Housing Wire

DECEMBER 20, 2021

Most of the time, the economy is like a slow-moving ocean liner that changes direction gradually and without much effort. But when a new, powerful variable presents itself, like the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the economy can change on a dime. COVID was a veritable iceberg for our ocean liner economy, but the ship did not go down! Even in the extreme conditions of COVID-19, my general premise on housing economics predicted that the two variables with the most influence — demographics and mortga

Mortgages 544

Mortgages Sales As-is Construction 544

Eye on Housing

DECEMBER 21, 2021

NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly tax data shows that $707.6 billion in taxes were paid by property owners in the four quarters ending Q3 2021 (not seasonally adjusted), a 0.5% quarterly decline.[1] Four-quarter property tax revenues had climbed 14.3% since decreasing 0.2% in Q2 2020. The decline in Q3 2021 was only the second such decrease since 2012.

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Sales 115

HomeLight

DECEMBER 22, 2021

You put your house on the market and expected it to sell fast — but boy were you wrong. You haven’t received any offers and showing requests have been few and far between. It’s frustrating to say the least, but you shouldn’t wait any longer to make some changes, especially if your home has been on the market more than a month. Generally, says Alisha Simpkins , a top-selling Chico, California, real estate agent, a home is “going to sell for the most amount of money in the first 30 days.”.

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Keeping Current Matters

DECEMBER 22, 2021

If you’re thinking of buying a home, you’re probably wondering what you need to save for your down payment.

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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

Technology

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 20, 2021

Fannie Mae met all of the housing goals the Federal Housing Finance Agency imposed for 2020, but Freddie Mac failed its low-income refinance goal. The government-sponsored enterprise lagged the wider market in its acquisitions of low-income refinances. Freddie Mac has 45 days to submit a plan to the FHFA for actions it will take over the next three years to get back on track, according to a letter the regulator sent to Freddie Mac.

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Sotheby's International Real Estate

DECEMBER 21, 2021

In the early 20th century, the stunning coastal cliffs that edge the further northwest reaches of Los Angeles reminded its denizens of New York’s Hudson River Palisades—so much so that they named the region after its famous East Coast cousin. Today this area—still widely revered for its impressive heights and breathtaking outlooks on the majestic Pacific—is known as a thriving exclusive enclave whose homes hug the tops of the bluffs and rocky cliffs that afford them their enviable vistas.

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As-is 145

Keeping Current Matters

DECEMBER 21, 2021

When you think of homeownership, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are you might focus on the non-financial benefits , like the security or stability a home provides. But what about equity? While it can be overlooked, a homeowner’s equity helps build long-term wealth over time. Here’s a look at what equity is and why it matters. For a homeowner, your equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan.

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Housing Wire

DECEMBER 22, 2021

The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales for November came in hot at 6.46 million. This number is above my sales trend peak of 6.2 million, which means we have now had three straight months of sales of over 6.2 million. Early in the year , I wrote that if existing home sales stay in a range between 5.84 million and 6.2 million , that would mean it’s a good year for housing demand.

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Sales Investor Mortgages As-is 508

Better Dwelling

DECEMBER 22, 2021

Canada is known around the world as a place with solid institutions and low levels of corruption. Apparently that claim is made with little data, since few people have ever seen it. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) outlined their recent experience in a blog post. They were hoping BC’s money laundering reports […].

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As-is 145

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Development

Sotheby's International Real Estate

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Malibu, California | Shen Schulz, Sotheby’s International Realty – Malibu Brokerage. A home is meant for hosting, and whether curating an intimate party or planning a larger affair, having your own bar is a luxury that elevates the art of entertaining. And with bars as elegant as the ones found in these superb five residences, why go out when you could stay in and celebrate by sipping from the comfort of home?

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Keeping Current Matters

DECEMBER 20, 2021

To succeed as a buyer in today’s market, it’s important to understand which market trends will have the greatest impact on your home search. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com , says there are two factors every buyer should keep their eyes on: “Going forward, the conditions buyers face are primarily dependent on two things: mortgage rates and housing supply. ”.

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Mortgages Sales Marketing As-is 305

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Today the Census Bureau ‘ s new home sales report came in as a missed estimate at 744,000. In addition, revisions were all negative, and the monthly supply of new homes rose. This is in contrast to the existing home sales market, which I would say is outperforming. With the recent growth in sales, the new home sales market is just OK and has been for some time.

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Sales Mortgages As-is Construction 473

Better Dwelling

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Canada quietly put real estate investors on notice, right before the holidays — probably hoping it slips under the radar. A newly re-elected Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) distributed mandate letters. These letters contain orders for the Minister to execute and are usually pretty dry. A big exception is the Minister of Housing’s mandate letter, […].

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Investor 145

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.

Industrial

Sotheby's International Real Estate

DECEMBER 18, 2021

Why go out for a nightcap when a custom-stocked private bar is steps away? From an Upper West Side townhouse to a San Francisco high-rise, these bars will inspire staying home and sipping in style. Mediterranean-Inspired Houston Hideaway. Houston, Texas | David Atkins & Jason Lee Villarreal, Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty . Tucked amid stately trees, this 9,922-square-foot Mediterranean-inspired home is a harmonious, satisfying retreat in Houston’s bucolic Tanglewood.

