Mon.Mar 22, 2021

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How much cash matters in a bidding war

Housing Wire

When there’s a bidding war, cash is king. And a recent Redfin study confirmed that it’s the only sure-fire way to win that dream house in a market this crazy. Homebuyers who offer all-cash improve their chances of winning a bidding war by 290%, per Redfin’s study of clients buying homes between June 2020 and February 2021. And waiving the financing contingency is the second-most effective bidding-war strategy, Redfin officials said – improving homebuyers’ odds of wi

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What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

Keeping Current Matters

According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae , the average FICO® score on closed loans reached 753 in February. As lending standards have tightened recently, many are concerned over whether or not their credit score is strong enough to qualify for a mortgage. While stricter lending standards could be a challenge for some, many buyers may be surprised by the options that are still available for borrowers with lower credit scores.

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Existing home sales data: Look at year-over-year growth

Housing Wire

According to The National Association of Realtors, February’s existing home sales missed estimates , coming in at 6.2 million. Because February 2020 sales were strong, the year-over-year growth in sales for February 2021 is impressive at 9.1%. For the housing market, the COVID crisis started in earnest in March of 2020. The data for February 2020 showed that the housing market was set to outperform all other sectors.

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4 Essential Tips for Updating Your Kitchen Countertops

Realtor.com

Getty Images Countertops can make or break a kitchen. Over time, any well-used work surface for meal prep, dining, and cleanup endures normal wear and tear. But if your countertops have seen better days and you’re feeling stuck in a kitchen design rut, it might be time for an upgrade. “Countertops play an integral part in a kitchen’s aesthetic and functionality,” says Young Huh , a New York City–based interior designer.

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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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Leveraging the non-delegated channel to grow your business

Housing Wire

HousingWire recently sat down with AmeriHome Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director John Hedlund to discuss key growth opportunities in the non-delegated channel that lenders may be missing out on. HousingWire: What are some key growth opportunities lenders may be missing out on, and how can leveraging the non-delegated channel further growth for lenders?

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IMF Recommends Canada Implement Anti-Speculation Taxes, Cites Real Estate As Risk

Better Dwelling

Canadian real estate prices are once again the focus of an international agency. An IMF annual staff audit cites home prices as one of the biggest threats to the country’s economy. The agency suggests avoiding tax deductions and subsidies, which will compound the country’s rising inequality. They also recommend mitigating leverage build up, and taxing […].

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Canadian Household Debt Dwarfs G7 Peers, Growing Faster Than Emerging Economies

Better Dwelling

Canada’s household debt grew almost twice as fast as its economy, due largely to its addiction to housing. The country’s household debt to gross domestic product (GDP) made a sharp increase in Q3 2020. A little household debt to drive growth is normal, but the country is embracing it to the extreme. Canada’s ratio of […]. The post Canadian Household Debt Dwarfs G7 Peers, Growing Faster Than Emerging Economies appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Compass’s title firm runs into trouble in Washington

Housing Wire

The state of Washington is set to revoke the license of Modus , a title and escrow service software company owned by Compass, effective April 1. The complaint, filed in early 2020, comes from two rival firms that claimed Modus committed various co-branding and social media violations. The rivals were also aggrieved at the way Modus used its products to lure customers away from the other firms.

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Real Estate Marketing Tools to Get Leads and Drive Sales

Realty Biz

The real estate industry took a substantial setback because of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world. Realtors now face more challenges than ever to reach their customers and to maintain relevance on the market. The following set of marketing tools may help real estate agents adjust their marketing plans to get more leads, retain their interest, and finally drive sales.

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Steady exits push forbearance volume down to 5.05%

Housing Wire

With just more than a week away from the one-year anniversary of the CARES Act, new forbearance requests dropped to their lowest level since March of 2020, pushing the total number of loans in forbearance down nine basis points to 5.05% of servicers’ portfolio volume, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Monday. Alongside a dampening of requests, exits maintained a standard pace with over 100,000 homeowners having exited forbearance within the past month.

