Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Keller Williams has decided to bow out of the Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit. On Thursday, the Gary Keller-helmed brokerage notified the federal court in Missouri that it had entered into a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in the Sitzer/Burnett suit. The settlement settles all home seller lawsuits nationwide. According to Keller Williams spokesperson Darryl Frost, the firm will pay $70 million as part of the settlement agreement.

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Agents Realtors Real Estate Agent Real Estate 473

Real Estate News

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

The deal will leave just NAR and HomeServices of America as defendants in Sitzer-Burnett and similar commissions cases, with billions of dollars at stake.

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Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Mortgage rates continued their downward plunge this week as inflation keeps decelerating. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.63% as of Feb. 1, a decrease from last week’s figure of 6.69%, according to Freddie Mac ’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey released on Thursday. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed rate averaged 5.94% this week, down from 5.96% during the prior week.

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Mortgage Housing Market Sellers Inventory 466

Real Estate News

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

According to a new survey, the majority of buyers are concerned about transparency in the homebuying process.

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Buyers 312

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

The Tech100 Mortgage award celebrates the most innovative and impactful organizations in housing. More than just an acknowledgment; the Tech100 award is a testament to the transformative impact these companies have made, propelling the mortgage sector into new realms of efficiency, transparency and accessibility. Now in its 12th year, the Tech100 program provides housing professionals with a comprehensive list of the most innovative and impactful organizations in the industry.

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Mortgage Valuation Insurance Appraisal 450

Real Estate News

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Rates have remained relatively stable since December, with the average 30-year mortgage rate posting a modest decline this week.

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Mortgage 284

Inman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

"Strategic move" expands New American's footprint in the Midwest and East Coast regions, with a majority of DKMC's loan originators and support staff to be retained.

Mortgage 195

Mortgage 195

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Top 10 mortgage lender and servicer NewRez is restructuring its distributed retail mortgage business, which has resulted in cuts to regional and divisional managers. The restructuring also includes reduced compensation for loan officers, and sources said that many are seeking new opportunities at rival lenders. Nonproducing regional and divisional managers were let go on Wednesday as part of the restructuring, multiple sources told HousingWire.

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Retail Loan Officers Business Real Estate 432

Inman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Guy Gal spoke out last week about the challenges of 2023 and the way agents can avoid falling prey to negativity even during tough times.

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Agents Realtors Brokerage 190

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

In a bizarre turn of events, the National Association of Realtors posted, then removed before reposting, a video featuring the trade group’s interim CEO Nykia Wright “setting the record straight” on agent commissions. The video was first posted on Wednesday around 9 a.m. ET before being removed roughly two hours later. It reappeared on NAR’s website later in the day around 6 p.m.

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Realtors Brokerage Real Estate Agents 421

Appraiserblogs

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Fellow Appraisers, the appraisal industry has been facing a major issue with AMCs violating the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Customary and Reasonable fee clauses. This has not only caused harm to consumers but also to appraisers who are struggling to make a living. Despite efforts to bring this issue to light, it has been largely hidden from the public and regulators.

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Appraisal Lending 158

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler sat down with Uday Devalla, chief technology officer at Sagent and a 2023 Vanguard , to talk about his focus on transforming servicing, what really counts with data and the right approach to using artificial intelligence. Sarah Wheeler: After spending several decades leading tech at lenders, including Stearns and Bank of America, what drew you to join Sagent four years ago?

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Technology Architecture Modernization Agents 421

Empire Appraisal Group

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Westend61 / Getty Images Source: [link] No Power Bills in This Florida Community Hunter’s Point, located in Manatee County, is the world’s first LEED Zero Energy certified residential development. CORTEZ, Fla. – The 86 homes built or planned for Hunters Point, located in Cortez, have no electricity expenses, with 14 solar panels and a 12-kilowatt-hour home battery in the utility closet of each home.

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Development Design Appraisal Real Estate 78

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Sports TV personality Stephen A. Smith, speaking on Detroit as the Detroit Lions were in the final four contenders to play in Super Bowl LVIII, described the city as follows: “Detroit. Phenomenal fan base. Great city. It’s been through a lot. The downtown area, big time. The stadium, big time. But you go to the outskirts of the Detroit area and it looks like a damn desert town.

Real Estate 410

Real Estate Appraisal Insurance Training 410

BiggerPockets

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Most people pursuing financial independence own businesses or have stable jobs, working as hard as they can to make any extra dollar, throwing their money into the stock market or […]

Business 77

Business Marketing 77

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Rocket Companies expanded its board of directors from eight to nine, adding an artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech expert. Rocket — under the helm of Varun Krishna , a veteran in the financial technology world — is becoming more focused on technology than ever. Onboarding Alastair (Alex) Rampell highlights Rocket’s priority of becoming a fintech company.

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Technology Finance Mortgage Investing 410

Lamacchia Realty

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

We are proud the announce that the winner of the 2023 Employee Referral Award is Michelle Wesson! For the third year in a row, Michelle has earned this award for referring the most buyers and sellers into the company. All the clients Michelle has brought in have all been referred out to our Lamacchia Realty REALTORS. Michelle is a Success Guide at Lamacchia Realty, and in this role, she has helped hundreds of our agents grow their business!

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Realty Sellers Clients Agents 73

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Shortly after EasyKnock acquired home equity investment platform Balance Homes , the company appointed former Balance Homes co-founders Judd Schoenholtz and Aaron LaRue as chief revenue officer and chief technology officer, respectively. “Judd and Aaron’s respective leadership is key as we continue on EasyKnock’s path to develop the first marketplace in the industry,” Jarred Kessler, CEO and founder of EasyKnock, said in a statement.

