Housing Wire

DECEMBER 16, 2023

The Federal Reserve played the good grinch for Christmas this year and delivered the best gift for homebuyers nationwide, leading to lower mortgage rates. The 10-year yield and mortgage rates fell together after the Fed meetings, which gave us mortgage rates under 7% last week. Mortgage rates and the 10-year yield What a crazy week! Not too long ago, on jobs Friday, I was on the HousingWire Daily podcast saying it’s time to declare war on the Federal Reserve for being too restrictive; you can li

Inventory 535

Inventory New Listings Mortgage Law 535

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Art Carter and Brian Donnellan, CEOs of the nation’s largest MLSs, are pals as well as colleagues, walking the talk of collaboration in challenging times.

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George Dell

DECEMBER 20, 2023

More appraisal censorship is here! Have you noticed this new regulation that censors California appraisers and flat out appears to prohibit accepted sound appraisal methodology and practice? Editor’s Note: A Guest Post from Bruce Hahn, CCIM, MAI, SRA Consider California Business & Professions Code Section 11424(a) which says: Licensees shall not base, either partially or […] The post More Appraiser Censorship??

Appraisal 221

Appraisal Business 221

Eyes on Housing

DECEMBER 21, 2023

NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly state and local tax data shows that $129 billion in taxes were paid by property owners in the third quarter of 2023 (not seasonally adjusted).[1] In the four quarters ending Q3 2023, state and local governments collected $757 billion of property tax revenue—an 11.6% increase over Q3 2022. The year-over-year growth rate of property tax revenue.

Property Taxes 197

Property Taxes Government 197

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2023

First American is the latest real estate firm to suffer a cybersecurity incident. Sources told HousingWire the incident occurred Wednesday afternoon, with First American confirming the incident Thursday morning. In a statement on the title company’s website it notes that First American has “taken certain systems offline” and that it is working to resume normal business operations as soon as possible.

Clients 525

Clients Real Estate Business Mortgage 525

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 19, 2023

The Department of Justice has inserted itself — again — in the Nosalek buyer-broker commissions case ahead of final settlement approval.

Buyers 295

Buyers 295

The Appraiser Coach

DECEMBER 19, 2023

I’ve started getting into investing over the last couple of years, and I had an experience related to that that I want to share with you. I started looking at getting into short-term rentals. I’m smart enough to know what I don’t know, and I started looking for someone who could teach me how to make this work. I found a group that sounded really promising.

Business 150

Business Investing Appraisal Inspection 150

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Mortgage rates stayed below 7% for the second week in a row, a welcome relief after a 17-week streak of above-7% rates. This week’s dip is the largest weekly drop since November 2022. The 30-year, fixed mortgage rate averaged 6.67% for the week ending Dec. 21, according to Freddie Mac ‘s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. That’s down from last week’s 6.95% and up from 6.27% the same week a year ago.

Mortgage 500

Mortgage Inventory Construction Marketing 500

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Even if the hoped-for economic “soft landing” isn’t so soft, don’t expect to see a wave of short sales and foreclosures next year.

Mortgage 291

Mortgage 291

Inman

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Illinois-based Dovenmuehle Mortgage, which collects monthly payments from homeowners in all 50 states on behalf of lenders and investors, says it's cutting HQ staff but not closing down.

Mortgage 197

Mortgage Investors Marketing 197

Eyes on Housing

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Consumer confidence jumped to a five-month high as consumers were more optimistic about inflation and the economic outlook. This optimism was primarily driven by slowing inflation, expectations of lower interest rates, and fading fears of recession. The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by the Conference Board, rose 9.7 points from 101.0 to 110.7 in December, the highest level since August 2023.

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Housing Wire

DECEMBER 20, 2023

It was late 2022 and Mike was feeling the pressure. Mortgage rates had climbed close to the 7% range and he was determined to remain competitive on pricing with rival loan officers in North Carolina. But there was a problem: pricing exceptions, in which the lender takes the hit, were becoming scarce at his company. So he did what a lot of retail loan officers in the industry were doing — Mike would reclassify a self-generated lead as a corporate-generated lead, thus slashing his compensation fr

Loan Officers 458

Loan Officers Clients Law Legal 458

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Lending changes, outside-the-box compensation options and some amount of agent attrition are likely outcomes, say T3 Sixty executives.

Lending 282

Lending Agents 282

Inman

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Colony Ridge, the developer of more than 40,000 lots northeast of Houston, says its clients have no opportunity to get a loan from anyone else and dismisses federal lawsuit as baseless.

Development 195

Development Marketing Clients Mortgage 195

GoForrmz

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Originally published on 11/17/2015 Become more efficient with streamlined, real-time data with GoFormz mobile forms The conventional way of dealing with paper forms can be quite time-consuming, taking days or even weeks to process, organize, and analyze data. It's not the most efficient method and is prone to human errors and unpredictable delays. For example, if a field technician visits the office twice a week to submit paper reports, the office then has to go through the tedious process of so

Construction 147

Construction Business 147

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Mortgage demand fell for the first time since November as mortgage rates reached their lowest level since June 2023. Total home loan applications decreased by 1.5% for the week ending Dec. 15 compared to the previous week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Mortgage rates for the 30-year fixed loan averaged 6.83%, according to Freddie Mac ‘s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. “At least as of last week, borrowers’ response to this rate move was rather tepid,”

Mortgage 457

Mortgage Marketing Finance 457

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 16, 2023

Matt Lionetti leaves The Agency for Real; Century 21 firms merge in S. Carolina; The Agency expands in Long Island; eXp Luxury and eXp Canada grow; more.

