Thu.Nov 07, 2024

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Climate risk is rising. It calls for a rethinking of home insurance coverage

Housing Wire

Climate change is increasing the intensity and severity of natural disasters. It’s resulting in calls to reimagine the costs of homeowners insurance (Image generated by AI in Midjourney) As the planet warms and extreme weather intensifies, the rising cost of homeowners insurance is stopping real estate deals in their tracks. In just the past two months, two major hurricanes battered Florida, inflicting physical and financial damage that is projected to exceed $100 billion.

Insurance 482
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Consumers Feeling Better About Housing Market Despite High Home Prices

Appraisal Buzz

The Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) increased 0.7 points in October to 74.6, pushing the measure of consumer confidence to its highest level since February 2022 and significantly higher than the all-time low recorded two years ago. In October, the share of consumers who think it’s a good time to buy a home increased to 20%, while the share who think it’s a good time to sell a home declined to 64%.

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Home prices are rising in 87% of metro areas, but growth is slowing

Housing Wire

Home prices continue to rise, but they’re rising in slightly fewer areas of the country. Data released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that during the third quarter of 2024, home prices grew in 87% of the 226 metropolitan areas analyzed. That share is down from 89% in the second quarter. In addition, 7% of metro areas analyzed experienced double-digit home-price growth, which is down from 13% in Q2 2024.

Realtors 418
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Real continues its rise, focused ‘on what we can control’

Real Estate News

The company says its innovative AI and financial products give it an edge as it increases revenue and agent count despite a difficult housing market.

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Moving big talent to the Big Apple  

Housing Wire

Relocating to New York City can be an exciting yet daunting experience, especially for professionals moving for work. This article will guide you in choosing the right neighborhood and show how HR teams can better support their relocating staff. Choosing the right neighborhood 1. Understanding the boroughs New York City is divided into five boroughs, each with its unique charm and characteristics: Manhattan : Known for its bustling city life, iconic landmarks, and vibrant neighborhoods li

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Fed action not enough to keep mortgage rates from surging

Real Estate News

Despite a 25-point cut by the central bank, rates rose for a sixth straight week while applications fell sharply.

Mortgage 246

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Fed Cuts Rates 0.25 Percent, But its Unlikely to Have Much Impact on the Housing Market

Appraisal Buzz

Citing that inflation is now near its 2% target and that there is some weakness developing in the labor market, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) today voted to cut the Fed Funds rate by 0.25% , to the range of 4.5% to 4.75%. “The FOMC cut rates by another 25 basis points at its November meeting, noting that risks to its inflation and employment goals are ‘roughly in balance,’” says Mike Fratantoni, senior vice president and chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), in a

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Terry Schmidt says Guild is seeing more interest in reverse mortgages

Housing Wire

Guild Mortgage CEO Terry Schmidt said during a third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday that Guild’s reverse mortgage division continues to contribute to companywide strategies, and that additional interest in reverse has been observed. Guild’s current reverse lending division, built off its 2023 acquisition of Cherry Creek Mortgage , has expanded its reverse mortgage activities this year.

Mortgage 370
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NAR: Nearly 90 Percent of Metro Markets Posted Home Price Increases in Q3

Appraisal Buzz

Single-family existing-home sales prices increased in 87% of measured metro areas in the third quarter, down from 89% in the prior quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The national median single-family existing-home price grew 3.1% from a year ago to $418,700. Fifteen markets (7%) experienced double-digit annual price appreciation – down from 13% in the previous quarter, according to NAR’s data.

Marketing 195
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Fannie Mae adds homebuilding veteran Scott Stowell to its board of directors

Housing Wire

Government-sponsored enterprise Fannie Mae announced on Thursday the appointment of Scott D. Stowell, a homebuilding executive with nearly 40 years of industry experience, to its board of directors. “Mr. Stowell brings nearly 40 years of experience in the U.S. homebuilding industry to Fannie Mae’s accomplished and diverse board, which guides the company’s efforts to responsibly expand access to mortgage credit and finance quality, affordable rental housing ,” the company said in a statement.

