Housing Wire

AUGUST 12, 2020

Mortgage applications were back up 6.8% last week, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association , further evidence that, thanks to the pandemic, August is the new May for home-buying. Consumers responded to mortgage rates that fell to new low last week , with the refinance index jumping 9% from the previous week to its highest level since April, said Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting.

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Keeping Current Matters

AUGUST 11, 2020

Today’s housing market is making a truly impressive turnaround, and it’s also setting up some outstanding opportunities for buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this year, there are perks today that are rarely available, and definitely worth looking into. Here are the top two. The Biggest Perk for Buyers: Low Mortgage Rates.

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Realtor.com

AUGUST 13, 2020

Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images These days, things are changing so fast, it’s tough to keep up. That’s especially true in the mortgage industry, where interest rates and the overall home loan landscape are shifting with such head-spinning speed, it’s easy for outdated information to circulate, leading home buyers and homeowners astray. You may have heard, for instance, that everyone can score a record-low interest rate, or that refinancing is a no-brainer, or that mortgage forbearance m

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Better Dwelling

AUGUST 13, 2020

Canada’s national housing agency discreetly asked lenders to curb risky lending. Evan Siddall, the head of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) sent a confidential memo to lenders this week, requesting they tighten lending. Instead of taking the advice, the industry leaked parts of the memo. The CMHC has responded by releasing the whole […].

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 11, 2020

August is upon us, and the growth in the rate of new infections appears to be slowing. Vaccine development is progressing with some promising early results. The time has come to start thinking about what life will be like on the other side of this crisis. What can we expect post COVID-19? Logan Mohtashami Lead Analyst. Some things will not have changed.

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Keeping Current Matters

AUGUST 13, 2020

Today, home prices are appreciating. When we hear prices are going up, it’s normal to think a home will cost more as the trend continues. The way the housing market is positioned today, however, low mortgage rates are actually making homes more affordable, even as prices rise. Here’s why. According to the Mortgage Monitor Report from Black Knight: “While home prices have risen for 97 consecutive months, July’s record-low mortgage rates have made purchasing the average-priced home the most afford

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Sotheby's International Real Estate

AUGUST 8, 2020

Few spaces in the modern home take higher design priority than the bath. These five distinctive spaces feature details that range from rugged stonework to striking tile patterns and lovely mosaics that double as works of art. Unique Elegance in Manhattan. New York, New York | Debbie Korb , Sotheby’s International Realty – Downtown Manhattan Brokerage.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 14, 2020

The mix of working from home and renters seeking more space – albeit cheaper space – is pushing more people out of more expensive U.S. cities and moving into the suburbs. Particularly, Millennials are fleeing New York City for more space in its surrounding suburbs. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, online mortgage lender Better.com said it has seen an increasing trend in 35 to 36-year-old renters applying for mortgages in the suburbs of New York, including Westchester; Connecticut an

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Keeping Current Matters

AUGUST 14, 2020

Some Highlights. Sometimes it helps to see the dollars and cents you’ll save when you purchase a home while mortgage rates are low. Today’s low rates mean it’s less expensive to borrow money, so the savings over the life of your loan is significant. Reach out to a real estate professional to determine the best way to position your family for a financially-savvy move in today’s market.

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Realtor.com

AUGUST 10, 2020

akinshin / Getty Images Unless your home was built in the last year or two, it’s likely to be full of outdated features and systems. Some of those items may add to the home’s charm, but many distinctly will not. Replacing the outdated with modern versions or smart technology can save you time and money. “While not everyone is an uber-cutting-edge tech wiz, [home] buyers are more tech-savvy than ever before,” says Jared Wilk , principal at Shulkin Wlik Group.

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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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Better Dwelling

AUGUST 14, 2020

Canadians know real estate prices have grown quickly, but most have no idea how it compares to the world. US Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (US Fed) data shows how home prices evolved since the Financial Crisis. While most countries scrambled to balance home prices with local economic growth, Canada doubled down on housing. The […]. The post Canada Doubled Down On Real Estate In 2005.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 13, 2020

Average U.S. mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed rose to 2.96% this week from an all-time low of 2.88% , Freddie Mac said in a report on Thursday. The average 15-year rate rose to 2.46% from 2.44% last week, according to the mortgage financier. “Even with this week’s uptick, very low rates are providing a significant boost to the housing market that continues to hold up well during this time of uncertainty,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

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Keeping Current Matters

AUGUST 12, 2020

With the strength of the current housing market growing every day and more Americans returning to work, a faster-than-expected recovery in the housing sector is already well underway. Regardless, many are still asking the question: will we see a wave of foreclosures as a result of the current crisis? Thankfully, research shows the number of foreclosures is expected to be much lower than what this country experienced during the last recession.

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Realtor.com

AUGUST 12, 2020

Aaron Rapoport / Contributor / Getty Images On “Good Bones,” Mina Starsiak and her mother, Karen Laine , are always experimenting with new designs—and in their latest Indianapolis renovation, they reveal a clever alternative to open floor plans that could catch on fast. In the episode “The Boho Bungalow,” Starsiak and Laine take on a dilapidated home in a neighborhood that’s known for its growing artists community.

