Housing Wire

APRIL 8, 2024

Insurance companies are leveraging aerial images of homes to drop properties deemed too risky, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Consumer advocates are concerned that customers are not always able to challenge images that could be out of date or inaccurate. The increased use of aerial images also comes at a time when many home insurance carriers nationwide try to offload some risk from their property portfolios, sometimes leaving states altogether to recover from big underwritin

Insurance 416

Insurance Housing Market Marketing 416

Appraisal Buzz

APRIL 8, 2024

The percentage of U.S. consumers who say it is a good time to buy a home increased to 21% in March, up from 19% in February, indicating that they may be “adjusting their expectations for the housing market,” according to Fannie Mae’s most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index report. There is, however, growing pessimism toward mortgage rates: Thirty-four percent of consumers believe mortgage rates will go up over the next 12 months, up from 32% in February, while only 29% of say they believe rate

Housing Market 390

Housing Market Marketing Mortgage Appraisal 390

Housing Wire

APRIL 8, 2024

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) unveiled a new partnership with SoFi on Monday. As part of the agreement, NAR members and their clients will be eligible to receive exclusive rates and discounts on mortgages , student loan refinancing, and personal loans, among other perks. “This partnership amplifies our support for the diverse financial needs of our members,” Rhonny Barragan, NAR vice president of strategic alliances, said in a statement.

Realtors 388

Realtors Clients Insurance Mortgage 388

Appraisal Buzz

APRIL 8, 2024

The average homebuyer credit score reached 737 in March, according to Optimal Blue’s Originations Market Monitor report. That’s an all-time high for the report, which was launched in 2018. The average credit score increase indicates that homebuyers are working harder on their credit scores in response to higher mortgage rates, tighter credit availability and stricter lending standards.

Lending 354

Lending Mortgage Appraisal Marketing 354

Housing Wire

APRIL 8, 2024

After a few months of downward data in its performance metrics, the reverse mortgage industry saw a slightly different story play out in March that should come as welcome news. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) endorsements increased 8.3% to 2,058 loans in March, an increase helped by new case numbers and slightly telegraphed by recent industry sentiments, according to data compiled by Reverse Market Insight (RMI).

Mortgage 341

Mortgage Marketing Sellers Investors 341

Real Estate News

APRIL 8, 2024

The company reached the agreement in the Umpa case, the only major class action involving agent pay to name Real as a defendant.

Brokerage 294

Brokerage Agents 294

Real Estate News

APRIL 8, 2024

The NAR settlement will lead to better service and lower costs for homebuyers, new research from the Consumer Federation of America suggests.

257

257

Housing Wire

APRIL 8, 2024

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s policy advocacy group, the Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA), is urging its members in the state of Massachusetts to support the continued use of remote telephone and video counseling for reverse mortgages in the state following the lapse of an exemption allowing for remote counseling. “The provision in state law which permitted these forms of consumer counseling on reverse mortgage loans expired on March 31st via sunset,” the call explained.

Mortgage 292

Mortgage Law Business 292

Real Estate News

APRIL 8, 2024

At least seven complaints have been filed by former Keller Williams agents over reductions set to take effect on July 1.

Agents 246

Agents 246

Housing Wire

APRIL 8, 2024

United Wholesale Mortgage ’s (UWM) revenue margins “don’t stand out like” one would expect if the company was overcharging borrowers, analysts at BTIG said on Monday. The comments follow a Hunterbrook Media report from last week stating that UWM pressures brokers to send loans its way, resulting in higher costs to customers. “We think the premise of the thesis is misplaced,” Eric Hagen and Jake Katsikas wrote in the company’s weekly mortgage finance roundup.

Loan Officers 289

Loan Officers Business Mortgage Brokerage 289

Appraisal Buzz

APRIL 8, 2024

Mortgage rate lock volume increased 15.36% during March, according to Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT), a provider of mortgage capital markets technology. The increase comes despite the headwinds of rising home prices, lack of inventory and higher mortgage rates. Although rates currently stand at around 7%, historically high compared to recent years, they are expected to decline, enticing buyers to make purchases now with the anticipation of refinancing when rates begin to drop, the firm says in i

Mortgage 221

Mortgage Inventory Technology Buyers 221

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

As brokerages pivot to specialized training meant to empower buyer agents, new-home sales still provide plenty of opportunities for intrepid Realtors, development specialist Hana Cha writes.

Development 175

Development Training Brokerage Realtors 175

Eyes on Housing

APRIL 8, 2024

Residential building workers’ wage growth accelerated to 6.2% in February. After a 0.3% increase in June 2023, the year-over-year (YOY) growth rate for residential building worker wages have been trending up over the past eight months. The recent acceleration in wage growth was mainly due to the ongoing skilled labor shortage in the construction labor.

Construction 138

Construction 138

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

These markets offer significant price appreciation and access to outstanding amenities, presenting a potential goldmine for agents. These include metro-adjacent homes and new front-running vacation destinations.

