Wed.Jan 24, 2024

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Fannie Mae updates HomeReady, provides temporary $2,500 credit

Housing Wire

Fannie Mae has announced updates to its HomeReady product, including a temporary $2,500 credit for very low-income purchase borrowers to use for down payment and closing costs. Another step the government-sponsored enterprise took was to enhance the best efforts commitments on HomeReady loans. It allows lenders to lock in margins and reduce hedging costs.

Insurance 479
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No Time Adjustments!?

George Dell

Time adjustments are not required. Unless they are needed. Appraisal time adjustments are also labeled as “market conditions” adjustments. Or, more recently in Evidence Based Valuation, “Market Price Indexing (MPI)©”. The FHFA blog post of 1/16/2024 defines “underappraisals” as those loan appraisals which come in below the contract price. The rising market […] The post No Time Adjustments!?

Contracts 338
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Demand for mortgages picks up: MBA

Housing Wire

Mortgage demand continued to increase last week, as seen in an uptick in purchase activity. Mortgage applications rose by 3.7% in the week ending Jan. 19 compared to one week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, per the Mortgage Bankers Association ‘s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey. “Conventional and FHA purchase applications drove most of the increase last week as some buyers moved to act early this season,” Joel Kan , MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, said in a st

Mortgage 479
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Industry Decoded: It’s time for mandatory buyer agreements

Real Estate News

The best way to protect consumers and raise the bar for the entire industry? Require buyer agency agreements across the board.

Buyers 307
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What to do when your buyer wants to make a lowball property offer

Housing Wire

Let’s talk about lowball offers. What constitutes a “lowball” offer, when is it appropriate or not appropriate and how can you encourage your buyer clients to stop insisting on offering a price that’s unlikely to result in an offer? By definition, a lowball offer is an offer that is significantly below market value. This is where the problem can start — in practice, agents and their clients consider a an offer to be a lowball if it’s significantly below the asking price.

Buyers 450
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Judge likely to merge 2 Illinois commissions cases

Real Estate News

The lawsuits, known as Batton 1 and Batton 2, may soon be combined, with both moving forward under Judge Andrea Wood.

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10 ways to provide concierge service, elevate your UVP

Inman

Attract buyers by taking your value proposition to the next level with advice from Chelsea Hamre from RE/MAX, Julia Boland from Corcoran, DJ Ten Hoeve from Keller Williams at Inman Connect New York.

Buyers 195
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Bright MLS teams up with Collabra Technology

Housing Wire

Agents subscribed to Bright MLS now have access to a built-in advertising tool through a new partnership with Collabra Technology , according to an announcement on Tuesday. Through the Bright MLS platform, subscribers will have access to Collabra’s AdBuilder , which lets agents plan and schedule paid digital advertising campaigns from the MLS ’ platform.

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Tarek El Moussa flipped his life around — and wants you to, too

Inman

The HGTV star announced his forthcoming book, "Flip Your Life," at ICNY on Wednesday. "We all face struggles, we all face pain, and it's about what you do with those struggles and what you do with that pain," El Moussa said.

Design 190
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December mortgage delinquencies rise due to calendar effect: ICE

Housing Wire

Delinquencies rose in December but the rise is mostly due to the calendar: December ended on a Sunday, so payments made on the last day of the month were credited to January. As a result, some loans appeared temporarily delinquent, ICE noted in its First Look Mortgage Performance report. The national delinquency rate rose to 3.57% in December, up from 3.39% in November.

Mortgage 431
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Competition for spring listings will be fierce and starts … NOW

Inman

Realtor.com data suggests there will only be three listings per agent in 2024 and that sellers who want to close a deal in April are already looking for representation.

Sellers 184
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Reverse wholesaler Smartfi selects LoanPASS as technology partner

Housing Wire

San Diego-based reverse mortgage wholesale lender Smartfi Home Loans has forged a partnership with LoanPASS to use the technology company’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) product and pricing engine in its reverse lending operations. Stating its desire to expand reverse mortgage wholesale lending through a series of inter-company partnerships, the new accord serves as an example of its broader goal, according to a statement from Gregg Smith, CEO of Smartfi.

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What to do on social in 2024? Avoid politics at all costs

Inman

A panel of real estate PR reps and social media influencers told ICNY attendees to remember that the brand is you, the cameras are always on, and whatever you do, avoid talking politics this election year.

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Former Live Well employees receive final approval of class action settlement

Housing Wire

A cohort of former employees at now-defunct reverse mortgage lender Live Well Financial has been granted final settlement approval in a class action lawsuit brought against the company’s estate in May 2019. Monica Williams, a former loan account manager in Live Well’s Richmond, Va. headquarters, initially filed the suit days after Live Well had halted funding for new loans and subsequently ceased operations entirely.

