Mon.Oct 02, 2023

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Top California indie team FresYes joins The Real Brokerage

Housing Wire

FresYes Realty , one of California ‘s top real estate agent teams, has left the indie ranks to join The Real Brokerage. Jason Farris and his 50-agent team were the top large team in California by sides in 2021, according to the RealTrends 2022 rankings. They recorded 539 transactions in 2021 worth $203.7 million in volume. (They did not appear in the 2023 RealTrends rankings.

Brokerage 432
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MLS partnerships open up listings to 120k agents in the Southeast

Real Estate News

The Southeast MLS Alliance and Coast 2 Coast MLS Data Share in Florida represent the latest initiatives to expand data sharing among MLSs.

Agents 304
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Rocket Pro TPO raises conforming loan limits to $750,000 ahead of FHFA decision

Housing Wire

Rocket Pro TPO , the wholesale arm of Rocket Mortgage , on Monday raised agency conforming loan limits to $750,000, ahead of the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) decision expected in November. Amid fiercer competition in a shrinking mortgage market , other lenders may follow suit in the coming days or weeks, as in previous years. Companies are pressured to launch new initiatives to attract brokers and land more purchase businesses due to high mortgage rates.

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Redfin leaves NAR: 'Enough is enough'

Real Estate News

In a note signed by CEO Glenn Kelman and other Redfin leaders, the company said “NAR isn’t the future.

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Mortgage companies issue debt. Here’s why that’s a positive sign to the market

Housing Wire

Mortgage companies raising debt in the current high mortgage rates landscape is a sign that market conditions are improving, although a recovery from the downturn may come later than expected, analysts told HousingWire. Executives have decided to improve liquidity to fund their businesses and investments, targeting mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) deals.

Mortgage 431
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DOJ questions MLS PIN settlement, requests delay

Real Estate News

This is the second time the settlement agreement reached by MLS PIN in the Massachusetts buyer-broker commissions lawsuit has come under fire.

Buyers 268

More Trending

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Redfin leaves NAR — and calls on its brokers and agents to follow suit

Inman

In a message to employees on Monday, Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman cited NAR's harassment scandal and other grievances as reasons for calling on 1,800 Realtors to cancel memberships.

Agents 202
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Home prices and mortgages keep rising, and it might get worse still

Housing Wire

Home prices continued to accelerate in August, rising a seasonally adjusted 0.68% from July and hitting another record high for the fourth consecutive month. Prices in nearly half of the nation’s 50 largest markets climbed by 0.75% or more. Even on a non-adjusted basis, August’s gain of 0.24% was more than 60% larger than the 25-year average for the month, according to a mortgage monitor report from Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

Mortgage 421
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CoStar’s Homes.com beats Redfin, Realtor.com to become No. 2 portal

Inman

In a sign of the listing portal's growing influence, Homes.com hit more than 100 million unique visitors in September, sparking a 1,290 percent annual increase in traffic. Now the portal is second only to Zillow.

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Former Homesnap employees stole trade secrets over online marketplace tech, CoStar alleges

Housing Wire

Online real estate market provider CoStar Group has sued former Homesnap founder Guy Wolcott and three others for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to its online information platform feeding its various marketplace products, including Homes.com and Apartments.com , according to court documents obtained by HousingWire. The filing of the suit was first reported by Inman News.

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Nantucket home sells to Barstool’s Dave Portnoy for record $42M

Inman

Portnoy's waterfront home purchase set a new record for Nantucket and the state of Massachusetts. The estate features a main house, guest house and studio that are connected by an underground tunnel.

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Zillow victorious in false advertising suit with discount brokerage

Housing Wire

Real estate giant Zillow came out victorious in its years-long legal battle with discount brokerage REX Real Estate. In a verdict announced late Friday afternoon, a jury in a U.S. District Court in Seattle determined that Zillow did not make deceptive change to its only agent listings that forced REX Real Estate to go out of business. The jury found that REX did not prove Zillow used false advertising it its decision to put non-MLS listings on a different section of the website and that Zillow p

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August Gains for Private Residential Construction Spending

Eyes on Housing

NAHB analysis of Census Construction Spending data shows that private residential construction spending rose 0.6% in August. It is the fourth consecutive increase since May 2023, standing at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of $879.9 billion. However, total private residential construction spending is still 3.1% lower compared to a year ago. The total construction monthly increase is attributed to more.

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National Flood Insurance Program is safe for now (45 days)

Housing Wire

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate averted a government shutdown on Saturday, just hours ahead from a funding lapse. Passage allows Congress to fund the government for 45 days, provide $16 billion in disaster assistance, and temporarily extend the National Flood Insurance Program. In the meantime, Congress continues to work on a long-term reauthorization of the program, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said in an FAQ document released last week.

Insurance 419
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Get rid of the negativity and cultivate mindful success

Inman

Discover powerful strategies to boost your real estate career and achieve lasting success through a step-by-step self-improvement process. Coaches Emily Bossert and Melanie Klein provide the roadmap.

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Wholesaler EPM looks to convert retail LOs with new recruiting platform

Housing Wire

Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM), which shifted to the TPO business after exiting its retail channel in the fall, has embarked on a new chapter. EPM wants to help grow the industry’s wholesale channel through its newly launched broker recruiting website. BLVR – a marketing and promotional campaign launched by EPM on Monday – aims to reach as many retail loan officers to provide information about the wholesale channel.

