Thu.Jan 21, 2021

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Mortgage rates hold steady at 2.77%

Housing Wire

The average mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan fell two basis points last week to 2.77%, according to Freddie Mac ’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Now 12 basis points above the record low set Jan. 7 , rates more closely resemble those seen over two months ago. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate also shifted downward to 2.21 from 2.23 the week prior.

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What Experts Are Saying about the 2021 Job Market

Keeping Current Matters

Earlier this month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their most recent Jobs Report. The report revealed that the economy lost 140,000 jobs in December. That’s a devastating number and dramatically impacts those households that lost a source of income. However, we need to give it some context. Greg Ip, Chief Economics Commentator at the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), explains : “The economy is probably not slipping back into recession.

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Biden appoints new HUD chief of staff

Housing Wire

After his inauguration Wednesday, President Joe Biden swore in Jenn Jones as the new chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Jones will replace former HUD Chief of Staff Andrew Hughes. She was among several senior appointees who took part in a virtual swearing-in ceremony at the White House led by Biden after the presidential inauguration earlier in the day.

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6 Ridiculously Easy Organizing Resolutions You Can Actually Stick to This Year

Realtor.com

mmpile/Getty Images If your relationship with New Year’s resolutions is anything like ours, then things tend to fall by the wayside right about—well, now. Mid-January has been statistically proven to be the time when all those well-intentioned goals get left behind and replaced with well-worn habits of years past. So if getting organized was one of your resolutions in 2021, there’s a good chance you’ve thrown in the towel and are already starting to see the clutter pile up.

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Welcome to the Future of Hospitality: Smart Rooms Start Here

Speaker: Jady West, VP of Hospitality & Chris Bennett, Head of Sales & Engineering

The modern hotel room is no longer just a place to stay—it’s an experience to remember. Today’s guests expect seamless 5G connectivity, personalized comfort, and high-tech convenience. From AI-powered smart room controls to in-room entertainment and app-based services, technology is redefining hospitality from the inside out. In this new session featuring industry pros Jady West and Chris Bennett, we’ll explore how high-speed, high-bandwidth connectivity powers the innovations that are enabling

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Hispanic households to grow the most over next 20 years

Housing Wire

In a release on Thursday , the Urban Institute projected the future headship rate — the share of adults who are the heads of households — and the homeownership rate — the share of household heads who own their homes — through 2040. Per Laurie Goodman, Urban Institute vice president of housing finance policy, policymakers and thought leaders need to understand the trajectory of the homeownership rate — where it has been, where it is going, who it has benefitted, and who it has left behind.

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Purchasing a home virtually? Here are 5 tips!

Housing Wire

Purchasing a home virtually has skyrocketed in recent months. . In fact, according to a new report from real estate brokerage Redfin, a whopping 63% of last year’s buyers made at least one offer sight-unseen, never setting a single foot inside the property before putting in a bid. In total, sight-unseen offers are now up nearly two-fold since 2018, when just 32% of buyers bought homes from afar.

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Best programs for getting a mortgage with a disability in 2021

The Mortgage Report

Learn about grants and home loans for disabled individuals that can make it easier and more affordable to buy your own home.

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Real Estate Demo Day: Chime

Housing Wire

Chime Technologies’ AI Assistant. The AI Assistant is the industry’s first AI Chatbot built on Google’s machine learning technology. The AI Assistant is saving agents time and effort while simultaneously carrying on hundreds of conversations with leads. Agents using the AI Assistant are only handed leads who have been warmed up and ready to have a conversation. #1.

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Coldwell Banker Around the World: January 2021

Coldwell Banker

For our inaugural Coldwell Banker Around the World blog post, we are heading to the sunny climate of Cascais, Portugal. In addition to becoming a popular international travel destination for leisure over the years, Pedro Abecassis, the broker-owner of the office who we spoke with, notes the area is ripe for quality investments too. The post Coldwell Banker Around the World: January 2021 appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue Matter.

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The 2025 Real Estate Roadmap to Success

Don’t just react to changes, plan for them, so you can approach the new year with confidence, direction, and a competitive edge for your business. Having a well-defined business plan helps you chart a clear course, navigate challenges, and set a foundation for growth. This workbook gives you the key steps to outline what matters and will ensure you’re moving ahead.

