Sat.Mar 30, 2024 - Fri.Apr 05, 2024

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UWM sued over ‘corrupt’ scheme with brokers to steer loans

Housing Wire

Top U.S. mortgage lender United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) is the target of a class-action-seeking lawsuit alleging it orchestrated a scheme with mortgage brokers to apply excess fees and costs to borrowers. The wholesale lender called the accusations a “sham.” The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in a Michigan district court by Therisa D. Escue, Billy R.

Loans 458
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The Impact of Low Appraisals on Home Sales and Mortgages

RIS Media

When buying and selling real estate, the appraisal is pivotal. It’s an expert’s objective estimation of a home’s worth and serves as a cornerstone for financial decisions in real estate transactions. However, a low appraisal can disrupt the whole process and lead to complications for buyers, sellers, Realtors, and lenders. I will examine the ramifications… The post The Impact of Low Appraisals on Home Sales and Mortgages appeared first on RISMedia.

Sales 127
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The Best Week To List Your House Is Almost Here

Keeping Current Matters

Are you thinking about making a move?

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DOJ can reopen its investigation into NAR, appeals court rules

Real Estate News

Ruling could lead to further changes in industry practices by allowing the Department of Justice to revisit an antitrust case originally settled in 2020.

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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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Barr: Fed is taking ‘thoughtful approach’ to Basel III rules

Housing Wire

Federal Reserve vice chair for supervision Michael Barr said the central bank is taking “a very thoughtful approach” to the Basel III rules (aka the Basel endgame), which would significantly increase bank capital requirements and, if implemented, affect the mortgage industry. “We gave the public extra time to comment on the rule because it was really complex.

Banks 502
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DOJ can reopen its investigation into NAR, appeals court rules

Inman

In another loss for the National Association of Realtors, the court ruled the U.S. Department of Justice can reopen its investigation into rules around commission sharing.

Agents 193

More Trending

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Northeast and Midwest markets are still sizzling hot

Real Estate News

The regions continue to see significant price growth and elevated buyer activity, but national price growth is expected to slow this year as supply increases.

Marketing 293
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The labor report gives the Fed a clear pathway to land the plane

Housing Wire

Today’s jobs report beat estimates , but the internals show the labor market is softening, as the Federal Reserve wants. The data shows that wage growth is cooling down and the job opening quits rate is below pre-COVID-19 levels. This bodes well for those hoping to see a soft landing, and for those hoping for lower mortgage rates. The 10-year yield has had a wild ride today, but now is an excellent time to look at my macro take on the labor market and explain what the Fed is looking for wi

Land 485
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Agents brace for impact: A future with more unrepresented buyers

Inman

Some think the National Association of Realtors' $418 million settlement will prompt more homebuyers to transact without agents. Inman asked industry professionals how they'll handle that situation.

Agents 183
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Boomers Moving Will Be More Like a Gentle Tide Than a Tsunami

Keeping Current Matters

Have you heard the term “Silver Tsunami” getting tossed around recently? If so, here’s what you really need to know.

Marketing 255
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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.

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James Dwiggins: Industry innovator, podcast provocateur

Real Estate News

The CEO of NextHome, founder of Rayse and co-host of an “unfiltered’ podcast isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts on the agent value prop, tech and NAR.

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Ginnie Mae warns issuer partners about faster prepayments

Housing Wire

Ginnie Mae this week issued a public notice to its issuer partners warning of an observation of higher prepayments in some of its mortgage-backed securities (MBS) programs, reminding issuers that a violation of its requirements could result in punitive action. In a prior All Participants Memorandum (APM) issued in December 2017 , Ginnie Mae described how it monitors prepayments in its MBS programs.

Mortgages 484
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The NAR settlement would bring ‘significant benefits’ to buyers: CFA

Inman

That includes benefits for first-time homebuyers, who might be better served by inexperienced agents. However, some benefits require changes from mortgage lenders, consumer watchdog says.

Agents 176
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Newly Built Homes Could Be a Game Changer This Spring

Keeping Current Matters

Buying a home this spring?

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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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Price cuts hit a five-year high

Real Estate News

There are more green shoots for would-be home buyers this spring as inventory grows to its highest point since 2020, according to Realtor.com’s monthly report.

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Weekly active inventory growth still too slow

Housing Wire

The best housing story in 2024 is that inventory is growing — both active inventory and new listings. With mortgage rates at the current levels, inventory is still below my expectations, but it’s still such a positive story that I had to discuss it on CNBC last week. As we head into April, let’s see where we’re at on the Inventory side as are officially into spring.

Mortgages 482
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Play the long game when it comes to luxury real estate

Inman

Luxury agent and new Inman contributor Beckie Nielsen offers insight on making client service more personal, more meaningful and, ultimately, more effective.

