Fri.Mar 29, 2024

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What a tech entrepreneur has discovered about reverse mortgages

Housing Wire

Anna Frankowska was recognized in 2017 as one of Forbes’ “ 30 Under 30 ” in Europe, having studied economics in London before moving to work in investment banking. A passion for technology led her to work in the fintech and blockchain spaces, and she has now turned her attention to the senior finance space by founding a company called Graceful Finance.

Mortgage 452
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Mortgage Rates Decrease Slightly, Helping Some Prospective Homebuyers 

Appraisal Buzz

Mortgage rates decreased slightly this week, with the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage falling to 6.79%, down from 6.87% last week, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. A year ago at this time, the average rate for a 30-year was 6.32%. “Mortgage rates moved slightly lower this week, providing a bit more room in the budgets of some prospective homebuyers,” says Sam Khater, chief economist for Freddie Mac, in a statement.

Mortgage 367
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Newest commission lawsuit doesn’t seek class-action status

Housing Wire

The real estate industry is facing yet another commission lawsuit , but this time the plaintiff is not seeking class-action status. In a lawsuit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York , Hao Zhe Wang accused real estate industry players of “agreeing, combining and conspiring to impose, implement and enforce anticompetitive restraints and the cause Plaintiff to pay inflated commissions on the purchase and sale of his homes in violation of federal and state

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What every real estate professional needs to know about the MLS

Real Estate News

In the first of a three-part series, RESO CEO Sam DeBord explains what an MLS is — and what it isn't — and how definitions of the MLS can vary.

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CMLS looks to weigh in on the DOJ’s statement of interest

Housing Wire

The Council of Multiple Listing Services is joining Northwest MLS in filing a motion to request that it can file an amicus curiae brief in the Nosalek commission lawsuit. In its motion filed on Wednesday, CMLS said its amicus curiae brief is in repsonse to the Department of Justice’s statement of interest which was filed in early February in relation to the proposed settlement agreement reached by the Nosalek plaintiffs and defendant MLS Property Information Network in July 2023.

Sellers 431
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Moody’s Affirms Dovenmuehle’s Servicer Quality With SQ2- Rating

Appraisal Buzz

Dovenmuehle Mortgage reports that Moody’s Investors Service has affirmed its servicer quality (SQ) assessment as a servicer of prime residential mortgage loans at SQ2-. Dovenmuehle says the assessment underscores its exceptional capabilities across various key areas of mortgage servicing. “This affirmation from Moody’s reaffirms our commitment to excellence in mortgage servicing.

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Planet Home Lending Adds Andy Insua as Regional Sales Manager, Southeast

Appraisal Buzz

Andy Insua has joined Planet Home Lending as regional sales manager for the Southeast. Insua has a diverse financial services background in consumer finance, commercial banking, and mortgage banking. He previously held roles at AmeriFirst Home Mortgage, where he led the company’s efforts to expand products and distribution to the Hispanic community across the United States.

Lending 195
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HUD seeks public comment on updates to reverse mortgage documents

Housing Wire

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Policy Development and Research is seeking public comment related to application and origination documents for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-backed Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program, according to a notice published this week in the Federal Register. Two key documents are at the center of the proposed changes.

Mortgage 410
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Down payments, cash offers rise in response to interest rates

Real Estate News

Despite a less competitive market for buyers, cash remains king — not to win bidding wars, but to avoid inflated financing costs.

Finance 254
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Rocket Companies names chief accounting officer

Housing Wire

Rocket Companies , the parent of Rocket Mortgage , promoted Noah Edwards as the firm’s chief accounting officer. Edwards will replace Brian Brown, who had assumed the CAO position in addition to being the company’s chief financial officer and treasurer. As chief accounting officer, Edwards will receive a base salary of $358,000. He will be eligible for other compensation and benefits provided to similarly situated team members, according to an 8-K filing with the U.S.

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Opendoor: We’re ‘built for’ post-settlement world

Real Estate News

In a blog post, CEO Carrie Wheeler said the NAR deal and rule changes would be a boon for the company: “We’ve never been so optimistic about the future.

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Proptech startup Courted grows its roster of brokerage partnerships 

Housing Wire

Courted has grown its roster of customers since its launch in 2021 and is within three months of reaching and sustaining profitability, the company announced on Friday. Co-founded by Sean Soderstrom, Dan Breitbach and Joe Urciuoli, the proptech company sells an AI-powered software platform to help real estate brokerages with their recruiting efforts.

Brokerage 404
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Association of more than 200 MLSs blasts DOJ ‘flaws’ in Nosalek case

Inman

The Council of Multiple Listing Services, a trade group of about 225 MLSs, united with Northwest MLS on Wednesday to pen amicus briefs exposing alleged flaws in the DOJ's statement of interest.

Agents 200
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CFPB takes a closer look at consumer mortgage complaints

Housing Wire

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) this week released its 2023 Consumer Response Annual Report , offering an overview of consumer complaints in a variety of industries overseen by the bureau. While much of the report suggests “a continued increase in credit or consumer reporting complaints, with more than one million of these complaints being sent to the three nationwide consumer reporting companies,” the mortgage industry demonstrates general reactivity to the feedback, according t

Mortgage 403
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Barbara Corcoran on the $418M NAR settlement: It’s ‘not a big deal’

Inman

Corcoran told Yahoo! Finance she doesn't believe the effects of the settlement will be as earth-shattering as many make them out to be, but that "the confusion it's causing is amazing.

