Wed.May 25, 2022

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Mortgage apps decline 1.2% despite drop in rates

Housing Wire

Despite a decline in mortgage rates last week, mortgage application volume was down 1.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending May 20. The decline, as measured by the Mortgage Bankers Association ’s (MBA’s) Market Composite Index, continued to be led by a drop in the refinance share of mortgage activity, which has been consistent for more than two months. .

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How Buying or Selling a Home Benefits the Economy and Your Community

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, chances are you’re focusing on the many extraordinary ways it’ll change your life.

Marketing 300
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Opinion: why innovation in a builder matters to homebuyers

Housing Wire

The real estate industry is in the stages of a seismic shift to fully digital experiences. A new generation of digitally native homebuyers and sellers are expecting online experiences , in every type of transaction, and more convenient and seamless ways to find, tour, purchase, and sell homes on their own terms. As a result, there are a growing number of tech-driven companies racing to meet the growing demand.

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New Single-Family Home Size Trends

Eye on Housing

An expected impact of the virus crisis is a need for more residential space, as people use homes for more purposes including work. According to first quarter 2022 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis, median single-family square floor area inched down to 2,310 square feet. Average (mean) square footage for new.

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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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VA removes pre-approval process for some loans?

Housing Wire

The Department of Veterans Affairs last week announced it is streamlining the loan approval process for borrowers with a VA-appointed fiduciary and for veteran borrowers who apply for a joint loan. Effective immediately, lenders no longer must send such loan applications to the VA for guaranty approval prior to closing, which should speed up the loan closing process.

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Two reasons housing inventory is so low right now (Podcast)

The Mortgage Report

Why is housing inventory so low right now, and what will it take to bounce back? Learn more on The Mortgage Reports Podcast.

Mortgages 122

More Trending

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VR in Real Estate? It’s Closer Than You Think

Realty Biz

Virtual reality is often the subject of lots of science-fiction speculation. Today, VR is often in entertainment news thanks to commercially available products, but these are often seen as little more than expensive toys. Yet more and more evidence is pointing towards how VR may intersect with the real estate industry, and not in decades or years, either.

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Keller Mortgage eliminates some operations positions

Housing Wire

Keller Mortgage , part of the kwx holding company, laid off operations positions in a conference call on Monday May 23, according to more than a dozen employees. Pink slips will arrive for affected employees on May 27 and no later than June 1. The layoffs included closing managers, underwriter managers, processors, post closers, funders, and pipeline management positions who were in the retail channel, employees that were notified of their layoffs told HousingWire.

Mortgages 418
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Arizona real estate mega team leaves Keller Williams for eXp

Real Trends

Top performing Mesa, Arizona-based Impact Real Estate Team is making the leap from Keller Williams to eXp Realty. The team of roughly 50 agents was the No. 16 ranked mega team in Arizona in 2021, according to RealTrends data , recording nearly $64 million in sales volume. Matt Chick and Jeremy Fuhst are Impact Real Estate’s team leaders and founders.

Brokerage 113
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LOs and brokers, are you prepared for an evolving workforce?

Housing Wire

There’s no question that 2022 has seen serious changes to the housing market. Between significantly fewer refinances, rising mortgage rates and housing inventory nearly cut in half since 2020, loan officers (LOs) and brokers face a pivotal time where adaptation is a must for success. In a housing market vastly different from the pre-pandemic period, how can industry professionals position themselves to achieve growth despite these current obstacles?

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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 and refinance rates today, May 25, 2022

The Mortgage Report

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Average mortgage rates fell by a worthwhile amount yesterday. And you have to go back to the last week of April to find lower ones. […].

Mortgages 111
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Long Blighted, Newly Revamped Batcave Gets Ready for Debut as Gowanus Arts Center

Brownstoner

The scaffolding is down, the new windows are in, the extension is complete and the bricks are bright. It’s almost time for Powerhouse Arts to take over its new location at Gowanus’ famed Batcave. The years-in-the-making transformation of the 118-year-old coal-burning MTA powerhouse has been closely followed by the local community… Read More > The post Long Blighted, Newly Revamped Batcave Gets Ready for Debut as Gowanus Arts Center appeared first on Brownstoner.

Closing 105
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Video of the Week: A Secluded Modern Home in New Canaan, Connecticut

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Featuring curated videos from the most sought-after destinations the world over, discover this week’s Video of the Week. ?. New Canaan, Connecticut | Fatou Niang, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. In Connecticut, a modern farmhouse meets SOHO loft. On 2.65 secluded acres at the end of a long tree-lined driveway sits this stunning modern/contemporary home.

Design 101
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Boerum Hill Townhouse With Wood-Burning Fireplaces, Winding Stair, Deck Asks $2.85 Million

Brownstoner

There are so many endearing details at 386 State Street. Located in Brooklyn's leafy Boerum Hill neighborhood, the townhouse features exposed brick, a central staircase that winds from the ground floor to the top floor, exposed wooden beams, and two wood-burning fireplaces, both with carved marble mantels. The heart of 386… Read More > The post Boerum Hill Townhouse With Wood-Burning Fireplaces, Winding Stair, Deck Asks $2.85 Million appeared first on Brownstoner.

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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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Top Reasons to Buy Birmingham Investment Properties

Marco Santarelli

If you are thinking of buying Birmingham Investment Properties in 2022 , you might be wondering whether it is the right decision or not. Well, for a start let us know a little bit about this beautiful city of Birmingham. It is in no doubt the most populous city in the state of Alabama. Several factors have led to the truth of this statement. It is 330 square kilometers of land and 5.2 square kilometers of water.