Agents 173
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How to Use Social Media to Help Sell a House

RIS Media

In today’s digital age, social media is not just a platform for social interaction but a pivotal tool in the real estate market. With billions of active users, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok offer fantastic opportunities for real estate agents to showcase their listings, connect with potential buyers and build their brands.

Branding 135
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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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eXp Realty promotes Leo Pareja to CEO

Real Estate News

The brokerage giant announced that its chief strategy officer will assume the CEO role, taking over from founder and eXp World Holdings CEO Glenn Sanford.

Brokerage 257
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Opinion: No benefit to home sellers is worth sacrificing first-time homebuyers

Housing Wire

The recent settlement involving the National Association of Realtors and major real estate firms revolves around the practice of “broker cooperation,” where agents representing sellers share commissions with agents representing buyers. Proponents of the lawsuits argue that this customary practice inflates commissions , and believe that buyers and sellers should pay their agent representation separately.

Equity 473
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Leo Pareja tapped as eXp Realty’s new CEO, relieving Glenn Sanford

Inman

Pareja, who joined eXp Realty in 2022, previously served as its chief strategy officer. Founder Glenn Sanford will remain with the firm as CEO of parent company eXp World Holdings.

Brokerage 165
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BREAKING: Appeals Court Rules DOJ Can Reopen Investigation Into NAR

RIS Media

In a split decision, a panel of judges for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today overruled a district judge who had previously prevented the Department of Justice (DOJ) from reopening its investigation into the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), potentially allowing regulators to pursue further changes to policy and rules in the industry. In… The post BREAKING: Appeals Court Rules DOJ Can Reopen Investigation Into NAR appeared first on RISMedia.

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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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A resurgence of first-time buyers, and a look at agent pay

Real Estate News

NAR’s annual generational trends report examines buyer and seller characteristics and dives into their needs — and how they compensate agents.

Agents 253
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Midwest housing markets good for first-time homebuyers: Zillow

Housing Wire

The number of first-time homebuyers made up 32% of all buyers in 2023, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors. Millennials comprised 75% of this demographic, with older millennials and Generation X (ages 44 to 58) accounting for 44% and 24% of first-time buyers. Against that backdrop, Zillow identified prime markets for first-time homebuyers , and half of them were nestled in the Midwest.

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Disappointing economic news hampers early spring market

Inman

Rising mortgage rates thwarted the first weeks of the spring market, according to a Redfin housing report published on Thursday. Homesellers pulled back during the four weeks ending March 31, leading new listing growth to experience the smallest annual increase in seven weeks (+8.4 percent).

Marketing 165
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New Jobs Report Shows Stronger-Than-Expected Results

RIS Media

The March jobs report, released Friday from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, defied odds predicted by analysts—indicating a slightly positive upward trend in employment from February, which will likely keep interest rates high in the coming months. The data showed an addition of 303,000 jobs in March compared to 270,000 in February, an increase… The post New Jobs Report Shows Stronger-Than-Expected Results appeared first on RISMedia.

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The 4 Most Impactful Actions to Take in Real Estate in 2024

Strategic real estate professionals know that the name of the game right now is to stay informed, adaptable, and ready to make confident decisions. In this free download, Inside Real Estate CEO, Joe Skousen, shares what he believes are the top 4 most impactful actions in real estate right now. We've been actively engaging with industry experts, analyzing data, and listening intently to the experiences of our agents on the ground.

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Agents must get on board with the ‘new way’ of doing business

Real Estate News

In just a few months, new compensation and buyer agreement mandates will kick in. Agents who are ready to adopt them will succeed more quickly.

Agents 251
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Zillow or CoStar? NAR settlement terms could determine a winner

Housing Wire

Real estate listing giants Zillow and CoStar are currently embattled in a fight for listing portal supremacy. The battle began heating up in September 2023 when CoStar’s residential real estate platform Homes.com surpassed 100 million unique monthly visitors, becoming the second most popular listing portal behind Zillow. CoStar announced last month that monthly traffic at Homes.com surpassed 149 million unique visitors in February, inching closing to the 194 million unique monthly visitors that

MLS 448
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‘Force of nature’: Friends and agents celebrate Jennifer Berman

Inman

The LA luxury powerhouse passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday. Industry professionals shared with Inman the many ways in which Berman touched their lives.

Agents 169
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Get More Listings by Connecting With These 5 Demographics

RIS Media

There are several reasons agents prefer listing over working with buyers. From the ability to take on more clients at once to less time spent touring properties to increased control over transactions, many agents just prefer to represent sellers. But how do you find listing opportunities if this is your desired route? Get in touch… The post Get More Listings by Connecting With These 5 Demographics appeared first on RISMedia.

Agents 120
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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.