Sat.Oct 26, 2024 - Fri.Nov 01, 2024

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Housing inventory fell last week. Have sellers called it quits?

Housing Wire

Since mid-2022 when mortgage rates headed higher , two facts have been apparent: new listings data has been trending at the lowest levels ever recorded in history and inventory has been able to grow from record low levels thanks to mortgage rates staying elevated. We’ve seen some growth in new listings this year compared to 2023 levels, which is good for housing.

Inventory 523
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Strong Housing Market Impacting Zombie Foreclosures Nationwide 

Appraisal Buzz

An estimated 1.4 million (1,355,909) residential homes in the U.S. remain unoccupied, according to ATTOM ‘s fourth-quarter 2024 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report. That percentage, or one in 77 households nationwide, is about the same as it was in the third quarter and only somewhat higher than it was a year ago. In Q4 of this year, 215,601 residential properties in the U.S. were in foreclosure, according to the data.

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Flat prices & the insurance mess

Sacramento Appraisal Blog

Prices have been pretty flat. That’s a really good way to describe the housing market lately in many areas across the country. Let’s talk about that today as well as dig into insurance. I have some encouragement to share too about mindset. UPCOMING SPEAKING GIGS: 11/7/2024 Think Like an Appraiser (3 hours) TBA 11/19/24 Downtown […] The post Flat prices & the insurance mess first appeared on Sacramento Appraisal Blog.

Insurance 323
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NAR settlement doesn’t pass the ‘real world’ test

Real Estate News

A law professor filed a lengthy objection calling it “the worst of all possible worlds,” raising concerns about “chaos and frustration” as well as legal fees.

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New objection to NAR settlement targets business practice changes, plaintiffs’ attorneys fees

Housing Wire

After previously taking issue with some of the forms generated as a result of the terms of the National Association of Realtors ’ (NAR) nationwide commission lawsuit settlement agreement , University of Buffalo law professor Tanya Monestier is now objecting to NAR’s settlement. In a document filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City — less than a month before the NAR settlement is slated for its final approval hearing — Monestier took issue with the business practice changes, sayi

Business 468
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Pending Home Sales Climb to Highest Level Since March

Appraisal Buzz

The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reports that pending home sales increased in September. Transactions increased month over month in all four major regions. While sales in the Midwest and South stayed stable, the Northeast and West saw gains year-over-year. September saw a 7.4% increase in the Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a measure of future home sales based on contract signings, to 75.8, the highest level since March (78.3).

Contracts 418

More Trending

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Real estate in for a fright as mortgage rates return to 7%

Real Estate News

The latest numbers suggest that, for the third consecutive fall season, rates will crest that dreaded threshold.

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This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s spread awareness about real estate wire fraud

Housing Wire

Over the last decade, real estate transactions have increasingly become a prime target for cybercrime. Far from slowing down, the scams are becoming more prevalent, sophisticated, and difficult to recognize as fraudulent. With October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it is important that the real estate industry and consumers speak up and spread the word about how to prevent these real estate cybercrimes.

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Which U.S. Cities Are Facing the Highest Mortgage Delinquency Rates?

Appraisal Buzz

A recent WalletHub report sheds light on mortgage delinquency rates across 100 U.S. cities, with rates spanning from around 3% to a staggering 23%. Based on data collected between Q1 and Q2 of 2024, WalletHub’s study ranks cities according to the proportion of mortgage holders behind on payments, a critical metric in assessing financial strain within communities.

Mortgage 435
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Share of renters paying under $1,000 hits record low, Redfin says

Inman

Only 32.1 percent of renter households currently pay less than $1,000 in monthly rent — a sharp decline from 35.2 percent in 2022 and 50.4 percent in 2012, according to an analysis from Redfin released Wednesday.

Marketing 163
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A spate of objections to NAR, HomeServices settlements

Real Estate News

With less than a month until the deals are finalized, objectors are making claims of insufficient damages, harm to minorities, lack of accountability and more.

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Amy Stockberger explores her brokerage’s quest for ’lifetime home support’

Housing Wire

In the latest episode of the RealTrending podcast , Amy Stockberger — broker-owner of Amy Stockberger Real Estate — joins Tracey Velt for a tantalizing conversation that covers her teamerage’s unique “Lifetime Home Support” model and other ways that agents can provide value to home buyers and sellers. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

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Where Are the Most Expensive Zip Codes in the U.S.?

Appraisal Buzz

It’s been a year of cautious growth for luxury real estate, so it’s the perfect time for PropertyShark to come up with a list of the 100 most expensive zip codes in America. And the winner is … Atherton, California (again). Located just north of Menlo Park in northern California, Atherton takes the crown for the most expensive zip code in the nation for the eighth consecutive year, with a 2024 median sale price of $7,900,000.

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Commissions held steady after Aug. 17, Redfin study shows

Inman

Commissions have been slowly declining over the last decade, but since the NAR settlement terms went into effect this summer, buyer's agent commissions have seen little impact.

Buyers 186
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Douglas Elliman fires brokerage CEO

Real Estate News

Scott Durkin, who led Douglas Elliman Realty, was terminated just days after the CEO of its parent company stepped down.

Brokerage 250
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Pending home sales jumped in September behind lower mortgage rates

Housing Wire

Lower mortgage rates in September had a measurable impact on home sales. According to data released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), pending home sales in September jumped 7.4% compared to August and 2.6% year over year. NAR’s index reading of 75.8 is the highest number since March. An index reading of 100 equates to sales activity in 2001.

