Tue.Oct 17, 2023

article thumbnail

4 tips for staying relevant as a real estate professional in 2023

Housing Wire

A friend of mine is a successful real estate professional in a competitive market. We often discuss changing housing market conditions, and the pressure real estate agents are under to stay relevant in the wake of increased competition. He built his business on an existing strong sphere. But as his business has grown, he increasingly has had to adjust and modify legacy strategies to better meet the needs of today’s market and maintain his strong foothold in the market.

Brokerage 441
article thumbnail

'Conspiracy' front and center as commissions trial kicks off

Real Estate News

On day two of the Sitzer/Burnett trial, the plaintiffs presented opening arguments, while the defense said conspiracy claims are "conjecture.

334
334
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

article thumbnail

Blend launches lower-cost option for retail IMBs

Housing Wire

Mortgage tech firm Blend has launched a lower-cost version of its mortgage suite for retail independent mortgage banks, the company announced this week. This offering, called Blend IMB Essentials, includes many of the same features of its standard offering for mortgage lenders. Blend IMB Essentials will streamline the application process, will facilitate pulling soft credits instead of tri-merge credits during the initial phase of application.

article thumbnail

Bucking seasonal trends, home inventory is rising

Real Estate News

Inventory could keep increasing as potential homebuyers ‘hit the brakes’ while mortgage rates remain elevated. Price cuts are also higher than usual.

Mortgages 327
article thumbnail

3 Real Estate Office Hacks to Help Kickstart the Busy Season

Ready to better your Back Office? Dive into the secrets to a powerhouse back office with Brokermint expert, Jessica Souza. In this free download, she shares her 3 transformative hacks designed to clean house, get everyone on the same page, and set yourself up for success. From optimizing agent profiles to ensuring flawless transactions and boosting agent retention, these strategies are your ticket to a seamless operation.

article thumbnail

The Sitzer/Burnett trial kicks off in Kansas City

Housing Wire

The highly anticipated trial of the Sitzer/Burnett buyer broker compensation class action lawsuit kicked off in earnest on Tuesday morning, with opening arguments taking place in the Kansas City courtroom belonging to U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Bough. According to reports from Inman News , the plaintiffs opening arguments leaned heavily on the video depositions of Keller Williams CEO Gary Keller and HomeServices of America CEO Gino Blefari.

MLS 408
article thumbnail

Rental income from ADUs now can be counted towards an FHA mortgage

Real Estate News

Starting this week, the FHA has tweaked its borrowing rules to promote accessory dwelling units as a way to boost housing inventory and affordability.

Mortgages 288

More Trending

article thumbnail

Industry leaders take the stage (via video) at Sitzer/Burnett

Real Estate News

Pre-recorded depositions from Bob Goldberg, Gino Blefari and Gary Keller included tense exchanges about buyer-broker commissions.

Staging 290
article thumbnail

New low in real estate agent movement: Relitix

Housing Wire

Agents are moving between brokerages at a much slower pace than the post-pandemic peak seen in the summer of 2021, according to Relitix’s Agent Movement Index. The index shows the relative degree of movement between brokerages by experienced agents and is indexed to the level of mobility in January 2016. The graph above that, on a trailing 12-month basis, mobility hit its 10-year high in June of 2021 at an index value of 109.4.

Agents 400
article thumbnail

Builder confidence continues to decline

Real Estate News

Rising mortgage rates have hit the construction sector hard, pushing confidence to the lowest level since January.

article thumbnail

MLS executives imagine a world with no MLS

Housing Wire

As the trial for Sitzer/Burnett, the first of the two bombshell class action buyer broker compensation anti-trust lawsuits, kicks off this week , the real estate industry’s multiple listing services are busy preparing for any and all outcomes. “I think that one of the challenges in this is that there are a lot of possible outcomes,” Denee Evans, the CEO of the Council of MLSs (CMLS), said.

MLS 398
article thumbnail

Need Curated Pre-foreclosure Lists to Generate New Real Estate Leads? Trellis Has the Data!

