Sat.Feb 27, 2021 - Fri.Mar 05, 2021

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Mortgage applications recover as winter storms pass

Housing Wire

Mortgage applications recovered slightly from last week , increasing 0.5% for the week ending Feb. 26, 2021 according to the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. A giant dip in applications was reported following the devastating winter storms in Texas the week of Feb. 8, but a week of normalized weather brought numbers back up, according to Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting.

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How Smart Is It to Buy a Home Today?

Keeping Current Matters

Whether you’re buying your first home or selling your current house, if your needs are changing and you think you need to move, the decision can be complicated. You may have to take personal or professional considerations into account, and only you can judge what impact those factors should have on your desire to move. However, there’s one category that provides a simple answer.

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Canada Tried To Stop Real Estate Prices From Falling, And Created A Bigger Bubble

Better Dwelling

Last March, the Canadian government sprung into action when news of a pandemic struck. No, not for PPE as you might guess. An email shows they rejected an offer from a major N95 supplier, stating “masks are not a priority.” If healthcare wasn’t the government’s top priority, what was? Preserving real estate prices, it would […]. The post Canada Tried To Stop Real Estate Prices From Falling, And Created A Bigger Bubble appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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8 Bad Reasons for Not Making an Offer on a House You Like

Lighter Side of Real Estate

Buying a home can be a nerve-racking experience, no matter what price range you’re in. Spending (or borrowing) hundreds of thousands of dollars, uprooting all of your belongings, and stepping into the semi-unknown can stress even the most level headed people, causing second thoughts and doubts. There are plenty of legitimate reasons not to make an offer on a house, like: structural issues, it’s over your budget, or the location isn’t ideal, to name a few.

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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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UWM to block brokers working with Fairway and Quicken

Housing Wire

United Wholesale Mortgage , the top wholesale lender in the nation, announced on a Facebook live Thursday that it will no longer partner with brokers who also work with Rocket Mortgage and Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. Mat Ishbia, president and CEO of UWM, gave brokers and owners a deadline of March 15 to sign an addendum saying they are not working with those two lenders.

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Is It a Good Time to Sell My House?

Keeping Current Matters

Last year, many homeowners thought twice about selling their houses due to the onset of the health crisis. This year, however, homeowners are beginning to regain their confidence when it comes to selling safely. The latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index ( HPSI ) by Fannie Mae shows that 57% of consumers believe now is a good time to sell. Doug Duncan, Vice President and Chief Economist at Fannie Mae, explains : “Overall, the index’s monthly increase was driven largely by a substantial jump in the

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13 Ways to Increase Your Home Value

Realty Biz

To many, becoming a house owner is a dream come true. Not without reason: having your own house inevitably provides comfort and an impeccable sense of security, which many people crave. At the same time, though, being a house owner is not a piece of cake, as it requires a lot of responsibility, organization, and performing regular renovations around the house to ensure it doesn’t deteriorate with time.

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Expect purchase application data to be negative in 2H 2021

Housing Wire

Logan Mohtashami HousingWire Lead Analyst. When economic data that is typically sticky has a waterfall dive followed by a quick parabolic recovery, forecasting a trend can be tricky. The MBA purchase application data changed during our year of COVID-19. In a typical, non-pandemic year, the bulk of the volume of purchase applications occurs in the heat months for housing, those being the second week of January to the first week of May.

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How to Prepare Your House for a Winning Sale This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights. With so few homes available to buy today, houses are in high demand, and they’re selling fast. That means it’s a great time to sell if you’re ready to make a move. Reach out to a local real estate professional to make sure your house is ready for a top-dollar sale this spring. It may be closer than you think! The post How to Prepare Your House for a Winning Sale This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC] appeared first on Keeping Current Matters.

