Thu.Jun 16, 2022

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Why We Believe the Future of Offers is All-Cash

HomeLight

At HomeLight, we believe the future of real estate lies in the hands of the best agents across the country. . In January 2020, we launched HomeLight Cash Offer ® mere weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. And the months and years that followed have seen record-setting inventory shortages, a steep growth in home values, and intense bidding wars — perhaps one of the most volatile periods our industry has ever seen. .

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Housing starts data raises 5th recession red flag

Housing Wire

I’m raising my fifth recession red flag today based on the Census Bureau ‘s May housing starts data. Housing starts showed a miss on the estimate but positive revisions. Housing starts came in at 1.549 million and housing permits came in at 1.695 million. Housing completion data did grow to 1.465 million and more of the backlogged homes are finished.

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Home Price Deceleration Doesn’t Mean Home Price Depreciation

Keeping Current Matters

Experts in the real estate industry use a number of terms when they talk about what's happening with home prices.

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How the Fed’s rate hike will affect the housing market

Housing Wire

neighborhood, housing market, Fall, homes, new house sales, forbearance. The Federal Reserve ’s 75 basis point interest rate hike – its largest since 1994 – proves the central bank is laser-focused on slowing inflation, but loan officers and housing economists don’t expect mortgage rates to come down until consumer prices fall. The federal funds rate doesn’t directly dictate mortgage rates, but it does steer market activity to create higher rates and reduce demand.

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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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Meet The Real Estate Tech Entrepreneur: Melissa Kwan

GeekEstate

In this week’s founder interview, we interviewed Melissa Kwan of eWebinar. Without further ado…. Who are you and what do you do? My name is Melissa Kwan , and I’m the Cofounder and CEO of eWebinar. I was previously the Cofounder and CEO of Spacio, the industry-leading open house lead gen solution that was acquired by HomeSpotter in 2019.

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Fannie Mae cuts 2022 industry forecast (again)

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae lowered its projections of mortgage originations and home sales for 2022 as mortgage rates continue to climb. Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group revised its projected mortgage origination volume to $2.6 trillion in 2022 and $2.2 trillion in 2023. In May, Fannie Mae dropped its mortgage origination volume projection for 2022 to $2.7 trillion and $2.25 trillion for 2023, down from the respective $2.8 trillion and $2.41 trillion projected the previous month. .

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Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac impose new fee for some securities transactions

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac plan to charge a new 50 basis-point fee for certain structured-finance offerings that use co-mingled agency securities as the underlying collateral. . The fee will apply to securities issued through structured-finance offerings known as Supers, and separately, real estate investment conduits (REMICs). Through these vehicles, the uniform mortgage-backed securities (UMBS) of one government-sponsored enterprise (GSE), such as Fannie Mae, are co-mingled with UMBS from t

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Offline Real Estate Marketing Strategy 101

Agent Fire

With online real estate marketing dominating the industry, agents have forgotten how powerful and effective offline marketing can be! Here are the tried-and-true offline marketing strategies that help you engage with your community and prospective clients in a unique, personal way. Offline Real Estate Marketing Strategy 101 is just one of many great real estate strategies on The Spark.

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GAO presses HUD on longstanding IT issues, Ginnie staffing

Housing Wire

The Government Accountability Office this week reminded the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of some ways it could improve its operations. Among the recommendations , the congressional watchdog said HUD needs to improve internet technology management and that Ginnie Mae , a guarantor for federally backed loans, needs to address “staffing-related challenges.” Both points are reiterations of what the GAO previously flagged in 2014 and 2019, respectively.

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Mortgage and refinance rates today, June 16, 2022

The Mortgage Report

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Average mortgage rates fell significantly yesterday. True, those for conventional 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages remain just above 6% by some counts. But the decrease was very […].

