Thu.Sep 07, 2023

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Leveraging Instagram and Reels to Boost Your Bottom Line

Realty Biz

In an age when visual content rules the digital landscape, real estate agents are finding innovative ways to harness the power of platforms like Instagram and its short video feature, Reels, to bolster their marketing efforts. These social media tools have become invaluable resources for real estate professionals seeking to connect with a wider audience, showcase properties, and establish their brand.

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FHA issues waiver to make government-insured mortgages more accessible

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Thursday announced that it has issued a waiver to a requirement that FHA-approved lenders flag rejected loans in the FHA Connection (FHAC) system, an effort the agency says will improve access to government-insured mortgage financing for qualified borrowers. “FHA has determined that this flag does not improve risk management and is often why other lenders will reject an applicant even when that applicant might otherwise qualify for a loan,” the agency

Mortgages 508
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Get Ready for Smaller, More Affordable Homes

Keeping Current Matters

Have you been trying to buy a home, but higher mortgage rates and home prices are limiting your options?

Mortgages 359
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Housing market “stuck” as mortgage rates remain above 7%

Housing Wire

A slight cooling in mortgage rates wasn’t enough to keep mortgage applications from sinking to a 28-year low. Freddie Mac‘s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, which focuses on conventional and conforming loans with a 20% down payment, shows the 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.12% as of Sept. 7, down from last week ’s 7.18%. By contrast, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was at 5.89% a year ago at this time.

Mortgages 475
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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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From ‘frenzy’ to ‘fatigue’ as mortgage rates, applications dip

Real Estate News

The average rate on a 30-year loan settled at 7.12% this week, but a decline in mortgage applications suggests that “consumers are weary.

Mortgages 317
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Affordability slows home sales, hints at future home price declines

Housing Wire

Mortgage rates peaked at 7.5% a couple weeks ago and are staying stubbornly high. Rising mortgage rates mean rising inventory as home buyer demand slows quickly. But home prices are staying pretty stable even though we can measure a slowdown in the number of homes getting offers. Most years, available inventory of unsold homes on the market peaks in August.

Sales 468

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MBA stresses the long-term need for flood insurance availability as NFIP expiration looms

Housing Wire

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on Thursday sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to address the availability of flood insurance. In the letter, MBA SVP of Legislative and Political Affairs Bill Kilmer pointed to the impending expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is currently slated to happen on September 30.

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Hubzu operator Altisource to issue more stock to pay down debt

Inman

The Luxembourg-based real estate and mortgage services provider, which has slashed nearly 400 positions this year, raised $20.5 million in a February offering that it used to pay down debt.

Mortgages 197
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How EPM plans to win in the TPO channel after exiting retail

Housing Wire

Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM) has completely shifted to the TPO business after seeing growth opportunities in the wholesale channel, a distribution channel that’s been growing in recent years. The Atlanta-based lender has fully exited the retail channel, a change in strategy the company has been preparing for over the past few months. EPM’s CEO Eddy Perez had previously shared plans with HousingWire to double down on wholesale while scaling down its retail footprint.

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The Agency seeks to boost agent marketing savvy with new portal

Inman

The portal gives The Agency's agents access to all of its marketing and public relations resources, as well as direct access to its marketing team.

Agents 195
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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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How the buyer commission lawsuits could upend the relationship between agents and LOs

Housing Wire

For most real estate agents, working with a reliable lending partner is essential to a smooth and successful transaction. “That partnership is everything,” Amy Breach, a Seattle-based Keller Williams agent, told HousingWire in late 2022. “The lender and LO can make or break the transaction.” Finding reliable lending partners takes time and some trial and error, but once established is often the lifeblood of LOs.

Agents 418
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Morgan Stanley exec tapped to run single-family rental firm

Inman

Jonathan Pruzan, once thought to be a front-runner for CEO of Morgan Stanley, has been chosen to run Pretium, a firm that owns tens of thousands of single-family rental homes.

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7 Strategies for real estate agents to slash taxes before year-end

Housing Wire

While tax planning is a year-round task, real estate agents can take some specific actions before the New Year to significantly cut their taxable income. Use these seven strategies to avoid overpaying taxes, save money, and better manage your business. 1. Identify business deductions Every business has ordinary and necessary costs, such as office equipment, marketing , accounting, and insurance , that are tax-deductible.

Agents 418
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Zillow and Homesite team up to offer renters insurance

Inman

Renters can purchase insurance policies on Zillow's desktop or mobile platform, thanks to a partnership with Homesite Insurance. Renters can pay on a monthly or annual basis.

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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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LeadingRE promotes Reisinger to COO, Edgerton to Chief Legal Officer

Housing Wire

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE) has promoted Jessica Edgerton to chief legal officer/executive vice president of industry and learning and Kate Reisinger to chief operating officer. Edgerton and Reisinger will have an impact on the global network of 550-plus independent real estate brokerages. Edgerton moves up from her position of executive vice president of operations, which she’s held since 2018.