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Canada’s Over 30% More Dependent On Real Estate Than The US In 2006, Shows GDP

Better Dwelling

Most didn’t think it was possible, but this morning’s numbers show Canada is now more dependent on real estate. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) GDP data shows residential investment made a big climb in Q4 2020. The segment of investment has grown much faster than total GDP over the past few years. Canada is now almost […]. The post Canada’s Over 30% More Dependent On Real Estate Than The US In 2006, Shows GDP appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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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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How to buy a house with $0 down in 2021: First time buyer

The Mortgage Report

6 low- and no-down-payment mortgage options for today's home buyers. Find out how you can buy a house with no money down and a low interest rate.

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Rocket Mortgage: UWM is trying to “manipulate” market

Housing Wire

Tension between long-time rivals United Wholesale Mortgage and Rocket Pro TPO , formerly Quicken Loans Mortgage Services , reached a new boiling point after the top wholesale lender in the nation announced it will no longer work with brokers who also work with Rocket Mortgage. Mat Ishbia, president and CEO of UWM, gave brokers and owners just over a week to sign an addendum saying they are not working with Rocket Pro TPO.

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What Are the Benefits of a 20% Down Payment?

Keeping Current Matters

If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, you may be wondering how much money you need to come up with for your down payment. Many people may think it’s 20% of the loan to secure a mortgage. While there are plenty of lower down payment options available for qualified buyers who don’t want to put 20% down, it’s important to understand how a larger down payment can have great benefits too.

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Canadian Real Estate May Get Cooling Measures As Early As This Month: Scotiabank

Better Dwelling

One of Canada’s big banks expects cooling measures for real estate soon. Derek Holt, Scotiabank’s Head of Capital Markets Economics, sees the Spring Budget including cooling measures for real estate. In a note penned to investors, the economist highlights how policy has been overly loose. He feels the next budget likely includes measures to cool […].

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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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How To Know If Your Home Improvement Professional Is Worth the Price Tag

Realtor.com

Getty Images No one likes to overpay. But if you’re looking to hire a home improvement professional to do some work, you might not know what’s a fair price. Services like installing a deck, repairing a roof, or remodeling a bathroom can cost a lot of money, but most people don’t know what to expect—or understand what goes into the final cost. “There is a natural information imbalance between the consumer doing the hiring and the pro doing the work,” says Mischa Fisher , chief economist for

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Cosmetic tweaks to help sell your house fast

Housing Wire

Spring is one of the most popular selling seasons – and it’s right around the corner. Are you preparing to sell your house? You don’t just want to sell it as is. You want to make a few preparations to attract the most potential buyers. Here are a few things you should consider to ensure your home sells fast and you get the best deal! More for Real Estate Enthusiasts. 5 reasons to refinance your mortgage right now.

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Home Prices: What Happened in 2020? What Will Happen This Year?

Keeping Current Matters

The real estate market was on fire during the second half of 2020. Buyer demand was way up, and the supply of homes available for sale hit record lows. The price of anything is determined by the supply and demand ratio, so home prices skyrocketed last year. Dr. Lynn Fisher, Deputy Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Division of Research and Statistics , explains : “House prices nationwide recorded the largest annual and quarterly increase in the history of the FHFA Home Price I

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RBC Leaves A Laundry List of Reasons Canadian Real Estate Is “Far From Risk-Free”

Better Dwelling

Canada’s largest bank sees a lot of risk in real estate, just not where other people may see it. RBC Senior Economist Robert Hogue published a list of risks that may impact real estate markets near-term. The bank feels government aid kept prices moving higher, but the market is “far from risk free.” Here’s some […]. The post RBC Leaves A Laundry List of Reasons Canadian Real Estate Is “Far From Risk-Free” appeared first on Better Dwelling.

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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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Brooklyn Heights ‘Moonstruck’ House With Lush Interior, Parking Asks $12.85 Million

Brownstoner

With hundreds of years of history behind its walls, this early 19th century Brooklyn Heights house is perhaps best known as the 'Moonstruck' house. The 1987 film used the exterior of 19 Cranberry Street as the home of the multi-generational Castorini family, and the surrounding area figured prominently in the… Read More > The post Brooklyn Heights ‘Moonstruck’ House With Lush Interior, Parking Asks $12.85 Million appeared first on Brownstoner.

