Mon.Apr 15, 2024

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GSEs will not count buyer agent commissions as IPCs

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not count buyer’s agent commissions as part of their allowable interested party contributions (IPCs), according to announcements from the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) on Monday. The GSEs noted that this guidance was not an update to their selling guides but a clarification on the treatment of seller-paid real estate agent fees.

Buyers 532
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From Forms to Reports: A Look at the UAD Overhaul

Appraisal Buzz

By now, most appraisers are aware that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) have embarked on a complete overhaul of the Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD). UAD originated in 2010 and since then we appraisers are accustomed to using codes like “C4,” “N;Res,” and “1200sf0sfin” in our mortgage appraisal reports to communicate the results of our analysis. These codes, or language, make sense to appraisers but confuse uninitiated readers of our reports.

Appraisal 397
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As a ‘higher-for-longer’ rate scenario unfolds, how is the mortgage industry adapting?

Housing Wire

Last week’s above-consensus inflation figures brought the mortgage market back to a sour reality: The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, an index closely watched by industry experts, may be close to or even above the 7% level for longer than previously expected. If this scenario unfolds, analysts and executives will be ready to update their baseline expectations for 2024, including fewer refinance and purchase loans than previously forecast.

Mortgage 482
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LenderLogix Data Shows Increase in Home Buying Activity in Q1

Appraisal Buzz

LenderLogix , a provider of mortgage point-of-sale and automation software for banks, credit unions, independent mortgage banks, and brokers, has released its first-quarter Homebuyer Intelligence Report, a summary of insights into borrower behavior during the home buying process based on data collected by the LenderLogix suite of tools. The latest report covers data collected during the pre-approval and borrower application process during the first quarter.

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Reuters: Reverse mortgages can help caregivers avoid ‘raiding’ savings

Housing Wire

As older people increasingly express their preference to age in place in their own homes, family members will oftentimes be required to provide some semblance of care for their loved ones in later life. Caregiving challenges can be compounded if there’s only one child in the family, but a reverse mortgage could offer a solution, according to a column published by Reuters.

Mortgage 476
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Supreme Court to HomeServices: Sitzer/Burnett verdict stands

Real Estate News

The brokerage lost its bid to have the verdict tossed out, leaving it with fewer options as the lone defendant in the landmark commissions case.

Brokerage 279

More Trending

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How the MLS has endured, and what the future holds

Real Estate News

In the third of a three-part series, RESO CEO Sam DeBord explains why rules are critical to the MLS and how shifts in the industry influence MLS functions.

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Profit-sharing lawsuits continue to pile up on Keller Williams

Housing Wire

Keller Williams was named to an additional class-action lawsuit this week that takes issue with alterations made to the brokerage’s profit-sharing program. In the past few weeks, 11 agents formerly affiliated with Keller Williams — Jerri Moulder, David Bueker, Robert Hill, Kevin Ortiz, Edward Fordyce, Paul Davis, Penny Alper, Jana and Dennis Caudill, Eric Mendoza and Jack Levine — took legal action against the real estate brokerage by filing seven separate class-action lawsuits.

Brokerage 465
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No quick judgment for home sellers in commissions case

Real Estate News

The judge in Sitzer/Burnett declined the plaintiffs’ motion to enter a $5.4 billion award, saying other motions and settlements need to be finalized.

Sellers 276
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High mortgage rates are fueling strong inventory growth

Housing Wire

We saw a big jump in mortgage rates last week. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage, according to the HousingWire Mortgage Rates Center , is now over 7.2% — that’s 50 basis points above where we were at the start of the year. At that time, most of the voices in the media assumed that mortgage rates had peaked and would fall by now. But the U.S. economy continues to be powerfully strong and with each new economic data release, it seems less likely that we’ll see the Federal Reserve cut short-term inte

Inventory 459
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LA nets biggest deal yet this year at $62.8M for spec mansion

Inman

The European-style home is located in the Hollywood Hills' coveted Bird Streets. The sale marks a breakthrough for a market that's been crippled by high interest rates and a mansion tax.

Marketing 198
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Origins: From managing restaurants to reverse mortgage partnerships

Housing Wire

In the late 2000s, Ryan Schmidt was a restaurant manager with no real understanding of the reverse mortgage product. It wouldn’t take long for that to change, however, and Schmidt now serves as the vice president of partner engagement at Finance of America Reverse (FAR), the reverse mortgage industry market leader in the U.S. No single reverse mortgage professional takes the same path into the business, and in the latest edition of RMD’s “ Origins ” feature series, we sit down with Schmidt to le

Mortgage 448
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Builder Sentiment Unchanged in April

Eyes on Housing

Builder sentiment was flat in April as mortgage rates remained close to 7% over the past month and the latest inflation data failed to show improvement during the first quarter of 2024. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes was 51 in April, unchanged from March, according to the National Association of.

Mortgage 195
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REcolorado MLS CEO on the power of data and the MLS

Housing Wire

Gene Millman, president and CEO, REcolorado The value of the MLS cannot be understated. REcolorado has strategically boosted that value with a focus on building a trusted, cooperative, and comprehensive real estate marketplace to position customers for success. With the real estate industry adjusting to the National Association of Realtors commission lawsuit settlement agreement , the importance of a tried and trusted MLS business partner is undeniable.

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DataTrace Expands Depth of Title Plants in Eight Florida Counties

Appraisal Buzz

DataTrace , a provider of data and automation solutions to the title and settlement services industry, has expanded the historic depth of title plants in eight Florida counties, each title plant leveraging the company’s proprietary artificial intelligence and automation technology. DataTrace’s expanded Florida coverage now dates back 30 years in Charlotte, DeSoto, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Martin, Okeechobee, and Sumter counties.

