November, 2020

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Rising home prices take a toll on pending home sales

Housing Wire

U.S pending home sales fell 1.1% in October – the second consecutive month the index has fallen as affordability strains the market, a recent report from the National Association of Realtors said. However, borrowers are still maintaining a strong pace, as contract signings are up 20.2% compared to a year ago. According to Joel Kan, the Mortgage Bankers Associations assistant vice president of economic and industry forecasting, that robust year-over-year improvement in activity is a sign the mark

Sales 532
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4 Reasons Why the Election Won’t Dampen the Housing Market

Keeping Current Matters

Tomorrow, Americans will decide our President for the next four years. That decision will have a major impact on many aspects of life in this country, but the residential real estate market will not be one of them. Analysts will try to measure the impact feasible changes in regulations might have on housing, the effect of a possible first-time buyer program, and any number of other situations based on who wins.

Marketing 281
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Top 7 Things You Need to Know Before House-hunting on Zillow

American Lifestyle

The post Top 7 Things You Need to Know Before House-hunting on Zillow appeared first on American Lifestyle Magazine.

Finance 119
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‘Home Alone’ Turns 30—How Has That House Held Up?

Realtor.com

"Home Alone": 20th Century Fox; house: Wikipedia/Creative Commons With the holidays in full swing but COVID-19 keeping many of us at home, it’s a prime opportunity to binge-watch some holiday movies—and one must-watch is “Home Alone,” which turns 30 years old this year. This classic John Hughes film from 1990 stars a young Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister , a precocious 8-year-old accidentally abandoned by his large, chaotic family when they jet off to Paris.

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3 Real Estate Office Hacks to Help Kickstart the Busy Season

Ready to better your Back Office? Dive into the secrets to a powerhouse back office with Brokermint expert, Jessica Souza. In this free download, she shares her 3 transformative hacks designed to clean house, get everyone on the same page, and set yourself up for success. From optimizing agent profiles to ensuring flawless transactions and boosting agent retention, these strategies are your ticket to a seamless operation.

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How Much Does a P.O. Box Cost

Realty Biz

What to Know About P.O. Boxes. Are you considering getting a P.O. box? Do you know what a P.O. box costs? There are many reasons why you might need a P.O. box. Maybe you want to keep your home address separate from a business address, or you want to make sure you don’t lose mail during a house move. When people want to know how to change a mailing address , they sometimes opt for getting a P.O. box simultaneously.

As-is 145

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Record low mortgage rates hold steady at 2.72%

Housing Wire

The average U.S. mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan remained unchanged at 2.72% this week, Freddie Mac said in a report on Thursday – the second week in a row rates have sat at the lowest recorded level in the survey’s near 50-year history. The average fixed rate for a 15-year mortgage also remained unchanged from last week at 2.28%. After another week at the record low, there have now been 18 consecutive weeks when average mortgage rates have been below 3%.

Mortgages 545
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5 Tips for Homebuyers Who Want to Make a Competitive Offer

Keeping Current Matters

Today’s real estate market has high buyer interest and low housing inventory. With so many buyers competing for a limited number of homes, it’s more important than ever to know the ins and outs of making a confident and competitive offer. Here are five keys to success for this important stage in the homebuying process. 1. Listen to Your Real Estate Agent.

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Bank of Canada Ended The Mortgage Program That Inflated Prices… Kind of

Better Dwelling

Canada’s central bank is still buying tens of million of mortgage bonds. Bank of Canada (BoC) data shows the balance of Canada Mortgage Bonds (CMBs) they hold, increased this week. The increase is a couple of weeks after the pandemic program to buy these has ended. However, it appears that didn’t mean they were going […]. The post Bank of Canada Ended The Mortgage Program That Inflated Prices… Kind of appeared first on Better Dwelling.

Banks 143
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Bundle Up! Winter’s Home-Buying Game Has Changed. Here’s How To Win

Realtor.com

Viktoriia Hnatiuk / Getty Images Savvy home buyers know that winter is typically a good time to embark on a house hunt, since much of their competition stays holed up at home until spring. But this winter, buyers might notice that despite the cold and the holidays, they’ve got company. Lots of it, in fact. “Normally winter is a good time for buyers,” says realtor.com® chief economist Danielle Hale.

