Trending Articles

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Have higher mortgage rates already reversed housing demand?

Housing Wire

The Federal Reserve cut rates by 0.50% on Sept. 18 and mortgage rates and bond yields headed higher. But, we have to remember that mortgage rates had already made an almost 2% move lower since the highs of 2023 without rate cuts, as the bond market always gets ahead of the Fed. Since the Fed rate cut, we’ve also seen significant economic data lines beat estimates: housing starts, retail sales, industrial production, GDP and labor data all came in better than expected.

Mortgage 389
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Commercial Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filings Jump YoY

Appraisal Buzz

According to data provided by Epiq AACER , the 6,067 total Commercial Chapter 11 bankruptcies filed during the first nine months of 2024 represented a 36% increase over the 4,561 filed during the same period in 2023. “As we close out the third quarter in 2024, we continue to see a steady increase in both individual and commercial filings this year to date.

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Homebuyers No Longer Spooked by Market Conditions

Appraisal Buzz

Following the Federal Reserve ‘s 50 basis point reduction in the jumbo rate in September, mortgage rates significant fell to a 24-month low, prompting sellers to move. The Realtor.com 2024 September Housing Report states that actively listed properties increased by 34.0%, while newly listed homes increased by 11.6% over the previous September. This represents a major reversal from the 0.9% fall in August 2024.

Marketing 418
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The housing market has ’90s vibes

Sacramento Appraisal Blog

The 1990s are back in style. Big pants, Nirvana t-shirts, and Doc Martens. And even the housing market feels a bit like the ’90s. Let’s talk about it. UPCOMING SPEAKING GIGS: 10/18/24 Prime Real Estate (private) 10/22/24 Culbertson and Gray Group (private (I think)) 10/23/24 SAFE Credit Union (details TBA) 10/29/24 Orangevale MLS Meeting 11/7/2024 […] The post The housing market has ’90s vibes first appeared on Sacramento Appraisal Blog.

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Katie Johnson steps down as NAR’s chief legal officer

Real Estate News

Johnson oversaw historic — and very public — legal cases for the organization, including the buyer agent commission lawsuits and sexual harassment litigation.

Legal 268
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State of Local Homeownership Prior to the Election

Eyes on Housing

With housing being a key issue for the 2024 election cycle, it is worth analyzing distinct characteristics as well as similarities that housing markets in congressional districts share. The differences start with a substantial variation in homeownership rates across congressional districts. While the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) reports that close to two thirds of.

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Is NAR really ready to rethink its legal strategy? The Download

Inman

As the trade group's chief legal officer exits, the National Association of Realtors prepares to evaluate its legal exposure and develop a litigation strategy. Is it too little too late?

Legal 160
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NAR tells sellers they don’t have to list on the MLS

Real Estate News

In its latest consumer guide, the association offers general education about MLSs while alluding to the ongoing debate over its Clear Cooperation Policy.

Sellers 252
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Mortgage Rates Continue Downward Trend in September

Eyes on Housing

In September, mortgage rates maintained their downward trajectory, returning to levels last seen two years ago. According to Freddie Mac, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.18%, a decline of 32 basis points (bps) from August. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage saw an even steeper decline, decreasing by 42 bps from August.

Mortgage 167
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Strong September jobs report stokes inflation concerns

Housing Wire

A stronger than expected September jobs report is not great news for the Federal Reserve or the housing industry, which was hoping for a swift decline in interest rates. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Friday shows that 254,000 non-farm payroll jobs were added in September. This is higher than the average monthly gain of 203,000 jobs over the past 12 months.

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Are U.S. Homes Ready for Extreme Weather?

Appraisal Buzz

With Hurricane Helene, the eighth named storm of the season, having made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend region last Friday , cleanup from this devastating storm is underway, as people piece their lives back together after Mother Nature wreaked havoc throughout the Southeastern U.S. The death toll currently stands at 140-plus from Hurricane Helene, and CoreLogic announced initial residential and commercial storm surge and wind loss estimates for Hurricane Helene for insu

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Law professor creates contract with buyer interests in mind

Inman

University of Buffalo contracts law professor Tanya Monestier's sample form makes clear the buyer is on the hook for buyer broker compensation so long as they successfully close a deal.

Contracts 174
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Pocket listings lawsuit now focused solely on NAR

Real Estate News

In a fourth amended complaint, Top Agent Network has doubled down on its allegations that Clear Cooperation is anticompetitive and anti-consumer choice.

Agents 226
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Refinancing Activity Continues to Climb in September

Eyes on Housing

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume by the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey, rose 18.4% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis, driven primarily by a surge in refinancing activity. Compared to September 2023, the index increased by 47%. The Market Composite Index which includes the Purchase and Refinance.

Mortgage 103
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Katie Johnson set to resign as NAR’s chief legal officer

Housing Wire

Katie Johnson is stepping down from her role as chief legal officer for the National Association of Realtors. CEO Nykia Wright informed NAR members of the news in an email sent Tuesday and obtained by HousingWire. Johnson, who has spent 17 years at the trade association, has also been serving as NAR’s chief membership experience officer. Her last day will be Oct. 4.