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Real Estate Demo Day: Century21

Housing Wire

www.century21.com. Century21.com attracts nearly 3 million users each month and generates about 500K leads for our franchisees. Our proprietary program tabulates views and the number of leads per listing and creates a report that agents and brokers can leverage win more online business and close more deals. #1. In 2020 , the CENTURY 21 ® brand continued to maintain the ”highest brand awareness” level among consumers presented with a list of real estate agencies; a trend we have upheld since 1999

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Canadians Collecting Unemployment Benefits Surges To A Record High

Better Dwelling

A record number of Canadians are collecting unemployment benefits. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows claims for regular employment insurance (EI) benefits in November. Unadjusted claims for the month came in at a record high for the data set. While it’s a historic surge, it was largely expected due to changes in the qualifying criteria. […].

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Startup profile: Propy

Housing Wire

Taken from the December/January issue of HousingWire Magazine, Propy is making its splash in the real estate transaction process. Back in 2019, the National Association of Realtors announced it was backing HousingWire 2020 Tech100 Real Estate winner Propy, a Silicon Valley startup whose real estate software aims to automate real estate transactions and allows properties to be bought and sold in an automated digital process that includes the use of cryptocurrency.

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The tables have turned: Zillow being sued for violating antitrust law

The American Genius for Real Estate

(REAL ESTATE CORPORATE) A Vermont real estate company is bringing a lawsuit against Zillow for violating antitrust laws. Will it be enough to slow the real estate giant? The post The tables have turned: Zillow being sued for violating antitrust law appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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Avoiding Lease Accounting Pitfalls in 2025: Lessons Learned from Spreadsheet Errors

Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant

Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.

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Real Estate Demo Day: Keeping Current Matters

Housing Wire

KCM Membership. Keeping Current Matters is the go-to source for real estate agents looking to simplify the market and maximize their marketing. Our robust suite of personalized content, powered by the latest housing data, helps you stand out as the market expert and saves you time to focus on what matters most: your clients. #1. Marketing Made Easy – stay connected and increase your sphere of influence with daily content that’s easy-to-share for social media and marketing campaigns. #2.

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New to Market: Matt Damon’s Zen Los Angeles Home Asks $21 Million

Fancy Pants Homes

As part of his plan of leaving Los Angeles and moving his family to the Big Apple, Matt Damon has now listed his Pacific Palisades home for sale. And he’s hoping to cash in big from the sale, asking $21 million for the Zen-inspired contemporary home set in one of LA’s most desirable neighborhoods. Recently listed with Eric Haskell , an agent with celebrity real estate brokerage The Agency , Matt Damon’s house is an architectural masterpiece with 7 bedrooms, 10 baths, tons of di

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Real Estate Demo Day: BoomTown

Housing Wire

BoomTown. BoomTown has all the tools, technology, and teams you need for real estate success. It’s the only solution that generates and manages your leads, with 300+ experts at your back. Our lead generation, consumer websites, CRM, lead qualification services, and more, come in flexible packages that scale with your success. #1. Founded in 2008. #2.

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Trying To Find a Renter? How To Show Your Apartment and Make a Great Impression

Realtor.com

Kosamtu/Getty Images If you’re a landlord who owns an investment property (bravo, by the way!) and are looking for a new tenant, you need to get your rental space up to snuff—and you need to know your facts. Luckily for you, we’re here to help! Here’s the lowdown. How much notice is required? What are the rules for showing an apartment if someone is currently living there?

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Driving Profit: 4 Pillars for Growing Your Real Estate Brokerage

In the rapidly changing real estate landscape, achieving profitability requires a strategic approach beyond traditional methods. Our guide, "The 4 Pillars to Brokerage Profitability," outlines four essential pillars for scaling your real estate business: a seamless lead-to-close technology ecosystem, tailored integrated solutions for teams and agents, value-added success services and community support, and consumer-centric operations throughout the full homeownership lifecycle.

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Notarize taps Larry D’Angelo as president and chief commercial officer

Housing Wire

This article originally appeared in FinLedger , HousingWire’s sister-publication focused on Fintech. Notarize has tapped Larry D’Angelo as its first president and chief commercial officer, the company announced on Thursday. Boston-based Notarize is a remote online notarization business that helps companies digitize across the real estate, auto, financial services and other industries.

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Housing Starts Ends 2020 Strong

Eye on Housing

Total housing starts posted a 5.8 percent increase in December (1.67 million units) compared to an upwardly revised November estimate of 1.58 million units according to the joint data release from the Census Bureau and HUD. Relative to December 2019, total starts are 5.2 percent above the annual pace of 1.59 million units. Single-family starts posted a monthly increase of.