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Keeping Current Matters

DECEMBER 23, 2021

It’s clear that owning a home makes financial sense.

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Housing Wire

DECEMBER 20, 2021

DocMagic announced on Monday the rollout of eDecision , a fully automated platform that it said will significantly expand the level of analysis applied to e-eligibility determination for eClosings. The automated loan document preparation and eMortgage services provider claims the new platform delivers a clear-cut, highly accurate decision telling users exactly how far they can take their closing digitally based on the unique attributes of the loan transaction and the county-level eRecording acce

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Better Dwelling

DECEMBER 21, 2021

Canadians tapped a lot more equity than their home equity line of credit (HELOC) balances show. Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) filings show loans secured by homes jumped in October. HELOC debt is the most common type of loan secured by homes, but represents just a small share of the debt. Homeowners […]. The post Canadian Home Equity Has Been Used To Secure 69% More Debt Than HELOCs Show appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Equity Loans Mortgages 144

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Agents

Sotheby's International Real Estate

DECEMBER 22, 2021

This prestigious two-level villa in Tahiti was designed by a renowned architect and recently completed. It offers panoramic view on Moorea, from the heights of Miri. ??. Tahiti, French Polynesia | Natacha Vongue & Claire Zidou, French Polynesia Sotheby’s International Realty. On the first floor, there are two large bright bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms, one terrace, one entrance hall and one covered garage for two cars.

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Design 144

Keeping Current Matters

DECEMBER 24, 2021

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Housing Wire

DECEMBER 24, 2021

The U.S. government is laser-focused on uncloaking bad actors hiding behind shell companies to engage in money laundering and other illicit activities and is seeking to adopt new regulations to accomplish that goal — rules that will impact the housing industry. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that will require companies to report beneficial-ownership information as part of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).

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Banks Residential Commercial Title 458

Better Dwelling

DECEMBER 21, 2021

Canadians often complain mortgage interest isn’t tax deductible, like in the US. Some argue this is a trade off for the capital gains exemption Canadian homeowners have. However, one of the worst kept secrets in finance is mortgage interest can be turned into a deduction. One of those strategies is the Smith Maneuver, created by […]. The post The Smith Maneuver: The Loophole Canadian Real Estate Owners Use To Lower Taxes appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Finance Mortgages 143

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Sales

Sotheby's International Real Estate

DECEMBER 20, 2021

Sotheby’s International Realty today announced that Steiger & Cie Sotheby’s International Realty has joined the network. The addition marks the brand’s continued growth in Europe and marks nearly 200 affiliated offices in the EMEIA region. The firm, led by Florian Steiger in partnership with Oliver Herweg and Nicholas Koch, will operate in Verbier, Crans-Montana, and Zermatt, Switzerland.

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Branding 143

Jason Fox

DECEMBER 22, 2021

How to Streamline Your Real Estate Social Media Content Creation. Looking to sell property, generate leads, or build trust in your community? Social media is crucial to getting your message out. Social networks are an important social and cultural institution of the modern world. Their rapid growth in popularity and usefulness since the early 2000s has made them part of our everyday experience.

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Marketing As-is 133

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 23, 2021

The average 30-year-fixed rate mortgage dropped to 3.05% during the week ending Dec. 23, after achieving 3.12% the week prior, according to the latest Freddie Mac PMMS Mortgage Survey. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.66%. The 15-year-fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.30% last week, declining from 2.34% the week prior. A year ago at this time, it averaged 2.19%.

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Fixed-rate mortgage Mortgages Technology Closing 458

Better Dwelling

DECEMBER 22, 2021

Canadian and American real estate prices are both at frothy valuations, but look nothing alike. US Federal Reserve (The Fed) data shows home prices grew faster than incomes in Q2 2021 for both countries. The difference is, this has been a long-term trend for Canada since 2005. Meanwhile in the US, home prices have only […]. The post Canada’s Gap Between Real Estate Prices and Incomes Looks Ridiculous Beside US Data appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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Brokerage

Sotheby's International Real Estate

DECEMBER 24, 2021

Highlights from this week’s top news stories on luxury and global real estate, art, collectibles, and home. Caesarea, Israel | Shelly Belzer Shmelzer, Israel Sotheby’s International Realty . This massive, 63,130-square-foot home was inspired by Baroque and Rococo architecture, and it shows. The interiors showcase marble and onyx mosaics and 14-karat gold moldings, and from the moment you walk in you’re greeted by an enormous crystal chandelier, sets of marble columns and a sweeping stairca

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Realtor.com

DECEMBER 20, 2021

Getty Images If you’re in the market to buy a home—or on the fence about whether to dive into the housing market right now—here’s what reports and interviews from economists and analysts predict will happen in 2022. Mortgage rates will rise. Right now, we’re still facing mortgage rates near historic lows—some 30-year rates are still near 3% and some 15-year rates near 2% —but pros do predict a rise.

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Marketing Mortgages Sales As-is 133

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2021

If you take the temperature of how loan officers are feeling ahead of the holiday season, the scale would likely read “uneasy.” They have good reason to feel anxious. Numerous shops, including Better.com , Interfirst Mortgage , and Freedom Mortgage have announced layoffs in the past few weeks, and some LOs worry their jobs may also be on the chopping block.

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Industrial Loan Officer Loans Mortgages 441