Wed.Mar 29, 2023

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FHFA to expand payment deferrals for borrowers facing hardships

Housing Wire

Government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow borrowers facing financial hardships to defer up to six months of mortgage payments, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on Wednesday. The option was previously available for borrowers who fell behind on their mortgage payments due to the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the enterprises will start offering it for those experiencing other eligible hardships.

Mortgages 432
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4 Key Tips for Selling Your House This Spring

Keeping Current Matters

Spring has arrived, and that means more and more people are getting their homes ready to sell.

Marketing 314
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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 427
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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 200
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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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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

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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 190

More Trending

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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
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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.

Mortgages 344
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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 166
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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.

Mortgages 334
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Maximizing Your Online Presence: Tips for Real Estate Agents on Social Media

Speaker: Sarah Santa Ana, Real Estate Coach, Move4Free Realty

Networking is one of the crucial elements in every real estate organization's success. Both agents and real estate companies need to maintain robust networking links. This is why social media is essential for any real estate professional! Social media enables you to stay in touch with your present clients, maintain connections with your past clients, and engage potential customers and investors.

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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.

Agents 167
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Opinion: Don’t cut back on professional support services

Housing Wire

The old saying that “the devil’s in the details” can be applied to many different circumstances. And it’s undeniable that the title and settlement services industry is, at its very core, about close attention to the little things. After all, title insurance is only issued after the public records are thoroughly scrutinized. But now, more than ever, title agents should be mindful of the axiom, especially when it comes to decision-making and budget cuts.

Title 329
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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 159
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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

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Rise of The Apps: Building Your Dream Tech Stack For Real Estate Success

Speaker: Trey Willard, Realtor/Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

In order to create continued success in today’s real estate market, realtors need to utilize an arsenal of technology that will increase their efficiency and presence on social media. Using technology to manage your prospects and tap into their needs through websites, social media, and other channels is critical for real estate success in 2022 and beyond.

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@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
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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 308
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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 148
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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 278
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5 Data Proven Ways Agents Can Do 18% More Business

Curious as to how you could do 18% more business? How about 14 more transaction sides per year? Check out this infographic with data from a RealTrends study to learn more.

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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 145
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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 122
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Pending sales increase 3rd-straight month as prices cool: NAR

Inman

"Existing-home sales, pending contracts and new-home construction pending contracts have turned the corner and climbed for the past three months," said NAR's Lawrence Yun.

Sales 141
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Mom and Pop Business Owners’ Day: Landlords of Small Rental Properties

NAR: Economic Outlook

Mom and Pop Business Owners’ Day As March 29 is designated as Mom and Pop Business Owners’ Day, take a look at some key facts about mom-and-pop landlords and small rental properties.

Design 118
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Real Estate Solutions: How to Crush Your Sales Goals and Fuel Your Pipeline

Speaker: Mary Maloney, Founder & Team Leader at Hometown Realty

The sales cycle in real estate is frequently measured at 3+ months. During this time, real estate agents frequently lose contact with clients and miss out on opportunities because they fail to follow up and provide value to the client. Top real estate agents are distinguished from developing agents by their ability to convert organic connections into sales opportunities.

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Nest Seekers expands to Mexico as demand from US skyrockets

Inman

The luxury brokerage has added offices in Cabo San Lucas, Riviera Maya and Mexico City as demand for real estate in the accessible and affordable country skyrockets.

Brokerage 136
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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.

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Collaborate, communicate, calculate: 7 ways to keep buyers in the deal

Inman

The more a buyer is educated about the ins and outs of a transaction, the more comfortable they'll be with bumps in the road. Luxury agent Cara Ameer offers insights designed to help you keep buyers on track.

Agents 131
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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 108
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How Enriching the Lives of Your Clients Leads to Greater Sales Success

Speaker: Ari Capogeannis, Director - Revenue Marketing at NVIDIA and Bill Pappa, Sales and Marketing Leader at Ai Media Group

Building strong personal and professional relationships with clients is a critical success factor. Sales professionals who focus on relationship building generate more leads and raise their brand awareness. Because this can take time, having regular engagements can help you cultivate these relationships more efficiently. The most effective way to accomplish this is through direct hyper-personalized touchpoints.

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Mike DelPrete on the perils of hurting for cash in a down market

Inman

Big brokerages and emerging disruptors alike dipped into savings as revenues declined late last year. Industry analyst Mike DelPrete spoke exclusively to Intel about the options at their disposal.

Brokerage 124
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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
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Fidelity to pay $3.5M in crackdown on ‘no-poach’ agreements

Inman

Five title insurance companies have paid $8.25 million in the last 18 months to settle antitrust allegations leveled by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Title 113
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Buying a New Construction Home

Windemere Buying

You’ve got several options to choose from when buying your next home. With existing homes, it’s in sellers’ best interest to spruce up their properties, so they’ll usually complete some kind of upgrades, curb appeal projects, and remodeling before hitting the market. A new construction home, however, has no previous owner; it comes brand new. Learning about the new construction buying process will help you understand how it differs from other types of housing, such as existing single-family home

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The Complete Realtor: Tools to Successfully Manage Your Personal Life, Career, and Health

Speaker: Marki Lemons Ryhal, REALTOR, Keynote Speaker, 4X International Best Selling Author, and Podcaster at ReMarkiTable, LLC

Given the changes that the pandemic has forced real estate agents to make, agents are now under pressure to find a way to keep their health, personal life, and career on track. Flexibility is the key to future-proofing your role as a real estate agent; you must be able to pivot and adapt to succeed in all markets. Despite the pandemic, being diagnosed with a chronic disease, and undergoing three surgeries in 2021, Marki Lemons had an incredibly successful year in real estate.