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Consumer Confidence in the Housing Market Reaches Highest Level Since 2022

Appraisal Buzz

Consumer confidence in the housing market increased in October, reaching its highest level since February 2022, according to Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index. The share of consumers who think it’s a good time to buy a home increased to 20%, while the share who think it’s a good time to sell a home declined to 64%. The share of survey respondents who say home prices will go up in the next 12 months remained unchanged at 39%, while the percentage who say home prices will go down also sta

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Mortgage delinquencies declined slightly. Are homeowner tensions easing?

Housing Wire

In second-quarter 2024, high home prices and soaring mortgage rates caused more homeowners to struggle with their loan payments. But data shows a slight recovery as mortgage delinquencies fell in the third quarter. That silver lining comes from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s National Delinquency Survey. According to the MBA, the seasonally adjusted rate for residential property (one- to four-unit) delinquencies dropped to 3.92% at the end of September.

Mortgage 370
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eXp continues to lose agents, but transaction volume gets a boost

Real Estate News

The company suffered losses due to its payout in the commissions settlement, but touted agent productivity, international growth and positive revenue.

Agents 186
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FOA posts robust Q3 earnings as company touts product, platform changes

Housing Wire

Finance of America (FOA), the reverse mortgage industry’s leading lender, announced its third-quarter 2024 earnings results on Wednesday evening. It delivered adjusted net income of $15 million, or $0.67 per share. The company noted that Q3 2024 marked the fifth consecutive quarter of improved operating performance, including a recovery from the second quarter in which it posted a net lossof $5 million.

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Redfin Next commissions take a bite out of earnings

Real Estate News

CEO Glenn Kelman apologized to shareholders but also said expansion of the company’s new agent pay plan will help the brokerage “go on the attack” in 2025.

Brokerage 178
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UWM delivers highest volume in three years amid mini refi boom

Housing Wire

When rates dropped in the third quarter of 2024, UWM Holdings Corp. , the parent of United Wholesale Mortgage , notched its biggest production quarter in three years while improving margins due to a higher refi volume. However, it also made a more modest profit, mainly because of the financial impact of lower rates on its servicing book. “The refi boom is not fully materialized, but we have seen a preview of it,” Mat Ishbia, chairman and CEO of UWM, told analysts during an earnings call on Thurs

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Q3 Mortgage Delinquencies Dip 

Appraisal Buzz

The latest Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) National Delinquency Survey has found that the delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one- to four-unit residential properties decreased slightly to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.92% of all loans outstanding at the end of Q3 2024, compared to one year ago. The MBA reports the nationwide delinquency rate was down five basis points from Q2 of 2024, but up 30 basis points from one year ago.

Mortgage 195
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Ginnie Mae allows for risk-based capital relief to issuers that hedge MSRs

Housing Wire

Ginnie Mae announced on Thursday that it will allow relief from its risk-based capital ratio (RBCR) requirements for any mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issuers that effectively hedge the value of their mortgage servicing rights (MSRs). One housing advocacy group said the move will create flexibility for independent mortgage banks (IMBs). A new memorandum reiterates that beginning on Dec. 31, 2024, “certain issuers and applicants will also be required to maintain a Risk Based Capital Ratio (RBC

Mortgage 394
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Weichert reaches a deal in Georgia commissions case

Real Estate News

The franchise went the same route as eXp, agreeing to settle with plaintiffs in the Hooper case even though it was originally named in Gibson.

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Blend achieves financial milestone, says mortgage pipeline is strong

Housing Wire

After delivering two straight quarterly losses to start this year, mortgage technology company Blend Labs predicted correctly that it would soon move into the black by one key accounting measure, finally delivering a non-GAAP operating profitability third-quarter 2024 earnings. The earnings report , released Wednesday, revealed that Blend’s GAAP loss from operations improved to $13.3 million in the third quarter of this year compared to $36.2 million in the same period last year.

Mortgage 221
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Opendoor lays off 300 workers after posting $78M Q3 loss

Inman

The San Francisco-based iBuyer bought and sold more homes during Q3 than it did a year ago and trimmed its net loss by 14 percent from Q2 and 26 percent from a year ago.

