Housing Wire
DECEMBER 11, 2020
2020 was a truly unprecedented year. With it behind us, let’s look ahead at several housing market trends that are likely in 2021 and beyond. First, exceptionally low mortgage rates are likely to be around for an extended period. The Federal Reserve is expected to continue an accommodative monetary policy and keep the federal funds target below 0.25% through 2022.
Keeping Current Matters
DECEMBER 10, 2020
If you’re one of the many homeowners thinking about taking your house off the market for the holidays, hang on. You definitely don’t want to miss the great selling opportunity you have right now. Here’s why this month is the optimal time to make sure your house is available for holiday buyers. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from The National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the inventory of houses for sale has dropped to an astonishing all-time low.
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Lighter Side of Real Estate
DECEMBER 10, 2020
It’s not unusual for homebuyers to admire a seller’s belongings. Chances are they may share similar taste—they bought the same house, after all! But some go as far as to ask that certain items remain with the home as part of the deal. It’s easy to imagine clients wanting to include mirrors, window treatments, and maybe even chandeliers—but some take it a step farther and make really bold requests.
Point2Homes
DECEMBER 8, 2020
Image: Doubletree Studio / Shutterstock.com. When searching for the ideal home, expect to encounter a few issues along the way, such as homes listed as contingent. But, what does contingent mean and how does it affect your purchase? A home listed as contingent means the seller has accepted an offer. However, before the sale can go to closing, certain contingencies must be met.
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Housing Wire
DECEMBER 11, 2020
Mortgage giant Fannie Mae extended its relaxed lending and appraisal standards put in place due to COVID-19 into the new year. The flexibilities surrounding verbal verification of employment and appraisals were originally set to expire on Dec. 31, 2020, however Fannie Mae is now pushing that back to at least Jan. 31, 2021. “We are extending the temporary flexibilities related to verbal verifications of employment and power of attorney to loans with application dates on or before Jan. 31, 2021 fr
Keeping Current Matters
DECEMBER 11, 2020
Some Highlights. Buying a home in today’s sellers’ market doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. Here are four ways to make sure you’re positioned for success when making a home purchase, even when the scale tips toward sellers. Reach out to a local real estate professional to make sure you’re armed for victory in the housing market this season.
Residential Realty Today brings together the best content for real estate professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Realtor.com
DECEMBER 10, 2020
fstop123/Getty Images Whether you’re buying your first home or your 11th, there’s one thing we all think about when it comes time to negotiate the deal: wiggling that pesky price down as much as possible. Of course, price is important when you’re buying a home. But it’s not the only negotiable part of the sale—there are plenty of other ways to haggle aside from list price.
Housing Wire
DECEMBER 9, 2020
HW Media, publisher of HousingWire, FinLedger, and producer of Engage Events, today announced it has closed on the strategic acquisition of REAL Trends, the residential real estate industry’s leading report that ranks the performance of the top U.S. brokerage firms. REAL Trends will continue to publish the REAL Trends 500, The Thousand, and Website Rankings reports on an annual basis, as well as produce the Gathering of Eagles and DealMAKERS events.
Keeping Current Matters
DECEMBER 9, 2020
Talk of a housing bubble is beginning to crop up as home prices have appreciated at a rapid pace this year. This is understandable since the appreciation of residential real estate is well above historic annual averages. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), annual appreciation since 1991 has averaged 3.8%. Here are the latest 2020 appreciation numbers from three reliable sources: FHFA : 7.8%.
Better Dwelling
DECEMBER 11, 2020
Canada’s largest bank is prepared for price drops most would find unthinkable. Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) filings show possible risk scenario forecasts. Over the next year, the base forecast shows virtually flat growth. In a best case scenario, growth would hit levels similar to previous years. In a worst case, they forecast prices can […]. The post RBC’s “Worst Case” For Canadian Real Estate Is A Price Drop of Nearly 30% appeared first on Better Dwelling.
Advertiser: Trellis
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.
Realtor.com
DECEMBER 8, 2020
HGTV Tamara Day of “Bargain Mansions” is always getting creative with her renovations, but with her latest project, she is given a clean slate, with a house that’s been stripped down to the studs. In the Season 3 episode “On Par for Glory,” Day has purchased a classic Kansas City home for $247,000, and spends $150,000 on the renovation.
Housing Wire
DECEMBER 7, 2020
Mr. Cooper , the nation’s largest nonbank servicer of mortgage loans, will refund customers nearly $90 million and pay a civil penalty of more than $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it violated the rights of over 115,000 customers, some of whom it had illegally foreclosed on. When Mr. Cooper – then known as Nationstar – bought thousands of mortgages through MSR bulk purchases, it frequently failed to identify loans with existing modifications, according to the lawsuit, which was fi
Keeping Current Matters
DECEMBER 7, 2020
This year, the opportunity to work remotely has increased the demand for vacation homes. Gay Cororaton, Senior Economist and Director of Housing and Commercial Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), notes : “Working from home is a positive factor in demand for vacation homes.”. Buyers are taking advantage of the fact that working from home might be someplace other than their primary residence – at the beach, in the mountains, or somewhere in between.
Better Dwelling
DECEMBER 10, 2020
Not every Canadian that took a credit payment deferral needed one. Don’t let that fool you into thinking no one needed a payment deferral though. Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) data shows the number of expired payment deferrals the bank is carrying. The vast majority of people have resumed payments without problem. However, delinquencies are […].
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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.
Realtor.com
DECEMBER 7, 2020
photoman/Getty Images The kitchen is a major focal point of a home—after all, it’s where meals are made to nourish your family, and where guests (when you can host them safely again) tend to gather, no matter how carefully you’ve arranged your living room. Because of that, the kitchen is a key selling point, which may intimidate some people from thinking outside the box when it comes to kitchen design.