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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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Palm Beach International Boat Show Is Back This Week

Waterfront Properties

It is that time of year again for the 35th annual Palm Beach International Boat Show. The Boat Show will sail back into town this weekend. If you are looking for a boat or just a fan of boating, the Palm Beach International Boat Show is the place to be this weekend. Organizers and volunteers have rolled out enhanced safety measures this year, in collaboration with the city of West Palm Beach so boat lovers can gather along Flagler Drive and enjoy the event.

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White-label brokerage Side achieves unicorn status

Housing Wire

San Francisco-based real estate brokerage Side announced Monday that they raised $150 million, ushering in a new phase for the four-year-old company. Coatue Management , a New York City-based investment manager, led the venture capital fundraising round. Prior to the $150 million raise, Side reported raising just $63 million from outside investors, the majority of which came from a funding round led by Sapphire Ventures , according to Crunchbase.

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Mortgage and refinance rates today, March 22, 2021

The Mortgage Report

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Average mortgage rates held steady last Friday. And that was a relief after a solid week of rises. There may be more good news today. […].

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Holden Page joins HW Media as Director of FinLedger

Housing Wire

Holden Page is joining HW Media as the new Director of FinLedger. Page will be responsible for leading both FinLedger’s editorial strategy as well as its suite of advertising products and premium content. . Page will work alongside HW Media COO Diego Sanchez to continue to grow FinLedger, the fintech-focused HW Media brand launched in August 2020. Page will also edit the FinLedger Daily newsletter , which provides focused coverage of the banktech, proptech, insurtech and payments verticals, incl

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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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The Year’s Biggest Bedroom Design Trends Are So Dreamy They’ll Make You Forget 2020 Ever Happened

Realtor.com

Tessa Neustadt/Houzz The last year of quarantine had every room doing double duty, but some would say the bedroom bore the brunt of the multifunction trend. That’s because the boudoir was no longer just for sleeping but also for working and learning (or retreating from those in your home who were also working or learning). And now that 2020 is sufficiently far in the rear-view mirror, you might be interested in upgrading this retreat for actual R&R.

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Short-Term Oasis | 4 Rental Villas So Glamorous, You’ll Want to Stay Forever

Sotheby's International Real Estate

When it comes to planning a getaway, accommodations go a long way to determining the vacation experience. There are rustic cabins in the mountains, chalet in the hills, and cottages along the shore, but for an expansive and picturesque holiday, it’s hard to surpass the luxury of a well-appointed villa. Whether you’re dreaming of an extended trip or a short-term visit, these spacious houses provide the backdrop for a relaxing, rejuvenating, and inspiring holiday.

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What’s a good debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage? What lenders want to see

The Mortgage Report

What's a good debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage? Most lenders want to see 43% or lower. But a higher DTI can be ok, too. Here's what you should know.

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1-800-Got-Junk: What to Know About Pricing and Junk Removal Reviews

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

What to Know About 1-800-Got-Junk Are you wondering if you should hire 1-800-GOT-JUNK to remove unwanted items in your house? Do you need information on how much 1-800-GOT-JUNK charges for junk removal? The longer you live in a home, the more junk you are likely to accumulate. While you fill your closets and spare space […]. The post 1-800-Got-Junk: What to Know About Pricing and Junk Removal Reviews appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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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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Affordable Lottery Opens for 17 Houses for Sale in East New York, Ocean Hill, Brownsville

Brownstoner

An affordable housing lottery has opened for 17 houses for sale across a number of addresses in East New York, Brownsville and Ocean Hill, available only to first-time home buyers. Together, they are referred to as the Mother Gaston Hinsdale Homes. Two of the houses are two-families and 15 of the… Read More > The post Affordable Lottery Opens for 17 Houses for Sale in East New York, Ocean Hill, Brownsville appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Clear Kayaking in Jupiter Florida

Waterfront Properties

The pristine waterways of Jupiter, Florida, are full of beautiful marinelife such as manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, starfish, conch, sea urchin, sea cucumber, pufferfish, pelicans, and so much more Manatees are one of the most sought after gentle giants to see, which frequent our waters year round. They can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh as much as 1200 pounds, as they munch up to 150 pounds of sea grass daily Whether by boat, paddleboard, kayak, or canoo, there is so much to see.

