Wed.Nov 16, 2022

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Mortgage buy downs on the rise as builders try to entice more buyers

Housing Wire

Homebuilder confidence continued to drop in November, hitting its lowest level since June 2012, with the exception of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) report, released Wednesday. In November, builder sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes fell five points from October , ending at 33 points — less than half the level it was six months ago.

Mortgages 545
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Top Questions About Selling Your Home This Winter

Keeping Current Matters

There’s no denying the housing market is undergoing a shift this season, and that may leave you with some questions about whether it still makes sense to sell your house.

Marketing 307
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Mortgage demand rose on the back of slower inflation growth

Housing Wire

Mortgage demand rose as rates dropped following the October slowdown in inflation growth numbers. However, while purchase mortgage applications increased across all loan types, refinance activity remained depressed. The market composite index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.7% for the week ending November 11, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

Mortgages 545
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An “Ultra Violent Cult” Is Stealing Cars & Using Canadian Real Estate To Launder: FINTRAC

Better Dwelling

Canadian real estate, an “ultra violent cult,” money laundering, and Toronto’s stolen cars. Sounds like a spy thriller, but that’s reality in Canada, according to FINTRAC. In 2017, the financial intelligence agency assessed the money laundering threat of an organized crime group called Black Axe. The group infiltrated the government, conducts mass fraud, and runs […].

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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 likely buyers of independent mortgage banks in 2023

Housing Wire

By the time 2022 is wrapped up, mortgage lenders will have originated about $2.2 trillion in loans, about half of 2021’s $4.4 trillion in volume, according to industry forecasters. But Brian Hale, who is assisting several buyers in their hunt for independent mortgage bank acquisition targets, sees an even more brutal landscape ahead. He projects that over the next 12 months, mortgage originations nationwide could come in as low as $1.3 trillion to $1.7 trillion.

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Builder Confidence Declines for 11 Consecutive Months as Housing Weakness Continues

Eye on Housing

Elevated interest rates, stubbornly high building material costs and declining affordability conditions that are pushing more buyers to the sidelines continue to drag down builder sentiment. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes posted its 11th straight monthly decline in November, dropping five points to 33, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing.

Marketing 124

More Trending

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One Stop Real Estate Investment Software

GeekEstate

[Note from editor: The “Mastermind Showcase” highlights companies and news from members of the GEM. Today’s showcase: PropStream]. PropStream consolidates real estate data and tools for investors, agents, brokers, property managers, and other real estate professionals. Users gain access to nationwide property data sourced from county recordings, MLS records, and private data sources, resulting in over 160 million properties in America—including distressed and off-market properties.

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NewRez adds temporary rate buydown options for non-QM borrowers

Housing Wire

Mortgage lender NewRez added the temporary rate buydown feature to its “Smart Series” non-QM products to leverage the growing group of non-traditional borrowers. Borrowers of non-QM mortgages now have an option to reduce their rates by 3% in the first year, 2% in the following year and 1% in the third year – called a 3-2-1 rate buydown, the firm said Wednesday.

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Credit Conditions for Builders and Developers Continue to Worsen

Eye on Housing

During the third quarter of 2022, credit continued to become less available and generally more costly on loans for Acquisition, Development & Construction (AD&C) according to NAHB’s Survey on AD&C Financing. To analyze credit availability, responses from the NAHB survey are used to construct a net easing index, similar to the net easing index based on the Federal Reserve’s survey.

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Video of the Week: A Stunning Hilltop Home in Los Angeles, California

Sotheby's International Real Estate

Featuring curated videos from the most sought-after destinations the world over, discover this week’s V ideo of the Week. ??????????????????. Los Angeles, California | The Cilic Group, Sotheby’s International Realty – Santa Monica – Venice Brokerage. Featured on the cover of Architectural Digest and the winner of the AIA Best Residential Design, this stunning home soars over the city lights with breathtaking views spanning from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean.