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Rocket Mortgage stock surges thanks to Wall Street Bets

Housing Wire

Rocket Companies Chairman Dan Gilbert may want to gift some karma to users of the infamous subreddit Wall Street Bets. His company’s stock soared nearly 100% on Tuesday after the day traders at the subreddit took interest in the mortgage lender’s stock , which had been hovering around the $20 mark for much of the past three months. Nearly 40% of the company’s available shares are sold short, according to Market Beat, and it’s one of the most shorted companies by hedge fun

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Nearly 90 Percent of Builders Have Trouble Getting Appliances

Eye on Housing

In the survey results described in one of last week’s posts, prices of building material ranked as the number one problem among NAHB’s single-family builders, and availability of building materials ranked second. These concerns are not surprising, given the surge in building material prices reported in the latest Producer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Texas disaster relief programs for homeowners

The Mortgage Report

If your home was damaged during winter storm Uri, you might be eligible for federal aid. Here's a list of current Texas disaster relief programs.

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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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Cover Story: Growing, Connecting and Helping Agents Close More Sales

RIS Media

Bold Moves Create Modern Advantages for the RE/MAX® Network. A year ago, in March 2020, on the heels of an active January/February that set the year up as a strong one for home sales, the reality of COVID-19 hit the U.S. consciousness like a prize fighter’s uppercut. The blow essentially knocked the housing market to the canvas. At RE/MAX®, where spirits were high after an extremely successful convention in February, that bewildering moment could have triggered a total retreat.

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A slowdown in exits pushes forbearance volume up

Housing Wire

After one month of steady declines, servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume rose one basis point last week to 5.23%, according to data released Monday by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The trade group pointed to a slowdown in exits coupled with an uptick in requests for last week’s increase. Once again, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac boasted the smallest forbearance share with servicers’ portfolios remaining unchanged from the week prior at 2.97%.

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Vancouver Real Estate Prices Rip Higher, As Detached Homes Rise $44,000 Last Month

Better Dwelling

Greater Vancouver suddenly has exuberant homebuyers once again, armed with cheap debt. Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) data shows composite prices made a big jump in February. Actually, almost all measures of home prices made a big leap. Some segments even added more than $44,000 to the value just last month. Let’s dive […].

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What is a mortgage and how does it work? Home loan basics

The Mortgage Report

Understanding what a mortgage is and how it works is the first step to buying a home. This mortgage 101 guide has all the home loan basics you need to know.

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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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Private Residential Spending Hits Record High

Eye on Housing

NAHB analysis of Census Construction Spending data shows that total private residential construction spending rose 2.5% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $713 billion, reaching a record high. Total private residential construction spending was 21% higher than a year ago. The monthly gains are largely attributed to the strong growth of spending on single-family and improvements.

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CFPB delay of QM rule implementation is a terrible move

Housing Wire

As reported yesterday, The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a notice of proposed rule-making that would “delay the mandatory compliance date of the general qualified mortgage rule 15 months to Oct. 1, 2022.” The bureau said: “extending the mandatory compliance date of the general QM final rule would allow lenders more time to offer QM loans based on the homeowners’ debt-to-income ratio, and not solely based on a pricing cut-off.”.

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Inside Ikea’s First Tiny House—and a Few Huge Catches Under the Hood

Realtor.com

Josiah & Steph Photography Ikea has finally jumped aboard the tiny-house trend. This megaretailer of budget-friendly home decor has just unveiled its first tiny house, which measures a mere 187 square feet. Ikea’s first tiny house Josiah & Steph Photography. While Ikea created and designed this unit, it isn’t selling it quite yet, as this was just a one-off—a collaboration with Vox Creative and tiny-home builder Escape, meant to showcase how homeowners can create “a sma

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Need More Parking? Here’s the Average Cost of a Garage Extension

HomeLight

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many homeowners feel the urge to expand and enhance their living space. Maybe you need more space now that your kids moved back home, or perhaps you need a designated home office to get away from household distractions. Whatever the reason, you’re considering expanding your garage for some additional square footage.

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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.