Tue.Jul 29, 2025

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Down Payment Resource reports record-breaking DPA availability

Housing Wire

Down Payment Resource (DPR) on Tuesday released its Q2 2025 Homeownership Program Index report. It found that 45 new down payment assistance programs launched in the second quarter, bringing the total number of available programs in the U.S. to 2,554 and the number of program providers to 1,340. The number of programs is a new record, DPR confirmed in a press release.

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10 Question to Ask at an Open House

Redfin

An open house can tell you a lot about a home—but only if you know what to look for. To get the full picture, it’s important to ask questions beyond what you can see on the surface. While the home might appear move-in ready, asking thoughtful questions can help reveal the condition of the property, maintenance history, and any potential future costs.

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Compass acquires Charlotte-based Cottingham Chalk

Housing Wire

Compass is closing out July with another acquisition. The brokerage announced Tuesday that it has acquired Charlotte, North Carolina -based independent brokerage Cottingham Chalk. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The company had previously been affiliated with the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World network. “We’re proud to welcome Cottingham Chalk,” Robert Reffkin , the founder and CEO of Compass, said in a statement. “Their deep roots in the Charlott

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New Forecasts from Fannie and MBA Point to Slow Recovery Through 2026

BAM Media

BAM Key Details: Updated forecasts from Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) show modest improvements ahead for housing, with Fannie projecting 4.85 million home sales in 2025 and MBA forecasting 4.3% average mortgage rates through 2027. Fannie Mae also revised its 2025 home price growth estimate down to 2.8% and expects mortgage originations to hit $1.92 trillion.

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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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Talking the talk: Real estate’s communication makeover

Housing Wire

Change in real estate is constant. However, 2024 and 2025 haven’t just been about change; they’ve been about disruption. From commission lawsuits to housing market volatility, shifting consumer expectations, and the evolution of buyer representation , our industry has been tested at every level. The difference between firms that thrive and those that stall isn’t just how they operate — it’s how they communicate.

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Stellar MLS launches market, neighborhood reports for agents

Housing Wire

Stellar MLS — the largest multiple listing service in Florida and Puerto Rico — has launched IO Reports, a new tool that offers subscribers access to neighborhood and market insights for any address in the U.S. The new feature — provided in partnership with location intelligence company Local Logic — gives real estate professionals detailed reports that include demographics, amenities, school data and transportation access.

MLS
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The 10 Cheapest States to Buy a House in 2025

The Close

Are you looking to buy a home without spending your life’s savings? Housing news in 2025 alludes to expensive and outpriced markets — but some of America’s lowest-cost cities are located in value hotspots with low-cost housing fees, ample supply, and modest price-income ratios. From Midwestern towns to Southern cities, they’re among the cheapest states to buy a house in America.

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Chris Morton, ALTA ready to tackle title industry challenges

Housing Wire

Chris Morton has taken the helm at the American Land Title Association (ALTA) as the title insurance industry faces challenges on multiple fronts — from regulatory pressure and a slow housing market to increased cybersecurity threats. HousingWire recently caught up with ALTA’s new CEO to discuss these challenges, the future of title insurance and his first six weeks on the job.

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Stellar MLS Launches Location Intelligence Tool for Real Estate Professionals

RIS Media

Stellar MLS has announced the launch of IO Reports by Local Logic, a customer benefit designed to give real estate professionals exclusive access to comprehensive market insights nationwide. According to Stellar MLS, this agreement with Local Logic is part of its strategy to help its customers deliver good service and data accuracy in today’s fast-moving… The post Stellar MLS Launches Location Intelligence Tool for Real Estate Professionals appeared first on RISMedia.

MLS
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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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Why we should be cheering for the mom-and-pop investors in the housing market

Housing Wire

One of the most persistent lies about U.S. economics post-COVID-19 is that Wall Street has been a major buyer of homes in America and that’s the reason home prices have escalated out of control. The role of investors in the housing market is back in the news again, but I want to look at this topic from a different angle. Cotality data recently showed investors making up over 30.7% of home sales — the highest share on record.

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Sharran Srivatsaa Joins BAM Board

BAM Media

When it came to adding the very first outside board member to BAM, we knew we had to get this right. This wasn’t about a title. It was about vision. BAM was built to challenge the status quo in real estate media. To give agents more: More clarity. More support. More strategies. More information. All without the paywalls and pontificators. Sharran Srivatsaa doesn’t just get that.

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RealPage Acquires Rexera to Accelerate AI Innovation

RIS Media

RealPage®, a provider of AI-enabled software platforms to the real estate industry, has announced the acquisition of Rexera, a pioneer in agentic AI for real estate operations. By combining Rexera’s agentic AI workforce with HomeWiseDocs’ HOA platform, RealPage is creating a nationwide platform capable of delivering real estate transactions and operations services at scale with… The post RealPage Acquires Rexera to Accelerate AI Innovation appeared first on RISMedia.

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Glenn Sanford returns to lead SUCCESS Enterprises

Housing Wire

Glenn Sanford has returned to SUCCESS Enterprises as publisher and managing director. Sanford — the founder of eXp Realty and CEO of eXp World Holdings — announced the move alongside the launch of SUCCESS+, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven global platform aimed at providing professional development and community for entrepreneurs and growth-minded individuals.

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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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Becoming an “Accidental Landlord” Doesn’t Have to Be an Accident Waiting to Happen

Lighter Side of Real Estate

In today’s shifting market, more homeowners are finding themselves in a tricky spot. They want to sell, but the offers aren’t coming in—at least not at the price they need or expected. High interest rates have cooled buyer demand in many areas. Inventory levels are shifting. And sometimes, it just comes down to bad timing. Whatever the reason, more listings are sitting, and that can create real problems for sellers who need to move or are counting on the proceeds from a sale.

