering the brightest minds in real estate, offering unparalleled access to expert insights and networking opportunities. This January, join industry leaders at the Hilton Midtown for transformative discussions on technology, branding and market strategies to propel your business into 2025. Discover how to leverage this premier event to enhance your professional growth and adapt to the ever-changing real estate landscape.

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5 Best Places to Live in BC for Real Estate Investment

D Fritz Appraisals

From Cities to Mountain Towns The Best Places To Live in BC for Real Estate Investment If youre looking at real estate investment, British Columbia offers endless opportunities. From vibrant and bustling urban centres to serene mountain towns, BC offers diverse communities that cater to every lifestyle. With our 40+ years of experience in the real estate industry, weve seen firsthand how certain areas in BC consistently stand out as top choices for both homeowners and investors.