Legal 195
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Q2 AgentPulse survey: Low inventory is greatest challenge

Housing Wire

Although more agents are fielding questions about the commission lawsuits than they were a quarter ago , they also remain optimistic about where the housing market is headed in the second quarter of 2024, according to the RealTrends Q2 2024 AgentPulse survey. The survey, which was conducted between the end of March and early April, garnered 138 respondents: 34 from the Northeast, 29 from the Southeast, 21 from the Midwest, 38 from the Southwest and 16 from the Northwest.

Inventory 448
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Redfin: More Than Two-Thirds of Renters Think They’ll Never Own a Home

Appraisal Buzz

More than two thirds of renters (38%) in the U.S. say they’ll never own a home due to lack of affordability, a recent survey from Redfin shows. That’s up from roughly one-quarter (27%) less than a year ago, according to the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Nearly half (44%) of renters who don’t believe they’ll buy a home in the near future say it’s because available homes are too expensive.

Brokerage 195
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NAMB partners with Roomvu on digital marketing efforts

Housing Wire

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) announced a partnership with artificial intelligence (AI)-based video marketing platform Roomvu to provide mortgage brokers with marketing tools. The new partnership will make digital marketing easier for NAMB members to market their services with automation tools to create content and distribute newsletters, the association said.

Marketing 438
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Will lawsuits end 6% commissions? Probably not, 1 law professor says

Inman

A provision in NAR's settlement barring listing agents from offering buyer agents compensation is "largely symbolic," USC professor Jordan Barry said Friday at a University of Minnesota conference.

Law 192
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A&D Mortgage revamps its partner portal

Housing Wire

Wholesale lender A&D Mortgage unveiled a new and enhanced version of its partner portal, Artificial Intelligence in Mortgage, or AMI, on Monday. The AI -powered portal integrates advanced technologies into A&D Mortgage’s existing partner portal. It notably features a more intuitive user interface, seamless point-of-sale integration, and robust compliance and data security measures.

Mortgage 353
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AJ Canaria Creative Services joins LeadingRE Solutions Group

Inman

Global real estate network Leading Real Companies of the World (LeadingRE) has added photography services provider AJ Canaria Creative Services to its Solutions Group, a family of industry vendors it champions to its 550 members.

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AI to Counter Flawed Appraiser Bias Narrative

Appraiserblogs

In reality, appraisers have a great story to tell, but we have a long way to go to refocus the terribly flawed “appraiser bias” narrative onto facts and science. Last week’s email from Cindy Chance, the CEO of the Appraisal Institute, marks an important and long overdue shift in the organization’s approach to addressing accusations of bias in the appraisal profession.

Appraisal 150
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Lessinger: Bottom line, RE/MAX settlement was ‘a great decision’

Inman

Inman caught up with RE/MAX LLC President Amy Lessinger to discuss her first few months on the job and her vision for the road ahead.

Brokerage 186
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Option for Shared Appreciation Now Included with Click n’ Close DPA Mortgage Product Suite

Appraisal Buzz

Multi-state wholesale and correspondent mortgage lender Click n’ Close has expanded its suite of down payment assistance (DPA) loan products to include a shared appreciation option to help address the affordability challenges facing homebuyers. “It’s no secret that the combination of rising interest rates, limited inventory and growing property appreciation have made it more difficult for potential homebuyers to purchase in today’s market.

Mortgage 150
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3 ways to lead by example — and focus on what you can control

Inman

Want to increase your impact and improve your business? New Inman contributor Amy Hullet says the key is taking a genuine interest in people and getting out there to meet them where they are.

Business 183
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Will We Buy Homes in Bitcoin Someday? I Don’t Think So, and Why You Shouldn’t Either

BiggerPockets

I don’t invest in Bitcoin because I am betting on the continuation of Western civilization, not its collapse or decline.

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Ditch generic marketing: Convey your value with storytelling

Inman

Forget the infographics, lists and pie charts, broker Teresa Boardman writes. Instead, tell a compelling story about how you've helped your clients.

Marketing 183
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Home Prices in Pittsburgh Are Up 22%, Making It The Fastest Gainer in the U.S.—Here’s Why Prices There are Exploding

BiggerPockets

Pittsburgh has the hottest housing market in the country. Who knew?

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Coldwell wins St. Louis agent Laura MacDonald back from Compass

Inman

MacDonald is the latest agent to boomerang back from a previous brokerage amid intense competition. In 2023, while an agent at Compass, she closed approximately $20 million in sales volume.

Agents 183
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Beyond the Mailbox: Innovative Direct Mail Strategies That Win in Today’s Market

BiggerPockets

This article is presented by DealMachine. Read our editorial guidelines for more information.

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Federal courts hand HomeServices a win (and a loss) in Sitzer | Burnett

Inman

The U.S. Supreme Court denied the real estate franchisor's request for consideration on Monday, but the plaintiffs won't be able to lay $4.7 billion in damages at HomeServices' feet — at least not yet.

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Seeing Greene: Paying Off Rentals, Estimating Crime, & Replacing Your Salary

BiggerPockets

Should I pay off my rental property or reinvest? How do I replace my six-figure salary with cash flow from real estate investing?

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Recruiting War ’24: For brokerages, headhunt pivots to cream of crop

Inman

Agent headcount — once a ubiquitous barometer of brokerage success — has faded, interviews and new Inman Intel Index results reveal. Instead, focus has shifted to "the better and best agents.

Brokerage 179
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Real estate industry reacts to Trudeau's 2024 housing plan

Mortgagebroker News

Groups see positives but argue affordability crisis will roll on