Sat.Mar 06, 2021 - Fri.Mar 12, 2021

article thumbnail

Fannie Mae: buyer, seller confidence should rise soon

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae ‘s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI), a composite index designed to track the housing market and consumer confidence to sell or buy a home, fell 1.2 points in February. Fear not, experts say – better days are ahead. Overall, the HPSI hit 76.5 last month, down from 77.7 in January. A small drop was expected, according to Fannie Mae Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Dave Duncan, but optimism should be reflected in the coming months. “The HPSI remained relat

Mortgages 511
article thumbnail

5 Reasons to Sell Your House This Spring

Keeping Current Matters

When selling a house, most homeowners hope for a quick and profitable transaction that puts them in a position to make a great move. If you’re waiting for the best time to win as a seller, the market is calling your name this spring. Here are five reasons why this is the perfect time to sell your house if you’re ready. 1. There’s high demand from homebuyers.

Equity 333
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Packing Tips For Moving: How to Pack Your House For A Move (Video)

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

The Best Packing Tips When Moving Do you know how to pack your house for a move? Would you like some packing tips for moving? No doubt there is a lot of advice online for this subject. No one ever said moving was easy. Packing a house is one of the most challenging parts of […]. The post Packing Tips For Moving: How to Pack Your House For A Move (Video) appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

Marketing 145
article thumbnail

Canadian Real Estate Is “Playing With Fire,” Approaching Classic Bubble: BMO

Better Dwelling

The warning is coming from inside the house, and it’s not from one of Bay Street’s bears. BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic said Canada is “playing with fire” in a note this week. Looking at the percent of income needed to carry a mortgage on homes, he doesn’t think 2017 was a bubble. The current […]. The post Canadian Real Estate Is “Playing With Fire,” Approaching Classic Bubble: BMO appeared first on Better Dwelling.

Mortgages 144
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Rocket Pro TPO finally reveals broker origination volume

Housing Wire

For the first time in its history, Rocket Mortgage has revealed the amount of business it does in the broker space. The disclosure comes just days after United Wholesale Mortgage issued an ultimatum to mortgage brokers, telling them that they could not partner with Rocket or Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. and continue to do business with UWM. The rest of this content is for HW+ members.

Mortgages 506
article thumbnail

How to Be a Competitive Buyer in Today’s Housing Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights. With so few houses for sale today, it’s important to be prepared when you’re ready to buy a home. Meeting with your lender early, knowing your must-haves and nice-to-haves, preparing for a bidding war, and keeping your emotions in check are all ways to gain confidence in the homebuying process. If you’re looking for an expert guide to help you navigate today’s lightning-fast housing market, connect with your local real estate professional today.

Marketing 325

More Trending

article thumbnail

Bank of Canada Wants A Housing Bubble, While Other Central Banks Try To Pop Them

Better Dwelling

Central banks are flooding economies with cheap credit, and trying to prevent bubbles. Well, some countries are trying to prevent bubbles. Canada has decided home price inflation is an uncontrollable consequence of the environment. In fact, the country’s central bank welcomed the rapid home price growth as “needed.” That’s not normal.

Banks 144
article thumbnail

FHFA extends relaxed appraisal, lending standards

Housing Wire

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on Thursday that it has again extended relaxed lending and appraisal standards for both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The COVID-19-related flexibilities surrounding alternative verifications of employment and appraisals were originally set to expire on March 31, 2021. However, the government agency is now pushing that back to at least April 30, 2021.

Lending 501
article thumbnail

6 Simple Graphs Proving This Is Nothing Like Last Time

Keeping Current Matters

Last March, many involved in the residential housing industry feared the market would be crushed under the pressure of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Instead, real estate had one of its best years ever. Home sales and prices were both up substantially over the year before. 2020 was so strong that many now fear the market’s exuberance mirrors that of the last housing boom and, as a result, we’re now headed for another crash.

Equity 316
article thumbnail

Container Homes: What to Know About This Housing Choice

Realty Biz

What Should I Know About Shipping Container Homes. Are you thinking about buying a shipping container home? Container homes are just another housing option you may want to consider. Since there are thousands of excess shipping containers lying around ports all around the world, they are the perfect size to be used for your brand new home. But you’re not limited to something small.

