Sat.Oct 24, 2020 - Fri.Oct 30, 2020

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Redfin faces lawsuit claiming it favors white neighborhoods

Housing Wire

The National Fair Housing Alliance and nine other housing organizations filed a lawsuit against Redfin on Wednesday, accusing the online brokerage of racial discrimination and favoritism toward predominately white neighborhoods. “Redfin redlines communities of color in this digital age by setting minimum home listing prices in each housing market on its website under which it will not offer any real estate brokerage services to buyers or sellers,” the lawsuit states.

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How Down Payment Assistance Opens the Door to Homeownership

Keeping Current Matters

Many people are eager to buy a home right now while affordability continues to be a highlight of the current housing market. However, a recent survey by Sparks Research shows that 20% of first-time homebuyers cite a lack of financial education as a barrier to homeownership. This is definitely understandable. If you don’t feel comfortable with the financial process of buying a home, it’s hard to make a confident decision.

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9 Comics That Show What It’s Like Being a Real Estate Agent

Lighter Side of Real Estate

Agents: Share articles like these with your branding on them. Learn More. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Members: Sign in here to share this article with your branding. Sign in here. Not a member? Seriously? Learn how you can share articles like this one with your branding. Learn more. The post 9 Comics That Show What It’s Like Being a Real Estate Agent appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

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Home Price Appreciation Accelerates in August

Eye on Housing

In August, home price appreciation accelerated in major markets across the nation. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, reported by S&P Dow Jones Indices, rose at a seasonally adjusted annual growth rate of 12.1% in August, faster than an 8.9% increase in July. It marks the highest annual growth rate since April 2013.

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3 Real Estate Office Hacks to Help Kickstart the Busy Season

Ready to better your Back Office? Dive into the secrets to a powerhouse back office with Brokermint expert, Jessica Souza. In this free download, she shares her 3 transformative hacks designed to clean house, get everyone on the same page, and set yourself up for success. From optimizing agent profiles to ensuring flawless transactions and boosting agent retention, these strategies are your ticket to a seamless operation.

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Protected: A home shopper’s guide to navigating a competitive market

Housing Wire

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: A home shopper’s guide to navigating a competitive market appeared first on HousingWire.

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7 Yard Maintenance Must-Haves for New Homeowners

Realtor.com

Steve Prezant/Getty Images If you recently bought your first home, you’re probably feeling pretty overwhelmed by the whole experience. And somewhere in between setting up your house and getting to know all the neighbors, you may have overlooked one thing: the yard—or should we say, the yardwork. Unless your new digs come with landscaping service, chances are you’ll have to adapt to your new role as chief gardener—and find the best tools for the job.

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Renting an Apartment for the First Time

Point2Homes

Image: Antonio Guillem / Shutterstock.com. If you’re considering moving out of your parent’s home and into your first apartment, you’re probably pumped. Renting an apartment for the first time can be an exciting experience. Suddenly, you have the freedom to do what you want and create a living space that’s just right for your needs. But, of course, renting does come with some downsides — like having to pay your own bills.

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Refis lead the way as mortgage applications rise 1.7%

Housing Wire

After two weeks of slight declines , mortgage applications regained their footing last week, rising 1.7% from the week prior, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The refinance index led the rebound after it gained 3% from the previous week, however, according to Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, refinance activity has been somewhat volatile over the past few months.

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Buyer Interest Is Growing among Younger Generations

Keeping Current Matters

The demand for homes this year is extraordinary as record-breaking numbers of hopeful buyers continue to shop for homes. In a normal year, the peak homebuying season comes to a close by early fall. However, 2020 is anything but a normal year, and the housing market is no exception. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains : “ Home sales traditionally taper off toward the end of the year, but in September they surged beyond what we normally see during

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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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Kiss Frontman Gene Simmons Selling His Rock Star Estate for $22M in Beverly Hills

Realtor.com

Christopher Amitrano, Kevin Winter/Getty Images Kiss frontman Gene Simmons is ready to part with his Beverly Hills home of nearly 35 years. On the market for the first time ever, the palatial estate can be yours for $22 million. Josh and Matt Altman of Douglas Elliman hold the listing. Fans of the rock legend may recall that the one-of-a-kind abode was the setting for the singer’s reality TV show “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” which ran on the A&E network from 2006 until 2012.

