Mon.Mar 06, 2023

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The Marketing Advice All Agents Must Hear

Broke Agent Media

For this episode of the Byron Lazine Podcast , best-selling author of The Conversion Code , Chris Smith , joins Byron for a value-packed episode covering the evolution of his professional life, important relationships and how they leveled up his self-awareness and perspective, and the impact of bipolar disorder on his life and career. They go deep on Chris’s work background from Quicken Loans (nka Rocket Mortgage) to Top Producer to Inman and now Curaytor , which he describes as “an inbound mar

Agents 52
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Housing Market Tracker: Inventory drops by 11,000

Housing Wire

The housing market faced some serious obstacles last week as the 10-year yield broke over 4%, mortgage rates rose to over 7%, purchase apps fell again and we are still trying to find the elusive seasonal bottom for housing inventory. Here is a quick rundown of the last week: Purchase application data was down 6% weekly. Weekly inventory fell much more than the previous two weeks, down 11,021; new listing growth had its lowest weekly calendar print for this previous week.

Marketing 510
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Is It Really Better To Rent Than To Own a Home Right Now?

Keeping Current Matters

You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s better to rent right now than it is to own your home. But before you let that impact your decisions, you should understand what these claims are based on.

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Former LO sues Celebrity over unpaid salaries in class-action lawsuit

Housing Wire

Illinois-based mortgage lender Celebrity Home Loans and its parent company Celebrity Financial, Inc. are the target of a class-action-seeking lawsuit. A former employee is suing the companies, alleging they “abruptly terminated hundreds of its employees” without giving legally required 60-day advance notice as required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ( WARN Act ).

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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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Brokerage Beat: Expansions in the heartland, the coasts and the Caymans

Real Estate News

Howard Hanna merges with Coach, BHHS enters the Caymans, Sotheby's Realty expands in Finger Lakes, BIRCH joins Side, new owners at Seattle RE/MAX, E&V in Ohio.

Brokerage 264
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Guaranty Home Mortgage opens new retail branches in Tennessee

Housing Wire

Guaranty Home Mortgage Corporation (GHMC) on Monday announced its expansion with three new licensed retail branches in Tennessee. The new branches are located in Brentwood, Lebanon and Chattanooga. GHMC originates and purchases loans through multiple channels. The expansion is part of the company’s strategy to grow its presence and focus on residential mortgage lending.

Mortgages 418

More Trending

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The housing market faces a three-pronged challenge

Housing Wire

Growing supply shortages are holding housing prices higher, and affordability constraints coupled with elevated rates lock potential sellers in place. Home prices fell in January, pulling back by 0.24% from December to mark the smallest monthly decline in seven months, according to Black Knight ‘s mortgage monitor report. The annual home price growth rate fell to 3.43% in January, more than a full percentage point below the 30-year average.

Marketing 418
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There are 1.25 million fewer million-dollar homes in America in 2023

Inman

The share of $1 million homes in the U.S. dropped from a high of 8.6 percent in June 2022 to approximately 7 percent in January, due in part to higher mortgage rates that have cut into homebuyer purchasing power.

Mortgages 174
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Home Point Capital seeks new CFO amid efforts to improve margins

Housing Wire

Home Point Capital , the parent company of wholesale lender Homepoint , is seeking a successor to take over Mark Elbaum’s chief financial officer position. On February 24, Elbaum submitted his resignation as CFO, according to a March 1 8-K filing from the company. Elbaum’s resignation will be effective April 3 and he will continue to serve as CFO until that date to assist with Home Point Capital’s 10-K filing for 2022, the filing said.

Mortgages 416
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How bedroom design can deliver big ROI for your sellers

Inman

Bedrooms that promise great comfort and sanctuary can generate a visceral response. Well-designed bedrooms can inspire a heartfelt reaction that buyers won’t be able to ignore.

Design 158
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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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CMG acquires Homebridge’s retail assets 

Housing Wire

California-based CMG Mortgage, Inc. struck a deal to acquire the retail division of Homebridge Financial Services , the companies announced on Monday. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. CMG Mortgage, which claims it originated more than $19 billion in 2022, said the M&A deal seeks to increase its footprint on the retail lending business.

Lending 397
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Corcoran breaks into Europe with forthcoming Italian affiliate

Inman

The firm, previously known as Immobiliare Magri, will officially launch as Corcoran Magri Properties sometime in the next several weeks led by Maddalena Magri, the brokerage exclusively told Inman.

Brokerage 158
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How loan officers are dealing with surging rates and record-low inventory 

Housing Wire

It felt like somebody turned on the spigot. There were leads, referrals and action in January, after people returned from holiday vacations and rates declined, said Don Monson, branch manager at Sente Mortgage. He was cautiously optimistic for a better 2023. Monson had hoped for a “spring rush,” but recently, somebody turned the spigot back off. “It’s almost like there was a false start,” Monson said.

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Why real estate lawsuits are increasing in 2023: The Real Word

Inman

This week, hosts Byron Lazine and Nicole White are talking about the rise of lawsuits, how great agents build relationships and the rollout of NAR’s new ad campaign.