Branding 144
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Canadian Real Estate Prints 19th Quarter In Bubble Territory: US Federal Reserve

Better Dwelling

Canadian real estate buyers are driving prices using irrational exuberance. US Federal Reserve (The Fed) data shows Canada’s homebuyers were “exuberant” in Q3 2020. This is when buyers disregard fundamentals, and paid more because they felt they couldn’t lose. This isn’t new, but it’s not as old as some have assumed. Canadian homebuyers irrationally drove […].

As-is 144
article thumbnail

Real Estate Exchange files antitrust suit against Zillow, NAR

Housing Wire

Real Estate Exchange (REX) filed an antitrust lawsuit Tuesday in federal court against Zillow , accusing the company of anticompetitive behavior related to showing certain homes on its platform. Trulia and the National Association of Realtors are also named in the suit. REX, an Austin-based real estate startup, said Zillow’s new listing layout, which includes tabs entitled “agent listings” and “other listings,” positions its listings in a “recessed obscured, a

MLS 497
article thumbnail

How Upset Should You Be about 3% Mortgage Rates?

Keeping Current Matters

Last Thursday, Freddie Mac announced that their 30-year fixed mortgage rate was over 3% (3.02%) for the first time since last July. That news dominated real estate headlines that day and the next. Articles talked about the “negative impact” it may have on the housing market. However, we should realize two things: 1. The bump-up in rate should not have surprised anyone.

Mortgages 263
article thumbnail

First-time Buyers Comprise 43 Percent of New Home Market

Eye on Housing

According to the February survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), first-time home buyers account for 43 percent of the new home market. Weighted by builder size (single-family homes started in 2020), about two-thirds of the builders reported that more than 20 percent of their homes were sold to first-time buyers. Twenty-seven percent even said more than half.

Marketing 135
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Canadian Real Estate Prices Have Synchronized, Meaning Bubble Risk Just Soared

Better Dwelling

Montreal is the next Manhattan. Or maybe Winnipeg. Sorry, it’s definitely St. Johns. Wait… what’s happening? Real estate prices are rising pretty much across the country. Canadian real estate prices are showing the highest level of price synchronization in years. This is when markets, regardless of location, begin to show similar levels of price growth. […].

Marketing 143
article thumbnail

Mortgage credit, and the coming purchase storm

Housing Wire

Mortgage credit is still the tightest it has been in more than six years, but an unwavering February may be the calm before the purchase storm as lenders prepare for a revitalized economy, the Mortgage Bankers Association said in a report on Tuesday. The group’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index remained unchanged at 124.6 last month, still hovering near levels previously seen in 2014.

Mortgages 497
article thumbnail

How to Confidently Answer the 4 Questions Buyers & Sellers Are Asking Today [LIVE WEBINAR]

Keeping Current Matters

The post How to Confidently Answer the 4 Questions Buyers & Sellers Are Asking Today [LIVE WEBINAR] appeared first on Keeping Current Matters.

182
182
article thumbnail

I Found an Old Lien on My Home From a Past Refinance. How Do I Get Rid of It?

Realtor.com

Getty Images Dear MarketWatch, I have a home that I purchased in 1983, and I have refinanced and taken out equity lines of credit (ELOCs) multiple times. I now have about 13 payments left on the primary mortgage. When I signed papers on my last ELOC, I found out there is an old title lien from a past refinance. So it is probably greater than 10 years old.

Title 135
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Home Prices Are Rising In A Recession Because Central Banks Killed Capitalism

Better Dwelling

Unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock, you’ve probably noticed something unusual this recession – high unemployment and higher home prices. Odd, right? Usually when people are at risk of losing their jobs and business, their cost of living doesn’t rise. Free markets tend to manage risk this way, choking off credit as economic risk […].

Banks 137
article thumbnail

Equity jumps for Black homeowners, but problems remain

Housing Wire

As the first quarter of 2021 nears its end, a recent Redfin report shows both good and bad news for Black homeowners. The positive: Homeowners in primarily Black neighborhoods earned an average of $59,000 in home equity in 2020, compared with $50,000 for homeowners in primarily white neighborhoods between 2019 through January 2021. That $59,000 gain represents a median home equity increase of 197%.

