Mon.Mar 01, 2021

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Expect purchase application data to be negative in 2H 2021

Housing Wire

Logan Mohtashami HousingWire Lead Analyst. When economic data that is typically sticky has a waterfall dive followed by a quick parabolic recovery, forecasting a trend can be tricky. The MBA purchase application data changed during our year of COVID-19. In a typical, non-pandemic year, the bulk of the volume of purchase applications occurs in the heat months for housing, those being the second week of January to the first week of May.

Marketing 510
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What Are the Benefits of a 20% Down Payment?

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, you may be wondering how much money you need to come up with for your down payment. Many people may think it’s 20% of the loan to secure a mortgage. While there are plenty of lower down payment options available for qualified buyers who don’t want to put 20% down, it’s important to understand how a larger down payment can have great benefits too.

Equity 283
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A slowdown in exits pushes forbearance volume up

Housing Wire

After one month of steady declines, servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume rose one basis point last week to 5.23%, according to data released Monday by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The trade group pointed to a slowdown in exits coupled with an uptick in requests for last week’s increase. Once again, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac boasted the smallest forbearance share with servicers’ portfolios remaining unchanged from the week prior at 2.97%.

Loans 463
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Watch Sheep Stroll Through Prospect Park in a Rare Newsreel From the 1920s

Brownstoner

It is just a snippet of footage, but a rare bit of film gives a glimpse of something that once greeted generations of Brooklynites: a flock of sheep taking a spring-time stroll through Prospect Park. The shepherd and his collies that guide the bleating herd, including some scampering lambs, were captured… Read More > The post Watch Sheep Stroll Through Prospect Park in a Rare Newsreel From the 1920s appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Welcome to the Future of Hospitality: Smart Rooms Start Here

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

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3 underrated mortgage products to consider

Housing Wire

The 30-year mortgage is easily the most popular and talked-about mortgage product out there. After all, in January 2021, 30-year loans accounted for a whopping three-quarters of all mortgage originations in the country. But make no mistake: They’re not your only option when buying or refinancing a home. In fact, they could actually cost you more (often significantly more) if used incorrectly.

Mortgages 436

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RE/MAX makes big Florida investment

Housing Wire

RE/MAX has greatly expanded its foothold in northeast Florida, buying Jacksonville brokerage mainstay Magnolia Properties. Magnolia Properties’ 125 agents are now part of RE/MAX Leading Edge, a franchisee based in St. Augustine, Florida, according to a RE/MAX company announcement Monday. Before the deal, RE/MAX Leading Edge had 40 agents. The deal shakes up the distinctive real estate market of Jacksonville, the largest U.S. city by physical area.

Brokerage 436
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Canadian Taxpayers Paid Households Up To 3x Income Lost During The Pandemic

Better Dwelling

Canadian taxpayers more than made up for household income lost during the pandemic. A new study from Statistic Canada (Stat Can) shows the change of employment earnings in Q2 2020. On average, every demographic lost income. However, due to generous pandemic supports, some households received more than 3x the income lost. About Today’s Data Today […].

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Compass losing money, gaining market share

Housing Wire

The numbers are in: Compass lost $270 million in 2020, and the residential real estate brokerage generated $3.7 billion in revenue. Those numbers are from a statement Compass filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday afternoon, in which the brokerage proposed offering $500 million in class “A” common stock. For residential real estate professionals, Compass’s “S-1” – the financial disclosure statement a U.S. company must provide before trading on a Wall Street exchange – has be

Marketing 425
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Inside Ikea’s First Tiny House—and a Few Huge Catches Under the Hood

Realtor.com

Josiah & Steph Photography Ikea has finally jumped aboard the tiny-house trend. This megaretailer of budget-friendly home decor has just unveiled its first tiny house, which measures a mere 187 square feet. Ikea’s first tiny house Josiah & Steph Photography. While Ikea created and designed this unit, it isn’t selling it quite yet, as this was just a one-off—a collaboration with Vox Creative and tiny-home builder Escape, meant to showcase how homeowners can create “a sma

Design 126
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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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How borrower education can make housing more attainable

Housing Wire

Today’s U.S. housing market is leaving many prospective homebuyers priced out. Homes, on average, have become less affordable, and the ones that are affordable are in short supply. As a result, 55% of future homebuyers believe that homeownership is out of reach for them financially, according to recent Fannie Mae research. However, while affordability and supply constraints have weighed on many prospective homebuyers, homeownership education has the power to help people prepare for the home-buyi

Mortgages 413
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Tax Deductions on Home Equity Loans and HELOCs: What You Can (and Can’t) Write Off

Realtor.com

iStock Do you have a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC)? Homeowners often tap their home equity for some quick cash, using their property as collateral. But before doing so, you need to understand how this debt will be treated come tax season. With the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the rules of home equity debt changed dramatically.

Equity 119
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HousingWire Magazine: March 2021

Housing Wire

At this point, you’re probably used to seeing Kelsey Ramírez ’s name in this spot. As the HousingWire magazine editor, she not only profiled and covered the top leaders and stories in the housing industry, but she also spearheaded the redesign of this magazine, taking the content and creative to a whole new level. For that, she deserves all the kudos, and I have some big shoes to fill.

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Charming Castle on the Hudson River Requires a Royal Restoration

Realtor.com

Houlihan Lawrence A castle high on a hill overlooking the Hudson River awaits a royal restoration. Listed for $3.45 million, the stone castle on Old Stone Road in Garrison, NY, has never been on the market. “It’s a notable piece of architecture that the area is known for,” says the listing agent, Melissa Carlton. “When you think of the Hudson Valley, this picture comes up quite often.”.

