Thu.Feb 20, 2025

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Fewer first-time homebuyers emerged in 2024, but Black Americans bucked the trend

Housing Wire

While the share of first-time homebuyers has declined across the country, Black homebuyers are bucking the trend and showing resilience in an increasingly difficult housing market. A recent Zillow survey found that 62% of all Black homebuyers in 2024 were first-timers, the same level as the previous year. In contrast, first-time buyers accounted for only 44% of the market, down from 50% in 2023.

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Black households led first-time homebuyer market in 2024

Inman

Despite a nationwide dip in first-time homeownership, Black buyers have bucked the trend in 2024, leading the market with 62 percent purchasing their first home, according to new data released by Zillow Thursday.This continues a growing trend, with Black first-time buyers making up 55 percent of the market in 2022 and 63 percent in 2023.

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eXp rides Clear Cooperation to international growth

Housing Wire

While Robert Reffkin and Compass are touting their success while pushing for the repeal of the National Association of Realtors ‘ (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy, eXp Realty executives are claiming that the North American MLS system is helping to fuel their companys strong international growth. I was in Egypt last week with the team, and one of the most interesting things I noticed was the launch of Egypt MLS, which is being launched in conjunction with the government, Glenn Sanford , the C

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EXp Q4 earnings mixed as revenue ticks up but agent count falls

Inman

The virtual brokerage ended 2024 with 82,980 agents a 5 percent drop compared to the previous year, according to Q4 earnings data. EXp also posted $1.1 billion in revenue in the final three months of last year.

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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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Better.com reports 400% growth for HELOC business

Housing Wire

Digital homeownership company Better.com on Thursday announced a record 400% growth in its home equity line of credit ( HELOC ) and home equity loan businesses. In a press release, the company announced that its HELOC business channel increased its revenue from $15 million per month in January 2024 to $60 million per month by October 2024. “If you look at any of the industry’s measures of origination growth, particularly with respect to HELOC, I think we’re growing faster than

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The ultimate guide to grammar, syntax and real estate writing

Inman

From using ChatGPT to enhance your writing to avoiding simple errors in communication, this guide is designed to help you target your most common mistakes and make your writing more effective.

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More Trending

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CoStar makes bid to buy REA Group classifieds rival in Australia

Inman

CoStar is eying Australian real estate classifieds firm Domain for a rumored $2.7 billion. The purchase would put it toe-to-toe with News Corp, which owns REA Group, Australias largest classifieds firm.

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Brokers struggle to scale the brick wall of membership agreements

Housing Wire

Some real estate brokers have found their path blocked as they try to navigate the membership agreements mandated by NAR and their local Realtor associations to gain access to MLS listings. (Image generated by AI in Midjourney) Luz de Amor Eytalis said she filed her antitrust suit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Texas Association of Realtors (TAR) and Wichita Falls Association of Realtors (WFAR) because she felt like she didnt have much of a choice.

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Under pressure from NAR, Phoenix Realtors cuts MLS Choice

Real Estate News

The Arizona association had been facing the loss of its charter after offering a discounted, non-Realtor membership option that included MLS access.

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Chase Home Lending announces limited-time refinance rate discount

Housing Wire

Chase Home Lending recently announced a limited-time, nationwide interest rate discount that is designed to help homeowners save on their monthly mortgage payments.The offer is in effect through March 7. The limited-time refinance rate discount applies to customers looking to refinance into a lower interest rate or reduce their monthly payment, as well as those looking to tap into their home equity through a cash-out refinance, said Nina Gidwaney, Chase ‘s head of refinance and home equity

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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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Seller Concessions: A Smart Strategy To Get Your House Sold

Keeping Current Matters

For the past few years, it’s been mostly a seller’s market. But dynamics are shifting as the number of homes for sale grows.

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January shows slower than expected rebound in agent movement

Housing Wire

The latest data through January 2025 shows that while agent movement in January rose from Decembers lows following a typical seasonal pattern the rebound is notably weaker than in most prior years. The seasonally adjusted data continues to drift lower, indicating that the underlying pace of brokerage switching remains subdued. Meanwhile, the count of active agents continues a modest decline but has not yet reached levels seen back in 2018.

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NextHome takes ‘two is better than one’ approach to CEO role

Real Estate News

Co-founder James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson are now co-CEOs as the Unfiltered podcast duo embraces a move designed to ramp up our already winning strategy.

Design 260
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NAR, Phoenix Realtors settle dispute over three-way agreement

Housing Wire

The Phoenix Association of Realtors (PAR) has blinked first in its game of chicken with the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The groups announced Thursday that theyve come to an agreement that will pare down PARs membership option to agents who are not Realtors, bringing PAR into compliance with NARs bylaws. The deal eliminates PARs MLS Choice membership option that allowed agents to become members of PAR without becoming members of the Arizona Association of Realtors or NAR while also ha

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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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Compass snaps up major Washington DC luxury brokerage

Inman

Washington Fine Properties operates in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia and has about 150 agents. The company's leadership team will remain in place after joining Compass.