Retail 410
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Why hybrid properties are popular among Gen X, millennial buyers

Inman

A hybrid property is a private getaway for the homeowner that's only used sporadically. It can also be a source of additional rental income.

Buyers 197
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Xactus’ valuation solution approved to fulfill Fannie Mae’s property data collection orders

Housing Wire

Mortgage tech company Xactus announced that its valuation solution Appraisal Firewall X has met federal requirements and is capable of fulfilling Fannie Mae property data collection orders. Appraisal Firewall X connects mortgage lenders with vetted and trained property data collectors to deliver the value acceptance + property data and hybrid appraisal solutions, the company said in a release.

Valuation 410
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CoStar lawsuit accuses Homesnap founder of stealing trade secrets

Inman

The commercial real estate giant is seeking to stop Homesnap founder Guy Wolcott from marketing a new data-transfer platform, which CoStar alleges is "a copycat" of its own tech.

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The DOJ intervenes in Nosalek buyer-broker commission lawsuit

Housing Wire

MLS Property Information Network’s (MLS PIN) settlement agreement in the Nosalek class action antitrust buyer-broker compensation lawsuit has hit yet another snag. On Thursday, the Department of Justice indicated that it had “significant concerns” about the proposed antitrust settlement between home sellers and MLS PIN, filing a motion to extend the deadline for the final approval of the settlement.

Buyers 409
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5 ways to keep your sense of humor in the midst of a frustrating market

Inman

Maintaining your sense of humor makes personal and professional sense while it helps you connect with clients and colleagues. Coach Darryl Davis offers a laughter prescription for whatever's ailing you in the current tough market.

Marketing 176
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“Enough is enough.” Redfin leaves NAR in wake of sexual harassment allegations

Housing Wire

Redfin will soon be requiring agents to cancel their National Association of Realtors membership. In a letter published on Redfin’s website on Monday, Glenn Kelman and Redfin’s leadership team, including Anna Stevens, Anthony Kappus, Bridget Frey, Chris Nielsen, Christian Taubman, Jason Aleem, and Keith Broxterman, said that Redfin is moving to end its support of NAR.

Brokerage 381
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Rocket Mortgage now pricing loans of up to $750,000 as conforming

Inman

The move could help qualifying borrowers avoid taking out a jumbo mortgage at a higher rate as Rocket gets a jump on an expected increase in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's 2024 loan limits.

Mortgage 175
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Brendon Burchard becomes PLACE’s new chief growth advisor

Housing Wire

PLACE , the real estate technology platform, appointed Brendon Burchard, a leading personal growth coach to the role of chief growth advisor. In this newly created position, Burchard will oversee personal growth efforts for real estate agents , partners and employees. PLACE partners and team members will have access to Burchard’s exclusive coaching through his app, GrowthDay.

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Elevate our Marketing Game with ACCESS: The Ultimate Website Builder and Real Estate Marketing Platform powered by Agent Image

Inman

Join Brian for an exploration of ACCESS and discover how this innovative internet-based platform empowers real estate professionals to craft stunning websites, captivating presentations, and impactful marketing materials with ease. Click here to join!

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[Video] Customer Story: Pediatric Dental Specialties

GoForrmz

“ Because we’re receiving information from parents faster with electronic documents, we’re more efficient in filing with insurance companies, and in turn, they are getting back to us faster. ” — Dr. Brad Wilkinson, Solo Practitioner, Pediatric Dental Specialties About Pediatric Dental Specialties Pediatric Dental Specialties is located in Memphis, Tennessee.

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Why top performers are using Opendoor for Agents

Inman

Seventy-four percent of sellers want to sell as quickly as possible, while 58 percent say receiving a cash offer is important. Opendoor is the missing link in that equation—creating simple and certain cash transactions for agents and your clients.

Agents 167
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Four Ways to Approach Real Estate Investing Online

BiggerPockets

Investing in real estate digitally can seem daunting at first. How can you use tech to build and curate your portfolio? Luckily, we’ve outlined four easy ways you can integrate tech into your real estate business and use digital tools to invest in real estate.

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Bond yields soar again on Fed governor’s hawkish remarks

Inman

Fed Governor Michelle Bowman warns bankers that she thinks the Fed may need to hike rates more than once and keep them high next year to get inflation under control.

Mortgage 171
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Anthony Lamacchia Featured in New Interview from Banker & Tradesman

Lamacchia Realty

October 1, 2023 – Lamacchia Realty CEO Anthony Lamacchia was recently featured in a new interview with Banker & Tradesman, titled “Building a Launchpad for Growth.” The discussion dove into the company’s acquisitions of Fall River’s Right Choice Real Estate , Seekonk’s Keystone Property Group , and Falmouth’s Foley Real Estate.

Realty 67
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Zillow fends off final claims in fruitless REX lawsuit

Inman

The now-defunct brokerage failed to convince a jury that Zillow used unfair tactics when it gave non-MLS listings a separate place on its site.

Brokerage 184
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17 Questions to Ask an Investor-Friendly Real Estate Agent

BiggerPockets

We'll explain what to ask a real estate agent to know if they are a good fit for you and your investment strategy.

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Lesson Learned: Focus on building your support system

Inman

Find out how Patrick Clark's unique background, hands-on approach, and the strong connections he cultivates with clients and colleagues help him to succeed in the fast-paced world of Manhattan real estate.

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Canada housing market slowdown likely to last for a prolonged period - analyst

Mortgagebroker News

The Bank of Canada's rate hikes played a major role in the market's significant deceleration