Brokerage 418
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‘Trust has been broken’: New NAR President vows to rebuild in video

Inman

National Association of Realtors President Tracy Kasper released the 5-minute video on Thursday outlining the organization's plan to address sexual misconduct charges and rebuild broken trust.

MLS 189
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Realtor.com tool shows what your home could get on Airbnb

Housing Wire

Homeowners can now see potential short-term rental income estimates on Realtor.com thanks to an integration with Airbnb. Short-term rental earnings estimates for hosting one room or the entire house will be available to homeowners via Realtor.com’s My Home dashboard, according to an announcement on Thursday. The estimated earnings for a seven-day rental are based on Airbnb data from similar listings in the ZIP code.

Equity 417
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Loy Carlos, Kenneth Moore launch Nest Seekers Global Wealth office

Inman

Carlos and Moore, who have collaborated on other ventures in the past, have joined the global luxury company to spearhead the new division of advisory services across clients' luxury holdings.

Brokerage 189
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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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The Real Brokerage makes profit sharing program more accessible

Housing Wire

Fast-growing firm The Real Brokerage is making it easier for their agents to take advantage of the company’s revenue share program. During the brokerage’s monthly video call on Wednesday, Real president Sharran Srivatsaa announced that any agent who has recruited at least five producing Real agents into their network will be bumped into the second tier of the firm’s revenue share program, as first reported by Real Estate News.

Brokerage 416
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How much is your home worth on Airbnb? Realtor.com can tell you

Inman

New tool comes as more homeowners look for ways to offset high housing costs, and as Airbnb looks to add more supply to keep prices down.

Investor 187
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Risk and compliance expert Jeffrey Flory is QC Ally’s new CEO

Housing Wire

Loan quality and audit services company QC Ally has appointed Jeffrey Flory as its new chief executive officer, the company said Thursday. The news comes eight months after the appointment of Nicole Booth as as company CEO. She left in August. “I am humbled to take on this role and help bring the company’s vision to fruition,” Flory said in a statement.

Lending 416
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Broker Spotlight: Daniel Tzinker, The Agency Bal Harbour

Inman

Find out how this South Florida broker moved from selling private jets and yachts to showplace luxury homes.

Brokerage 187
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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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CFPB agrees to $6M settlement over alleged employee discrimination

Housing Wire

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has settled a class action suit first brought against it in 2018 by Black and Hispanic employees over issues of alleged discrimination and retaliation, according to court documents reviewed by HousingWire. The settlement of $6 million will be distributed to “a class of 85 Black/African American and/or Hispanic Bureau employees in certain jobs within the Office of Consumer Response, administration costs, any court-approved attorneys’ fees and costs,

As-is 411
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‘Affordability’ is a dirty word in real estate. It’s time for that to change

Inman

Lack of affordable housing, rising home prices and soaring interest rates are making the dream of homeownership dangerously unachievable, writes broker, coach and consultant Zak Shellhammer.

Agents 183
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eXp Realty opens up profit sharing program to new agents

Housing Wire

Glenn Sanford’s eXp Realty is getting in on the revenue share program changes. The brokerage on Thursday launched Accelerate , an incentive program that helps agents maximize their revenue share earning potential during their first year with the brokerage. The program is available in all 24 countries where eXp Realty operates and it is open to agents who joined on or after March 1, 2023.

Agents 411
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Stay ahead in a shifting market: The growth mindset advantage

Inman

New classes now streaming! Join Inman Access today to gain a new perspective for succeeding in today's market and tactical business building hacks to implement in 2024.

Marketing 183
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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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Opinion: Real estate brokerage consolidation opportunities abound

Housing Wire

Most brokers are feeling the crunch. Existing home sales are down, mortgage interest rates are up, and the economic uncertainty is palpable. Rather than belabor the kick in the teeth this industry is feeling, I’d like to bring attention to the other side of the coin that has some real estate brokers licking their chops. During this time, we ( RTC Consulting ) have come to grips with various certainties prevalent in residential real estate.

Brokerage 410
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Amid losses, WeWork attempts to renegotiate ‘nearly all’ of its leases

Inman

The struggling commercial real estate startup said that its leasing costs remain too high and it will look to exit underperforming locations.

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Cindy Chance named CEO of The Appraisal Institute

Housing Wire

The Appraisal Institute , the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, appointed Cindy Chance as chief executive officer, the trade organization announced. Prior to joining the Appraisal Institute, Chance worked at the Urban Land Institute as an executive vice president for the learning and product councils. At ULI, she created and grew the group’s online education efforts.

Land 406
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Teams Spotlight: Carpenter Kessel

Inman

Find out how this team on Florida's Space Coast has put a business-builder mindset to work while staying focused on what they do best.

Agents 179
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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.