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Agents should do what they’re good at, delegate the rest

Inman

Jill Biggs and Sean Soderstrom argued Wednesday at Inman Connect New York that leaders have to learn to find their specialties — and to delegate.

Agents 190
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TD Bank launches three-year plan to invest $10B in affordable homeownership

Housing Wire

New Jersey-based TD Bank has decided to invest $10 billion in affordable homeownership initiatives by 2027, including providing loans and liquidity to the residential lending market. The investment represents half of the bank’s three-year Community Impact Plan announced Wednesday, which will direct $20 billion to lending, philanthropy, and banking access, among other initiatives, for the benefit of diverse and underserved communities.

Investing 420
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Anywhere CEO touts ‘protection’ from commission suit chaos

Inman

The Anywhere CEO challenged individual leaders to step up, rather than be dependent on NAR to lobby for the industry in Washington. He added that the most important thing for leaders today are vision and attitude.

Realtors 180
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Home Prices Continue to Rise, and Detroit Just Beat Miami for the First Time

BiggerPockets

Home prices have grown year over year through the last several months and show no signs of slowing down. Some markets have more momentum than ever and have emerged as early hot spots this year. Here's what you need to know.

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6 keys to building the team of your dreams in 2024

Inman

Team leaders Megan Romine, Ryan Butler and Elias Astuto discussed how enforcing standards, sharing responsibilities and staying engaged with your agents and community are key to creating a successful, long-lasting business.

Agents 175
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We’ve Had Vacancy Rates Below 2% for Over 15 Years—Here’s How We’ve Done It

BiggerPockets

The secret to reliable rental income isn't the property, the location, or the amount of money you put in. It's this, and it's a straightforward thing to get right.

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Personal data of 16.6M loanDepot customers exposed

Inman

The mortgage lender has restored websites that collect payments, accept loan applications and match homebuyers with partner real estate agents after Jan. 4 cyberattack.

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Housing Statistics for Beginners

Birmingham Appraisal

Mastering the Game: Why Housing Statistics Are Your Secret Weapon in Real Estate Hey there, fellow real estate pros! In the fast-paced world of house sales and market trends, staying ahead of the game is everything. As someone knee-deep in residential real estate appraisal, I’ve got a nugget of wisdom to share: housing statistics are your not-so-secret weapon for leveling up in the real estate hustle.

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‘If you think it, ink it’: The systems top producers need in 2024

Inman

Unpack the tools and insights you’ll need for 2024 with Red Apple Coaching and Consulting’s Mary-Anne Gillespie, Compass’ Courtney Smith and Douglas Elliman’s Jacky Teplitzky.

Tools 178
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Here’s the “Lazy 1031 Exchange” and How To Do It

BiggerPockets

Want to defer thousands of dollars in taxes without barely lifting a finger? Well, read this article to learn how to do just that.

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Why an authentic personal brand is more important than ever in 2024

Inman

Douglas Elliman's McKenzie Ryan joined Amie Quirarte of Tahoe Luxury Properties and Jas Takhar of REC Canada at ICNY on Tuesday to share why branding extends into every aspect of life.

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How to Find the Best Neighborhood for Your Lifestyle and Budget

Lamacchia Realty

HOW TO FIND THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE AND BUDGET If you’re currently searching for a home , you’ll find that choosing the right neighborhood isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. This is one of those decisions that will impact your daily life for years to come. Balancing lifestyle and budget is all about making conscious decisions that ensure you can enjoy your chosen neighborhood without financial stress.

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Tracking the housing recovery? These 12 dates offer crucial clues

Inman

Intel is highlighting the most important data releases and events slated for each month of 2024 in an effort to help industry observers follow the arc of residential real estate's rebound this year.

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Bank of Canada reveals first rate decision of 2024

Mortgagebroker News

Central bank makes eagerly awaited announcement on benchmark rate

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Demand for purchase mortgages climbs for 3rd week in a row

Inman

Purchase mortgage applications surge by 8 percent as homebuyers seeking to take advantage of the recent decline in rates get an early jump on the spring homebuying season.

Mortgage 164
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How to Buy a House in 2024

BiggerPockets

You asked, and we answered. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to buy a house in 2024.

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Umansky says industry is in ‘trouble’ as he debuts NAR rival

Inman

The founder of The Agency is part of a team launching the American Real Estate Association as NAR continues to face criticism and legal trouble.

Legal 180
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24 Money Tips for 2024: How to Save on Rent AND Travel for Free!

BiggerPockets

If you want to reach financial freedom, knowing how to save money is crucial.

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Talk and tech tools to help agents thrive in 2024

Inman

Tech and team leaders at different sessions at Inman Connect New York on Tuesday stressed how agents can think outside the box to provide solutions for themselves, their clients, and other agents in the industry.

Agents 169
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Canadians' housing-related spending not keeping pace with home sales: TD

Mortgagebroker News

Spending on housing is being curtailed by intensified consumer caution amid prolonged high inflation

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