Trellis is a state trial court research and analytics platform that provides Real Estate Professionals (Buyers, Foreclosure, Loan Modification, etc.) with LEADS on Pre-Foreclosures, Lis Pendes, Distressed Assets and more — to help uncover **new** opportunities and grow their business. The process is quick and easy — and all in real time. Trellis will supply you with a link to the relevant dockets, a Leads sheet and access to its UI where applicable.

article thumbnail

How Buying a Multi-Generational Home Helps with Affordability Today

Keeping Current Matters

In today's world of rising housing costs, many buyers are looking for ways to still be able to buy a home.

255
255
article thumbnail

Truv integrates with nCino’s Mortgage Suite to simplify income verification

Housing Wire

Employment data solution firm Truv has a new integration with cloud banking provider nCino. This latest integration will allow lenders who use the nCino Mortgage Suite to benefit from Truv’s ability to instantly verify income and employment for most of the U.S. workforce. It will help mortgage lenders make smoother, faster underwriting decisions, Truv said.

Mortgages 377
article thumbnail

Gary Keller, Bob Goldberg among first to testify in Sitzer | Burnett

Inman

As the long-awaited commission trial begins, the Kansas City courtroom saw opening arguments followed by testimony from industry heavy-hitters including Gary Keller, NAR CEO Bob Goldberg and HomeServices of America President and CEO Gino Blefari.

article thumbnail

Survey Ranks RE/MAX #1 Real Estate Franchise

RIS Media

RE/MAX secured the top spot for real estate franchises in the Franchise Times Top 400 list. This achievement marks the 15th consecutive year RE/MAX has been recognized as the top real estate franchise in the comprehensive list. The Franchise Times Top 400 is an exclusive annual ranking of the largest franchise systems in the United… The post Survey Ranks RE/MAX #1 Real Estate Franchise appeared first on RISMedia.

As-is 122
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Economists now less certain 2024 will bring much mortgage rate relief

Inman

Fed's "higher for longer" rate strategy could keep home sales from rebounding in 2024 or limit the strength of a recovery, according to two closely followed forecasts.

Mortgages 189
article thumbnail

Solo Renting is on the Rise

RIS Media

Renting alone, while often considered unaffordable and unattainable, has actually grown in recent years. Between 2016 and 2021, solo renting grew by about 1 million people, reaching 16.7 million (up 6.7%). RentCafe’s latest report looked at trends in the rental market, specifically surrounding solo renters. The report found that solo renting has become the fastest-rising… The post Solo Renting is on the Rise appeared first on RISMedia.

Marketing 122
article thumbnail

ACI paying another $20M to settle mortgage payments debacle

Inman

In settling with state regulators, the Miami-based electronic payment processor is looking to close the books on a 2021 test that triggered $2.3 billion in erroneous mortgage payments.

Mortgages 184
article thumbnail

COURT UPDATE: NAR Lawyers Tell Jurors Not to Fall for ‘Shell Game’ as Burnett Trial Kicks Off

RIS Media

KANSAS CITY—In a courtroom brimming with what appeared to be representatives of the class action suit, Burnett vs. the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), opening statements got underway this morning, with lead attorneys for both the plaintiffs and the defendants forcefully laying the groundwork for their respective cases. Aside from an approximately $1.8 billion settlement… The post COURT UPDATE: NAR Lawyers Tell Jurors Not to Fall for ‘Shell Game’ as Burnett Trial Kicks

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Read the playbooks of NAR, Keller Williams ahead of Sitzer | Burnett

Inman

The National Association of Realtors, Keller Williams, HomeServices and its subsidiaries BHH Affiliates and HSF Affiliates submitted their trial briefs ahead of the antitrust trial in Kansas City.

