Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

The first-time homebuyer process is a lengthy one, and if you’re not careful, there’s a lot that can throw you off-track. From low appraisals to surprise credit checks, a number of hurdles could slow your purchase or even derail it altogether. Are you on the hunt for a new home? Want to make sure your purchase goes off without a hitch? Then take steps to avoid these all-too-common first-time homebuyer mistakes: More for Real Estate Enthusiasts.

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Keeping Current Matters

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Some Highlights. Mortgage interest rates have dropped considerably over the past year, and compared to what we’ve seen in recent decades, it’s a great time to buy a home. Locking in a low rate today could save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your home loan, but these low rates may not last forever. If you’re in a position to buy a home, reach out to a local real estate professional to determine your best move in today’s housing market while interest rates are still in your favor.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales for January were at 6,669,000, which beat estimates. The year-over-year growth was an impressive 23.7%. The median sales price also jumped 14.1% year over year, which I warned could happen during the years 2020-2024. On a recent HousingWire podcast , I discussed the need for higher mortgage rates to cool down this growth rate.

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Sales Mortgages As-is Marketing 527

Realtor.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Feverpitched / Getty Images You may be wondering if there are tax deductions when selling a home. And the answer is: You bet! Sure, you may remember way back to 2018 and its new tax code—aka the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—changed some rules for homeowners. But rest assured that if you sold your home in 2020 (or are planning to in the future), your tax deductions when you file with the IRS can still amount to sizable savings.

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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

Technology

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

It looks like RentPath will be sold after all. After a deal to be acquired by CoStar Group fell through due to antitrust objections from the federal government, real estate brokerage and listings portal Redfin has scooped up the Atlanta-based rental platform. Seattle-based Redfin has agreed to pay $608 million in cash to acquire RentPath , though the deal still requires sign-off by the Federal Trade Commission and a bankruptcy court.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Consumer credit activity rose in the fourth quarter of 2020, as low interest rates and high housing demand continued to fuel mortgage demand, according to TransUnion’s latest industry insights report. Serious delinquency rates in mortgages declined year-over-year to 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Delinquency rates were at 1% in the fourth quarter of 2019.

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Better Dwelling

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Canadians are scrambling to buy a home and catch that huge wage of profits… but is it really that profitable? It depends what you’re comparing it to. When central banks flood the market with cheap money, almost everything soars. It’s not just real estate that is profitable. Real estate is just the only investment many […]. The post Everything’s A Bubble, and Canadian Real Estate Was One of The Worst Returns appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Banks Marketing 133

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

From thousands of feet above your home, a high-tech camera snaps pictures of your roof, the mess of debris in your yard, and that pool you hate cleaning. Pictures like these could cost – or save – you thousands of dollars when deals are about to close. It could also have big implications for appraisers, who are already nervous about the continued rise of automated valuation models.

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Investor Brokerage MLS Loans 441

American Lifestyle

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

The post Downsize or Upsize—Which Is Right for You? appeared first on American Lifestyle Magazine.

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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.

Development

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

It hasn’t been that long since the mortgage industry worked through the challenges of the early part of the century and now, once again, we find ourselves in a time when serving our customers is filled with financial hardships and uncertainty about the outcome. Just like we can look back and analyze how our industry rebounded from the Great Recession, we will one day be able to do the same regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Mortgages Industrial Loans Closing 388

Eye on Housing

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Fueled by low mortgage interest rates and strong demand, existing home sales, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), increased to three-month high in January. But surging house prices and inventory shortages could limit demand and slow the market. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 0.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate.

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Sales Mortgages Marketing 117

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Courtney Thompson, senior vice president of default mortgage at Flagstar Bank , will speak on a panel titled Servicing Challenges in a Pandemic Period at HousingWire’s Spring Summit on March 4. Thompson leads Flagstar’s default mortgage operations team, delivering industry-leading transparency into the default mortgage servicing process. Prior to coming to Flagstar in 2014, Thompson had 15 years of consulting experience in the default arena.

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Banks Title Mortgages Technology 381

Realtor.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

realtor.com, Mat Hayward/Getty Images Nelly is ready to take off from his abandoned Missouri digs. The hip-hop star has placed an unfinished remodel in Wildwood, MO, on the market for $599,000. This is a precipitous drop from the listed price of $2.5 million in 2002, when the home was last on the market. The St. Louis native reportedly snapped up the property, billed as “Tuscan-style architecture,” as an investment opportunity.

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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.

Industrial

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Title insurance upstart States Title announced this week $150 million in debt financing from HSCM Bermuda , which will go towards developing a more modern home closing experience. CEO Max Simkoff said the financing will held them “wipe the system clean” and build a homebuying system from scratch – one that is simple, efficient and digital, he added. “Home buying, which is already stressful and overwhelming, should set the standard for easing customers’ journeys rath

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Title Closing Finance Technology 311

The Mortgage Report

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

A no-closing-cost refinance or home purchase saves you money upfront But your rate will be higher. Learn when a no-cost mortgage is a good idea.