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Eye on Housing

AUGUST 12, 2020

Over the last two weeks, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s tracked 30-year fixed-rate mortgage average rate fell by 14 basis points to 3.06%, a new record low in the series. At the same time, the results from its Weekly Application Survey show both weekly and year-over-year percentage increases in purchasing and refinancing activities. On a seasonally adjusted basis, purchasing activity increased.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 11, 2020

Last week, HousingWire reported surging mortgage volume and record low interest rates are putting excess pressure on appraisal turn times. This week, appraisal experts said those same variables are having a profound effect on an age-old conflict of appraisal reports versus what the market believes the home is worth. In an accelerated environment with homes being bought and sold at a rapid pace and market data being pulled ahead of time, historical data can struggle to catch up and create broad d

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Keeping Current Matters

AUGUST 10, 2020

Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest Employment Situation Summary. Going into the release, the expert consensus was for 1.58 million jobs to be added in July, and for the unemployment rate to fall to 10.5%. When the official report came out, it revealed that 1.8 million jobs were added , and the unemployment rate fell to 10.2% (from 11.1% last month).

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Realtor.com

AUGUST 13, 2020

kali9 / Getty Images Table of contents: . Step 1: Getting mortgage pre-approval. Step 2: Finding the right home. Step 3: Closing the deal. How long does it take to buy a house? While estimating a timeline for home buying will depend on many variables, real estate experts estimate that the average time required is around four months. This timeline is important for buyers to keep in mind for a variety of reasons.

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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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Sotheby's International Real Estate

AUGUST 11, 2020

L.A.-based master architect William Hefner is known for his proficiency in both traditional and modernist styles and for his devotion to translating classic details for sophisticated contemporary living. His versatility and dedication are easily apparent in this new Beverly Hills home, where sleek, refined modern style is inflected with time-honored flair.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 11, 2020

United Wholesale Mortgage announced Tuesday it is rolling out a loan program that offers borrowers mortgage rates as low as 1.99% for both purchases and refinances. The rate is only available through independent mortgage brokers, the company said in a statement. On July 31, the company announced a 1.875% rate for 15-year mortgages. We dive deeper into the conditions necessary to get that rate on the 15-year and other lenders offering similar rates, in the story: Making sense of ultra-low mortgag

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Realty Biz

AUGUST 12, 2020

Getting a Mortgage With Bad Credit. Are you wanting to buy a house but have bad credit? If you are a first-time buyer with lousy credit, getting a mortgage can seem a distant goal. However, it is normal for first-time buyers to have worse credit than those who have purchased a few homes in their lifetime. As a result, there are some options to help you buy your first home.

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Realtor.com

AUGUST 14, 2020

realtor.com It’s difficult to spot the home on this plot of 40 acres near Buffalo, TX. Which is exactly the way the owner wants it—the home is entirely underground. “It’s completely covered by earth,” says the listing agent, Terri Alexander. “I’m not sure that I know of another one like this in Texas, not completely underground, the way this one is.

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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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Jason Fox

AUGUST 11, 2020

110+ Real Estate Blog Topics You Can Steal Today | Jason Fox. Starting a real estate blog is an exciting way to communicate with your customers—past, current and future! In this day and age, a blog is crucial for building a strong online presence. It’s the very foundation of any content marketing strategy. For successful real estate blogging, you need to create epic content that resonates.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 13, 2020

As Maya Angelou so aptly said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”. Since the onset of the coronavirus that has plagued this nation we have watched policy makers and their varied responses at both the state and federal level. When it comes to housing and mortgage finance perhaps the most shocking thing is how the FHFA and the GSEs have simply ignored their role and used this time to threaten nonbank mortgage servicers facing liquidity problems, adding outrageous f

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The American Genius for Real Estate

AUGUST 13, 2020

(EDITORIAL) Whether it's a podcast, news, or music, most people are listening to *something* while at work - so what makes you the most productive? The post The music you’re listening to may dictate your productivity levels appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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Realtor.com

AUGUST 10, 2020

realtor.com They’ve traveled across vast oceans. Now they will provide shelter for a buyer who loves their stylish vision. Three homes made of shipping containers are for sale in Oregon City, OR —located about a half-hour outside of Portland. Each home is listed for $325,000 and measures nearly 800 square feet with two bedrooms and one bathroom. Two are located on Warner Street , and the third is on Prospect Street.

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Better Dwelling

AUGUST 12, 2020

Canadian real estate markets are about to see an explosion in rental inventory if Toronto is a sign. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) data prepared by real estate agent Daniel Foch shows an explosion of new listings for rental units in July. The number of new listings has reached a multi-year high, with a […]. The post Toronto Real Estate’s Latest Problem Is Soaring Rental Inventory appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Housing Wire

AUGUST 13, 2020

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced they will add a 50 basis points fee to all refinances starting Sept. 1. “As a result of risk management and loss forecasting precipitated by COVID-19 related economic and market uncertainty, we are introducing a new Market Condition Credit Fee in Price,” Freddie Mac said in a bulletin. The housing industry was quick to react.

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Homes.com

AUGUST 14, 2020

Living near a grocery store - or further away - could have an affect on your home's value. We did the research, so you can know the answer. The post Can Grocery Stores Affect Home Values? appeared first on Homes.com.

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Realtor.com

AUGUST 10, 2020

realtor.com It’s a bit of a bridge to nowhere, but this journey resulted in a truly unique house. The cedar bridge house on Manchester Road in Glastonbury, CT, sits 50 feet above ground, anchored to a steel support structure. It’s on the market for only the second time, listed for $530,000. “It was built by a local architect who really didn’t want to disrupt any of the lot, so he built the house around the trees with minimal excavation and prepping of the lot.

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Speaker: Ari Capogeannis, Director - Revenue Marketing at NVIDIA and Bill Pappa, Sales and Marketing Leader at Ai Media Group

Building strong personal and professional relationships with clients is a critical success factor. Sales professionals who focus on relationship building generate more leads and raise their brand awareness. Because this can take time, having regular engagements can help you cultivate these relationships more efficiently. The most effective way to accomplish this is through direct hyper-personalized touchpoints.

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