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A Rate Cut from the Fed: What Will the Terminal Rate Be?

Eyes on Housing

The Fed cut the short-term federal funds rate by an additional 25 basis points at the conclusion of its November meeting, reducing the top target rate to 4.75%. However, while the Fed noted it is making progress to its 2% inflation target, it did not provide post-election guidance on the pace and ultimate path for.

Finance 151
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After NAR deal, MLSs will have to reinvent themselves — or else

Inman

At NAR NXT, panelists Marilyn Wilson, James Dwiggins and Clint Skutchan advised MLSs to make themselves essential without guaranteeing compensation.

Realtors 167
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Mortgage Tech Firm Novaprime Debuts AI-Powered Loan Quality Platform 

Appraisal Buzz

Mortgage technology company Novaprime has made its public debut and launched its AI-powered Loan Quality Platform. The firm claims this new platform evaluates loan integrity, reduces processing times and enables lenders to sell loans on the secondary market in days, rather than weeks. The platform intelligently understands and assesses the context of all loan details, the new tech firm says in a release.

Mortgage 150
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The Real Brokerage posts revenue gain as recruitment soars in Q3

Inman

The Real Brokerage added more than 2,000 new agents in the third quarter while revenue rose to $372.5 million, according to quarterly earnings Thursday. The company posted a net loss of $2.5 million.

Brokerage 167
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Multifamily Developer Sentiment Showed Mixed Results in Third Quarter

Eyes on Housing

Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing showed mixed results year-over-year in the third quarter of 2024, according to results from the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The MMS produces two separate indices: the Multifamily Production Index (MPI) had a reading of 40, an increase.

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Following the leadership journey of a Latina broker-owner

Inman

Eva Angelina Romero, a top real estate broker, shares her insights on life, success and building a business you are passionate about.

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Streamlining Retail Audits with Digital Checklists

GoForrmz

Optimize retail operations this holiday season with efficient, digital audit solutions As the holiday season approaches, retailers are gearing up for the busiest time of the year. The need for efficient processes is at an all-time high, and one area that can significantly benefit from digital transformation is the retail audit. By switching to digital checklists, retailers can streamline their audit processes, improve accuracy, and free up time for essential tasks.

Retail 78
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US home prices rose in 90% of metro areas in Q3, NAR says

Inman

Home affordability improved as mortgage rates dipped, bringing the monthly mortgage payment on a typical single-family home with a 20 percent down payment to $2,137 — a 5.5 percent decrease from Q2, though still up 2.4 percent year over year.

Mortgage 160
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How to Buy and Sell at the Same Time

Lamacchia Realty

HOW TO BUY & SELL AT THE SAME TIME Navigating the process of buying a new home while selling your current one can feel like a balancing act. Many homeowners worry about selling too soon or missing out on the perfect new home. This common scenario can lead to what we call “Worried Sellers” — those caught between selling and buying, unsure of how to move forward.

Sellers 63
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Record number of Americans say they’d rather rent than buy

Inman

Housing market sentiment rose in October to the highest level since February 2022, but 8 in 10 consumers still said it was a bad time to buy, Fannie Mae survey finds.

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Lisa Hayford Qualifies for the 2024 Lamacchia Realty President’s Club

Lamacchia Realty

Lisa Hayford Qualifies for the 2024 Lamacchia Realty President’s Club We are excited to announce that Lisa Hayford has officially qualified for the 2024 Lamacchia Realty President’s Club! She has hit this impressive feat by surpassing $16,000,000 in sales volume so far! This is Lisa’s fourth time qualifying for President’s Club, having done so in 2023 , 2022 ( ELITE status as well ), and 2021.

Realty 66
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EXp posts modest revenue gain, reaching $1.2B in 3rd quarter

Inman

The virtual brokerage grappled with losses as it paid out its settlement in antitrust commission lawsuits and increased agent losses in a bid to offload less productive agents from the platform.

Brokerage 156
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Investments Outperforming Rentals That Only the Elite Know About

BiggerPockets

Most people are missing out on what could be the best real estate investments of 2025. Why?