Fri.Jan 21, 2022

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Purchase mortgage volume projected to clear $2.1T in ’22, ’23

Housing Wire

Despite the expected rise in interest rates, the single-family housing market will continue to be boom in 2022, according to a report published by Freddie Mac this week. Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, said in a statement that the “combination of a large number of entry-level homebuyers facing a shortage of entry-level inventory of homes for sale should keep the housing market competitive.”.

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Americans Choose Real Estate as the Best Investment [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights. According to a Gallup poll, real estate has been rated the best long-term investment for eight years in a row. Real estate tops the list because you’re not just buying a place to call home – you’re investing in your future. Real estate is typically considered a stable and secure asset that can grow in value over time. Reach out to a trusted advisor today if you’re ready to make real estate your best investment this year.

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Court authorizes class action against Carrington over servicing fees

Housing Wire

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled on Wednesday that borrowers can pursue a class action lawsuit against Carrington Mortgage Services regarding the fees it applied when collecting payments online or by phone. The plaintiffs – Ashly Alexander and Cedric Bishop – brought the case in September 2020, alleging that the mortgage servicer violated Maryland’s debt collection and consumer protection statutes by illegally charging $5 for monthly payments online or by pho

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Canada’s Real Estate Bubble Is So Big Even The Mother of All Crashes Can’t Fix It

Better Dwelling

Canadian real estate is now some of the most expensive in the world. Home prices across the country, not in pricey hubs, are now comically overvalued. At this point, not even a major housing crash can restore affordability. Many think this is pandemic-related, but overvaluation has long been a concern. For at least a decade, […]. The post Canada’s Real Estate Bubble Is So Big Even The Mother of All Crashes Can’t Fix It 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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The emerging ESG market is a diamond in the rough

Housing Wire

When the terms “green” or “ESG” are broached in polite company, eyes have a tendency to roll. It’s natural for the mind to wander toward a parade of green branding campaigns that may be aspirational in messaging but rarely result in measurable climate-friendly or socially sustainable solutions in practice. Still, hidden among all that greenwashed coal may be a framework or two for manufacturing diamonds, according to some experts working to develop those investment standards.

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Coalition pushes big changes to GSE Duty to Serve proposals

Housing Wire

FHFA, Federal Housing Finance Agency. On the heels of the Federal Housing Finance Agency ’s rejection of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ’s Duty to Serve plans, a coalition of housing groups have some bold ideas for how to beef them up. The collective, dubbed the Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition, said that in order to be “impactful,” the government sponsored enterprises should significantly hike their purchase of manufactured housing loans.

Loans 397
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2021 U.S. Population Growth Lowest on Record

Eye on Housing

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the of the United States increased by 393,000 to an estimated 332 million from the previous year. In 2021, the estimated population growth rate of 0.12 percent was the lowest since the Bureau began collecting this data beginning in 1900.

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How rookie agents are faring during the pandemic

Housing Wire

When the restaurant Tom Hunt worked at as a server temporarily shut down during the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided it was the right time to pursue his longtime desire of becoming a real estate agent. “I’ve always been interested in real estate, but I’ve always had other obligations and I didn’t feel confident that my commissions, at least in the beginning, would be enough to support my family,” the Eureka, California-based agent said.

Agents 384
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Home builders unlikely to match 2021 construction pace

Realty Biz

Data from the Commerce Department shows that builders boosted construction activity as best they can in 2021 to meet buyer’s insatiable demand for new homes. The data shows that single-family home starts grew 13.4% in 2021 compared to the year before. However, those hoping for a repeat in 2022 may be disappointed, as builders say supply chain challenges mean they’ll struggle to maintain that pace.

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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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Flagstar to pay $3.6M over flood insurance violations

Housing Wire

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a consent order against Michigan-based Flagstar Bank that levies a $3.62 million civil penalty over violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act, the regulator said on Thursday. The consent order states that between a three-year period – from February 2017 through February 2020 – the bank’s risk assessment, internal controls, and training led to various violations.

Banks 384
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How technology helps create personalized experiences and build meaningful connections

Realty Biz

More than ever, it’s important to make meaningful connections. While some think digital tools make business less personal, I argue they actually improve one’s ability to deliver personalized experiences in less time. I’ve designed my real estate company, Modern Properties, around tools that help my team and I provide strategic high-touch service. As agents, we act as clients’ trusted advisers, counselors, and friends throughout the property selling and buying process.

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A Petite 18th Century Stone House Packed With Charm in Piermont, Yours for Under $550K

Brownstoner

There are lots of historical caveats given with this property: It's possibly the oldest house in Piermont, N.Y., possibly a former tavern and, naturally for a house of this vintage, George Washington is rumored to have visited. No matter what is fact or fiction, what is clear is that the… Read More > The post A Petite 18th Century Stone House Packed With Charm in Piermont, Yours for Under $550K appeared first on Brownstoner.

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4 Ways to negotiate lower mortgage rates

The Mortgage Report

Believe it or not, you can negotiate mortgage rates. But you have to know how to work the lending system. Learn how to negotiate your mortgage rate here.

Mortgages 105
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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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A Motel in New Jersey Earns Tiktok Fame by Helping Those in Need

Lighter Side of Real Estate

Bryan Arya’s family has owned the Lincoln Tunnel Motel in North Bergen, NJ for over 30 years. When he began working the overnight shift at the motel in 2012, it had a 1.4-star rating online. But he’s taken that rating all the way up to 3.5 stars with a little help from TikTok. At first he started accruing followers (now over 800k) with funny videos simply chronicling life at the motel with his trusty sidekick, Steven, a long-term resident of the inn.