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Investors seeing a ‘generational opportunity’ in multifamily

Inman

The price reset in multifamily assets has created an environment where acquisition economics align more attractively than they have in over a decade, Michael Zaransky writes.

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Selling a House ‘As Is’ in Minneapolis

HomeLight

Looking into selling a house “as is” in Minneapolis? Whether you’re dealing with a fixer-upper or an inherited property, your priority might be to avoid repairs, secure a fair offer, and move forward quickly. “As-is sales are most often seen in inherited homes, rental properties, or situations involving relocation or foreclosure,” says Jason Huerkamp , a top-performing Minneapolis agent who sells homes 75% faster than the average agent in his market.

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RE/MAX revenue continues to slip despite agent gains

Real Estate News

Skip to Content Agents Brokerages MLS/Assn Tech Industry By the Numbers Consumer Illustration by Lanette Behiry/Real Estate News Brokerages RE/MAX revenue continues to slip despite agent gains While revenue fell 7.3% in the second quarter, profits and margin performance were up, and global agent count reached an all-time high. Dave Gallagher July 29, 2025 3 mins RE/MAX revenue missed the mark during the second quarter as the sluggish spring real estate market kept sales in check.

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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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Top 7 Money Leaks That Cost You Commissions and Sales

BAM Media

You can have all the talent, all the hustle, and all the leads in the world. But if your business has holes in the bucket, you’re going to keep losing sales, commissions, and long-term clients. Over the past few years, I’ve coached and worked with hundreds of agents. I’ve seen the same seven mistakes over and over again. They’re simple, they’re avoidable, and they’re quietly draining your bottom line.

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Does Landscaping Increase Home Value? Here’s What You Should Know

Redfin

If you’re thinking about selling your home or just want to boost its curb appeal, you’re probably wondering: Does landscaping increase home value? The short answer is yes, it can. In fact, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) estimates that investing in landscaping can boost a home’s value by as much as 15% to 20%. But like most home improvement projects , the impact depends on what you do, how well you do it, and what buyers in your area are actually looking for.

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Coldwell CEO encourages leaders to give up the M&A ‘chase’

Inman

Ahead of Inman Connect San Diego, Coldwell Banker Realty president and CEO Kamini Lane talks about industry consolidation and the power of adopting a highly selective M&A strategy.

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Buying a House with an LLC: Pros and Cons – and What’s Best For You

Redfin

Key takeaways: Buying a house with an LLC is generally recommended only for experienced real estate investors, not the average homebuyer. While you can buy a house under an LLC, the pros and cons to doing so are complex and should be considered carefully. This buying method is most useful for landlords, people who own multiple properties, or public figures who value privacy.

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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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Anywhere revenue inches up despite ‘weird’ housing market

Real Estate News

CEO Ryan Schneider said “the talk of prices falling is a little overstated” as he highlighted gains in luxury and “near record levels” of agent retention.

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How to Budget for Home Maintenance

Redfin

As a homebuyer, home maintenance is key to keeping your property in good condition for years to come—but without a solid plan, those costs can add up quickly. The most effective way to budget for home maintenance is to set aside about 1% to 4% of your home’s value each year (or break it down into monthly amounts), then adjust depending on your home’s age, size, and location.

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How to Sell My House for Cash in Charlotte

HomeLight

If you’re asking, “Should I sell my house for cash in Charlotte, North Carolina?” chances are you’re looking for a quick, straightforward process. Cash sales often allow you to skip the prep work, avoid repairs and showings, and choose a closing timeline that works for you. The three big questions on your mind might be: How do I sell a house for cash in Charlotte?

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Case-Shiller: National House Price Index Up 2.3% year-over-year in May

Calculated Risk Real Estate

S&P/Case-Shiller released the monthly Home Price Indices for May ("May" is a 3-month average of March, April and May closing prices). March closing prices include some contracts signed in January, so there is a significant lag to this data. Here is a graph of the month-over-month (MoM) change in the Case-Shiller National Index Seasonally Adjusted (SA).

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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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Senate Committee Unanimously Advances Sprawling Housing Reform Bill

RIS Media

Housing supply and affordability remain ongoing issues for prospective homebuyers, and the United States Senate is now taking action. In an hour-long executive session, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs voted to advance a comprehensive housing reform bill, the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025. Addressing an extremely broad swath of policy… The post Senate Committee Unanimously Advances Sprawling Housing Reform Bill appeared first on RISMedia.

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1st-time buyers say ‘yes’ to older starter homes due to higher costs

Inman

New construction starter homes have become a thing of the past as costs continue to rise, according to a report from Cotality. More buyers are flocking to a new kind of starter home, which is older and smaller. Agent Markets & Economy News Brief Select connecticut Cotality existing homes existing-home sales first-time buyers first-time homebuyer first-time homebuyers home prices home sales housing market Inman Connect San Diego Libby McKinney Tritschler market strategy mortgage rates new con

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Case-Shiller Reports Slowest Rate of Home Price Appreciation in Two Years

RIS Media

The May S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller national home price index (HPI) released this morning reveals that national home prices have had the smallest increase since July 2023, at a 2.3% annual gain, down from 2.7% in April. According to the HPI, the 20-City Composite gained 2.8%, down 0.42% since the prior month, and the 10-City Composite… The post Case-Shiller Reports Slowest Rate of Home Price Appreciation in Two Years appeared first on RISMedia.