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Gen Z seeking inventive homeownership paths

Housing Wire

While affordability challenges persist, Gen Z is proving resilient, carving out traditional and non-traditional paths to homeownership particularly in the Midwest. New data from LendingTree and CoreLogic highlights the struggles and successes of young buyers in todays real estate landscape. Young buyers still face an uphill battle According to a LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports, only 3.1 % of Americans under 30 currently hold a mortgage in the nations 50 largest metro areas.

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Where Gen Z buyers are finding affordable homes

Real Estate News

In several metros in the Midwest and South, Gen Z accounted for a fifth of the mortgage applicants. Home prices in those markets were typically below $300K.

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CrossCountry’s reverse mortgage VP joins NRMLA board of directors

Housing Wire

The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) board of directors is poised to grow by one member. Richard Thorpe, the divisional vice president of CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM)s reverse mortgage division, was announced Thursday as NRMLA’s newest board member. The move underscores CCMs commitment to advancing its reverse mortgage business and leadership within the industry, the company said.

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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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Mortgage rates seem stuck — so what will bring back buyers?

Real Estate News

Rates have dipped slightly, but demand is weak. Agents hope rising inventory and increased bargaining power will prompt more buyers to move forward this spring.

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Mortgage demand for new homes is down 6% in the past year

Housing Wire

Mortgage applications for newly built homes decreased 6% year over year in January 2025, according to a report released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). But application volume increased by 19% from December 2024. MBA’s Builder Application Survey (BAS) explores mortgage application data on a monthly basis across mortgage subsidiaries of homebuilders.

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BREAKING: NAR, Phoenix REALTORS® Reach Agreement to Bring Association Into Compliance

RIS Media

The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) today announced it reached a resolution with Phoenix REALTORS that brings the local association back into compliance with NARs Constitution and Bylaws, allowing the local association to retain its charter. The two groups had been embroiled in a nasty dispute starting late last year regarding whether Phoenix REALTORS members… The post BREAKING: NAR, Phoenix REALTORS Reach Agreement to Bring Association Into Compliance appeared first on RISMedia.

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Milwaukee housing authority owes $5M to the city, officials say

Housing Wire

The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM), an independent agency in Wisconsin s largest city that was already embattled following the discovery of millions of dollars in misappropriated federal funds, is facing further financial scrutiny this week after the citys comptroller said it is owed more than $5 million in reimbursements to a city department.

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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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Single-Family Built-for-Rent Construction Falls Back

Eye on Housing

Single-family built-for-rent construction posted year-over-year declines for the fourth quarter of 2024, as a higher cost of financing crowded out development activity. This slowdown is similar to the deceleration of multifamily construction in recent quarters. According to NAHBs analysis of data from the Census BureausQuarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, there were approximately.

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Why mortgage originations should pick up in 2025

Housing Wire

U.S. mortgage originations are projected to grow moderately in 2025, despite continued economic uncertainty and elevated interest rates, according to TransUnion s newly released credit insights in the fourth quarter of 2024. After years of sluggish origination growth due to inflation , high borrowing costs, and a tight housing market , mortgage originations are expected to rise to 5.7 million in 2025 from approximately 4.6 million in 2024, with the bulk coming from purchase loans. “Consume

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Keller Williams Housing Market Outlook: Uncertainty Abounds, Slow Market Could Drag Out

RIS Media

Above: Gary Keller, Jay Papasan and Jason Abrams on stage for Keller Williams’ Family Reunion event in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Feb. 18 (photo courtesy of Keller Williams) Housing industry leaders at Keller Williams project U.S. home sales will remain at historically low levels this year, though prices will stabilize despite affordability challenges.

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ServiceLink’s Melinda Maloney on the next generation of housing leaders

Housing Wire

The HousingWire award spotlight series highlights the individuals and organizations that have been recognized through our Editors Choice Awards. Nominations for HousingWires 2025 Rising Stars Award are open now through February 28, 2025. Click here to nominate. The mortgage industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with rising competition pushing lenders to enhance borrower experiences and embrace new technologies.

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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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Mortgage Rates Decrease Slightly, Remain Just Under 7%

RIS Media

Mortgage rates continued their downward trend, as the average 30-year mortgage rate decreased from 6.87% last week to 6.85% this week, according to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) from Freddie Mac, released Thursday. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has stayed just under 7% for five consecutive weeks and in that time has fluctuated less… The post Mortgage Rates Decrease Slightly, Remain Just Under 7% appeared first on RISMedia.

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Broker Spotlight: Emily Duke, LUX Denver ERA Powered

Inman

Find out how this broker-owner and her team are implementing "purpose-driven leadership" to deliver exceptional experiences tailored to their clients' needs.

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The Insider: Fun Furnishings Personalize Young Family’s Windsor Terrace House

Brownstoner

Got a project to propose forThe Insider?Contact Cara at caramia447 [at] gmail [dot] com "Let's make this fun" was the prevailing attitude when Brooklyn-based interior designer Emma Beryl Kemper took on the comprehensive kitting out of a Windsor Terrace row house for a pair of new homeowners. The three-story brick house,… Read More > The post The Insider: Fun Furnishings Personalize Young Family’s Windsor Terrace House appeared first on Brownstoner.

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10 ways brokers can elevate their agent recruiting game

Inman

Get passionate and intentional about real estate recruiting, and see what a difference it makes in your real estate business, ERA's Alex Vidal writes.

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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.