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Coldwell Banker Premier Merges with Legacy Firm, Expands Into Delaware

RIS Media

Coldwell Banker Premier, headquartered in Winchester, VA, with eight offices serving Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., has merged with legacy brokerage Coldwell Banker Resort Realty headquartered in Rehoboth Beach, DE, the company has announced. The move doubles the size of Coldwell Banker Premier, led by the company’s Founder and CEO, Steve DuBrueler.

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Mortgage and refinance rates today, Jan. 21, 2022

The Mortgage Report

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Average mortgage rates inched lower yesterday but only by the smallest measurable amount. Of course, those rates are high by recent standards. But they remain […].

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Boom in Home Remodeling May Peak in 2022

RIS Media

Spending for home improvements and repairs is expected to expand at a stronger pace in 2022, but signs point to some easing of growth by year end, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) being released Friday by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The LIRA projects double-digit gains in annual homeowner renovation and maintenance expenditure will top out in the third quarter of 2022 before beginning a decelerati

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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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The No. 1 Reason Rental Prices Are Soaring Right Now

Realtor.com

Realtor.com / Getty Images In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the big housing story was how prices were soaring due to the historic shortage of properties for sale. Now this shortfall is spilling over into the rental market. The reason that rents are rising so quickly is more people are competing for places to live. The rental vacancy rate fell to 5.8%—the lowest it’s been since the mid-1980s, according to a recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard Univer

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Advances in Home Inspection Technology Benefit Everyone

RIS Media

Technology evolution in home inspection now enables a number of advances that benefit clients and agents alike. Agents that take advantage of these developments will help improve their clients’ home-buying and -selling process and will save themselves time as well. Interactivity enables the buyer to review a visual inspection summary, offering expanded insights and information the buyer will use well into the future.

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Down With Double Sinks! Why This Bathroom ‘Must’ Is Quite the Bust

Realtor.com

Getty Images I’m one of those seemingly smug homeowners blessed with a bathroom boasting double sinks. And yes, it is nice to have some separation from my husband’s shaved-off man hairs. But I have a lot more to say about this beloved amenity, and—brace yourself—it’s not good. Double sinks are revered as a must-have across HGTV. Interior designers and house flippers alike say they elevate a mere bathroom to a whole new luxurious level.

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International Home-Buying Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2022

RIS Media

The world has changed in many ways since the start of the pandemic, but one major change is a new interest in international real estate. Now that international travel has opened back up, real estate agents who specialize in relocation, particularly international relocation, have a unique opportunity to leverage the trend. New Top International Destinations for Prospective U.S.

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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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What Is an Open House? We Dig Into the History And Answer Your Questions About This Real Estate Tradition

HomeLight

Buying a house comes with so much new vocabulary you have to learn — amortization, easement, lien, note rate, and dozens more new terms. One you’ve probably heard hundreds of times is “open house” — and maybe you have a vague idea of what it means, but you’ve never had a good opportunity to dig into what an open house really is, where they came from, and what the rules are for finding and attending one.

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Watson Realty Corp. Founder Honored with Icon Award

RIS Media

Watson Realty Corp.’s owner and founder William A. Watson, Jr. was presented with the brand-new Real Estate Icon Award from the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® (NEFAR) last week on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the NEFAR 2022 Annual Installation and Awards Gala, the company has announced. Nearly 300 NEFAR members attended the Awards Gala where Watson was the first recipient of NEFAR’s new Real Estate Icon Award, which is given to a REALTOR® who has made a significant mark within the

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What Goes Into a Home Appraisal? 25+ Things Appraisers Will Note (And Why They Care)

HomeLight

A home appraisal is a comprehensive report that your mortgage lender orders. It determines the market value of your property, making an appraisal an essential part of the homebuying process. An appraisal is an objective estimate of your home’s market value by a trained and certified professional appraiser. On average, an appraisal can cost anywhere between $450 and $550 and is paid for by the buyer unless the cost is built into your closing costs or mortgage loan.

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6 Tips for Selling Your Out-of-State Home

Realty Biz

Whether you’ve relocated for a job or bought a piece of land to build your dream retirement home, you may find yourself having to sell your home after you’ve moved to another state. Selling a home can be one of the most stressful experiences a person faces in their life. Add in the prospect of doing it remotely, and that process can seem even scarier.

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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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Housing Market Roller Coaster Ride Steadying in 2022, Report Says

RIS Media

After nearly two years of feverish activity in the housing market, experts at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices say the rollercoaster ride buyers and sellers lived through during the pandemic is coming to an end. BHHS recently released its Real Estate Report 2022, which forecasts a strong but stabilized housing market this year, deviating slightly from the past two years.

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Here’s How To Read Food Labels The Right Way

American Lifestyle

The post Here’s How To Read Food Labels The Right Way appeared first on American Lifestyle Magazine.

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How to Define and Achieve Wealth

RIS Media

Real estate brokers and agents have countless reasons for entering the profession, but at the core, they likely all have one thing in common: they seek financial stability and potential wealth. Financial stability is often table stakes for the most successful real estate professionals, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to wealth without clearly defining what that word means and having a strategy to accumulate it, according to Ben Kinney, co-founder of PLACE, Inc. , a real estate technology