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Fully Covered: The Wallpaper’s Gone Wild in This Palm Springs Oasis

Realtor.com

One Point Media Group A desert home slathered with wallpaper is waiting for its next owner. The home’s exterior may be sedate, but the interior is quite a jolt. “The wallpaper is a combination of pink, blue, and some silver. That’s what stands out when you walk in. You open the front door, and first thing that just stands out is the wallpaper.

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New Zillow Rental Policy Could Cost Industry ‘Tens of Millions of Dollars’

RIS Media

Last year, Zillow announced the launch of its own brokerage: Zillow Homes. Due to this, starting this year, rental listings syndicated through the MLS are no longer feeding directly to Zillow. Agents and brokers who would like their rental listing on Zillow, must now do so through Zillow’s Rental Manager, a contract-based service that starts at $9.99 weekly, per listing.

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Tech-Forward Strategies for Scaling Agent Efficiency & Accelerating Growth

As the real estate market evolves, technology has become essential for success. According to NAR, only 26% of agents feel their brokerage provides the necessary tech tools and, as a result, agents seek teams and brokerages who prioritize technology investments! Whether you manage an established team or are forming a new one, this guide outlines key considerations and necessary applications to thrive.

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Nevada real estate is a great investment

Realty Biz

According to Zillow, Nevada homes have gone up in value by 6.9% over the last year, and they’re expected to rise by 8.5% in 2021. With no capital gains tax and some of the lowest property taxes in the country, Nevada is a great place to invest in a home. The local tech career market is on the rise and more remote employees are moving from the coast every day, so the state is expected to get even hotter in the years to come.

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Women Leaders in Virtual Real Estate

RIS Media

This article first appeared in Real Estate magazine’s special-edition Women in Real Estate issue. View the entire issue here. Women make an incredible difference in the often male-dominated real estate industry. At MyOutDesk, we know this, and we celebrate women in the field. As the No. 1-rated virtual assistant company by TechRadar, I’d like to share the story and experiences of Chai Estrellanes, a virtual professional who has served thousands of real estate professionals over the

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Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 21, 2021

The Mortgage Report

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Average mortgage rates edged lower yesterday. It was a small drop but it inches them further toward the all-time low, though there’s still a way […].

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Feng Shui Staging Tips

RIS Media

If you’re looking to spice up staging strategies for your listings, you might consider incorporating some Feng Shui techniques. According to Dictionary.com , Feng Shui is “the Chinese art or practice of creating harmonious surroundings that enhance the balance of yin and yang, as in arranging furniture or determining the siting of a house.” While you may not have the time or the resources to apply every Feng Shui principle to each listing, here are some that are relatively easy

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The Broker Action Plan for the Post-NAR Lawsuit Landscape

Now more than ever, brokers need to provide agents with the right tools, strategies, and training to effectively demonstrate their expertise, negotiate successfully, and foster strong client relationships. So – what should brokers do to ensure this? Invest in the right technology, continuous education, and innovative marketing strategies that empower agents to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

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New-Home Construction Activity Soars to Highest Level in Over a Decade, as Builders Rush To Produce Single-Family Homes

Realtor.com

sculpies/Getty Images The numbers: U.S. home builders started construction on homes at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.67 million in December, representing a 5.8% increase from the previous month’s figure, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday. Permitting for new homes occurred at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.71 million, up 4.5% from November.

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Bank of Canada Index Shows Real Estate Is The Most Affordable In Years. It’s Wrong

Better Dwelling

Over the past few weeks, older homeowners have been pointing me to Canada’s Affordability Index. The index, created and maintained by the Bank of Canada (BoC) shows a big drop in Q3 2020. Further, it also spurred a few emails saying affordability was worse in the ’80s, Millennials are just complaining. Well, the issue is […]. The post Bank of Canada Index Shows Real Estate Is The Most Affordable In Years.

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Housing Starts: Strong Year-End Numbers Don’t Mean There Aren’t Risks Ahead

RIS Media

Housing starts increased 5.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.67 million units, according to the latest report from the Commerce Department. While housing starts ended 2020 on a strong note, there are still concerns surrounding rising lumber prices, as well as increasing regulatory cost concerns that may impact future production. The Breakdown: Housing Starts : 1,669,000 (+5.8% month-over-month, +5.2% year-over-year).