Wed.Mar 29, 2023

article thumbnail

Mortgage demand gets a boost as rates decline for three straight weeks

Housing Wire

When the 30-year fixed rate dropped for the third straight week in late March, homebuyers responded, giving a boost to mortgage applications. And, following investors’ rush into bonds after the recent bank failures earlier this month, yields moved even lower last week — and mortgage rates followed. Mortgage applications increased 2.9% week over week on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending March 24, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

Mortgages 417
article thumbnail

Pending sales signal modest improvement in housing market

Real Estate News

NAR reported that February pending home sales were up 0.8% from January, making it the third consecutive month of increases.

Sales 326
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Hope Through Housing uses MLK Grant to fund after school programs

Housing Wire

Hope through Housing is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end generational poverty through affordable housing , educational programs and advocacy. In 2022, they were the recipients of an MLK grant which will be used to fund their youth development initiative. As people across the country celebrated MLK day on January 16th, Greg Bradbard, president of Hope Through Housing, sat down with HousingWire to talk about the impact the grant will have on his organization and the affordable hou

article thumbnail

Commissions lawsuit now a class action, greatly increasing its scope

Real Estate News

A judge ruled that the Moehrl suit would now cover all sellers who paid commissions to named companies over a 5-year period, plus “current and future” sellers.

301
301
article thumbnail

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

article thumbnail

Home-equity niche will benefit from a private-label lift

Housing Wire

The demand for home-equity loans, particularly home-equity lines of credit (HELOCs) as well as shared-equity investment products, is now stronger than at any time since before the global financial crisis some 15 years ago. Securitization channels for those home-equity products, however, are only now starting to catch up to the growing demand for them.

Equity 388

More Trending

article thumbnail

Don’t forget to reserve your room for HousingWire Annual

Housing Wire

HousingWire Annual kicks off on October 10, 2023. It will be here before you know it! As the conference quickly approaches, so does the deadline to lock in the exclusive room rate for Hyatt Lost Pines in Austin, Texas. Take advantage of staying on the property and being close to all the conference sessions and networking events. Lock in the HousingWire Annual room price of $309/night before the block closes.

Closing 388
article thumbnail

Agents Decoded: How to get clients to contact you

Real Estate News

When Jay Thompson needed to find a great local agent, he went looking for someone with a solid online presence and good reviews — who also responded to calls.

Agents 261
article thumbnail

Fidelity to pay $3.5M fine over “no-poaching” agreements

Housing Wire

Fidelity National Financial has agreed to pay a $3.5 million fine to the state of New York, following an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General that discovered the top U.S. title insurance company had “no-poach” agreements with rivals. Jacksonville-based Fidelity is the fifth large national title insurance company to sign an agreement to end no-poach practices in New York, followed by Old Republic National Title in September 2021, AmTrust and First Nationwide in July 2022, and Stewa

article thumbnail

MLS-owned Nestfully wants to make home shopping more pleasant

Real Estate News

The new home search platform, a joint venture between Bright MLS and CRMLS, aims to inspire a sense of calm and simplify the process for consumers and agents.

MLS 261
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Gathering of Eagles is for mortgage professionals too

Housing Wire

This year, Gathering of Eagles is excited to invite colleagues from the mortgage industry to the real estate-centered event. There is no better time than a tough market to come together as a community. Mortgage lenders need to strengthen their bonds with real estate agents, and broker-owners must communicate with title professionals. It’s now more important than ever to remember that your sphere of influence reaches more than just customers.

Mortgages 370
article thumbnail

Falling mortgage rates and home prices spur homebuyer interest

Inman

Demand for purchase loans picks up for the fourth straight week as mortgage rates continue to retreat from 2023 highs, according to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association survey released Wednesday.

Mortgages 217
article thumbnail

Biden urged to consider Build America’s impact on affordable housing

Housing Wire

A coalition of 24 housing organizations, individual leaders and trade groups, led by the National Housing Conference (NHC), are urging President Joe Biden to exempt affordable housing development and repair from the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This includes affordable homeownership repair and development programs and U.S.

article thumbnail

Gen Zers see ‘green homes’ in their searches, says RE/MAX study

Inman

Amid an economic landscape in flux, homebuyers and sellers continue to want expert advice from real estate agents while looking to prepare for the future, and for Gen Z that means finding "green homes," according to RE/MAX.

Agents 215
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

February pending home sales disappoint, but maybe we’re turning a corner?

