Thu.Feb 18, 2021

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Invest in real estate, not the stock market

Housing Wire

The stock market is a funny game. Not the kind of game that the rookie Game Stop investors are used to playing, but a real-life, action-packed, form of entertainment that toys with millions of Americans’ emotions and finances every day. You know what isn’t a game, and can also provide oh-so-sweet returns? Investing in real estate. The stock market is at an all-time high, finishing 2020 at record levels.

Marketing 528
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Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?

Keeping Current Matters

With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout 2021, or if they’ll start to rise. Recently, Freddie Mac released their quarterly forecast , noting: “The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a record low over a dozen times in 2020 and the low interest rate environment is projected to continue through this year.

Mortgages 330
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Supply chain issues still stymieing homebuilders

Housing Wire

Homebuilder confidence in single-family homes jumped one point to 84 in February from 83 in January , according to the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Per the NAHB , January’s score of 83 was a four-month low. Strong buyer demand in February helped offset supply chain challenges and a surge in lumber prices, according to Chuck Fowke, NAHB chairman.

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Lakefront Houses: Considerations For Buying a Lake House

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

Considerations When Purchasing a Lakefront Home Are you looking for a lakefront house to purchase? Pursuing lake houses for sale is not uncommon at all. Lots of folks dream of living on the water. Lakefront homes fit a particular lifestyle choice that is incredibly exciting for many people. However, when you are pursuing a property […]. The post Lakefront Houses: Considerations For Buying a Lake House appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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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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COVID accelerated migration trends, but is it sustainable?

Housing Wire

Even Norman Rockwell couldn’t put a rosier cast to New Hartford, Connecticut, in mid-autumn. On the far western outskirts of the Hartford metropolitan area, the town’s converted brick mill buildings are now occupied by restaurants that sell and serve locally grown produce and locally made artisanal cheese. A river – the Farmington – really does run through the town, shallow and sparkling, punctuated by occasional fly-fisherman.

Land 400

More Trending

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Zillow’s 3D Home tours adds AI assistance

Housing Wire

Zillow’s already-popular 3D home tour option has gotten an upgrade, now allowing potential homebuyers and renters the opportunity to view still photos and AI-generated floor plans in a shared interface. The AI can also predict room dimensions and square footage. Following a 3D tour, the interactive floor plan is automatically uploaded to the listing and can also be added to the MLS, embedded on a website, or shared via email or social media.

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Canada’s Expected Mortgage Credit Losses Reaches A Record $1.4 Billion

Better Dwelling

Despite Canada’s hot real estate market, lenders expect a record amount in losses. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows expected credit losses (ECL) jumped in Q3 2020. ECLs are now at a record high according to the agency, but are a relatively small percent of total mortgage debt. It’s a little confusing, but expected losses […].

Mortgages 130
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LoanDepot cleared $2B in profits, but margins are shrinking

Housing Wire

Just a week after its initial public offering , multichannel lender loanDepot announced that it had earned over $547 million in profits during the fourth quarter, giving it over $2 billion in earnings across 2020. The lender , whose stock price skyrocketed following a downsized IPO that debuted at $14 a share, originated $37.4 billion in mortgages during the fourth quarter.

Lending 386
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8 Ways To Use Nail Polish Remover To Clean Your House

Realtor.com

Getty Images When your nail polish chips or that cherry-red shade isn’t quite right, a cotton ball soaked with nail polish remover can give you a clean slate. But did you know that the primary ingredient in most nail polish removers can dissolve scuffs, stains, and patches of grime? If your nail polish remover contains acetone, congrats! You have a versatile household solvent at your fingertips.

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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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MBA’s Marcia Davies on the power of supporting women

Housing Wire

This HousingWire Daily podcast transcription features a crossover episode from HousingWire’s Girlfunds podcast. In this episode, Marcia Davies, chief operating officer at the Mortgage Bankers Association and HousingWire Women of Influence winner, talks about the power of leadership and what women can do to better support other women. During the episode, Davies shares her own journey in dealing with “ imposter syndrome ,” as well as actionable tips for women just starting their career.

Finance 386
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Survey: Luxury Real Estate Beats Out Other Investments

RIS Media

Luxury Portfolio International® (LPI), the luxury division of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® , recently released a study of the world’s most affluent households: “State of Luxury Real Estate.” The report focuses on consumers in the top 1-5% income bracket across 17 countries and 30 million households. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Affluent Consumer Research Company, finding that of the 30 million-plus households surveyed, more than 15.5 million

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Finicity SVP Lisa Kimball to speak at Spring Summit

Housing Wire

Lisa Kimball, senior vice president of product and strategic programs at Finicity , will speak on a panel titled What Mortgage Tech is Solving Now at HousingWire’s Spring Summit on March 4. Kimball will be joined on the panel by Nikolaos Pavlou , product marketing manager at Blend. Pandemic conditions have provided fertile ground for mortgage tech innovation.

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Lumber Headlines Broad-Based Increases in Building Materials Prices

Eye on Housing

Prices paid for goods used in residential construction ex-energy rose 2.1% in January (not seasonally adjusted) and have increased 6.8% over the past 12 months, according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Building materials (i.e., inputs to residential construction less food and energy) prices have declined just twice since December 2019.

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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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Linda O’Koniewski talks navigating real estate franchises

Housing Wire

This HousingWire Daily interview transcription features an episode with REAL Trending, a podcast that focuses on interviewing the brightest minds in real estate. In this episode, Tracey Velt, managing editor at REAL Trends , a HousingWire sister company, interviews Linda O’Koniewski, CEO of Leading Edge Real Estate in Boston, discussing the lessons she learned after finding out her former franchise pulled the plug, and they had to rebrand overnight.