Equity 497
article thumbnail

The Best Kinds of Boxes For Moving and Storage

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

Choosing the Best Kinds of Boxes for Moving Do you need moving boxes? As moving day approaches, you need to make sure you have the best kinds of boxes for moving. If you want to make sure your possessions are protected, and I’m sure you do, your choice of moving boxes can make the difference […]. The post The Best Kinds of Boxes For Moving and Storage appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

Marketing 134
article thumbnail

6 Disastrous Tax Mistakes People Make When They Work From Home

Realtor.com

mediaphotos/Getty Images Working from home has multiple perks, not the least of which is the short commute to your home office in your PJs. (Yes, it’s a cliché, and yes, it happens.). But while you might be incredibly talented at designing websites, writing novels, or whatever it is you do during your 9-to-5 at home, nearly all of us have the potential to get tripped up during tax time.

Principal 131
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Sellers Benefiting with Home Prices up 10 Percent Year over Year

Lighter Side of Real Estate

As we transitioned into the new year, low mortgage rates and low inventory drove up real estate prices in markets across the country. But exactly how much did home values increase at the start of 2021? According to the most recent CoreLogic Home Price Insights report , in January, home prices in the US were up 10 percent year over year. That means if you purchase a home for $350,000 in January 2020, by January 2021, that home would have increased in value by $35,000—bringing your home value to $

Mortgages 130
article thumbnail

Are you ready to be the Amazon of real estate?

Housing Wire

Imagine requesting an Uber and not being able to see a map view of where the driver is located in real time; ordering food from DoorDash without up-to-date digital menus from an endless number of restaurants; or buying an item with Amazon Prime and having to pay close attention to the delivery estimates. When we look at industries that have undergone significant change, it is easy to take for granted the success stories of market leaders and miss the seemingly small inventions that radically cha

article thumbnail

Even Foreign Real Estate Buyers Are Dumping Vancouver For The Suburbs

Better Dwelling

Greater Vancouver real estate, once a hot commodity for foreign buyers, is losing appeal. BC’s non-resident homebuyers made a sharp decline in January. That might be a one-off, but last year’s numbers still show a modest drop in foreign buyers. There is an interesting shift in buying behavior though. Greater Vancouver is seeing a smaller […].

130
130
article thumbnail

Home buyer grants are helping first-time buyers during COVID

The Mortgage Report

Home buyer grants can help first-time buyers who had a financial setback during COVID. Learn about current assistance programs and how to qualify.

Mortgages 130
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Pyramid Shows 21.1 Million Households Cannot Afford a $100,000 Home

Eye on Housing

As described in a previous post, NAHB’s recently released its 2021 Priced-Out Estimates, showing that 75.1 million households are not able to afford a median priced new home, and that an additional 153,967 would be priced out if the price goes up by $1,000. This post focuses on the related U.S. housing affordability pyramid, showing how many households have enough.

130
130
article thumbnail

How to chip away debt and become a first-time homebuyer

Housing Wire

Millennials are a significant part of the housing market boom as first-time homebuyers. Reports show 63% of millennial home shoppers plan to purchase a home because of their new remote work status. If you’re interested in becoming a first-time homebuyer, there are some things you need to know. As you start the real estate process, saving for a down payment—often while paying off debt in tandem—can feel like a big hurdle.

Loans 468
article thumbnail

Let There Be Light! Why a Sunroom Is the Space You’ve Been Missing—and How To Add One to Your Home

Realtor.com

Four Seasons Sunrooms & Windows After a long winter of quarantine—and the shift to daylight saving time mere days away—it’s safe to say we’re all done— done! —with being cooped up indoors. But as eager as you may be to enjoy those extra hours of sun on your patio, it might be just a little too cold right now. And even when it does warm up, there are other issues: Mosquitoes!

Design 129
article thumbnail

What to Know About Homeowners Insurance

Realty Biz

Home Insurance Explained. Are you going to be needing to get homeowners insurance protection? The biggest purchase most people will ever make is their home, so you need to make sure it is fully protected. Making sure you have enough coverage to prevent you from losing out should something terrible happen isn’t necessarily straightforward, however.

As-is 128
article thumbnail

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.