Tue.Jan 07, 2025

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CFPB sues Experian over ‘sham’ consumer dispute investigations

Housing Wire

Experian has become the latest focus of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as the agency intensifies its regulatory and enforcement activity ahead of the impending White House transition. On Tuesday, the CFPB filed a lawsuit against Experian in a U.S. district court in California, accusing the credit reporting giant of violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).

Finance 418
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DOJ adds major landlords to antitrust lawsuit against RealPage

Inman

Greystar Real Estate Partners, Blackstones LivCor and Cushman & Wakefield are among the institutional landlords accused of fixing rental prices to the detriment of "millions" of renters.

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Which cities have the largest portion of homes affordable to the average wage earner?

Housing Wire

Housing affordability is a constant issue faced by working-class renters and homebuyers in recent years. Despite rising home prices and mortgage rates , online lender NetCredit highlighted two major cities with a glimmer of hope for average earners seeking affordable housing in 2025. NetCredit’s released an analysis this week of the 100 most populous cities in the U.S.

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Expert Forecasts for the 2025 Housing Market

Keeping Current Matters

Wondering what’s in store for the housing market this year?

Marketing 318
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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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Consumer sentiment on mortgage rates better than last year

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae ‘s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) decreased 1.9 points in December to 73.1 a figure substantially higher than year-ago levels due to ongoing mortgage rate optimism. The index reported that consumers continue to expect mortgage rates to decline over the next 12 months. In December 2024, the share of consumers that expected mortgage rate shrinkage held steady at 42%, lower than November’s 45%.

Mortgages 397
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Renters’ Net Worth Climbs to $10K, But the Wealth Gap Persists

BAM Media

BAM Key Details: The Aspen Institute reveals a massive wealth gap: homeowners boast a median net worth of $396,500, while renters sit at $10,400. Deepening the divide, nearly 50% of renters spend over 30% of their income on housing, and half were denied credit or offered less than requested in 2023 (compared to 28% of homeowners), with 37% avoiding credit applications for fear of rejection.

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Higher Inventory—and Lower Prices—Being Driven by Smaller-Sized Unit Listings

RIS Media

In December 2024, the median home price in the U.S. declinedbut median price per square foot increased by 1.3%. This data comes courtesy of the latest monthly real estate market report from Realtor.com. The report suggests that current price figures are due to more smaller/affordable listings entering the market, bringing down median price overall but… The post Higher Inventoryand Lower PricesBeing Driven by Smaller-Sized Unit Listings appeared first on RISMedia.

Marketing 122
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HUD announces $12B in long-term disaster assistance across 24 states

Housing Wire

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Tuesday announced the allocation of nearly $12 billion in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for communities across 24 U.S. states and territories. This money is designed to go toward long-term recovery efforts for communities impacted by recent natural disasters.

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DOJ files amended complaint against RealPage

Real Estate News

Just a month after the company announced an investigation into its rental pricing practices had ended, the DOJ is back with an updated, expanded lawsuit.

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Housing pros forecast stable housing market conditions

Housing Wire

Across the board, mortgage and real estate respondents to the HousingWire Pulse Q1 2025 survey say the housing market will be flat for the first three months of 2025. The majority chose “flat” when asked the direction of home sales and home prices. The good news? HousingWire experts are forecasting a more positive outlook for this year’s housing market in their recent 2025 Housing Market Forecast: The Path to Recovery.

Marketing 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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Buyers Agent Commissions Explained for First-Time Shoppers

HomeLight

Buying a new house is a huge financial commitment. There is the cost of the home itself but then there are also the closing costs , HOA fees , property taxes , homeowners insurance, and paying for necessary repairs. So where do the buyers agent fees fit into this? And how much are they, again? Find An Agent To Help You Buy Your First Home Purchasing your first home?

Agents 98
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HousingWire partners with Columbus Realtors to deliver essential industry news and insights to members

Housing Wire

HousingWire, the leading source for housing market news and information, announced its partnership with Columbus Realtors, the largest city-based Realtor association in Ohio. This collaboration will provide access to HousingWires cutting-edge news and information to 8,500 members of Columbus Realtors, empowering brokers and agents with critical resources to stay ahead in the ever-evolving real estate industry.

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Brooklyn Real Estate Listings Six Months Later: All Four Sold

Brownstoner

This week, a look back at four of our featured listings from six months ago focuses on homes in Cobble Hill, East Williamsburg, Bay Ridge, and Prospect Park South. How did they fare? First up, this row house at 39 Strong Place is one of a stretch built in the 1890s.… Read More > The post Brooklyn Real Estate Listings Six Months Later: All Four Sold appeared first on Brownstoner.

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How reverse mortgage pros will seek to connect with clients in 2025

Housing Wire

The reverse mortgage industry has long sought to streamline and maximize its ongoing efforts to connect with prospective borrowers. After a challenging year for the mortgage industry broadly and the reverse mortgage business specifically, companies are aiming to assess the best ways to accomplish these ongoing goals. Several reverse mortgage industry professionals who spoke with RMD in the closing days of 2024 described how some of these efforts could manifest themselves in 2025.