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Need Curated Pre-foreclosure Lists to Generate New Real Estate Leads? Trellis Has the Data!

Trellis is a state trial court research and analytics platform that provides Real Estate Professionals (Buyers, Foreclosure, Loan Modification, etc.) with LEADS on Pre-Foreclosures, Lis Pendes, Distressed Assets and more — to help uncover **new** opportunities and grow their business. The process is quick and easy — and all in real time. Trellis will supply you with a link to the relevant dockets, a Leads sheet and access to its UI where applicable.

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How to Rent Your First House or Apartment

Realty Biz

What to Know About Renting For The First Time. Are you thinking of moving out of your parent’s home and renting your first house or apartment? When you rent your first home, there are things you should know to avoid the pitfalls that could put you at odds with your landlord. Renting a house could involve some things you aren’t aware of, so allow us to give you the knowledge to help you find your ideal home with the minimum stress.

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What you need to know about no-code vs low-code (and what it means)

The American Genius for Real Estate

(REAL ESTATE MARKETING) The no-code movement is putting more power in the hands of folks with zero programming skills. So what makes it different from low-coding, and what choice is right for your business goals? The post What you need to know about no-code vs low-code (and what it means) appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

Marketing 143
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These markets are attracting the most out-of-state real estate investors

Housing Wire

The pandemic has shifted the pecking order of the real estate industry’s location-location-location axiom for many homebuyers — high-cost and high-density urban is out, while suburban is back in vogue and rural is experiencing a bit of a revival. Many real estate investors were serendipitously ahead of this shift even before the pandemic started, driven by both affordability and an affinity for overlooked markets.

Investor 545
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How to Build a Home Gym Without Breaking the Bank

Coldwell Banker

With many gyms closed or operating at minimum capacity, a home gym has never sounded more appealing. Three out of five Americans are actually turning to home gyms for good, and over half of the population is looking for the best home-fitness options. You can even find affordable home gym equipment that gets the job done just as efficiently as a commercial gym can.

Banks 136
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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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Toronto Condo Prices Down Over $20k From Peak, As Inventory Doubles

Better Dwelling

Greater Toronto real estate is on fire… just not condo apartments, which is seeing a lot of sellers. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) data shows condo apartment prices slid for a fifth month in October. Condo sales are fairly in line with last year’s numbers, except in the city. However, inventory has more than […]. The post Toronto Condo Prices Down Over $20k From Peak, As Inventory Doubles appeared first on Better Dwelling.

Sales 139
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These Pandemic-Related Housing and Design Trends Aren’t Going Away

Realtor.com

Hispanolistic/Getty Images Home trends come and go, but social distancing and staying at home have ushered in a new way of life—and some of those changes have spurred home trends that are likely to stick around well past the COVID-19 era. “The idea of what is necessary is changing,” says Camille Thomas , a real estate matchmaker and lifestyle expert in Jackson Hole, WY.

Design 145
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The Pros and Cons of Building vs. Buying as a First-time Homeowner

Homes.com

If you're torn between buying or building a home, understanding what each option entails will help you make a more informed decision. Here are the pros and cons of each journey. The post The Pros and Cons of Building vs. Buying as a First-time Homeowner appeared first on Homes.com.

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29 Home Staging Tips For 2021

Easy Agent Pro

Wanna hear something weird? According to buyers’ agents, “Staging the living room was found to be most important for buyers.” (NAR). Ready for more weirdness? Forty-two percent of buyers’ agents claim that the master bedroom is second in importance when it comes to staging. The kitchen, which I think most of us consider the most important, was third at 35%.