Housing Wire

Don’t call it a comeback? Pending home sales rose for the third month in a row in February, but at 0.8%, the uptick over January was less than is typically seen in the run-up to the spring housing market. Month-over-month, contract signings increased in three U.S. regions, but declined in the West, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Sales 310
article thumbnail

Love-hate relationship with social media? Here’s how I make it work

Inman

Although people have mixed feelings about social media, there's no denying that it's a valuable tool for marketing your business. Find out how agent Nikki Beauchamp puts it to work effectively.

Agents 183
article thumbnail

Bringing MLS Software Into the Modern, Mobile Era

GeekEstate

[Note from editor: The “Mastermind Showcase” highlights companies and news from members of the GEM. Today’s showcase: Perchwell] A business operating system, Perchwell, provides listing data management, search, and syndication plus collaboration solutions for residential real estate professionals and their clients. Its flagship MLS platform (which includes both a front-end and back-end system) is constructed from a myriad of public and private sources and s upports interoperability/integration a

MLS 126
article thumbnail

Bombshell multibillion-dollar commission suit now a class action

Inman

A judge on Wednesday granted class certification in a federal commission suit that could rock the real estate industry and impact how agents are compensated nationwide.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Property Tax Revenues See Largest Increase Since 2009

Eye on Housing

NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly state and local tax data shows that $286 billion in taxes were paid by property owners in the fourth quarter of 2022 (not seasonally adjusted).[1] State and local governments collected $714 billion in property taxes in 2022, $46 billion more than 2021. The 6.9% annual increase is the largest since property tax receipts climbed 9.3% in.

Sales 124
article thumbnail

Sherry Chris and Amory Wooden on how tech and culture ‘fuel’ ERA

Inman

As ERA Real Estate's Fuel conference unfolds this week, Chris and Wooden, the brokerage's CEO and CMO, revealed how they navigate a slow market and the technology they routinely deploy.

Brokerage 167
article thumbnail

Video of the Week: A Breathtaking Estate in Sydney, Australia

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Featuring curated videos from the most sought-after destinations the world over, discover this week’s V ideo of the Week.  Sydney, Australia | Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty This magnificent luxury residence was created by award-winning Felton Homes Architecture. A testament to timeless design, the home was inspired by French Provincial architecture and adheres to classic proportions, making it arguably one of the area’s finest homes.

Design 117
article thumbnail

Will an inventory shortage stymie spring? Look to 1994 for clues

Inman

This spring won't be easy for homebuyers and their agents, but history is full of examples in which the supply of homes went down, but sales kept chugging along, according to an Inman analysis.

Agents 167
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

How To Lowball

BubbleInfo

Thanks to Peter for sending in this sale that exemplifies how to get a good deal. Someimes you can get lucky and the listing agent does the work for you – and you just need to be in the right place, at the right time.

Agents 105
article thumbnail

@properties, Christie’s expand to Madison, Wisconsin, with affiliate

Inman

The independent brokerage formerly known as LeGrand Real Estate is the luxury brand's first affiliate in Madison, and its third in the state of Wisconsin. It is led by the mother-son team of Melissa LeGrand and Brogan Brunker.

Brokerage 158
article thumbnail

A Spike In Supply Could Tank Multifamily Prices This Year

Bigger Pockets

Recent data suggests that there may be a short-term glut of multifamily units hitting the market at an inopportune time and could lead to several price declines across the nation.

Marketing 100
article thumbnail

Dreading a rise in foreclosures? Here’s one economist’s take

Inman

Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner has pulled the latest data on foreclosure starts and looked at the quality of mortgages that have been given to buyers in order to give you a clear idea of how foreclosures will impact the overall housing market.

Mortgages 158
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Climate Controlled Storage Near Me: Finding a Unit

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

What to Know About Climate-Controlled Storage Are you buying or selling a home and have figured out you’ll need a temporary self-storage unit? If you need to store your items, you’ll find companies offering climate-controlled storage units. These will be more costly than standard units, and you might be more restricted in available sizes.

98
article thumbnail

10 proptech entrepreneurs get real with real estate’s decision-makers

Inman

From Rentspree to Better, Intel asked 10 property technology entrepreneurs tough questions on the minds of their colleagues and customers, many of them large, national brokerage brands.

Brokerage 158
article thumbnail

What Does a Title Company Do in a Real Estate Transaction

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

The Role of a Real Estate Title Company As if real estate wasn’t confusing enough. When you think you have a handle on all the professionals and the organizations, along comes someone or something else to let you know there’s always more to learn. When you are a first-time home buyer, one of those items […] The post What Does a Title Company Do in a Real Estate Transaction appeared first on Maximum Real Estate Exposure.

Title 98