Tue.Nov 08, 2022

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GSEs set aside billions to cover home value declines

Housing Wire

Revenue and net income were both down for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the third quarter, and the two government sponsored entities (GSEs) expect the housing market to deteriorate further in the fourth quarter. Collectively, the GSEs have set aside $4.3 billion in credit loss builds to account for a decline in home values in the fourth quarter, according to earnings reports from the housing finance giants.

Finance 370
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The Majority of Americans Still View Homeownership as the American Dream

Keeping Current Matters

Buying a home is a powerful decision, and it remains a key part of the American Dream.

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MeridianLink acquires mortgage fintech OpenClose for $65M

Housing Wire

Publicly traded lending software firm MeridianLink has acquired OpenClose , a fintech company that specializes in residential mortgage software solutions for banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders. In a statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission , MeridianLink said it would pay $65 million in cash to buy the Florida-based company.

Mortgages 448
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Understanding Property Assessed Values Compared to Market Value

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

How Do Assessed Value and Market Value Differ? Do you know the difference between assessed value vs. market value? If you think assessed value and market value have any correlation with one another, then you are wrong! You will discover the difference between assessed and fair market real estate values as you read further. Over […]. The post Understanding Property Assessed Values Compared to Market Value appeared first on Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

Marketing 141
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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’s $2.6B merger with NYCB receives Fed blessing

Housing Wire

The Federal Reserve has given the green light for the proposed merger between Flagstar Bank and New York Community Bank to go through, about 19 months after the deal was agreed to. The $2.6 billion merger deal, which was first announced in April 2021, is now expected to close on Dec. 1. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved the merger in late October.

Banks 370
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Canadian Real Estate Prices Are The Fastest Falling In The G7, US Gets Frothier

Better Dwelling

Canadian real estate prices went from the fastest growing to the fastest falling in just a few rate hikes. The US Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Dallas Fed) Q2 2022 index of real home prices shows Canada made the biggest drop in the G7. Still, Canada retained gains making it the largest real estate bubble […]. The post Canadian Real Estate Prices Are The Fastest Falling In The G7, US Gets Frothier appeared first on Better Dwelling.

Banks 138

More Trending

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Revolving Debt Surges as Credit Card Rates Hit 18-Year High

Eye on Housing

According to the Federal Reserve’s latest G.19 Consumer Credit report, consumer credit (ex-real estate) grew at a seasonal adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 6.8% in the third quarter of 2022. Revolving debt increased at a 12.9% rate, more than double the pace of nonrevolving debt (+4.9%). Credit card interest rates reached 16.3%, the highest level since the inception of the.

Loans 122
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Freddie Mac appoints Shankar to lead its single family portfolio and servicing

Housing Wire

The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ( FHLMC, or Freddie Mac ) has appointed mortgage and financial services veteran Ravi Shankar to serve as senior vice president and head of its single family portfolio and servicing division, the company announced on Tuesday. Shankar, who has more than 30 years of experience managing finance, capital markets, portfolios, and mortgage trading operations, will report to Freddie Mac President Mike Hutchins.

Mortgages 370
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Top 5 reasons home staging is making a comeback

Real Trends

It’s probably been a while since you orchestrated a house staging for your sellers. When the market was moving hot and fast last year, it just wasn’t as necessary to stage a home. But now , home staging could make all the difference in attracting potential buyers and signing on the dotted line. If you need a refresher, or you aren’t sold on the necessity of the process, we’ve compiled a list of the top five reasons that you should recommend home staging to your sellers.

Staging 117
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Radian joins ranks of companies doing layoffs

Housing Wire

Mortgage insurer Radian Group Inc. announced it will lay off 166 employees, effective Dec. 1 from two of its offices in Pennsylvania. Out of these workers, 66 employees are from Radian’s Delaware County headquarters and 100 are from the Allegheny County office. The company employed 1,800 people at the end of 2021. Radian has joined the many mortgage and real estate companies who have laid off employees to cope with a volatile market due to the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes, among other factors.