Brokerage 248

Brokerage 248

Inman

DECEMBER 20, 2023

The Inman Intel Index goes beyond sentiment and trends by tapping into the real estate industry's most engaged community. Add your voice to the industry's most ambitious monthly survey.

Real Estate 195

Real Estate Technology Brokerage Agents 195

Appraiserblogs

DECEMBER 22, 2023

“Well, I guess no one will be doing appraisals in New Jersey… or maybe the standard fee is going to be $10,000?” said one appraiser. The bill proposed by New Jersey Senate lawmakers to create steep penalties for real estate appraisers who undervalue homes because of the owner or buyer’s protected characteristics has been met with both praise and criticism.

Appraisal 138

Appraisal Real Estate Law 138

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 22, 2023

New home sales fell month-over-month in November to their lowest level since last November. But despite this dip, 2023 is poised to be one of homebuilders’ busiest years. Total new home sales are expected to reach about 5% higher than last year, while sales of existing homes are down by nearly 20% year-over-year. In November, new home sales reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 590,000, according to data published on Friday by the U.S.

Inventory 450

Inventory Government Development Marketing 450

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 21, 2023

On stages large and small, NAR President Tracy Kasper is making a compelling push to retake the Realtor narrative and highlight efforts to expand homeownership.

Realtors 235

Realtors 235

Inman

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Two days after being hit by a cyberattack, the title insurance giant says it's still trying to restore operations and warns clients that it's taken its email system offline.

Clients 193

Clients Insurance Technology Mortgage 193

DW Slater Company

DECEMBER 22, 2023

As we’re getting ready to say goodbye to 2023 and welcome 2024, we wanted to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 2023 recap: This year, we saw many changes in the real estate market. The rising mortgage rates slowed down the real estate market considerably. This year marks the first year in over a decade that we show a decline in YoY median pricing.

Construction 107

Construction Real Estate Inventory Clients 107

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 22, 2023

The year ahead promises to offer the housing industry some relief, compared with a grueling 2023, but it is likely to be only a small bounce forward toward a healthier market. The housing industry, including the secondary market it feeds, is still likely to be sluggish in 2024, with marginal improvements in some sectors as others tread water or retreat slightly, industry players who spoke with HousingWire predict.

Mortgage 441

Mortgage Marketing Housing Market Buyers 441

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 19, 2023

The latest NAHB survey shows improving builder confidence, and even Fannie Mae’s more bearish economists see a recovery ahead.

Mortgage 268

Mortgage 268

Inman

DECEMBER 21, 2023

The $10 million lawsuit alleges two former Nest Seekers managers stole the firm's commissions, clients, intellectual and other confidential property as Ryan Serhant used "unfair and deceptive trade practices" to launch SERHANT. in Connecticut.

Clients 190

Clients Brokerage 190

Empire Appraisal Group

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Fraudster Steals Fla. Mansion, Threatens Actual Owners By Kerry Smith A Tampa court sentenced a man to 17 years for faking a charity that faked a Fla. mansion purchase – and then threatening to kill the real owners to keep them quiet. TAMPA, Fla. – According to court documents, Alexander Leszczynski, created a fake charity and then used that charity to create a fake warranty deed for a transfer of property in Redington Shores, Florida, in October 2020.

Legal 78

Legal Realtors Agents Appraisal 78

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2023

There’s no higher honor than serving in the United States Military , which I deeply understand as a former Army sergeant. And, like many of my fellow service members, I’ve experienced firsthand the sense of missing out on a significant benefit we’ve rightfully earned protecting our freedoms — the VA mortgage loan — which stands as one of the most powerful tools that our nation’s veterans and active-duty military personnel can use to purchase a home and build long-term financial

Mortgage 441

Mortgage Renovations Appraisal Process Finance 441

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Following a review, Top Agent Network's lawsuit challenging NAR's Clear Cooperation policy — which had been dismissed in 2021 — will be able to proceed.

Agents 236

Agents 236

Inman

DECEMBER 19, 2023

The good news for real estate pros is that closely watched forecasts agree home sales will bottom in Q4 2023, and mortgage rates are looking ready to come down significantly next year.

Real Estate 190

Real Estate Mortgage Marketing 190

Appraisal Hub

DECEMBER 20, 2023

In the bustling city of Toronto, the real estate market is as dynamic as it is diverse. Whether you’re a homeowner, a prospective buyer, or a real estate professional, understanding the true value of a property is crucial. This is where the expertise of a real estate appraiser becomes invaluable. As a subject expert in property valuation and appraisal services in Toronto, I want to guide you through the importance of professional real estate appraisal and how it can benefit you.

Real Estate 78

Real Estate Valuation Appraisal Legal 78

Housing Wire

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Last week’s DataDigest offered readers a host of housing forecasts from industry experts at banks, trade associations and more, the thrust of which was housing professionals should expect a modestly better year of sales thanks to retreating mortgage rates in the year to come. A day after publication, Federal Reserve officials made several of their own forecasts – most importantly that the “appropriate policy path” for the Federal funds rate next year will be for it to dec

Mortgage 441

Mortgage Realtors Real Estate Marketing 441

Real Estate News

DECEMBER 18, 2023

The former eXp CEO is resigning from the company’s board and reported selling 60,000 shares of company stock last week.

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Inman

DECEMBER 22, 2023

AsterKey is a fintech app with real estate applications, the most notable being its ability to produce a secure, verified proof of funds letter while greatly minimizing the risk of exposure or fraud.

Real Estate 193

Real Estate Technology Agents 193