Sat.Feb 13, 2021 - Fri.Feb 19, 2021

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We need higher mortgage rates to cool the housing market

Housing Wire

The years 2020-2024 will have the best housing demographics ever recorded in U.S. history, with the lowest mortgage rates recorded in history. When you have these two titans acting in unison, it can potentially accelerate real home prices in an unhealthy way. In 2020, the year of COVID-19, existing home sales ended at a respectable 5,640,000. That is roughly only 130,000 higher than the levels we saw in 2017.

Mortgages 540
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Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?

Keeping Current Matters

With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout 2021, or if they’ll start to rise. Recently, Freddie Mac released their quarterly forecast , noting: “The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a record low over a dozen times in 2020 and the low interest rate environment is projected to continue through this year.

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Canadian Bank: “Your House Makes More Than You Do,” Draw Your Own Conclusion

Better Dwelling

One of Canada’s largest banks brought attention to a warning sign in many real estate markets. BMO published a research note titled “Your House Makes More Than You Do,” by senior economist Sal Guatieri. The note focuses on how sustainable and long-term current housing trends are. I’m obviously kidding. It brings attention to the fact […]. The post Canadian Bank: “Your House Makes More Than You Do,” Draw Your Own Conclusion appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Homeownership Remains Primary Driver of Household Wealth

Eye on Housing

The 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) showed improvements in economic well-being for many across income and wealth distributions over 2016 to 2019. The homeownership rate increased from a low of 63.7% in 2016 to 64.9% in 2019. Moreover, the primary residence continued to be the largest asset on the balance sheets of households in 2019 (Figure 1), accounting for about.

Finance 145
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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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5 first-time homebuyer mistakes to avoid

Housing Wire

The first-time homebuyer process is a lengthy one, and if you’re not careful, there’s a lot that can throw you off-track. From low appraisals to surprise credit checks, a number of hurdles could slow your purchase or even derail it altogether. Are you on the hunt for a new home? Want to make sure your purchase goes off without a hitch? Then take steps to avoid these all-too-common first-time homebuyer mistakes: More for Real Estate Enthusiasts.

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More Trending

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Lakefront Houses: Considerations For Buying a Lake House

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

Considerations When Purchasing a Lakefront Home Are you looking for a lakefront house to purchase? Pursuing lake houses for sale is not uncommon at all. Lots of folks dream of living on the water. Lakefront homes fit a particular lifestyle choice that is incredibly exciting for many people. However, when you are pursuing a property […]. The post Lakefront Houses: Considerations For Buying a Lake House appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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Protect Your Home Renovation From These 4 Pesky Problems

Homes.com

The best way to protect your home renovation is to expect the unexpected. Here's how to prepare for sudden issues that could derail your project! The post Protect Your Home Renovation From These 4 Pesky Problems appeared first on Homes.com.

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How to survive this “unprecedented” era of digital mortgage

Housing Wire

Writing about digital mortgage in 2021, I am reminded of a cartoon in the New Yorker, in which two cavemen were starting a fire and one said “Stop saying everything is ‘unprecedented.’” After a year of unprecedented everything, including mortgage volume, it’s hard to fathom the level of fintech disruption that is approaching financial services and specifically mortgage.

Mortgages 533
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Home Mortgage Rates by Decade [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights. Mortgage interest rates have dropped considerably over the past year, and compared to what we’ve seen in recent decades, it’s a great time to buy a home. Locking in a low rate today could save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your home loan, but these low rates may not last forever. If you’re in a position to buy a home, reach out to a local real estate professional to determine your best move in today’s housing market while interest rates are still in your favor.

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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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HOA: What is an HOAs Meaning and Purpose

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

What is an HOA and How Do They Work? What is an HOA? What does an HOA mean? HOA stands for a homeowners association. If you are new to buying a home, you might not really understand what an HOA is, what it means, or how it will affect you. The HOA meaning adds some […]. The post HOA: What is an HOAs Meaning and Purpose appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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5 Sweet Tax Deductions When Selling a Home: Did You Take Them All?

Realtor.com

Feverpitched / Getty Images You may be wondering if there are tax deductions when selling a home. And the answer is: You bet! Sure, you may remember way back to 2018 and its new tax code—aka the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—changed some rules for homeowners. But rest assured that if you sold your home in 2020 (or are planning to in the future), your tax deductions when you file with the IRS can still amount to sizable savings.

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Invest in real estate, not the stock market

Housing Wire

The stock market is a funny game. Not the kind of game that the rookie Game Stop investors are used to playing, but a real-life, action-packed, form of entertainment that toys with millions of Americans’ emotions and finances every day. You know what isn’t a game, and can also provide oh-so-sweet returns? Investing in real estate. The stock market is at an all-time high, finishing 2020 at record levels.

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3 Ways Home Equity Can Have a Major Impact on Your Life

Keeping Current Matters

There have been a lot of headlines reporting on how homeowner equity (the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage) has dramatically increased over the past few years. CoreLogic indicated that equity increased for the average homeowner by $17,000 in the last year alone. ATTOM Data Solutions , in their latest U.S.

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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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Modular Homes: Pros and Cons of a Modular Home With Video

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

What to Know About Modular Homes Are you considering buying a modular home? Once thought a cheap and low-quality housing option, modular homes have come a long way in recent years. They offer home buyers another way to achieve their dream of owning a home and come with several advantages over regular, “stick-built” homes. However, […]. The post Modular Homes: Pros and Cons of a Modular Home With Video appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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Everything’s A Bubble, and Canadian Real Estate Was One of The Worst Returns

Better Dwelling

Canadians are scrambling to buy a home and catch that huge wage of profits… but is it really that profitable? It depends what you’re comparing it to. When central banks flood the market with cheap money, almost everything soars. It’s not just real estate that is profitable. Real estate is just the only investment many […]. The post Everything’s A Bubble, and Canadian Real Estate Was One of The Worst Returns appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Existing home sales are still too hot

Housing Wire

The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales for January were at 6,669,000, which beat estimates. The year-over-year growth was an impressive 23.7%. The median sales price also jumped 14.1% year over year, which I warned could happen during the years 2020-2024. On a recent HousingWire podcast , I discussed the need for higher mortgage rates to cool down this growth rate.