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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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America’s Hottest Markets Right Now Are Also Affordable—but Come With a Chilling Catch

Realtor.com

Getty Images (3) To find the hottest real estate markets in America, head to the coldest parts of the country. The most desirable places for homebuyers today come with one bone-chilling caveat: Many of these hot spots lurk in the snowier Northeast and Midwest, according to a recent Realtor.com® report. And while some house hunters might not love colder weather, most are likely to appreciate the cooler home prices and lower cost of living in these areas.

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How to Buy Land

Point2Homes

Owning your own plot of land is a dream come true for many of us. But, if you’re ready to make that dream a reality, you might be wondering exactly how to go about buying land. So let’s look at the key steps you’ll need to take to become a landowner. 1. Find a Plot of Land. Nowadays, you have many tools at your disposal, with a wealth of online listing services showcasing land for sale across the country.

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7 Memes That Reveal What Real Estate Agents Are Secretly Thankful for on Thanksgiving

Lighter Side of Real Estate

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect upon the things we’re most thankful for in life, like our friends, family, health, and (of course) the ridiculous amount of food we’re about to eat. But for real estate agents, it’s also the perfect time to reflect upon the things we appreciate about our career, since it’s one of the rare days we have some down time to do so!

Agents 98
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18 Funniest Tweets (+ Top Real Estate Twitter Accounts to Follow)

The Close

Thanks to Elon Musk’s recent buyout of the platform (along with his barrage of tweets), Twitter is back in the news. I’m sure the Twitterverse will soon experience a few growing pains, but right now it’s still as busy as it’s ever been. We here at The Close thought it might be a great time to share some of the funniest tweets we’ve recently come across, along with a few of our favorite real estate Twitter accounts for you to follow.

Agents 98
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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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Quick Hits!

Toronto Realty Blog

TorontoRealtyBlog. I don’t believe I’ve cracked 3,000 blog posts yet, but I’m close. In Major League Baseball, three thousand hits is what they call a “lock” for the Hall of Fame. I mean, unless you’re one of the steroid guys , like Rafael Palmeiro. And for those of you thinking Barry Bonds , he didn’t have 3,000 hits.

Banks 98
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What Grants are Available for First-Time Home Buyers?

Realty Biz

Did you know it takes over four years for the average household to save enough money for a 20% down payment on a home? At first glance, four years might not sound like a long time. But it all depends on how much you make, what kind of house you want, and how much you're able or willing to set aside. For many, the thought of saving for a down payment is daunting.

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Keep It On File: Critical Rental Forms That All Landlords Need

Bigger Pockets

This article is presented by RentPrep. Read our editorial guidelines for more information. Keeping clear documentation is an essential part of your work as a landlord. With the correct paperwork, it will […].

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AgentPulse: “Date the rate; marry the house,” today’s advice to buyers

Real Trends

Today’s agents have had to shift messaging away from the price of the home to helping buyers find a home that has an affordable payment. “I am telling buyers, ‘Let’s find the home that still has an affordable payment. Rates will go back down, and then they do, you will be positioned to refinance,” said an Orlando, Florida-based Keller Williams sales associate, in RealTrends Q4 2022 AgentPulse survey.

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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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7 Mistakes Most People Make When Winterizing Their Yard

Realtor.com

Getty Images Temperatures are dropping fast, and it’s officially starting to feel like winter is coming, but what happens when yardwork beckons? If you’re a homeowner, it can be a real pain to bundle up, go outside, and prepare your lawn and garden for the frigid months ahead. But here’s the reality: If you don’t take care of certain yard maintenance tasks before temperatures fully plunge, you might face a mess of problems come springtime. “Not doing these things wi

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Landlord Tax Loopholes That’ll Help You Pay ZERO Taxes in 2022

Bigger Pockets

Non-investors hate real estate tax loopholes. It always seems like the wealthiest landlords, apartment owners, or short-term rental hosts walk away with not only massive income but little-to-no tax bills […].

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Inflation Jumped 7.7% in October 2022—How Is It Affecting Real Estate?

Mashvisor

Inflation went up slightly month-over-month in October 2022. It means inflation may be slowing down, but how does it affect investors?