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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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Mortgage rates jump to 5.78%, largest 1-week increase since 1987

Housing Wire

Purchase mortgage rates climbed 55 basis points, reflecting surging inflation and the Federal Reserve ‘s (The Fed) tightening monetary policy. According to the latest Freddie Mac PMMS, purchase mortgage rates this week averaged 5.78%, compared to 5.23% the week prior. A year ago at this time, 30-year fixed rate purchase rates were at 2.93%. “Mortgage rates surged as the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage moved up more than half a percentage point, marking the largest one-week increase in our surv

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How Multifamily Operators Can Leverage the Single-Family Rental (SFR) Boom

App Folio

Single-family rentals (SFRs) aren’t a new asset type, but the market has exploded in popularity with both residents and investors.

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Nation’s interest-rate pain is MSR market’s gain

Housing Wire

The pain in the housing industry caused by spiking interest rates isn’t shared by all sectors — specifically the mortgage-servicing rights (MSR) market. The MSR market has made a strong showing during the first half of the year, despite the market tumult. Recently, two MSR sales offerings were announced by two separate advisory firms, which together are valued at more than $1.4 billion.

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When Is the Best Time to Sell a House in the Bay Area?

HomeLight

The Bay Area real estate market is competitive, to say the least, serving both San Francisco proper and the surrounding locale, including Silicon Valley. Offering everything from oceanfront properties to coveted urban Victorians and every conceivable property type in between, this hot market has a standing tradition of low inventory and high prices.

Closing 110
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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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Proptech HomeLight raises $115 million, acquires Accept.inc

Housing Wire

Proptech HomeLight raised $115 million in capital and acquired Accept.inc. , despite a challenging mortgage market in which real estate brokerages are laying off staff. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company secured $60 million in equity and $55 million in debt financing, according to a Thursday news release from the firm. “We’ll use the $115M in equity and debt capital to continue to fuel operations and meet the high demand from top agents for our flagship financial products, HomeLight Cash Offe

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What Is the Cost to Sell a House in Massachusetts?

HomeLight

You’ve decided it’s a wicked good time to sell your home in Massachusetts. It follows then that it’s an excellent time to determine the cost to sell a house in Massachusetts. Your home is likely the most significant asset you own. To assist you in your planning, we’ve researched the expenses you can expect and gathered expert insights to help you get a better idea of the cost to sell your Massachusetts home.

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MBA nominates Lennar Mortgage’s Escobar as vice chair

Housing Wire

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) nominated Laura Escobar, president of Lennar Mortgage to serve as vice chair for the 2023 membership year. Her term will begin in October, in which she will be sworn in at the association’s 109th annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, the MBA said Wednesday. Escobar’s background will ensure members’ “commitment to advancing homeownership and affordable rental housing opportunities nationwide,” said Kristy Fercho, 2022 MBA chair a

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What Is the Average Cost to Sell a House in California?

HomeLight

You’ve made a big decision to sell your home in California. You’re likely wondering how much you might make on the sale, but also anxious about how much it will cost to make it happen. In this post, we’ve researched the expenses you can expect and gathered expert insights to help you get a better idea of the average cost to sell a house in California.

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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 Saga of Bushwick Church Steeple Comes to an End, But Pastor Says Help Is Still Needed

Brownstoner

For more than a decade, South Bushwick Reformed Church has fielded concerns and complaints from passersby who say its steeple looks about ready to topple over. But the new year has brought a second chance for the towering structure atop the 169-year-old Greek revival building that was damaged by a… Read More > The post The Saga of Bushwick Church Steeple Comes to an End, But Pastor Says Help Is Still Needed appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Housing starts post double digit decrease in May

Real Trends

Reflecting the drop in homebuilder confidence , housing starts were down 14.4% month over month in May, dropping to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.549 million, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The rate is 3.5% lower than the rate recorded this time a year ago.

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The Insider: Views, Views Everywhere Following Gut Reno of Duplex Penthouse in Park Slope

Brownstoner

When the architectural firm of Emery Roth, best known for the Renaissance Revival-style San Remo on Central Park West, designed a pale brick 17-story apartment building on Prospect Park West in the late 1920s, expansive windows were not part of the scheme. Somehow, a 1,600-square-foot penthouse apartment with a lofted… Read More > The post The Insider: Views, Views Everywhere Following Gut Reno of Duplex Penthouse in Park Slope appeared first on Brownstoner.