Sales 525
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Millennials: Is It Time to Buy a Bigger Home?

Keeping Current Matters

In today’s housing market, all eyes are on millennials. Not only are millennials the largest generation, but they’re also currently between 25 and 40 years old. These are often considered prime homebuying years when many people begin to form their own households and invest in real estate. If you’re like many millennials who are spending much more time at home these days, you may have a growing need for more space or upgraded features, making moving more desirable than ever.

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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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Secret Rooms and Futuristic Features! The Year’s 8 Biggest Kitchen Design Trends Will Blow You Away

Realtor.com

Heidi's Bridge/Houzz. Of all the rooms in your house, your kitchen likely saw the most action in 2020. With so many people staying at home making artisanal pizza and using their countertops as an office or classroom, this room endured plenty of wear and tear. And that means it might just be the room that’s most in need of a refresh. . But where to start?

Design 134
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Canada’s Expected Mortgage Credit Losses Reaches A Record $1.4 Billion

Better Dwelling

Despite Canada’s hot real estate market, lenders expect a record amount in losses. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows expected credit losses (ECL) jumped in Q3 2020. ECLs are now at a record high according to the agency, but are a relatively small percent of total mortgage debt. It’s a little confusing, but expected losses […].

Mortgages 140
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Redfin joins Realtor.com in displaying flood data

Housing Wire

When Realtor.com became the first listing platform to display flood hazard data on properties, the lead economist for Redfin expressed caution about the unintended consequences of displaying such statistics. “We need to be very careful about how we provide information,” Taylor Marr, the lead economist at Redfin, told NPR at the time. “Could this actually reduce the value of this existing homeowner and essentially take away a lot of their net worth?”.

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Selling Your Home? Here’s What Not to Display in Your Home Office

Lighter Side of Real Estate

With more people working from home than ever, the home office has become a major selling point to many potential buyers—and if you want to attract those potential buyers, you need to frame your office in a way that’s going to appeal to them. And that includes getting rid of things that won’t appeal to them. A recent article from Apartment Therapy outlined the items real estate agents recommend not displaying in your home office if you’re preparing to sell, including: College degrees and other re

Agents 133
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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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Can You Take a Home Office Tax Deduction Due to COVID-19? A Reality Check

Realtor.com

JannHuizenga / Getty Images 2020 was the year of WFH: Working from home became a reality for countless Americans, as company offices closed down to curb the spread of COVID-19. And, as the time nears to file your 2020 taxes, you might be wondering: Does your home office add up to any tax deductions for you? It’s a logical question: Since most WFH warriors shell out of their own pocket for internet, printer ink, and equipment upgrades if their laptop poops out, it’s understandable to

As-is 131
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Canadian Real Estate Sales Start The Year Off 35% Higher

Better Dwelling

Canadian real estate sales printed yet another record during the pandemic. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows home sales in January 2021 hit a record. The new high for January sales came with a little slow down for growth. However, things have been so heated, even a double digit drop in growth is one […]. The post Canadian Real Estate Sales Start The Year Off 35% Higher appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Redfin makes its big rental play with RentPath acquisition

Housing Wire

It looks like RentPath will be sold after all. After a deal to be acquired by CoStar Group fell through due to antitrust objections from the federal government, real estate brokerage and listings portal Redfin has scooped up the Atlanta-based rental platform. Seattle-based Redfin has agreed to pay $608 million in cash to acquire RentPath , though the deal still requires sign-off by the Federal Trade Commission and a bankruptcy court.

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Builder Confidence: High Demand Offsets Higher Costs – For Now

Eye on Housing

Strong buyer demand helped offset supply chain challenges and a surge in lumber prices as builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes inched up one point to 84 in February, according to the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Lumber prices have been steadily rising this year and hit a record high in mid-February, adding thousands.

Marketing 130
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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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8 Ways To Use Nail Polish Remover To Clean Your House

Realtor.com

Getty Images When your nail polish chips or that cherry-red shade isn’t quite right, a cotton ball soaked with nail polish remover can give you a clean slate. But did you know that the primary ingredient in most nail polish removers can dissolve scuffs, stains, and patches of grime? If your nail polish remover contains acetone, congrats! You have a versatile household solvent at your fingertips.

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Canadian Real Estate Saw A “Typical” Home Price Rise Up To $73,000 Just Last Month

Better Dwelling

Everyone thinks their real estate market is hot, but they don’t realize they almost all are. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows large home price gains in January. Not just for the year, but for the actual month. The increases were actually so big, almost two dozen markets saw prices climb 5-digits. The Price […]. The post Canadian Real Estate Saw A “Typical” Home Price Rise Up To $73,000 Just Last Month appeared first on Better Dwelling.

Marketing 131
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These are the top 5 real estate podcasts

Housing Wire

Podcasts are the latest infotainment craze to take the American public by storm. With more than 850,000 active podcasts and nearly 31 million downloads in 2020 alone, podcasting has cemented itself as a true American pastime. As the popularity of this medium continues to grow, more and more housing industry professionals are becoming hosts and launching their own podcasts on topics ranging from real estate, fintech, and mortgage news.

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