Staging 133
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Maximizing Your Online Presence: Tips for Real Estate Agents on Social Media

Speaker: Sarah Santa Ana, Real Estate Coach, Move4Free Realty

Networking is one of the crucial elements in every real estate organization's success. Both agents and real estate companies need to maintain robust networking links. This is why social media is essential for any real estate professional! Social media enables you to stay in touch with your present clients, maintain connections with your past clients, and engage potential customers and investors.

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Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac conforming loan limits increase for 2021

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced new conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 2021: $548,250. This is a 7.5% increase from 2020’s limit of $510,400 and marks the fifth consecutive year of increases from the FHFA. In 2016, the FHFA increased the Fannie and Freddie conforming loan limit for the first time in 10 years, and since then, the loan limit has gone up by $131,250.

Loans 546
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Home Appraisal: What to Know About House Appraisals

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

Understanding Home Appraisals Are you interested in understanding what to expect from your home appraisal? Real estate appraisals are an integral part of purchasing and selling a property, particularly if the buyer is seeking funding from a lender. The appraised value of a home can make or break a sale, so it only makes sense […]. The post Home Appraisal: What to Know About House Appraisals appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

Sales 128
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Vancouver To Triple Empty Home Tax To 3% In 2021

Better Dwelling

Vancouver is doubling down on the success of its vacant home tax…well, tripling down, technically. The Vancouver Empty Homes Tax (EHT) will be tripled from its original rate for the 2021 assessment year. The tax, which places a penalty on underused homes, was put in place to help encourage more efficient use. Vancouver Empty Homes […]. The post Vancouver To Triple Empty Home Tax To 3% In 2021 appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Why This Winter’s ‘Slow’ Home-Selling Season May Be Hotter Than Ever

Realtor.com

BackyardProduction / Getty Images Winter is traditionally real estate’s slow season. Between the cold weather and the holidays, the housing market typically plunges into a hibernation of sorts, with both buyers and sellers shelving any major real estate moves until spring. This winter’s real estate market, however, is shaping up to be unlike any other before it—and, contrary to what some may have feared, is slated to be an excellent time to sell a home.

Sales 145
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Rise of The Apps: Building Your Dream Tech Stack For Real Estate Success

Speaker: Trey Willard, Realtor/Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

In order to create continued success in today’s real estate market, realtors need to utilize an arsenal of technology that will increase their efficiency and presence on social media. Using technology to manage your prospects and tap into their needs through websites, social media, and other channels is critical for real estate success in 2022 and beyond.

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4 Ways to Revamp Your Long-Forgotten Garage

Coldwell Banker

Join us today in exploring 4 tried and tested methods you can use to show your long-forgotten garage some much-needed TLC, revamping your cluttered space into one fit for function. The post 4 Ways to Revamp Your Long-Forgotten Garage appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue Matter.

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7 red flags that could scare off your potential home buyers

The American Genius for Real Estate

(BROKERAGE) While houses are selling quickly right now, there are some things that will almost definitely turn a home buyer off. The post 7 red flags that could scare off your potential home buyers appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

Brokerage 131
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Mortgage rates break record again, down to 2.72%

Housing Wire

The average U.S. mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan fell this week to 2.72%, Freddie Mac said in a report on Thursday – the lowest rate in the survey’s near 50-year history. This week’s rate broke the previous record set on Nov. 5 by 6 basis points. The average fixed rate for a 15-year mortgage also fell by 6 basis points to 2.28%. After this week’s record drop, there have now been 17 consecutive weeks when average mortgage rates have been below 3%.

Mortgages 546
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Share of Home Buyers Getting Outbid Almost Doubles

Eye on Housing

An earlier post revealed that 62% of buyers who were actively engaged in the process of finding a home in the third quarter of 2020 have spent upwards of 3 months searching for a home without success. Although the top reason long-time searchers haven’t pulled the trigger continues to be the inability to find an affordable home (38%), that share. Read More › The post Share of Home Buyers Getting Outbid Almost Doubles first appeared on Eye On Housing.

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5 Data Proven Ways Agents Can Do 18% More Business

Curious as to how you could do 18% more business? How about 14 more transaction sides per year? Check out this infographic with data from a RealTrends study to learn more.