Mortgages 370
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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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5 technology trends agents and brokers should embrace in 2023

Real Trends

Over the past 12 months, real estate professionals have faced significant market disruption and increased competition. Meanwhile, real estate tech innovation exploded, prompting strategic agents to learn how to leverage for the benefit of their business in 2023 and adjust their strategies to better meet the needs of increasingly savvy home buyers and sellers.

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LodeStar partners with LendingPad

Housing Wire

LodeStar Software Solutions, a provider of compliance tools for mortgage lenders, has partnered with loan origination system and software provider LendingPad, it announced on Tuesday. The aim of the partnership is to introduce LodeStar Discovery, a closing fee calculator, to mortgage loan originators using the LendingPad platform. LodeStar Discovery provides access to title and closing fees across the U.S. and can help users generate quotes and estimates on LendingPad as part of an integrated ex

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Buyers May Have More Power Than They Realize Right Now—Here’s Why

Realtor.com

Getty Images Doom and gloom might be dominating real estate headlines these days, and many would-be homebuyers are feeling hopeless about their chances of getting a good deal in the wake of mortgage rate hikes, low housing inventory, and elevated home prices. There’s no denying that the cost of buying a house has risen, but if you dig into the data, you’ll find that many homebuyers might actually be in the driver’s seat right now.

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MCT taps Jennifer Kennelly for investor services team

Housing Wire

Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT) announced the appointment of Jennifer Kennelly as the new senior director of its investor services team. Kennelly’s professional career spans more than 25 years, including roles as national sales executive at LoanCare, capital markets director at Lenders One Mortgage Cooperative, managing director at Compass Analytics and positions at Freddie Mac.

Investor 370
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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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Fathom Realty raises fees on agents

Real Trends

The parent of flat fee real estate brokerage and technology platform Fathom Realty plans to raise transaction fees by 10% when the calendar turns to 2023. Fathom Holdings this week told investors that while revenue grew 10.2% in the third quarter to $111.3 million, it lost $6 million. To get in the red, the company, the parent of Fathom Realty, plans to raise fees on agents and cut expenses.

Agents 113
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How to Get Buyers Through Email Marketing Strategy

Realty Biz

Online marketing takes many forms. From paid search advertising to social media marketing and beyond, there are dozens of different techniques you can use to lead prospects through your sales funnels and convert them into buyers. One of the most effective methods is by leveraging email. Here’s what you should know about what strategies you need to employ to get buyers through email marketing.

Marketing 109
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Inside a San Francisco Landmark

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Owning a historic property offers a unique opportunity for an individual to act as a steward of a city’s and nation’s history and to interpret and share that heritage. This early-20th-century landmark in the prestigious San Francisco neighborhood of Pacific Heights affords just such a valued opportunity. Immediately captivating from any vantage point within eyeshot, the striking Tudor Gothic manor has a provenance deeply rooted in the life of “the City by the Bay.

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Cool listings: Newly-built house in affluent Washington, DC suburb wows with its clean lines, modern design

Fancy Pants Homes

A distinctly modern, newly built home in the affluent Washington D.C. suburb of Oakton, Virginia, has recently hit the market for $6,480,000. And it’s a beauty! Completed in 2022, the massive 15,000-square-foot home blends contemporary European architecture with ultra-luxurious finishes, and the end result is a strikingly modern home with a clean, eye-grabbing design — both inside and out.

Design 98
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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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10 Sneaky Real Estate Scams + How to Protect Your Clients (& Yourself)

The Close

Real estate scams cost buyers, sellers, property owners, renters, and real estate professionals upward of a billion dollars every year. And that’s not even the worst of it. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, harder to catch, and the financial losses caused by real estate scams perpetrated by these criminals are extremely difficult to recover.