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How Does a Mortgage Broker Get Paid?

Realty Biz

In the first half of 2022, Mortgage lenders gave out 2.7 million loans ! Are you considering becoming a part of this thriving industry as a mortgage broker? Becoming a mortgage broker can be one of the most exciting careers you can start. However, you may be wondering what kind of compensation you will get for doing this kind of work. After all, you don't want to start a career and be uncertain about whether or not it can support your basic needs.

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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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The Essential End-of-Year Checklist for Real Estate Agents

Agent Fire

Real estate agents only need these 8 steps to wrap up their year in business on the right note and set the pace for the next twelve months. The Essential End-of-Year Checklist for Real Estate Agents is just one of many great real estate strategies on The Spark.

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Automate your real estate prospecting without sounding like a robot

Real Trends

In the past decade, my career has been focused on building meaningful relationships with my prospects and clients. In my opinion, nothing beats a traditional handshake. But what happens when your sphere of influence is too large to personally connect with? What do you do when you have hundreds of leads— old and new — that need to be touched and reminded that you’re here to serve their needs?

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Affordability Crisis Update: Current Homebuyers Lost More Than Just Buying Power

Point2Homes

Aggressive rate hikes (after the latest increase, the average mortgage rate hovers around 7%), coupled with sky-high home prices mean buyers are bleeding money. But, aside from losing purchasing power, homebuyers — and especially post-pandemic homebuyers — are also losing what they wanted the most: More living space. Translating the losses in purchasing power into square footage reveals the saddest story: In just a few months, buyers in the 100 largest cities lost between 92 and a staggering 1,1

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Redecorating After Divorce: 7 Ways To Remake Your Home in Your Own Image

Realtor.com

Getty Images Was COVID-19 the last straw? Or had the issues been quietly simmering for a while? Whatever the reason, a subset of homeowners called it quits during and right after the pandemic—and now they’re facing a challenge: carving out a postdivorce space at home. “While I don’t like to concentrate on the negative reasons why some people need to redecorate, a change in partnership creates new needs and allows you to update your style and decor,” says Pamela O’Br

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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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West Midwood Standalone With Mantels, Deco Baths, Garage Asks $1.499 Million

Brownstoner

For a buyer looking to put in a bit of work, this early 20th century standalone house has some period details, a generous amount of living space and a private driveway leading to a garage. The estate-condition property at 769 Argyle Road is in the Flatbush micro nabe of West Midwood,… Read More > The post West Midwood Standalone With Mantels, Deco Baths, Garage Asks $1.499 Million appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Snag a Charming High-Rise in Downtown St. Louis for Just $1.4M

Realtor.com

MLS via Realtor.com A five-story building known as The Cosmopolitan sits right in the heart of downtown St. Louis. And for buyers in search of their very own historic high-rise, this one can be snapped up for $1.4 million. It was built around the turn of the 20th century for National Cash Register and later served as a showroom for Clark Peeper Furniture.

MLS 69
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Daily Links: Voice of Gowanus Continues Fight Against Rezoning, Requests Injunction

Brownstoner

In the News Family Feud Explodes Over Ownership of East Flatbush Building [Eagle] Installation at Prospect Park Bandshell Encourages Viewers to Look Inward [BP] Construction of Con Ed’s ‘Reliable Clean City’ Projects Under Way in Brooklyn [BP] Remains of Fallen WWII Soldier From Bed Stuy Make Journey Home [ABC] Gowanus 'Voice' Emerges With Murky Legal… Read More > The post Daily Links: Voice of Gowanus Continues Fight Against Rezoning, Requests Injunction appeared first on Brownstoner.

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4 Signs It’s Time for a New Furnace

RISMedia

By Lizzie Weakley You might already have a furnace installed in your home, and the thought of replacing it might not have really been on your mind yet. These are a few possible signs that it might be time for you to purchase a new furnace. Your Heater Hasn't Been Heating Properly You’re supposed to […]. The post 4 Signs It’s Time for a New Furnace appeared first on RISMedia's Housecall.

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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.