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Technology Development Brokerage Design 410

Lamacchia Realty

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

The Meghan A. Martin award is presented annually to an agent whose actions embody the many things that Meghan stood for and demonstrated every day. This year, we are honored to present the 2023 Meghan A. Martin Award to Nicole Vermillion. “Nicole has such a big heart, and her kindness and compassion towards others remind me so much of Meghan. She is truly a selfless person, and her ability to touch people's lives is a beautiful tribute to our dear friend's memory.

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Realty Real Estate Agents Realtors 69

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

For the past 12 years, HousingWire’s Tech100 program has recognized the industry’s most innovative and impactful technology companies that are continuing to bring long-awaited solutions to the challenges that mortgage and real estate professionals have struggled with for decades. The award uncovers the innovators that are unleashing insight with analytics, powering growth and efficiency with AI and automation, providing leaders and production teams the tools they need to accelerate.

Real Estate 410

Real Estate Mortgage Tools Technology 410

Lamacchia Realty

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Lamacchia Realty’s Fast Tracker award is presented to a REALTOR® who, in just their first year with the brokerage, is already on the path to success, and who the company believes will be the agent to watch. The Fast Tracker for 2023 is… Jackie Guido! Jackie joined Lamacchia Realty in the spring of 2022, and from the very beginning, her desire to succeed was noticeable.

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Realty Training Realtors Tools 67

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

United Bank will consolidate its mortgage subsidiaries into one unified mortgage business amid the housing industry struggles with elevated interest rates. United Bank has been delivering mortgage services through three channels, including two mortgage subsidiaries — Crescent Mortgage Co. and George Mason Mortgage — and an in-bank channel. “In an effort to better serve our communities and provide a best-in-class mortgage business, we are consolidating our mortgage subsidiaries into one unified

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Mortgage Human Resources Business Appraisal 409

Lamacchia Realty

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

The winner of the 2023 Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Referral contest is AJ Bruce ! AJ was able to help clients buy and sell all over the country in 2023, including New York, North Carolina, Georgia, and more! While AJ has been a top contender in this contest for 5 years, this year he finally took home the 1 st place award! AJ Bruce is a top REALTOR ® at Lamacchia Realty, earning the award for Most Transactions in 2023 in the Northborough Office , and ranking within 2023’s Top 10 P

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Realty Realtors Real Estate Clients 66

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

The Dallas-based MetroTex Association of Realtors has a new CEO. The trade group announced Wednesday that it has pegged Justin Landon to take the helm. “I’m honored to join the MetroTex Association of Realtors team as CEO. With exceptional leadership, industry-leading staff, and a clear vision, we’re poised for great success,” Landon said in a statement.

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Realtors Real Estate Agent Real Estate Government 409

Lamacchia Realty

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

In real estate, first impressions often leave a big impact on potential clients. When someone visits any of our Lamacchia Company’s webpages, their first impression of our company is showcased by a sleek, clean design and excellent functionality. Handling the graphic design for several websites requires a significant amount of time, effort, and skill, but this staff member goes above and beyond to ensure that everything runs smoothly for all our brands.

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Design Realty Real Estate Lending 62

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

While recent data has illustrated the dire financial situation that many members of Generation X — the cohort born primarily between 1965 and 1981 — seem to find themselves in, a recent story published in Fortune is putting human faces on the anxiety-ridden data. Members of the cohort are extremely concerned that a severe health issue could cripple their financial situations, amplifying concerns that recent studies have illustrated about the generation’s ability to retire comfortably.

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Clients Mortgage Marketing 409

Lamacchia Realty

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Thursday, February 1 st, 2024 – Anthony Lamacchia announced at the annual company event that the 2023 Employee of the Year is Christin Piccirilli, our incredible Financial Analyst! Christin’s hard work and expert-level skillset in all things accounting and bookkeeping have made her a standout employee, for several years. In 2023 with the large amount of growth at Lamacchia Property Management Christin’s work went to a whole new level.

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Property Management Realty Finance Business 61

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Stavvy ’s Loss Mitigation Solution is a fully customizable and mobile-friendly platform. Homeowners and servicers can complete all necessary tasks — from upfront application and processing to final document execution — for faster resolution and increased pull-through. Stavvy provides a best-in-class experience for both homeowners and servicers to manage the loss mitigation process.

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Investors Government Mortgage Business 323

BiggerPockets

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

The US economy has survived the past few years surprisingly well. But there’s one huge threat on the horizon no one is watching.

Real Estate 73

Real Estate 73

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Stavvy is a truly comprehensive digital closing platform, the only solution to offer a SMART Doc engine that extends the savings, efficiency and security of eNotes to all mortgage documents for all loan programs and across all 50 states while supporting every type of eClosing and eNotarization. Stavvy offers real estate professionals the flexibility and reliability needed to grow their business and meet their customers’ demands — when, where and how they want.

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Real Estate Legal Technology Clients 315

BiggerPockets

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

This article is presented by Steadily. Read our editorial guidelines for more information.

Real Estate 81

Real Estate Investors Business Law 81

Mortgagebroker News

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Central bank governor calls for renewed government focus on boosting inventory

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Government Inventory 64

Clear Capital

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Story by HousingWire Clear Capital is a national real estate valuation technology company that has been developing solutions to build confidence in real estate decisions since 2001. AURA, Clear Capital’s automated underwriting risk analyzer, enables loan origination systems and order management platforms to embed advanced appraisal quality analytics fueled by machine learning and photo AI into their ecosystem to streamline collateral underwriting.

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Technology Real Estate Valuation Investors 36

Mortgagebroker News

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Economists on how the central bank is viewing the outlook for the sector

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Marketing Mortgage 64