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21 Must-listen real estate podcasts

Real Trends

Looking for a fun and educational way to pass the time while driving to your next showing or on your morning walk? We founded up 21 of the best real estate podcasts that cover subjects and interviews of relevance to real estate professionals. The real estate podcasts below can be found across various platforms such as Apple , Google Play , Spotify , YouTube , and Audible , among others.

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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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Greenpoint Queen Anne Triplex With Four Bedrooms, Terrace, 11 Closets Asks $8,000

Brownstoner

This narrow but well equipped triplex in the Greenpoint Historic District would seem to have most everything a family needs but, as so often seems to be the case with rentals these days, it is not exactly inexpensive. (For those keeping score, last week's pricey rental is already taken.) Located on… Read More > The post Greenpoint Queen Anne Triplex With Four Bedrooms, Terrace, 11 Closets Asks $8,000 appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Fed’s aggressive rate hike to reduce housing market buyer pool, economist says

Realty Biz

The Federal Reserve just announced its largest interest rate increase since 1994 and the move is expected to have a serious impact on the housing market, economists believe. While the Fed’s key interest rate doesn’t directly affect mortgage rates, it does have a very strong influence on them. On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee announced it had decided to increase the benchmark funds rate by 0.75% to help rein in inflation that is now at a 40-year high.

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Daily Links: As City Commits Billions to Housing, Red Hook Students Protest NYCHA Conditions

Brownstoner

In the News Brooklyn Students Get Chance to Explore Nature, a Future in STEM [BK Paper] The World’s Biggest Bounce House Is Coming to Marine Park [BK Mag] City’s Office Occupancy Hits Pandemic Era Milestone [The City] Confusion as Restaurateurs Wait for Concrete Outdoor Dining Plan [The City] What Gun Ruling Could Mean for Mass… Read More > The post Daily Links: As City Commits Billions to Housing, Red Hook Students Protest NYCHA Conditions appeared first on Brownstoner.

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How Credit Checks Are Becoming More Sustainable in the Cloud

RISMedia

By Brian Wallace Around the world, billions of financial transactions happen every day. That number includes 369 billion purchases, over 1 billion credit card transactions and 319,000 new credit originations. Fintech and modern banking have made a new world of commerce possible for billions of humans. Yet for every financial transaction or credit check, there […].

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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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‘Movies With A View’ Returns for Another Summer Season at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brownstoner

Outdoor movies had a limited run in Brooklyn Bridge Park last summer, but this year a full calendar is back with eight movies to enjoy from the comfort of a picnic blanket. The featured movies were chosen with the theme of “Away We Go” in mind, and mix action… Read More > The post ‘Movies With A View’ Returns for Another Summer Season at Brooklyn Bridge Park appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Beyond the Resume: 5 Traits to Look for in Every Team Hire

Tom Ferry

If you’ve been paying attention, you know the importance of team building in today’s real estate environment. Where you’re going is always largely determined by who you’re going with, so no matter what role you’re hiring for, the people you choose matter. Whether you’re currently a team leader or looking to make those first hires, […]. The post Beyond the Resume: 5 Traits to Look for in Every Team Hire appeared first on Tom Ferry.

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Higher Rates = More Deduction

BubbleInfo

Seeing how the government got us into this, let’s note that they are willing to carry some of the burden of higher mortgage rates. At today’s rates, buyers can write off twice as much mortgage interest! Signed in 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) changed individual income tax by lowering the mortgage deduction […].

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Do you give out your phone number? You may want to rethink…

The American Genius for Real Estate

(TECHNOLOGY) As a real estate agent, its tempting to give out your number to whoever asks for it. But be cautious of what exactly you're giving out. The post Do you give out your phone number? You may want to rethink… appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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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.