MLS 181
article thumbnail

Real Estate Witch: 71% of Americans Would Buy a Haunted House to Save Money

Realty Biz

During the spooky season, it is interesting that most Americans would be willing to purchase a well-known haunted house to save money. Surprisingly, over half (52%) of Americans are open to this idea. A significant 71% would consider it if it meant a financial benefit, as indicated by a recent study conducted by Real Estate Witch, Zillowtastrophes, and Estate Media.

article thumbnail

‘Longest open house ever’ lasts 64 hours, raises $40K for Alzheimer’s

Inman

Fargo-based agent Kyle Olson lost his father to Alzheimer's in 2018. Since then, Olson has raised more than $40,000 for the Alzheimer's Association through several record-breaking open house events.

Agents 175
article thumbnail

Gage & Tollner Will Likely Be Surrounded by Construction for Years, Then Skyscrapers

Brownstoner

Fulton Street’s iconic Gage & Tollner restaurant will likely be the last standing historic building on its Downtown Brooklyn block. Applications for demolition permits have been filed for the entire southern stretch of Fulton Street between Red Hook Lane and Smith Street, aside from the restaurant’s home. The corner buildings… Read More > The post Gage & Tollner Will Likely Be Surrounded by Construction for Years, Then Skyscrapers appeared first on Brownstoner.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Phone stressing you out? Here’s how to battle digital exhaustion

Inman

Overcoming digital exhaustion and getting a handle on your tech stack may seem like an overwhelming challenge, but it's within your reach. Tech CEO Sheila Reddy offers ideas and strategies to help you get your platforms under control.

article thumbnail

Social Skills: Harvest Success This Autumn With Seasonal Marketing Strategies

RIS Media

The Fall 2023 real estate market is in full swing, and it is essential for real estate agents to adapt their marketing strategies to stay ahead of the game. Autumn provides a golden opportunity to connect with your leads and prospects through visually appealing, seasonally-themed content, and leveraging today’s digital marketing trends. With the right… The post Social Skills: Harvest Success This Autumn With Seasonal Marketing Strategies appeared first on RISMedia.

Marketing 111
article thumbnail

‘It’s not personal, it’s business’: Avoid hard feelings when agents go

Inman

When an agent leaves a brokerage or team, is it because the broker-manager or team leader failed the agent? DOORA broker Troy Palmquist shares tips to help you avoid taking an agent loss personally while learning from the experience.

Agents 173
article thumbnail

Do All Agents Really Need Every Marketing Tool?

RIS Media

Marketing tech tools litter the real estate industry. Brokerages invest tens of millions of dollars annually, attempting to supply their agents with every option. But how can a brokerage get their agents to adopt and make the most of the marketing technology solutions they provide? A telling statistic puts this problem into perspective: Over 40%… The post Do All Agents Really Need Every Marketing Tool?

Agents 111
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Are you a right-brain or left-brain real estate entrepreneur?

Inman

Knowing how you think and where your mental and emotional strengths lie can revolutionize the way you do business. Fiscal fitness experts Amy Chorew and Maeda Palius help you think about how you think so that you can plan better and accomplish more.

Brokerage 165
article thumbnail

Interest Rates Will Continue to Weigh on Economy, says Fannie Mae

RIS Media

The rapid rise in long-term interest rates over the past few months will likely weigh on future economic growth, according to the October 2023 commentary from the Fannie Mae Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. The ESR Group warns that an acute credit event (a change in a borrower’s ability to pay their debt) is… The post Interest Rates Will Continue to Weigh on Economy, says Fannie Mae appeared first on RISMedia.

Mortgages 111
article thumbnail

Deals get faster with Folio’s GPT-powered document analysis

Inman

Folio delivers value as an interactive sidebar within Gmail or Outlook, allowing users to respond to, organize, and take multiple deal actions without leaving their inbox, ensuring people and relevant business content stays tethered to the transaction.

article thumbnail

Builder Confidence Falls to Lowest Level Since January 2023

RIS Media

As mortgage rates have climbed to a 23-year high, builder confidence has fallen to the lowest reading since January, according to new data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) found that builder confidence fell four points to 40 in October, following a five-point drop in September… The post Builder Confidence Falls to Lowest Level Since January 2023 appeared first on RISMedia.

Mortgages 111
article thumbnail

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.