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6 (Tongue-In-Cheek) Ways to Describe Clutter in a Positive Light When Selling Your House

Lighter Side of Real Estate

People often joke about how real estate agents use “code words” like “cozy” to describe a house that’s small, or “move-in condition” as a way to say it’s clean but not updated, but that’s part of the job! Agents have to be good at putting a positive spin on your house, no matter what they’re given to work with. Ideally you shouldn’t have clutter when you list your house for sale.

Agents 98
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What Is a Closing Disclosure Form? A New Mortgage Document Home Buyers Must Check

Realtor.com

iStock A closing disclosure is a form outlining the terms and costs of your mortgage—and one of the most important pieces of paperwork to check before you close on a home. Lenders must provide borrowers with a closing disclosure (also called a CD) at least three business days before closing—that day when all the remaining paperwork is signed and you get the keys to your new home.

Closing 98
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What Is a Studio Apartment?

Point2Homes

If you’re looking to rent your first apartment , know that units come in all shapes and sizes. Studio apartments may be among the smallest, but they can be quite a good fit for first-time renters or those looking to downsize. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what a studio apartment is and explore some of its pros and cons. Studio Apartment Basics.

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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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The Top 10 Real Estate Brokerages in America

Realty Biz

According to a study by the NAR , 87% of recent buyers purchased their homes via a real estate agent or broker. Most of them found that having expert help was key to discovering a home they wanted. It only makes sense that a well-established brokerage is bound to have more options on offer than an independent real estate agent. You'll find many excellent real estate brokerage options available to assist you with your home search, but these are your top ten choices right now. 1.

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What Is French Country Style? 5 Ideas to Try in Your Home

Realtor.com

Roger Stowell/Getty Images French country style is all about wrought iron, exposed beams, painted furniture, and other decorating designs rooted right where you’d expect—in the French countryside, specifically Provence. While this style has existed for centuries in France, it took off in the United States in the mid-20th century, thanks to two influencers: the French company Pierre Deux, and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. “Mrs.

Design 98
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The Middle Class Wealth Boom Is Over—According To Bloomberg

Bigger Pockets

Many Americans dream of a middle-class lifestyle, which has looked even rosier over the past five years. A bullish stock market characterized the period before the pandemic, and record-breaking increases in housing […].

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Got ROI? 5 Unexpected Ways Your Home Retains Value

Realtor.com

Photo courtesy of Havlicek Builders Inc. via Houzz There’s a myriad of home trends coming and going these days—from the tiny-house movement to maximalist-style new construction. And it can feel nearly impossible to keep up as a buyer. How can you determine when a home is a good long-term investment that will be desirable to future buyers, versus a decision you’ll come to regret ?

Design 92
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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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$1.1M in Real Estate at 21 WITHOUT a W2, Tax Return, or Degree!

Bigger Pockets

The path to financial freedom is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, discipline, sacrifice, and a long-term mindset. Today’s guest, Logan Kohn, is on his way to financial […].

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Capital Cities Continue to See Value Declines

Real Estate Investar

The broad-based fall in property prices continued in October with all capital cities seeing values decline.

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Ikea Cabinet Hack Firm, Copenhagen’s Reform, Moves Showroom to Dumbo From Navy Yard

Brownstoner

Copenhagen-based Reform has moved from the Navy Yard to Dumbo. Still a work in progress, the showroom at 45 Main Street has its official opening party Thursday. The company, which makes fronts for Ikea kitchens, briefly operated out of another address down the street before opening at the new location over… Read More > The post Ikea Cabinet Hack Firm, Copenhagen’s Reform, Moves Showroom to Dumbo From Navy Yard appeared first on Brownstoner.

Design 85
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7 Simple Upgrades That Will Add Value to Your Home

Realty Biz

The average American home hit a record high of $400,000 in May of this year. There are numerous factors that determine your home value when you decide to sell - size, location, age, etc. If you’re looking to sell for the highest possible price, you may have to take matters into your own hands with some renovations. An updated home with new features is always going to fetch more on the open market.

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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.