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Broad Upzoning Makes Housing Less Affordable, And Doesn’t Add Supply

Better Dwelling

Politicians are increasingly discussing broad upzoning as a housing affordability solution. Instead of one home on a property, you can now build two homes on the same amount of land. All across the city, in some cases. The assumption is if there’s two homes on a property, it’ll be half the price. Makes sense, right? […]. The post Broad Upzoning Makes Housing Less Affordable, And Doesn’t Add Supply appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Is now a good time to sell a home?

Housing Wire

As news of rising home prices spreads, more and more homeowners consider selling their properties. . After all, higher home prices mean bigger profits, right? Unfortunately, home prices aren’t the only thing you’ll want to think about before listing your home—especially amid a pandemic. If you’re considering selling your home in the current environment, here’s what you’ll want to factor in: Buyer demand: Do people want to buy your home?

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Buying Your First House: Tips For Buyers

RIS Media

When taking on any new project, the more you know and understand, the better things are likely to go. The same is true when buying a home for the first time. With our first-time buyer tips, you should be able to avoid many of the problems that can prevent your purchase from going well. Let’s take a look at some of the key things to consider before you jump into the real estate market and buy your first house.

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Accelerating Real Estate Sales Pipelines to Streamline Buyer Journeys

Navigated 360° tours, like YourVRTours, advance pipelines by engaging clients further along the sales funnel. These immersive experiences provide comprehensive property insights, increasing buyer intent and readiness. By embracing navigated tours, agents can optimize property exposure, better qualify leads, and streamline the sales process. Stay ahead in the ever-evolving real estate landscape with innovative technology that elevates buyer journeys and progresses pipelines more effectively.

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Restored by an Acclaimed Artist, Woolworth Mansion in Scranton Is a Work of Art

Realtor.com

Jack Kirby A historically significant house has been brought into the 21st century with artistic flair, thanks to a world-renowned painter. The neoexpressionist painter Hunt Slonem is selling the stately Woolworth Mansion on Jefferson Avenue in Scranton, PA, for $1.35 million. He bought the property in 2015 for $295,000, and has spent the last five years restoring it.

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Homeownership During the Third Quarter: Technical Issues

Eye on Housing

The Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey (CPS/HVS) reported the U.S. homeownership rate declined to 67.4% in the third quarter of 2020, from 67.9% in the prior quarter. The elevated homeownership rates are line with increases in both existing and new home sales in the second quarter. The national rental vacancy rate increased, while the homeowner vacancy rate remained unchanged.

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Here are the top 15 cities where Gen Z wants to buy a home

Housing Wire

Gen Zers are finally starting to break into the housing market. According to TransUnion, Gen Z mortgage originations jumped 84% at the end of last year, and if recent survey data from Freddie Mac rings true, those numbers should grow substantially over the coming years. . The GSE’s Generation Z Study shows that of Gen Zers — the cohort ranging in age from 8 to 23 — a whopping 89% plan to buy a home by age 30. .

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A definition of the term Starter Home and why no one should use it

The American Genius for Real Estate

(HOMEOWNERSHIP) You see the term in the MLS for fixer uppers. You hear it when Realtors are working with first time buyers. But the term "starter home" shouldn't be in anyone's vocabulary. The post A definition of the term Starter Home and why no one should use it appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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Maximizing Your Online Presence: Tips for Real Estate Agents on Social Media

Speaker: Sarah Santa Ana, Real Estate Coach, Move4Free Realty

Networking is one of the crucial elements in every real estate organization's success. Both agents and real estate companies need to maintain robust networking links. This is why social media is essential for any real estate professional! Social media enables you to stay in touch with your present clients, maintain connections with your past clients, and engage potential customers and investors.