Land 119
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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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U.S. Bank’s Fred Bolstad to speak at Spring Summit

Housing Wire

Fred Bolstad, executive vice president of retail lending at U.S. Bank Home Mortgage , will speak on a panel titled What Mortgage Tech is Solving Now at HousingWire’s Spring Summit on March 4. Bolstad will be joined on the panel by Dave Vermillion , founder and CEO of Mortgage Champions , and Lisa Patterson, chief originations officer at Homepoint. At U.S.

Banks 400
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Canadian Rate of Mortgages In Arrear Hits 1990 Low, But Climbs In Ontario and BC

Better Dwelling

Canada’s low mortgage arrears rate isn’t as easy to unpack as it usually is. The Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) mortgage arrears rate dropped in November. That’s generally a good thing, but there’s a little more to it this time. Mortgages in arrears are rising in Ontario and B.C., but the rate is low due to […]. The post Canadian Rate of Mortgages In Arrear Hits 1990 Low, But Climbs In Ontario and BC appeared first on Better Dwelling.

Mortgages 116
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Don’t sleep on non-QM products

Housing Wire

With low interest rates and a booming refinance market, it is natural that loan officers and brokers are focused on agency loans and also a thriving purchase market. However, with a futures rate curve that has recently been increasing, only so many loans qualify for refinancing, and this customer base will continually shrink as rates ascend. Getting experience now is the appropriate time for originators to consider expanding to non-QM products – not just to grow their business and diversity thei

Lending 400
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Mortgage and refinance rates today, March 1, 2021

The Mortgage Report

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Last Friday, average mortgage rates either held steady or edged lower, depending on your lender. That was a relief after a terrible couple of weeks […].

Mortgages 116
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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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Keller Williams, and brokerage’s diversity shortcomings

Housing Wire

Marc King’s latest Instagram post is a quote from Dr. Suess – “You have to be odd to be number one.”. But King’s elevation to Keller Williams president this week isn’t odd in one way – he’s a white man. King also replaces a white man, the abruptly departed Josh Team, and reports to another white man, Carl Liebert, the CEO of the brokerage’s holding company, KWx.

Brokerage 370
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What are the benefits of cash-out refinancing? Is it worth it?

The Mortgage Report

Some overly-cautious borrowers are missing out on the benefits of cash-out refinancing. Find out if a cash-out refi is a good idea for you.

Equity 116
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What the forbearance extension means for homeowners

Housing Wire

In this HousingWire Daily episode, HW+ Managing Editor Brena Nath covers the recent COVID-19 forbearance extensions. In February, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it had extended COVID-19 foreclosure and forbearance moratoriums for FHA and USDA loans to June 30, 2021. For the episode, Greg McBride, senior vice president and chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com , joins the podcast to share his insights on what the COVID-19 forbearance and foreclosure relief prog

Finance 370
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Home Prices Are Falling in These Cities—While They’re Rising Just About Everywhere Else

Realtor.com

Getty Images Everyone by now has some familiarity with America’s daunting pandemic-era real estate math: Take an all-consuming demand for new homes and bigger spaces, add in low mortgage rates and historically paltry inventory levels, and it all equals home prices that are skyrocketing to unheard of heights. And it seems to be happening just about everywhere.

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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 great fintech acceleration

Housing Wire

We all have our own prominent COVID-19 memory from 2020. Mine was on Sunday, March 15. I sat at home that morning typing out an employee memo that effective immediately all team members would be expected to work from home and that the office would be closed to outside visitors until further notice. At the time, I thought this was a two-week precaution.

Closing 365
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First-time investor? 5 things to consider before starting

Realty Biz

After the huge social and economic upheavals of 2020, it’s understandable that many of us have started to look more closely at our financial health. With interest rates at historic lows, letting money sit in the bank no longer makes sense. It’s natural to consider more lucrative ways to make our cash reserves work for us. If you’re considering other ways to grow your money, the good news is that there have never been more options.

Investor 112
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A Plan for Non-Stop Prospecting Success

RIS Media

A Tiered Prospecting Strategy Will Lead to Increased Sales and Income. We all love it when a family member, acquaintance or past client calls for real estate help. This is the real estate industry’s equivalent of “manna from heaven.” and it makes the work of prospecting both easy and enjoyable. But what happens when you time-block for prospecting and don’t have a specific person queued up to call?

Agents 111
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Add value to your homes basement by Waterproofing

Realty Biz

Are you looking for a space in your near vicinity to open an art studio or an art gallery while having a basement? My friend, why not use your basement to transform your dreams into reality? The majority of the people ignore their basement space because it is in such a bad condition where you cannot pursue your dreams, and this is the reason why they look for extra space outside of their home.

As-is 110
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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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Have You Cleaned These Dirty Areas Lately?

American Lifestyle

The post Have You Cleaned These Dirty Areas Lately? appeared first on American Lifestyle Magazine.

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Vaccine rollout to inspire more home buying, Zillow says

Realty Biz

The COVID-19 vaccine is likely to add more buyers and sellers to an already red hot real estate market. A new survey from Zillow finds a large majority (70%) of homeowners say they would be comfortable moving to a new home after widespread COVID-19 vaccine distribution, a meaningful bump from the 52% who currently feel that way. That amounts to homeowners in more than 14 million homes feeling newly comfortable moving after widespread vaccination.2.

Principal 107
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What Agents Want vs. What They Say They Want

RIS Media

As brokers, owners and team leaders, we try to provide services, solutions, training, technology, marketing, workspaces and so much more for our agents with the goal of making them happy and helping them be productive. But a majority of agents rarely use the services provided by the brokerage and complain that the commission structure is out of balance.

Agents 105