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Daily Links: Hundreds Gather at Borough Hall to Protest Anti-Asian Violence

Brownstoner

In the News Mixed Virus Data Has Some Experts Questioning Pace of Reopening [NYT] The Perseverance of Williamsburg’s Wildflowers [NYT] Installation Honors Life and Death at Borough Hall [BP] Bed Stuy Street Co-Named for Yusuf Hawkins [BP] Protesters Rally Against Anti-Asian Violence at Brooklyn Borough Hall [NY1] Brooklynite Is NYC's First Known Case of Brazilian COVID… Read More > The post Daily Links: Hundreds Gather at Borough Hall to Protest Anti-Asian Violence appeared first on Br

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Final Week of Spring Training in Palm Beach County

Waterfront Properties

It is the final week of Spring Training games in Palm Beach County. The county is lucky to be home to four professional MLB baseball teams during their Spring Training games at two local stadiums. The Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is home to the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins. The FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is home to the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros.

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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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Living the dream through livestream

The Residential Specialist

Allen Smith, CRS, started working in real estate in 1997. Since high school, he had been working as a DJ, but he had a friend who was in real estate who encouraged him to get into the field, so he decided to give it a try. He had a couple of mentors who influenced him, and the designations they had earned included the CRS Designation. So getting that designation was always on Smith’s list of “things to do tomorrow,” but it took a while before he got around to it.

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Is Culture a Part of your Business Model?

RIS Media

Some dollar-producing activities are less obvious to us because they have since been thought of as ancillary or perhaps supplemental to our business and the work we do every day. For example, we all know that company culture is necessary for a successful business, but do we ever think of how it translates into real money? Company culture is, in fact, a source of revenue, but how often is it treated that way?

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Need a Vacation? ‘Home Town’ Reveals How To Have One at Home

Realtor.com

HGTV On “Home Town,” Erin and Ben Napier work hard to make new houses feel like home, but in the latest episode, they meet a client who’s pining for a vacation getaway. Can her house be renovated to feel like a ritzy resort? In the Season 5 episode “Retreat Yourself,” Erin and Ben are helping their own show’s producer, Angie Tarrant , find a new home in Laurel, MS.

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Mayo Clinic Q And A: Staying Active While Working From Home

RIS Media

(TNS)— Dear Mayo Clinic: I have been working from home for months now. I want to start being more active, especially because my work often requires that I sit at my desk for long periods of time. Are there any easy ways for me to add fitness into my home routine? Answer: Sitting at a desk all day can be harder than it sounds. Sitting in one position for a long period of time puts a lot of strain on the body, and can leave you feeling stiff, sore and tired.

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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.

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How to calculate square footage

Zolo

There are no standards when it comes to measuring residential housing in Canada. The post How to calculate square footage appeared first on Zolo.

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Record-Breaking Home System Usage Makes Home Warranties More Important Than Ever

RIS Media

New Industry Data Shows Finding Best Client Coverage Among REALTORS®’ Top Priorities. Results are in from our latest home warranty survey, co-sponsored by Cinch Home Services , and the numbers bear out what we’re seeing across the country in the new work-from-home environment—that usage and wear and tear of home systems and appliances is the highest it’s ever been and, as a result, home warranties for both buyers and sellers are more important than ever before.

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Perma-Squatters

BubbleInfo

Thanks to the many folks who sent in this article about a seller who stayed in his house after escrow closed. In this raging market, it is customary for listing agents to suggest seller rentbacks as one of the sweeteners to get an offer accepted, and will deliver a nice rental agreement but if the […].

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‘You’ve Got to Be Able to Tell Your Story’ — Making It for the Long Haul in Real Estate

RIS Media

Episode 18. Dan Forsman. President & CEO. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. Overview. It’s no secret that real estate agents and brokers are some of the most engaging professionals out there. To be able to do the job that they do, and work the schedule that many of them work, you need to have a positive mindset and be able to make connections with people from all walks of life.

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Real Estate Solutions: How to Crush Your Sales Goals and Fuel Your Pipeline

Speaker: Mary Maloney, Founder & Team Leader at Hometown Realty

The sales cycle in real estate is frequently measured at 3+ months. During this time, real estate agents frequently lose contact with clients and miss out on opportunities because they fail to follow up and provide value to the client. Top real estate agents are distinguished from developing agents by their ability to convert organic connections into sales opportunities.