Agents 172

Agents Marketing 172

GoForrmz

APRIL 8, 2024

“ The biggest impact GoFormz has had on us is the ability to have offline capabilities. ” — Emily Turner, Systems Analyst, A-C Electric Company About A-C Electric Company Founded in 1945, A-C Electric Company is one of the largest electrical contractors in Central California. A-C Electric Company's comprehensive service offerings span from straightforward office additions to complex projects like hospitals, schools, and interstate freeways, as well as automation and systems integ

78

78

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

A slower market and a crowded brokerage landscape have shifted efforts from quantity to quality, new reporting and Intel survey results reveal. For agents, it's now an unavoidable aspect of the job.

Agents 158

Agents Brokerage Marketing Realty 158

BiggerPockets

APRIL 8, 2024

As most house flippers or BRRRR landlords will tell you, paying for hard money—with high interest rates and points tacked on top—can take huge chunks of profit out of a project.

Landlords 83

Landlords Investors Real Estate 83

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

Lauren Holleran, vice president at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, is drawn to her career in luxury real estate not only for the chance to showcase beautiful properties but also for the opportunity to help people at different stages of their lives.

Realty 144

Realty Real Estate 144

Lamacchia Realty

APRIL 8, 2024

Lamacchia Realty, Inc. has released its “Top Producing REALTORS®,” for March 2024! This program recognizes the Top 10 REALTORS® by company and the Top 3 or 5 REALTORS® by office with the highest transaction numbers or sales for the month! March 2024 Winners of the Top 10 for the Company are: Shauna Fanning has a passion and a drive for customer service and customer relations and has over 17 years in the field.

Realtors 72

Realtors Realty Real Estate Agents 72

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

The company specifically referenced a pending legal settlement that could lead to a number of changes in the way agents and brokerages make money, saying that the importance of communicating the profession’s value to consumers is paramount.

Legal 130

Legal Brokerage Agents Technology 130

BiggerPockets

APRIL 8, 2024

Many investors assume that ownership is inherently safer than debt. I currently own equity in thousands of units and have invested six figures in real estate debts.

Real Estate 71

Real Estate Investing Investors 71

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

Routine cleaning and maintenance saves both time and money, RentRedi CEO Ryan Barone writes, can retain or increase property value and attracts qualified tenants.

Tenants 134

Tenants Investing Agents 134

BiggerPockets

APRIL 8, 2024

Whether you know it or not, “shrinkflation” is costing you. You’re paying more for less, as manufacturers boast record profits.

76

76

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

Fading hopes that mortgage rates will come down in the next 12 months are primary drag on Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index, but job and income concerns were also up in March.

Mortgage 112

Mortgage Sellers Marketing 112

BiggerPockets

APRIL 8, 2024

Real estate investors are usually most concerned about rental income and property taxes. They seldom discuss home insurance.

Insurance 76

Insurance Property Taxes Real Estate Investors 76

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

Jamie Dimon thinks interest rates could rise to 8 percent or more. He also said in a new letter that a recession and stagflation could be in the offing.

Marketing 115

Marketing Mortgage 115

Housing Wire

APRIL 8, 2024

The lack of affordable housing in the United States is well-documented in the nation’s urban markets, where it is contributing to the swelling ranks of the homeless. That same dire need for affordable housing for the least prosperous among us, however, also is a serious problem in rural America — home to nearly 70 million Americans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers one of the main programs providing housing for low-income households in the rural stretches of this country — w

Tenants 467

Tenants Finance Construction Government 467

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

The acquisition of AIR Communities marks Blackstone's largest in the multifamily sector and shows a bullishness in rental housing, as well as a mentality that the commercial market may be bottoming out.

Marketing 103

Marketing 103

Mortgagebroker News

APRIL 8, 2024

Could the government extend amortization limits as part of housing plan?

Government 86

Government Mortgage 86

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

Find out what Rockette Realtor Jessie Crouch can teach you about standing up for yourself and your clients.

Realtors 110

Realtors Clients Real Estate Agents 110

Mortgagebroker News

APRIL 8, 2024

Mortgage specialist argues RBC takeover will undermine competitive lending environment

Mortgage 62

Mortgage Lending 62

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

The Real Brokerage agreed to change business operations as part of its proposed settlement agreement in Umpa v. NAR.

Brokerage 113

Brokerage Business Real Estate Agents 113

Movoto

APRIL 8, 2024

After submitting an offer on a home you plan to purchase, a few things might happen – once an offer is accepted (typically, after negotiations but not always), real estate sales agreements come into effect between buyers and sellers. This is a legally binding agreement between the buyer and seller that helps ensure the sale will be completed according to the contract’s outlined conditions.

Contracts 36

Contracts Real Estate Property Taxes Legal 36

Inman

APRIL 8, 2024

Getting distracted by remote possibilities in the face of uncertainty keeps you from focusing on the facts, writes Mike DelPrete.

Realtors 97

Realtors Agents 97