Jack Ryan, CEO of residential brokerage REX This is Part Two of Three in HousingWire’s dive into all matters residential real estate commissions. Part one looks at how we got here. Part three looks at what’s next. Wearing a rolled
Skyrocketing lumber prices add $36K to new homes
Outrageously high lumber prices have for months been keeping builders awake at night, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Per the National Association of Home Builders, lumber prices have tripled over the past 12 months and
Immerse Yourself in Van Gogh
Being able to stroll through “Starry Night” is an art lover’s dream — and now you can feel as if you are rolling with the very clouds painted by Van Gogh himself. One of the pandemic’s most popular art events,
The Fed isn’t going to stop buying MBS just yet
The Federal Open Market Committee left future economic policies virtually unchanged at its Wednesday meeting, indicating it has not made any near-term plans to taper its asset purchases of Treasury– and mortgage-backed securities (MBS). The FOMC did alter April’s verbiage of the
SimpleNexus, Notarize partner in new eClose release
Digital mortgage platform SimpleNexus now supports remote online notarization (RON) through its eClose technology, the company announced Tuesday. It will also partner with Notarize in debuting RON to eClose. It’s a big deal for lenders, who can now use the platform
Community Title Network acquires Colony Title Group
Mid-Atlantic title company Community Title Network LLC has acquired Colony Title Group LTD, an agency in Columbia, Maryland. It’s the third acquisition made by Community Title Network, which acquired Virginia-based The Settlement Group in June 2019 and Baltimore’s Continental Title
How to Attract Remote Workers to Your Apartment Community
Thanks to the pandemic, the number of employees who work from home swelled over the past year. Even though offices are beginning to open, with workers returning to the workplace, surveys show that many plan to telework at least part-time
PeerStreet aids underserved real estate entrepreneurs
Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, PeerStreet CEO Brew Johnson knew his real estate investing platform needed to get involved with forwarding social change. That led to the launch of PeerStreet’s “Evolving Neighborhood Uplift Fund,” a charitable initiative
How Can We Bring More Imagination to the Customer Experience?
The Relentless podcast is back, and we are bringing down the house with our line-up for season two. Kicking things off with a new host, new featured guests, thought-provoking topics, and one episode already under our belt, what better way
San Jose Real Estate Market & Investment Overview
Data by C.A.R. The forecast is an estimate from various sources. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. We will discuss the latest San Jose real estate market trends. The San Jose’s housing
Applications drop, despite falling mortgage rates
Following an almost 9% jump in mortgage applications last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 2.5% decrease in applications in its latest report for the week ending April 23, 2021. Mortgage applications decreased despite mortgage rates falling for the
When is the Best Time to Sell a House?
Timing can be everything when it comes to selling a home. From which season you choose to list your home down to the month and even the day can impact how quickly your home can sell and for how much.
The 100-years-war over real estate commissions
In 2002, Natalya Delcoure and Norman Miller, two real estate economists, set about to learn what fees consumers pay real estate agents in America. They were especially interested in real estate commissions. What Decloure and Miller discovered was somewhat shocking.
Considering a fixer-upper? What you need to know
Fixer-uppers are tempting prospects. Such properties let you buy into a desirable neighborhood at far below typical market value. That’s because you’re not buying a typical house. With fixer-uppers, you must think carefully. Ask yourself: Will this house be worth
10 Best Home Improvements Under $10k Worth the Investment
Your home is meant to be a place of enjoyment. It’s where you relax after a long day of work, have friends over for backyard barbecues, and ultimately it generates wealth through building equity over the years. Making certain home
FHFA releases new refi option for low-income borrowers
Following an incredible year for refinances that mostly benefited wealthier borrowers, the Federal House Finance Agency announced it is implementing a new refi product that targets low-income borrowers with single-family mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. According to
Hispanic homeownership surged in 2020
Hispanic homeownership in the U.S. climbed significantly in 2020 – there are now 8.8 million Hispanic homeowners in the country, according to a report released this week by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. That’s 725,000 more than
Fairway Mortgage to partner with Milwaukee Brewers
Wisconsin-based Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. announced Wednesday a multiyear partnership with Major League Baseball‘s Milwaukee Brewers. Fairway will have signage placed throughout the Brewers’ home stadium, American Family Field, and will participate in multiple off-the-field Brewers initiatives, such as the
Credit scores, and the end of mortgage forbearance
As part of the landmark CARES Act passed in 2020, Congress stipulated that mortgages in forbearance as a result of COVID-19 must be reported as “current” on credit reports. The legislation saved millions of homeowners from having their credit scores
Charter Title forms Hispanic division for Nebraska markets
Nebraska-based Charter Title and Escrow has formed a Hispanic division to further assist Spanish-speaking customers, Realtors and loan officers in the region, the company announced on Wednesday. Per Angela Miller, Charter Title agent, Hispanics make up the fastest-growing demographic in
Margin compression could serve as accelerant toward digital closings
As a leader in the adoption, implementation and use of digital mortgages Camelia Martin’s breadth of experience has never been more relevant to the industry. A 2020 Woman of Influence, Martin joined Snapdocs earlier this year as Head of Industry
The CFPB is coming for you: here’s how to prepare
If you’re caught in the sights of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau — or if you’re hoping to avoid the regulator’s scrutiny altogether — here’s what you need to know in 2021. The regulator is no longer “taking it easy”
Sales of luxury homes skyrocket in first quarter
Sales of luxury homes rose 41.6% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2021, crushing sales of affordable homes (7% increase) and mid-priced homes (5.9%), per a recent report from Redfin. Redfin defines “luxury” homes as selling for an average of
What is a Kick-Out Clause and How Do You Use It?
Every real estate transaction involves risk, whether you are the buyer or the seller. And during a real estate transaction, either party can include specific contingencies to help mitigate some of the risks. Common contingencies may allow either party to