Agents 158
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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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Remodelers’ Average Net Profits are Down, NAHB Study Shows

Eye on Housing

Residential remodeling companies, just like any other private enterprise in a capitalist economy, exist to satisfy the demand of consumers for specific products or services in exchange for a rate of profit commensurate with the risk taken. Companies control when they enter or exit the industry, but their financial performance is intrinsically linked to external factors, such as the number.

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Pandemic-fueled ‘lock-in effect’ likely to limit new spring listings

Inman

Black Knight data shows new listing volume is down 25 percent in January compared to pre-pandemic levels, the biggest drop since most of the country was in lockdown.

Sales 158
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How to Buy a House in the Bay Area: 14 Steps to Close the Sale

HomeLight

Looking to buy a home in a region with good schools, job opportunities, outdoor activities, and endless choices in restaurants? You may just want to consider a move to California’s Bay Area. While it’s long been considered a hub for big tech, the Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, Oakland, San José, and Sonoma, is also family friendly, diverse, and rich in arts, culture, and history.

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CHALLENGE: Refresh your bio and headshot in 7 days

Inman

There’s never been a better time to switch up your marketing and branding. Take this seven-day challenge to put your best face (and bio) forward.

Branding 158
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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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No, billionaires shouldn’t try to ‘save’ the housing market

The American Genius for Real Estate

Grant Cardone suggested that he and other investors should 'save' the housing market - predictably, Reddit hasn't stopped laughing.

Marketing 105
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SUCCESS Enterprises announces Amy Somerville as new CEO

Inman

EXp World Holdings has tapped veteran professional development leader and strategist Amy Somerville to lead SUCCESS Enterprises, according to an announcement on Monday. As CEO, Somerville will oversee SUCCESS Enterprises' flagship print magazine SUCCESS and companion digital media properties.

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What Is the Average Cost of a Home Appraisal in California?

HomeLight

If you are buying or selling a home in California or considering refinancing your Golden State home, knowing what affects the average cost of a home appraisal will provide insights to help you make the best financial decisions about the property. In this post, we’ll examine the average cost of a home appraisal in California, what factors influence the cost, and answer all your questions related to the appraisal process.

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Family matters: 5 marketing tips based on NAR’s multi-generational data

Inman

Far from a temporary, pandemic-era adaptation, multi-generational households are more popular than ever. Find out what NAR’s recent study reflects and how you can be sensitive to the needs all of your buyers.

Marketing 158
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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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BiggerNews: Mortgage Rate Mayhem and New Rules That Could RUIN BRRRR

Bigger Pockets

In this month’s BiggerNews, the mortgage rate rollercoaster continues, ChatGPT tries to take your job, Facebook tells investors to get lost, and David discusses his love-hate relationship with Jack in […]

Mortgages 100
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More than half of all renters have at least 1 pet, Zillow finds

Inman

According to a new report, renters are searching for pet-friendly homes and Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, are the pet-friendliest cities in the U.S.

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Building a Winning Real Estate Team: Two Models that Work

Broke Agent Media

When it comes to building a winning real estate team, you have to remember that it is a business. With the right business model, you can achieve new heights year after year. But the wrong one can lead to stagnation—or even failure. A mistake we see again and again in real estate is with the middle team —specifically, teams that prioritize creating a “family” rather than a business.

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Amazon pauses construction on Virginia HQ2 as it looks to cut costs

Inman

Amazon is expected to complete the first phase of its Virginia headquarters in June, but it's pausing construction on the larger phase of the project across the street.

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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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How A NAKED Listing Video Helped Erica Wolfe Sell Over $500 Million in Real Estate

Broke Agent Media

This week on the Over Ask Podcast , Erica Wolfe , the “Wolfe of real estate,” joins Matt Lionetti and The Broke Agent to discuss how she got into real estate and what led to her first using video to attract new clients. Erica talks about how she started with Snapchat filters and eventually started making Facebook Reels. She also shared how she mastered digital funnels and the impact this had on her career.

Agents 98
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Revive, NextHome partner in brokerage’s latest tech integration

Inman

Presale renovation company Revive and real estate company NextHome have fastened together a partnership to provide homesellers access to a solution for facilitating efficient, technology-supported interior updates.

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The Best Real Estate Business Plan for 2023 (It’s So Simple, Most Won’t Do It!)

Broke Agent Media

This year’s July 4th weekend, when everyone is celebrating, will be a critical time for the real estate industry. With potential shifts on the horizon, the market may look much different than it does right now. We saw the market shift right about that time last year, and many were caught off guard. That’s why it’s more important than ever to be proactive and strategic in your business plan for the rest of 2023.

Agents 98
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Beyond the Hype: Fannie Mae Announcement SEL-2023-02

McKissock Real Estate

On March 1, 2023, Fannie Mae issued Announcement SEL-2023-02, which addressed several different lending-related topics. Most important and relevant to appraisers was the first topic, titled “Valuation modernization,” which is an update to the Selling Guide that allows more options for valuation, including alternatives to traditional appraisals. Predictably, the appraisal online community reacted to this announcement in much the same way that a vampire in a low-budget horror movie reacts when sho

Lending 98
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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.