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9 Surprising Things Home Insurance Doesn’t Cover: Do You Know Them All?

Realtor.com

tiero / Getty Images Whether your home is hit by lightning, hail, or some other calamity, you’ll be awfully glad you have a home insurance policy in place to help foot the cost of repairs. Yet while homeowner insurance typically covers a variety of common hazards that can befall your home, don’t get too confident, because it may not cover every mishap that may come your way.

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#282: The Smart Way to Start a Side Hustle, with Alan Donegan

Afford Anything

Has the economic uncertainty of 2020 made you think about creating your own stream of income? Has the turmoil of 2020 also caused you to feel so overwhelmed that you bought a plot of sand in which you bury your head on a daily basis? We get it. It’s normal to feel paralyzed by everything you need to do before you get your side hustle off the ground.

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Here’s how to build credit fast to buy a home

Housing Wire

Credit plays a huge role in the home-buying process. It also affects the interest rate you receive on your loan, as well as the long-term costs of borrowing the money. . So if you have a low credit score or no credit at all? That can definitely hold back your home-buying dreams — or at least make it more expensive. Fortunately, credit is an ever-evolving thing, and if yours isn’t perfect — or even just OK — there are plenty of ways you can improve it.

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Expectations for Housing Availability Improve

Eye on Housing

Strong new and existing home sales in the summer of 2020 may have been a factor contributing to buyers’ improved expectations for housing availability. According to the latest Housing Trends Report**, 28% of prospective buyers in the third quarter of 2020 expect their search for a home to become easier in the months ahead, while 61% percent expect it will.

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Rise of The Apps: Building Your Dream Tech Stack For Real Estate Success

Speaker: Trey Willard, Realtor/Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

In order to create continued success in today’s real estate market, realtors need to utilize an arsenal of technology that will increase their efficiency and presence on social media. Using technology to manage your prospects and tap into their needs through websites, social media, and other channels is critical for real estate success in 2022 and beyond.

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What Does Home Insurance Cover? The Facts on Fire, Flooding, and More

Realtor.com

ChristinLola / Getty Images Few things give new home buyers peace of mind about their real estate purchase as much as a solid home insurance policy. This ensures that if disaster strikes—in the form of a tornado, house fire, or otherwise—homeowners won’t be on the hook to foot the bill for expensive repairs on their own. Exactly what does home insurance cover, though?

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Luxury Real Estate Headlines: Final Week in October 2020

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Highlights from this week’s top news stories on luxury and global real estate, art, collectibles, and home. Garberville, California | Healdsburg Sotheby’s International Realty . Redwood Grove Estate was designed by architect Julia Morgan, who is also known for creating the opulent Hearst Castle for publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. The 1926 Redwood Grove Estate by Hearst Castle Architect Julia Morgan Lists for $5M – Dwell.

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Real estate tech roundup: Asteroom, Homesnap and SafeShowings

Housing Wire

Asteroom, a smartphone-based provider of mobile 3D home tours for real estate professionals, has announced a partnership with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach which gives agents access to Asteroom ’s 3D tour technology, image enhancement and 3D virtual staging capabilities. Asteroom’s technology lets agents use their smartphone camera to film 3D home tours.

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Best Upgrades for Your Rental Property

Realty Biz

A beautiful, well-maintained property is paramount to securing a potential renter. If you’re searching for high-quality renters, there are a few simple ways you can attract them. Here are some of the best upgrades for your rental property. By making these changes, your property is sure to catch people’s attention. Upgrade Amenities. Upgrading to high-quality, efficient appliances won’t just save your tenants money, but it’ll save you money, too.

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5 Data Proven Ways Agents Can Do 18% More Business

Curious as to how you could do 18% more business? How about 14 more transaction sides per year? Check out this infographic with data from a RealTrends study to learn more.