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Closing costs Closing Mortgages 116

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Following an impressive fourth quarter, Stewart Title announced a 10% increase in the company’s annual cash dividend to $1.32 per share. Fred Eppinger, Stewart CEO, said he asked the company’s Board of Directors for the increase in order to be consistent with shareholders. “The increased annual dividend is directly related to the strong fourth quarter and year-end revenue growth Stewart saw across all lines of business and by continuing to effectively manage our cost structure to increase

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Realtor.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

TourFactory It isn’t common for a buyer to renovate a home and embrace a truly retro vibe, but that’s exactly what the owners of one midcentury modern residence in Austin, TX, did. The 7,000-square-foot Atomic Age classic, built in 1963 on Balcones Drive , is now on the market for $3.95 million. Its color palette is right out of the TV series “The Marvelous Mrs.

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Brokerage

Brownstoner

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

If you like your historic properties with layers of atmospherically decaying history, this circa 1740 farmhouse offers it in abundance along with a connection to a New York City political figure. The house on the market at 187 N Country Road in Miller Place, N.Y. was the family home of Caleb… Read More > The post Bring Life Back to an 18th Century Suffolk County Farmhouse, Birthplace of a New York City Mayor appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Marketing 111

Eye on Housing

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

An expected impact of the virus crisis is a need for more space, as people use their homes for more purposes. And while this measure has not increased significantly yet, new home size did level off in 2020 after years of decline. According to fourth quarter 2020 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and.

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The Mortgage Report

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Finally, average mortgage rates edged lower yesterday. It had been more than a week since the previous fall. And it made up only about one-tenth […].

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Mortgages 111

Realtor.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Joe Raedle/Getty Images The numbers: U.S. existing home sales inched up 0.6% to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.69 million, the National Association of Realtors said Friday. Compared with a year ago, home sales were up 23.7%. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast that existing home sales would fall to a median rate of 6.66 million.

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Sales Mortgages As-is Marketing 111

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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.

Agents

Brownstoner

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

With a winter full of snow and the need to get out of the house whenever possible, it might be time to venture out to some New York parks and hills for a sledding adventure. The city has plenty of iconic and daring hills to brave. From the novice to the… Read More > The post Here Are the Best Sledding Hills in Brooklyn and Beyond appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Realtor.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Reddit/Instagram. The normally temperate state of Texas experienced some of the coldest weather ever earlier this week when snow blanketed most of the central part of the country, leading to widespread power outages and water shortages. Dallas–Fort Worth even saw temperatures dip to a teeth-chattering minus 2 degrees on Tuesday morning—a negative number not seen in North Texas for 72 years. .

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As-is 106

Real Estate Investar

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

2021 has started in strong fashion as most property markets across the country continue to see rising prices. According to the latest data from CoreLogic, house prices are up once again in February and it appears that the big banks are also predicting significant price gains over the next 12-24 months. Month to date, house prices in our major capital cities are 1.2% higher according to CoreLogic, taking the year to date gains to 1.4%.

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Banks Marketing 105

Brownstoner

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

In the News Pigeon Guys of Brooklyn Face Tough Times [NYT] NYC Staves Off Cuts to Public Transit, Despite Dire Warnings [NYT] New York Aquarium Under Consideration for Vax Site [BP] Park Slope Food Co-Op Member Sues Grocer Over Suspension [BP] Prospect Cleaning Service Opens Headquarters in Crown Heights [Caribbean Life] The Gut Renovation of Ryan… Read More > The post Daily Links: More Drama at Park Slope Food Co-op As New Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination appeared first on Browns

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Renovation 105

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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.

Agents

Realtor.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

realtor.com, Sam Greenwood/Getty Images The former Florida Gators and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier is letting go of his oceanfront vacation home in St. Augustine, FL. He’s asking $5.8 million. Spurrier has owned this Crescent Beach getaway since buying the land in 1995 for $400,000. He then built the beach house, which was finished in 2010.

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Land As-is Marketing 102

Brownstoner

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Our picks for open houses this weekend are all move-in-ready and two of them come with coveted off-street parking. Found in Cobble Hill, Park Slope and Kensington, they range in price from $2.195 million to $3.995 million. This circa 1870s former carriage house on Cobble Hill's Verandah Place has been modernized… Read More > The post A Carriage House With Parking and Three Others to See This Weekend, Starting at $2.195 Million appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Marketing 101

Realtor.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

realtor.com A brutal—and hilarious—listing description catapulted a decrepit Florida home to the top spot on this week’s most popular homes on realtor.com®. We’ve read through a bajillion listing descriptions over the years. They’re almost always reserved for a cheery assessment of the delightful features a home has to offer. However, an agent in Florida decided to zig while everyone else was zagging, and this $69,000 home is described as “literally the worst house on the

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