Finance 199
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2023 State-Level GDP Data

Eyes on Housing

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia in 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Delaware is the only state to report an economic contraction last year. The percent change in real GDP ranged from a 5.9 percent increase in North Dakota to a 1.2 percent.

Contracts 147
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Will uncertainty drive agents out? Maybe — but don’t let it be you

Inman

After the National Association of Realtor's proposed settlement, Coldwell Banker Realty President and CEO Kamini Lane offers 3 tips for agents amid commission compression chaos.

Agents 187
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At Federal Agency, The Mayhem Is the Message

Appraiserblogs

Mullinix has become a student of the “Title VIII Complaint Intake, Investigation, and Conciliation Handbook (8024.1).” The handbook is designed to protect citizens from overzealous federal workers. He found section after section had been violated in his own investigation by the HUD contractor. Czech-German author Franz Kafka wrote “The Trial” in 1915.

Design 103
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T3 Sixty nixes this year’s Mega 1000 list in wake of NAR settlement

Inman

The move comes two weeks after the National Association of Realtors signaled a $418M settlement of commission lawsuits. T3 Sixty said it will bring the ranking back when litigation is resolved.

Realtors 179
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Scammers Are Using AI Deepfakes to Steal Millions of Dollars, Including Real Estate—Here’s How You Can Protect Yourself From Fraud

BiggerPockets

Earlier this year, a group of scammers in Hong Kong used deepfake technology to steal more than $25 million from a company by impersonating its CFO. Real estate titles are already subject to fraud, and with AI tech, it could get even worse. Here's how to protect yourself.

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The ‘Chick-fil-A on Sunday’ ChatGPT listing presentation plan

Inman

Follow this step-by-step blueprint from Jimmy Burgess, and your listing appointments will be like Chick-fil-A on a Sunday — closed.

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Market Madness: 10 College Housing Markets That Buy-and-Hold Investors Should Consider

BiggerPockets

These college markets might not have skyrocketing price or rent growth, but they certainly have long-term strength. From Tuscaloosa to Austin, long-term investors should look into these 10 housing markets.

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Lawsuits, Compass, commission: Inman’s Top 5 stories this week

Inman

Looking for a quick catch-up on the buzziest stories of the week? Here’s Inman Top 5, the most essential stories, according to Inman readers.

Brokerage 180
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Industrial Real Estate Investing: A Guide for Modern Investors

BiggerPockets

Real estate investments are available in many shapes and sizes, including industrial real estate investing. This is not the most common form of real estate investing, but it has a lot of potential when done right, and can be a great opportunity to diversify your investments.

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Moving to Indiana for a New Start

Movoto

Whether you’re looking for a new start or circumstances are steering you toward the Midwest, moving to Indiana might be an ideal option for those seeking a change. While many outsiders may perceive Indiana as a less vibrant part of the country, it has plenty of unique traits, charm, and affordable real estate that can make this move ideal for the right individuals or families.

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Make Your New Home Your Own With Cost-Effective Décor Swaps

Eppraisal

Personalizing your residence after moving in is exciting but can be overwhelming. The urge to upgrade your rooms can be strong. However, big-ticket renovations may overextend you after you just put down a large sum. These five décor swaps make a new house feel more like your own place and improve home value. Paint Fresh Wall Colors Repainting your walls can transform your interior space dramatically without spending a fortune.

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How Much Should You Spend on Rent?

Movoto

Finding a nice place to live in a great area can feel like winning the lottery, hence why many find themselves asking, “How much should you spend on rent?” Everyone’s circumstances are different, and while cheap is ideal, it isn’t realistic for those who expect to find and maintain a residence in a place they want to live. Here, we’ll discuss several factors to consider when renting a home that should help clarify how much to spend on rent.

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Opinion: What is the public actually getting for $7.3B in housing subsidies?

Housing Wire

Federal Home Loan Bank reform is in the air in Washington D.C. The White House recently endorsed a plan to double FHLBanks’ mandatory contributions to affordable housing programs from 10 to 20% of their net income, following a recommendation by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. And the Coalition for Federal Home Loan Bank Reform , a group that I chair and started as a small group of D.C. insiders, has become a true coalition of nine national organizations representing hundreds of thousands

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Guide on How to Buy Rental Property

Movoto

Many people buy a home with the plan to eventually (or immediately!) turn the property into a rental for another family. Knowing how to buy rental property proves immensely helpful for those looking to earn a passive income stream. On paper, it sounds easy: buy a home, renovate where necessary, and after screening prospects, place a well-qualified tenant on the property.

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While the Austin housing market isn’t sizzling, agents say it is still warm

Housing Wire

It is nearly April, which means temperatures in the Austin metropolitan area are heating up — and so is the housing market. But like the temperatures, which are far from the triple-digit figures the residents of the Texas state capital will see in the coming months, local real estate professionals say that even though the market is warming up, it is nowhere near the frenzy at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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All You Need to Know About Reverse Mortgage Appraisals

AmeriMac

Reverse mortgages are becoming an increasingly popular financial tool for homeowners over the age of 62 who want to access equity in their homes. One important aspect of the reverse mortgage process is the appraisal, which determines the value of the property and plays a crucial role in determining the size of the loan. In this blog, we will explore everything you need to know about reverse mortgage appraisals, including the basics of how reverse mortgages work, the eligibility criteria for a re