Wed.Jan 13, 2021

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Fed considers regulating AI used by financial institutions

Housing Wire

The Federal Reserve is looking into the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning, and is considering stepping up its oversight of these technologies used by financial institutions. Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard spoke at the AI Academic Symposium virtual event on Tuesday, hosted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, saying it is important that the use of AI by the financial community is leading to equitable outcomes for consumers.

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Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures?

Keeping Current Matters

At the onset of the economic disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the government quickly put into place forbearance plans to allow homeowners to remain in their homes without making their monthly mortgage payments. Today, almost three million households are actively in a forbearance plan. Though 29.4% of those in forbearance have continued to stay current on their payments, many have not.

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New-year optimism reflected in mortgage applications jump

Housing Wire

Mortgage applications jumped 16.7% after a 4.2% drop last week , according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The jump underlines the seasonality behind last week’s decreas e in mortgage rates, as well as the expectation of additional fiscal stimulus from the incoming administration, per MBA Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting Joel Kan.

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Canada’s Mortgage Lenders Have Set Aside A Record Amount For Bad Loans

Better Dwelling

Canada’s real estate markets are booming, but lenders are preparing for mortgage losses. Bank of Canada (BoC) data shows the allowance for credit losses due to mortgages reached a record high in Q3 2020. The record was reached with the biggest surge in the annual rate of growth since the Great Recession. Allowance For Credit […]. The post Canada’s Mortgage Lenders Have Set Aside A Record Amount For Bad Loans appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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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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Here’s the salary you need to buy a home in five of the largest U.S. cities

Housing Wire

If you’re considering purchasing a home, you probably have a lot of questions. One being, how much do you need to earn in a year to afford a mortgage in the U.S.? . Since home prices vary state-by-state, the salary you need to qualify for a mortgage in the U.S. depends a great deal on where you live. For example, the median price of a home in New York is typically more expensive than a home in Wisconsin.

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Impact of the CARES Act on mortgage servicing operations

Housing Wire

Since the CARES Act was signed into law, homeowners across the U.S. have taken advantage of its mortgage relief provisions. In fact, as of November 2020, a total of 6.5 million borrowers had been, or still were, on a COVID-19-related forbearance plan, either through the CARES Act or another program. Fortunately, the forbearance programs and foreclosure moratoria have protected many Americans from losing their homes during the pandemic.

Mortgages 475
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Minor Home Improvement Projects Can Provide Major Returns

Realty Biz

Home Improvement projects are a great way to increase the value of your home. Especially if you are getting ready to sell your home. Granted, some remodeling projects can cost a fortune and take a lot of time to complete. Major projects like, finishing an unfinished basement or building an addition to your home are costly undertakings that can require months to complete.

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UWM will partially refund borrowers for late appraisals

Housing Wire

United Wholesale Mortgage ( UWM ) unveiled a new policy this week, telling brokers that appraisals will be completed within 10 business days or they’ll refund 50% of the appraisal cost back to the customer. The initiative, called “Appraisal Promise,” drops just a week before the wholesale lender’s Wall Street debut on Jan. 22.

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What I learned as a first-time home buyer of an old house

Zolo

Tips to help you buy and fix up that old house on a budget. The post What I learned as a first-time home buyer of an old house appeared first on Zolo.

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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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Guaranteed Rate now has a path toward an IPO, whether its CEO wants it or not

Housing Wire

It took a few years, but Victor Ciardelli has finally captured the one that got away. The founder and CEO of Guaranteed Rate , which originated $73 billion in mortgages last year, has made joint ventures and acquisitions a cornerstone of his growing business. In 2017, Guaranteed Rate struck a deal with the largest real estate brokerage conglomerate in the country, Realogy , to form a landmark joint venture.

Brokerage 415
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We Bought a House Sight Unseen—and It Turned Out To Be a Total Nightmare

Realtor.com

Katsumi Murouchi; ablokhin; Anna Peisl/Getty Images I thought I was up to the challenge of a long-distance home purchase during a pandemic. After all, I was moving back to my hometown after only three years away. I knew the area. Family members could fill in the rest. I had a trusted real estate agent from my last house purchase. Plus, I look at real estate listings as a hobby even when I’m not in the market for new property.

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Visa, Plaid terminate $5.3 billion merger agreement

Housing Wire

This article was originally published on FinLedger, HW Media’s new, fintech-focused sister publication. Almost exactly a year after announcing their $5.3 billion merger, Visa and Plaid have called off the proposed marriage, and the U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to drop its antitrust lawsuit challenging the deal. Visa announced termination of the deal and the lawsuit in a Jan. 12 news release.

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I got a Report of Available Funds letter from a lender. Is it a scam?

The Mortgage Report

Letters titled "Report of available funds" or "You qualify for an MIP reduction" are ads trying to get you to refinance. Here's what you should know.

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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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Mortgage Tech: Black Knight, CoreLogic and Mutual of Omaha

Housing Wire

As more and more mortgage tech companies enter the scene, competition for accessibility and personalization gained speed this week as proptech touched down in more niche submarkets. Data analytics giant Black Knight unveiled a new self-service style platform aimed at correspondent lending that will allow lenders to manage conditions and validate pricing locks on Best Effort loans.