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Woodwork-Filled PLG Limestone With Pier Mirror, Built-ins Asks $1.985 Million

Brownstoner

In the Prospect Lefferts Gardens Historic District, this single-family row house has the gleaming woodwork and design details expected of an early 20th century row house by prolific architect Benjamin Driesler. At 252 Lincoln Road, it dates to 1909 to 1910, according to the designation report, and is one of… Read More > The post Woodwork-Filled PLG Limestone With Pier Mirror, Built-ins Asks $1.985 Million appeared first on Brownstoner.

Design 98
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Floor plans: a real estate agent’s secret superpower

Real Trends

The residential real estate market is no stranger to floor plans — they’re often part of the home-buying process, typically as a marketing asset on a listing. However, in recent months, floor plans have significantly increased in importance to the sale, moving from a nice-to-have to a must-have for real estate professionals. Why have floor plans shifted to secret superpower status?

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Take a Stroll Through Brooklyn History With Four Municipal Art Society Walking Tours in June

Brownstoner

With the arrival of warm weather and the surge of in-person events, you can put on your walking shoes and explore Brooklyn history with guided wanders through four neighborhoods this month. The Municipal Art Society has tour offerings in Prospect Heights, Crown Heights North, Red Hook and Gowanus in June. On… Read More > The post Take a Stroll Through Brooklyn History With Four Municipal Art Society Walking Tours in June appeared first on Brownstoner.

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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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Should You Invest in Short Sale Homes?

Mashvisor

Homeowners list their properties as short sale homes when their values drop below the amount of mortgage owed and they can’t pay it back.

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Daily Links: Luxury Apartments at East New York’s Empire Dairy Move Ahead

Brownstoner

In the News The Suspect in a Fatal Subway Shooting Is in Police Custody [NYT] Eric Adams Faces Pressure on New York’s Housing Crisis as Rents Rise [NYT] Viral Video Shows Large Crowd Swarm Greenpoint Open House [NYP] Green Options Come to Brooklyn’s Wedding Industry [Eagle] New Supermarket to Debut on Bed Stuy’s Tompkins Avenue… Read More > The post Daily Links: Luxury Apartments at East New York’s Empire Dairy Move Ahead appeared first on Brownstoner.

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As homes for sale dry up, buyers look to remodels and teardowns

Realty Biz

Challenged to find a suitable home for sale, an increasing number of buyers are looking instead towards more rundown abodes with “good bones” that could potentially be given a lick of paint and a new lease of life. Buyers today are struggling to find good homes for sale. According to the most recent data from the National Association of Realtors, home inventories are at record lows and continue to fall.

Sales 83
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Get Good Help!

BubbleInfo

While the pandemic and world war are raging, the stock market is diving into bear territory, and all media is burying the real estate market, I put two listings on the open market for four days and get three offers on each and sell them both for over list at a time when people are […].

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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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AgentStory Launches, Providing Consumers Unprecedented Transparency on Real Estate Agent Performance

Realty Biz

A Miami-based real estate technology startup is providing new transparency in the process of selecting an agent to help buy or sell a home with the launch of AgentStory , a platform where consumers can access formerly unavailable information about real estate agents in their market. AgentStory’s beta has been so successful that the startup is “putting its money where its mouth is” and virtually guaranteeing the performance of the agents recommended in its MatchIndex score, offering $1,000 to use

Agents 81
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Deal Killers

BubbleInfo

Last week, reader TOB talked about a buyer he knew who walked away from a deal over the Rampart fireplace. Here’s a list of other issues that might be deal-killers, but we try to find a way to solve them before giving up! [link].

Agents 75
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What’s the difference between a Home Equity Loan, HELOC, and Credit Cards

Realty Biz

A Home Equity Loan and a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) are not the same thing. In general, a home equity loan is a better financial tool for most consumers. Both are ways to finance large expenses by borrowing against the equity in your home minus closing costs. Equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and what your home is worth.

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How home builders have adapted to the rise in multi-generational co-living

The American Genius for Real Estate

(EDITORIAL) Multi-generational living and landlord co-living has seen a rise in popularity. How are builders keeping up? The post How home builders have adapted to the rise in multi-generational co-living appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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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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[News] Rent Prices Hit Record High Across the Country

Mashvisor

Irvine CA – Leading global property information, analytics, and data solutions company CoreLogic recently released its latest rent prices report.

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How to tell if your friends in the real estate world are true and genuine

The American Genius for Real Estate

(EDITORIAL) How can you know who your true business friends are? In the cutthroat world of real estate, can you even have people that you can depend on? The post How to tell if your friends in the real estate world are true and genuine appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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7 Lessons About Selling Properties from the HGTV Show “Unsellable Houses”

Mashvisor

Scared of investing in ugly homes? “Unsellable Houses” reminds us that even the seemingly hopeless properties can be turned into buyer magnets.

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Is It Time To Put Modern Farmhouse Style Out to Pasture?

Realtor.com

Realtor.com. “ House Party” is the official Realtor.com® podcast about the overlapping worlds of home and pop culture, hosted by Rachel Stults and Natalie Way. Click the player above to hear our take on this week’s hot topics. Real Simple senior editor Katie Holdefehr joins us for a deep dive into one of the most pervasive home design trends ever, modern farmhouse.

Design 63
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Boldtrail Backoffice - Take The Quiz to See What Package Is Right For You

BoldTrail BackOffice provides a single, streamlined solution to manage agent onboarding and billing and commission tracking and disbursements, along with agent management, reporting, and accounting - so your brokerage can run smoothly & profitably. Our #1-rated back office solutions have exactly what your business needs to deliver a seamless experience for your clients and your team.