Housing Wire
DECEMBER 7, 2020
As we look ahead to 2021, we remember that this year, the housing market has continued to remain a bright spot in the economy, even as other areas continue to struggle amid stay-at-home orders and economic shutdowns. COVID-19 threw the economy for a loop in 2020. In fact, this year seemed to prove anything is possible. From wildfires to hurricanes, the pandemic to murder hornets and a deeply divisive political campaigning season that drove record-setting voter turnout, 2020 did everything but fo
RIS Media
DECEMBER 11, 2020
It’s safe to say that 2020 threw everyone for a loop. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the lives of billions of people worldwide, and perhaps the most surprising element of all has been how COVID has supercharged the U.S. real estate markets rather than upended them. “This has been a strange year. But there has been a lot of good in this year too,” said Brian Buffini, founder and chairman of Buffini & Company , at this year’s “Bold Predictions: 2021 Real Es
The American Genius for Real Estate
DECEMBER 10, 2020
(ECONOMY) Why is there such a strong divergence in consumer confidence right now, and why is real estate a primary factor? The post Housing’s role in consumer confidence and the K-shaped recovery appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.
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.
Realtor.com
DECEMBER 9, 2020
realtor.com In 2020, the ultimate real estate luxury is space. In honor of that must-have amenity, we’re peering inside the most spacious homes to hit the market this week on realtor.com®. What we found was an over-the-top, multimillion-dollar collection of homes with plenty of space to spread out—topped with a touch of country music royalty. This week’s largest home was owned by none other than the Gambler himself, the late Kenny Rogers.
Housing Wire
DECEMBER 10, 2020
Despite slightly higher Treasury yields, mortgage rates held steady at record lows this week, according to a survey by Freddie Mac. Rates remained at last week’s level of 2.71% for the 30-year fixed rate mortgage, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. “Mortgage rates remain at record lows, resisting their typical correlation to Treasury yields, which have recently been moving higher,” Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sam Khater said.
Homes.com
DECEMBER 9, 2020
With the dramatic impacts COVID-19 has left on the homebuying and selling industry, we look at the best ways to market your home in 2021. The post Prepping Your Home to Sell in 2021: How to Attract Homebuyers appeared first on Homes.com.
The Mortgage Report
DECEMBER 9, 2020
Today’s mortgage and refinance rates Average mortgage rates edged lower again yesterday, bringing another fresh all-time low. And conventional loans started out this morning at 3.063% (3.063% APR) for a […].
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.
Realtor.com
DECEMBER 8, 2020
monkeybusinessimages/iStock Becoming a first-time homeowner these days is shaping up as an epic challenge. With a record-low selection of properties for sale, high buyer demand keeps on pushing home prices ever skyward. High-stress bidding wars are playing out against a fraught backdrop of the continuing pandemic and struggling economy. But help may be on the way.
Housing Wire
DECEMBER 9, 2020
Lonnie Glessner isn’t normally one to turn down business. But with origination volume expected to exceed $3.4 trillion this year, stretching the capacity limits of lenders and everyone else in the housing ecosystem, some mortgage applicants simply haven’t been worth his while. “I have a refinance client in California and they own a geodesic dome home,” said Glessner, a senior loan officer at Draper & Kramer Mortgage in Englewood, Colorado. “They are nearly impossible to finance, thus n
Maximum Exposure Real Estate
DECEMBER 6, 2020
How Pre-approval Differs From Pre-qualification Do you know how mortgage preapproval differs from a prequalification? There has been some confusion among those looking to buy a home and qualify for a mortgage loan regarding the difference between a mortgage pre-approval vs. a pre-qualification letter. Indeed, they sound pretty similar, so hearing these terms before or […].
RIS Media
DECEMBER 10, 2020
The real estate market is different during COVID-19 compared to what we have seen in the past. Homes are selling faster and for higher prices than ever before. With everything going on in the market, are you prepared to tackle the real estate market post COVID-19? This week, we had Rob Levy, a top REALTOR® out of Portland, Ore., and a practicing agent of 32 years, join us for our Secrets of Top Selling Agents webinar, where he shared some of his best tips and practices to managing the real estat
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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.
Point2Homes
DECEMBER 7, 2020
Image: Andy Dean Photography / Shutterstock.com. If your ability to afford the mortgage payments on the home you want to buy is causing you concern, buying a foreclosure home may make a lot of sense. Plus, it will also allow you to get more for your money — which could enable you to get to live in the neighborhood you really want. If a homeowner fails to keep up with their mortgage payments, the lender can begin foreclosure proceedings, and the sale of foreclosed homes can sometimes be a bargain
Housing Wire
DECEMBER 10, 2020
Since the pandemic caused many employers to shift employees to working from home – some indefinitely – homeowners have left cramped spaces in large cities and retreated to more urban and rural areas with bigger homes at a lower cost. At the National Association of Realtors Real Estate Forecast Summit on Thursday, NAR’S Chief Economist Lawrence Yun explained that although many are working from home now, he doesn’t expect that change to be permanent.
Afford Anything
DECEMBER 11, 2020
Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a weekly- ish segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the year that is 2020. Today we provide an update on the latest news in student loan forgiveness and forbearance, plus smart strategies for student loan repayment in 2021. Here’s what we discuss: When you can expect to make payments on federal student loans again.
RIS Media
DECEMBER 8, 2020
Winter is almost here and that means you can put that wood-burning fireplace to use! Fires are a great way to unwind and stay warm throughout the season, but there are certain safety precautions and maintenance you should be aware of. Keep these in mind before you light up those logs and rest by the cozy flames. The most obvious safety concern is fire prevention, but carbon monoxide poisoning is another issue to keep on your radar.
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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