Mortgages 369
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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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Housing optimism up 'substantially' compared to a year ago

Real Estate News

Consumer sentiment was relatively high in December, largely driven by expectations of declining mortgage rates in 2025.

Mortgages 265
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Zillow’s hottest housing market for 2025 is, once again, Buffalo

Housing Wire

Buffalo, New York , known for its tumultuous winter weather and beloved namesake chicken wing, will be the hottest major housing market in 2025, according to a new report from Zillow. This is the first time a market has held the title in back-to-back years. “ Construction that keeps pace with an area’s growth remains a crucial piece of keeping homes available and accessible.

Marketing 334
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'Unfiltered': Real estate must stop moving ‘at the speed of paper’

Real Estate News

Watch the conversation as the CEO of Matterport shares his pitch to skeptical agents and his push to create the forward-looking ecosystem homebuyers expect.

Agents 241
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It’s all smiles for the 2025 luxury housing market

Housing Wire

While the U.S. housing market was relatively slow in 2024, experts say the luxury sector was an outlier and they are anticipating even stronger conditions in 2025. According to The Trend Report released Monday by Coldwell Banker s Global Luxury program, the brands luxury property specialists expect more luxury buyers to reenter the market in 2025. Overall, the agents surveyed have a positive outlook for the year, driven by renewed confidence in the market, a larger selection of desirable propert

Marketing 334
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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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NAHB, 15 State Attorneys General Sue HUD, USDA Over Energy Codes

RIS Media

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and 15 state attorneys general are suing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over the adoption of energy codes, impacting the availability of affordable housing. Plaintiffs are suing for declaratory and injunctive relief related to Section 109 of… The post NAHB, 15 State Attorneys General Sue HUD, USDA Over Energy Codes appeared first on RISMedia.

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Would-be homebuyers are still looking for conditions to improve

Inman

Americans are more hopeful that the economy is on the right track than they were a year ago, but only 1 in 5 thought December was a good time to buy a home, Fannie Mae surveys show.

Mortgages 174
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Asking Rents Mostly Unchanged Year-over-year

Calculated Risk Real Estate

Another monthly update on rents. Tracking rents is important for understanding the dynamics of the housing market. Slower household formation and increased supply (more multi-family completions) has kept asking rents under pressure. Apartment List: Asking Rent Growth -0.6% Year-over-year From ApartmentList.com: Apartment List National Rent Report Rents are down 0.6% month-over-month, down 0.6% year-over-year Welcome to the January 2025 Apartment List National Rent Report.

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Take your mark, get ready, fence! to generate business in 2025

Inman

Broker Annette DeCicco offers lessons learned from her father, a hall-of-fame fencing coach, that can be your roadmap to generating more leads in 2025 and beyond.

Agents 167
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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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Zillow’s Hottest Housing Markets in 2025: Latest Predictions

Marco Santarelli

Okay, let's cut right to the chase if you're wondering where the real estate action will be in 2025, Zillows hottest housing markets for 2025 are led by Buffalo, NY , as the predicted top spot. Yes, Buffalo is once again predicted to be the most competitive market for buyers in the entire nation. But dont stop there! The real estate picture is way more nuanced than just one city, so lets dive in and explore what these trends really mean for you.

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Oren Alexander misses hearing, mistakenly sent by Feds to NY

Inman

In a bizarre mixup, Oren was accidentally flown to New York City by the U.S. Marshals Service on Tuesday, even though he was due to appear in court in Miami for a bail hearing. He has been ordered to return to Miami for a rescheduled hearing on Wednesday.

Agents 167
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3 Visuals That Will Transform Your Real Estate Business

BAM Media

Imagine watching a football game and having no idea what the score isit would be chaotic and unproductive. Yet, thats exactly how many agents approach their business: no scoreboards, no visuals, and no clear understanding of their progress. If you want 2025 to be your best year yet, its time to make a change. Lets break down three visuals that should be plastered across every work location you have.

Sales 59
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Jimmy Carter’s blueprint: Build with purpose, lead with heart

Inman

Darryl Davis offers lessons from the life of the late President Jimmy Carter, a tireless advocate for peace, progress and the transformational power of "home.

Agents 167
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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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We Buy Houses Waldorf, MD: Top 4 Companies

HomeLight

Need to sell your Waldorf, MD, home fast? We Buy Houses companies offer all-cash deals for homes in any condition, helping you skip repairs and sell quickly. Its a simple option if youre short on time or facing an urgent situation. A cash sale is quick and convenient, but it often means accepting less than market value. Knowing the pros and cons can help you decide if it fits your circumstances.

Closing 52
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Bluesky or Threads? Go where your vibe thrives

Inman

Social media is shifting, Jessi Healey breaks down the differences between Threads and Bluesky to help you find the platform that fits your style and goals.

Marketing 158
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Housing Secretary commits to leasehold reform this year 

Estate Agent Today

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has committed to leasehold reform this year, despite the latest delays.

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New agent guide to leveraging non-contingent offers in a hot market

Inman

Investor Zain Jaffer offers tips for conducting due diligence and presenting a competitive offer that's unencumbered by contingencies.

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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.