Legal 418
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Top Targets for Real Estate Investors

Appraisal Buzz

Realtor.com has found that , amid rising home prices and mortgage rates, real estate investors are still finding hidden gems in affordable metros across the country, with Dayton, Ohio, standing out as the top destination for property investment in 2024. “For buyers interested in investing in rental properties or other real estate, it’s key to know which areas are both affordable and in high demand to be able to capitalize on any investment opportunities, especially with today’s higher prices and

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Shareholders say eXp mishandled assault allegations in new lawsuit

Inman

A "culture of fear and retaliation" has damaged eXp World Holdings' image, goodwill and monetary performance amid several sexual assault lawsuits, two shareholders claim in a suit filed Wednesday.

Realty 161
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Newly ID’d opt-ins will add $30 million to NAR settlement fund

Real Estate News

Plaintiffs in the Sitzer/Burnett commissions case are seeking preliminary approval for deals with 15 non-Realtor MLSs and 13 real estate brokerages.

Brokerage 253
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Rebound for Construction Job Openings

Eyes on Housing

After a period of slowing associated with declines for some elements of residential construction, the count of open construction sector jobs bounced back in the August data, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). However, construction job openings remain slightly lower compared to a year ago.

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First-time buyers hampered as starter homes become much less affordable

Housing Wire

Starter homes are more affordable to the average American than they were a year ago, but they have become significantly less affordable over the past decade. That’s the conclusion Redfin reached in a data report released Monday. The national real estate brokerage analyzed household income levels and monthly housing payments to calculate its affordability metric.

Buyers 422
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The Value of Subservicing in the Digital Age

Appraisal Buzz

This piece originally appeared in the September 2024 edition of MortgagePoint magazine, online now. As the mortgage industry adjusts to changes in regulatory compliance, rising interest rates, declining purchase volume, and overall economic uncertainty, servicing becomes more important to both mortgage holders and their homeowners. Homeowners are increasingly interested in a seamless and digital, user-friendly experience throughout the mortgage journey, from application to closing and on to t

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Realtor.com’s Danielle Hale talks an ‘even bigger’ 2025 as rates drop

Inman

Ahead of Inman Connect Austin, Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale talks mortgage rates, affordability, and when agents and consumers might reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

Agents 167
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Should this 3-page buyer agreement be a model for the industry?

Real Estate News

University at Buffalo School of Law professor Tanya Monestier’s draft agreement gets most agents “90% of the way there,” she told Real Estate News.

Law 238
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What Kind of Insurance Do You Need for Short-Term Rentals?

BiggerPockets

You have finally decided to enter the short-term rental (STR) market, and your biggest concern is a call from the local fire department stating that your house is ablaze or […]

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Texas-based MLSs announce data sharing agreement

Housing Wire

Three Texas-based multiple listings services (MLSs) are teaming up. The Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) , San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR) and Austin-based Unlock MLS are entering into a data sharing agreement that will give Realtors access to each other’s listings, with the deal set to be finalized by the end of the year. “Comparative market intelligence empowers agents to think differently about their own marketplace and deliver more robust and tailored market expertise to their cli

Realtors 395
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Homebuyer Affordability Continues to Improve 

Appraisal Buzz

August showed an improvement in homeowner affordability, with purchase applicants’ national median payment falling from $2,140 in July to $2,057 in August. This is supported by the Mortgage Bankers Association ‘s (MBA) Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI), which uses information from the MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey (WAS) to assess how new monthly mortgage payments change over time in relation to income.

Mortgage 395
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Why are some agents still flirting with cooperative compensation?

Inman

Compliance expert Summer Goralik tackles why the commission-splitting debate remains unresolved and whether listing agreements should still include buyer agent compensation fields.

Agents 165
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A double dose of good news for housing affordability

Real Estate News

Home Price Index went up 4.1%, while starter homes are more affordable than they’ve been in four years — in part due to a shift in perspective.

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BiggerNews: Will Lower Rates Remove America’s “Golden Handcuffs”?

BiggerPockets

For years, we’ve been told that lower mortgage rates could reignite homebuyer demand and help improve affordability so first-time homebuyers (or even rookie landlords) can finally buy their first property.

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Most Americans say weather events are increasing the risk to their homes

Housing Wire

Slightly more than half of Americans say that weather events are becoming an increasing risk factor for their homes, while nearly one in five report difficulties in accessing homeowners insurance. This is according to results of a survey conducted by NeighborWorks America , a congressionally chartered community development organization. The heightened concern reflects “a growing recognition of climate change and its direct implications for housing security,” NeighborWorks said.

Insurance 411
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FHFA Updates NMDB Residential Mortgage Dashboard Through Q2 

Appraisal Buzz

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) updated the National Mortgage Database (NMDB) Aggregate Statistics series to include fresh quarterly data on the loan performance of residential mortgages until Q2 of 2024. Additionally, the Agency made available to customers a new interactive dashboard tool for data visualization that makes it easier to view loan performance information.

Mortgage 347
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Disney unveils first luxury Storyliving community in California

Inman

Homes in Cotino will start at $1 million, with more lavish properties exceeding $2 million, reflecting premium features and signature Disney touches. Built by award-winning developers -- Shea Homes, Woodbridge Pacific Group and Davidson Communities -- these homes will cater to a wide range of buyers, including those 55 and older.

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KW and other firms supporting agents impacted by hurricanes

Real Estate News

KW Cares has sent more than 450 generators to associates in the Carolinas, while RE/MAX and Anywhere are helping direct funds to affected agents.

Agents 236
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5 Steps to Starting a Short-Term Rental Business

BiggerPockets

So, you’ve decided to dive into the world of short-term rentals—whether it’s Airbnb, VRBO, or whatever acronym you want to use. Congratulations!