Mortgages 334
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Refinancing Soars in First Full Week of New Year

Eye on Housing

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest Weekly Application Survey shows that, for the week ending January 8, 2021, mortgage application activity increased by 16.7% from the prior week on a seasonally adjusted basis, as indicated by its Market Composite Index. One of its two constituent indexes, the Purchasing Index, increased by 8% from the previous week while the other, the.

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Tips and Tricks to Raise Your Website’s Rank in 2021

Jason Fox

Tips and Tricks to Raise Your Website’s Rank in 2021. Raising your website's rank in 2021 requires that you improve your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tactics. SEO is a game of rules, and you need to implement Googles' requirements to appear on the top pages. At first, all you need to learn are the basics of keywords, tags, and content. But as you dive deeper.

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Mortgage and refinance rates today, January 13, 2021

The Mortgage Report

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Average mortgage rates rose appreciably yesterday. They haven’t fallen since Jan. 4 so they’re some way above the all-time low. But they’re still within the […].

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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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Watch out: Zillow’s terms of service have some sinister notes

The American Genius for Real Estate

(REAL ESTATE CORPORATE) Zillow’s updated terms of service allow them to make a lot of decisions with your data—none of which need your approval. The post Watch out: Zillow’s terms of service have some sinister notes appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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Carriage House on Cobble Hill’s Verandah Place With Wood Burning Fireplace Asks $2.995 Million

Brownstoner

Verandah Place is one of those little Brooklyn streets that oozes charm thanks to its row of low-scale 19th century brick homes and a location facing popular Cobble Hill Park. While not all of the modest buildings originally served as stables, 20 Verandah Place was indeed originally constructed for Brooklynites… Read More > The post Carriage House on Cobble Hill’s Verandah Place With Wood Burning Fireplace Asks $2.995 Million appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Dream Home Inspo: Miami’s Most Expensive Listings

Homes.com

Looking to buy a beach home or simply want a taste of million-dollar living? Miami's most expensive listings will leave you breathless! The post Dream Home Inspo: Miami’s Most Expensive Listings appeared first on Homes.com.

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Daily Links: FBI Arrests Son of Midwood-Based Judge for Taking Part in Capitol Riot

Brownstoner

In the News Son of Midwood Judge Arrested Over His Role in Capitol Riot [NYT] A Ready-To-Bake Pizza With Brooklyn Cred [NYT] Parks Dept. Unveils Reconstruction of Bensonhurst Park Playground [Eagle] Two-Alarm Blaze Rips Through Bed Stuy Brownstone [amNY] Long Lines in Bushwick As Hundreds Come to COVID-19 Vaccine Site [amNY] NYCHA Falsely Certified Red Hook… Read More > The post Daily Links: FBI Arrests Son of Midwood-Based Judge for Taking Part in Capitol Riot appeared first on Browns

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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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Standing Out From the Competition in a Crowded Online Space

RIS Media

Above: West + Main Founder & Owner Stacie Staub (standing) and Partner & CMO Madeline Linder. Real Estate Webmasters Provides Colorado Firm a Proven Product and Incomparable Support. Stacie Staub started out in proptech way back when it was referred to as “real estate software,” so she has a lot of experience in the segment. “Working as a marketing director for a dev company that specialized in full-service solutions for large independent brokerages across North America

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Decluttering for Dummies: Insider Secrets for Organizing Your Overflowing Book Collection

Realtor.com

clu/Getty Images Last year changed the way we do a lot of things—especially the way we live at home. Between mandatory shelter-in-place orders, canceled vacation plans, and working remotely, we’re all spending a lot more time inside our four walls than ever before. And with our houses now doing extra duty as offices, gyms, and even classrooms for the kids, there’s undoubtedly no shortage of clutter.

Design 99
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Brooklyn Artists Speak Directly to Brooklyn in BAM’s ‘Let Freedom Ring’ Installation

Brownstoner

The pandemic has changed things. Preparing the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s annual Martin Luther King Day celebration, which will be held virtually this year on January 18, the organizers wondered how to incorporate an art project into the fabric of an event that nobody can attend in person. Usually, a… Read More > The post Brooklyn Artists Speak Directly to Brooklyn in BAM’s ‘Let Freedom Ring’ Installation appeared first on Brownstoner.

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A Beginner’s Guide to ASL

American Lifestyle

The post A Beginner’s Guide to ASL appeared first on American Lifestyle Magazine.

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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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Locals Opposing Gowanus Rezoning Prepare for Potential Legal Fight

Brownstoner

Opponents of the city’s Gowanus rezoning lawyered up to potentially challenge the neighborhood-wide land use proposal in court, advocates announced Tuesday. “We intend to fight this proposal tooth and nail to make sure the very serious health and safety concerns, the economic and social justice concerns that we have are heard… Read More > The post Locals Opposing Gowanus Rezoning Prepare for Potential Legal Fight appeared first on Brownstoner.

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No-reply emails: the modern-day horror story (don’t use them!)

The American Genius for Real Estate

(MARKETING) No-reply emails may be easy to set up and distribute for customer service, but it may actually be creating a problem with a simple fix. The post No-reply emails: the modern-day horror story (don’t use them!) appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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Supercharge Your Agents’ Digital Presence

RIS Media

Elevate Agent Profiles to Attract More Clients Through Improved Digital Engagement. In today’s real estate world, agents are everywhere at once through the magic of digital communication. Emails, social media, websites and other technologies help agents constantly present themselves to current and potential clients, so it is important that they digitally put their best foot forward to attract and win more clients.

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