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Best Home Listing Description Ever? Brutal Honesty Pays Off in Florida

Realtor.com

Philippa Main A listing for a lemon of a house has turned into sweet, sweet lemonade. The description of a decrepit home on Avoca Avenue in Zephyrhills, FL, that was listed for $69,000 mixes scathing accuracy and a serious sense of humor. The tongue-in-cheek presentation has paid off in a big way. The listing of the woebegone home has racked up hundreds of thousands of page views, and what’s more, an offer is now in place.

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Travel Dreams | 6 Homes to Add to Your Rental “Someday List”

Sotheby's International Real Estate

As travelers know, the anticipation of a vacation is part of the experience. Whether exploring a new country or returning to a beloved spot, planning and researching a trip gives the imagination the opportunity to roam free. While travel may be paused for the time being, there’s no limit on daydreaming. As your mind wanders across borders, let these six beautiful homes for rent around the world pique your interest. .

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Gains for Single-Family Built-for-Rent Construction

Eye on Housing

The number of single-family homes built-for-rent (SFBFR) construction starts posted a year-over-year increase for the fourth quarter of 2020. The SFBFR market is a way to add single-family inventory amid concerns over housing affordability and downpayment requirements in the for-sale market, particularly during a period when people want more space and a single-family structure.

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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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Canadian Real Estate Saw A “Typical” Home Price Rise Up To $73,000 Just Last Month

Better Dwelling

Everyone thinks their real estate market is hot, but they don’t realize they almost all are. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows large home price gains in January. Not just for the year, but for the actual month. The increases were actually so big, almost two dozen markets saw prices climb 5-digits. The Price […]. The post Canadian Real Estate Saw A “Typical” Home Price Rise Up To $73,000 Just Last Month appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Construction Headwinds Pick Up in January

Eye on Housing

Housing production softened in January as rising lumber prices continue to affect the housing industry. Overall housing starts decreased 6% percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.58 million units, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The January reading of 1.58 million starts is the number of housing.

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Is it worth refinancing for 1 percent? What about for 0.5 percent?

The Mortgage Report

It's often worth refinancing for 1 percent. But is it worth refinancing for 0.5 percent — or even 0.25 percent? In some cases, the answer is yes.

Mortgages 111
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Homeownership Expenses That Your Clients May Overlook

RIS Media

By the time buyers contact you for help in making a real estate purchase, they’ve likely considered their budget and determined how much they can afford to spend on a new home. They’ve probably considered a down payment, mortgage payments, closing costs, taxes and insurance. Your buyers even may have obtained pre-approval from a lender. Even when they’ve been very thorough, buyers may overlook or underestimate some of these common homeownership expenses: Lawn Care.

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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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Investors are bulk buying inner city condos on the cheap

Realty Biz

While the suburbs are making a comeback with homebuyers as seek out more space for themselves during the pandmic, investors are playing a longer-term game, betting on condos and a return to the city when the pandemic subsides. The Wall Street Journal says that investors in Manhattan are being lured by reduced prices and are now scrambling to buy up inner city condominiums in bulk.

Investor 106
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Virtual Networking Ideas for 2021

RIS Media

As a real estate agent, networking is very important for your business. However, networking in person has become a challenge. As community leaders, real estate agents can help safely connect members of their communities through online networking events. Consider what your specific community is interested in to come up with networking opportunities that would work for you.

Agents 111
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Another 861,000 Jobless Claims Filed

Eye on Housing

Weekly initial jobless claims increased for the past two consecutive weeks and reached the highest level in one month in the week ending February 13, despite the decreases in the number of COVID-19 cases. The labor market is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the road is proving to be long. The U.S. Department of Labor released the Unemployment Insurance.

Marketing 105
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4 Ways Real Estate Company Culture Can Impact Your Success

RIS Media

Choosing a brokerage with a culture that suits your needs and personality can have a tremendous impact on your real estate career. Here are four ways real estate company culture can affect your bottom line. 1. Brokerage Culture and Your Performance. When everyone in your office is working toward a common goal—whether that’s a certain number of home sales or becoming the top-ranking brokerage in town—you’ll feel compelled to put forth the extra effort to achieve that goal.

Brokerage 105
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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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Best Online Real Estate School in Utah Explains How to Succeed in their Program

Agent Drive

Enrolling in an online real estate school is the most convenient way to attain a license to be a real estate agent or broker in the state of Utah. A quality online program will provide you with everything you would expect from an in-person institution, such as experienced and trained instructors, but with the additional […]. The post Best Online Real Estate School in Utah Explains How to Succeed in their Program appeared first on AgentDrive.

Agents 105
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4 Important Home Features for Night Owls

RIS Media

Some people do their best work late at night. Others are so busy during the day that the evening is their only opportunity to enjoy personal time. If this sounds familiar, chances are you’re a night owl. For those who find themselves with a nocturnal sleep schedule, here are some of the best home features to support your late-night lifestyle without disturbing the rest of the family.

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Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for 89 Units in Bed Stuy, Starting at $524 a Month

Brownstoner

An affordable housing lottery has opened for 89 units in a 6-story building at 645 Gates Avenue, between Throop Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Bed Stuy. The building is called The Astra. Of the affordable apartments, there are 14 studios, 41 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom… Read More > The post Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for 89 Units in Bed Stuy, Starting at $524 a Month appeared first on Brownstoner.

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