Mortgage 476
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Freddie Mac Enhances Product Selection With an Emphasis on First-Time Buyers 

Appraisal Buzz

A number of enhanced initiatives have been announced by Freddie Mac to increase housing affordability, particularly for first-time homebuyers and borrowers. The company continues to work with the industry to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and offer more opportunities to get qualified borrowers into homes they can afford with improvements to its automated underwriting system, appraisal waiver expansions, and advancements in the down payment assistance space.

Buyers 395
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Judge grants final approval to 9 commission lawsuit settlements

Inman

Judge Stephen Bough granted approval for settlements involving Compass, Douglas Elliman, @properties and other companies. Collectively, the companies will pay $110 million to resolve the litigation.

Brokerage 185
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Howard Hanna expands its presence in Ohio, South Carolina

Real Estate News

The major independent firm announced a pair of deals this week that support its strategy of steady growth across the eastern U.S.

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Case-Shiller home-price index slows, but rising mortgage rates could speed it up again

Housing Wire

Is home-price growth finally cooling? That’s a question raised by the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index for August, which showed deceleration on a year-over-year basis and a slight dip relative to July. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the national home price index posted a 4.2% gain year over year, less than the 4.8% gain from July. The monthly index fell by 0.1%.

Mortgage 487
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MBA: Homebuyer Affordability Improved in September But it Likely Won’t Last

Appraisal Buzz

Homebuyer affordability improved slightly in September, as the national median payment applied for by purchase applicants fell to $2,041, down from $2,057 in August, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI). The index measures how new monthly mortgage payments vary across time – relative to income – using data from MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey (WAS).

Mortgage 393
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Fannie and Freddie will let more buyers off the hook for an appraisal

Inman

Appraisal waiver programs that rely on automated valuation models will be expanded next year to allow participation by homebuyers putting less than 20 percent down.

Appraisal 185
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The fall housing rally may have come and gone

Real Estate News

September’s low rates gave pending sales a boost, but as mortgage rates climb for a fifth straight week, enthusiasm is expected to wane.

Mortgage 238
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What is a real estate broker vs. an agent? We explain the key differences

Housing Wire

Vetted by HousingWire | Our editors independently review the products we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you’re looking to start a career in real estate, already have one or are involved in real estate transactions, you may find yourself wondering about industry terminology and job titles. The industry acronyms alone look like alphabet soup.

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Real Estate Agents Weigh in on Impact of NAR Settlement

Appraisal Buzz

Commissions paid to real estate agents representing buyers have remained essentially unchanged since new rules on commissions went into effect on August 17 , according to a new analysis from Redfin. The average buyer’s agent commission for homes sold in October was 2.34%, ticking down just one basis point from 2.35% for homes sold in August, when the new changes took effect.

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Compass envisions recruitment opportunity in industry upheaval

Inman

Rory Golod, Compass' president of growth and communications, spoke to Inman about Clear Cooperation, commission settlements, franchising and much more.

Realtors 183
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In the courts: What’s new, and what’s next

Real Estate News

There's more than $110 million at stake in a nine-brokerage commissions settlement hearing next week, while eXp has come under fire for its recent deal.

Brokerage 241
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That refi mini boom appears all but dead as mortgage rates surge

Housing Wire

A 60 basis point increase in mortgage rates in October has strangled mortgage demand, particularly for refinancings , according to the latest survey data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Mortgage applications overall decreased 0.1% from one week earlier, per the MBA ‘s weekly applications survey for the week ending Oct. 25. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, but fell 1% on an

Mortgage 468
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Four in Five Recent Homebuyers Interested in Refis 

Appraisal Buzz

A new TransUnion survey has found that many consumers feel their existing mortgage and auto payments are putting a strain on their household finances, as the prospect of falling interest rates has them ready to consider refinancing those loans. TransUnion’s survey found that four in five recent home buyers say their mortgage payments are straining their finances, and are looking to refinance their mortgage payments in the next 12 months.

Finance 393
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‘Not done’: Antitrust litigation in real estate is just warming up

Inman

In a recent webinar, Spencer Rascoff, James Dwiggins and Jack Miller discussed the future of commissions and why agents and brokers should pay attention to their legal risk.

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Making your pitch: What sellers want to know

Real Estate News

10 questions every listing agent had better be able to answer, from whether to list on the MLS or offer buy-side compensation to what goes into pricing a home.

Sellers 230
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LoanSnap troubles continue as California revokes its lender license

Housing Wire

A California regulator has revoked the residential mortgage lending license of LoanSnap , the latest in a series of difficulties for the fintech lender. According to a filing from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation dated Oct. 18, LoanSnap had its license revoked after it failed to renew its surety bond. That policy, which is designed to protect consumers from lender fraud and financial risk, expired in early August.

Landlords 448
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Share of Newly Built Homes Hits Lowest Level in Three Years

Appraisal Buzz

According to a new Redfin research, in Q3 of this year, an estimated 28% of single-family homes for sale nationwide were newly constructed, the lowest percentage in three years. That is lower than the record-high 34.4% at the beginning of 2022 and 30.5% a year ago. For a number of factors, the proportion of newly constructed homes for sale has decreased from its peak, including: The market has seen an increase in existing inventory.

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Authorities arrest missing San Antonio agent’s husband

Inman

Real estate agent Suzanne Simpson has been missing since Oct. 7. Olmos Park authorities have arrested her husband, Brad, for obstructing a search of the couple's home last week.