RIS Media Real Estate News

According to the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index (one of the economy’s key inflation gauges), prices increased 2.2% in August compared to the prior year. Minus more volatile prices such as food and energy, prices increased 2.7%. Month-over-month, there was only a 0.1% increase in the price index during August. July saw a…

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With a recent interest rate decrease from the Fed and slowing inflation, consumers’ economic hopes saw a significant increase in September. Consumer sentiment rose 3.2% in September, from 67.9 in August to 70.1, according to the University of Michigan’s latest report. This is the second consecutive month of increase, following August’s rise of 1.5 points,…

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Editor’s Note: The Mortgage Mix is RISMedia’s weekly highlight reel of need-to-know mortgage-industry happenings. Watch for it each Friday afternoon. -A 2021 antitrust case against United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) has been dismissed by a Florida federal court, as reported by National Mortgage Professional. The case had alleged that UWM and its CEO Mat Ishbia had…

The post Mortgage Mix: United Mortgage Lawsuit Dismissed as Rates Reach New Low appeared first on RISMedia.

REALTOR® Safety Month—observed every September—is a month-long campaign aimed at helping real estate professionals stay safe as they navigate situations on a daily basis that could ultimately put their safety at risk—from meeting prospective clients to showing properties in secluded or unfamiliar areas.  Underscoring the importance of keeping the conversation front and center year-round, the…

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Affordability has increased across the board in most major metro markets, according to the latest data from Realtor.com®. In its most recent report, Realtor.com showed that nationally, the average rent fell; however, the long-term trend of elevated prices continues to hold fast, as the five-year average showed that rents have increased by 20.1%, according to…

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A number of new housing initiatives recently have focused on easing the burden on middle-income renters, according to researcher Alexander Hermann of Harvard University. A representative sample of 11 areas in various pockets of the United States showed that a number of states and municipalities seek to give various types of aid to middle-income earners,…

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Valerie Toya, a Navy veteran and owner of Versa Defense, is on a mission to empower women through the Safe Woman Series™—an initiative that empowers women with practical, comprehensive safety education, offering tools and confidence to protect themselves. Toya’s mission has evolved to address the unique safety challenges faced by real estate professionals, providing essential…

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The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) has released its annual A-List. 157 individual real estate agents and 68 teams were recognized for outstanding production in 2023. The A-List honorees, all AREAA members, generated $9.85 billion in sales volume on 10,214 transaction sides in 2023. The top 50 agents and 25 teams will be…

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Rayse—the technology platform redefining the real estate agent-client relationship—has announced that they have begun rolling out its platform to its first 200 brokerages. The company’s platform offers a transparent, real-time solution for tracking and communicating buyer agent services, revolutionizing the home buying experience. According to research from WAV Group, 25% of home buyers believe that…

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Above, Lamacchia company outing Anthony Lamacchia isn’t kidding or even exaggerating when he says he knew at the age of seven that he’d build a big company someday. That prediction has since come true—and then some. Today, as he celebrates his 20th year in the residential real estate business, Lamacchia has not only created a…

The post From Agent to Advocate: Anthony Lamacchia’s 20-Year Real Estate Run—and Where He’s Headed Next appeared first on RISMedia.

While mortgage rates barely registered a dip this week, it was enough for economists to report they’ve reached their lowest point in two years, helping to keep refinance activity buzzing along in recent weeks as well.  According to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) from Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) dipped…

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With predictions about the impact of the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) Burnett settlement all over the map, ranging from higher costs for first-time buyers and job losses among REALTORS® to more transparency in transactions and lower overall commission costs and home prices in the long run, Clever Real Estate surveyed homeowners, those who plan…

The post Report: How Homebuyers, Sellers and Agents Are Adjusting to Commission Changes appeared first on RISMedia.

Pending home sales in August rose 0.6%, following a 5.5% drop-off in July, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The Midwest, South and West posted monthly gains in transactions, while the Northeast recorded a loss. Year-over-year, the West registered growth, but the Northeast, Midwest and South declined. Year-over-year, pending transactions were down 3%.…

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In a new filing yesterday, plaintiffs and defendants in the looming mega-buyer commission lawsuits previewed some of the disputes and potential paths forward—including damages, settlement disputes and ongoing appeals—that could put the industry back in the throes of legal uncertainty, even as seller-filed litigation has largely been resolved by settlements. The buyer lawsuits, mostly filed…

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Homeownership: The American Dream. Those buyers who make it happen for themselves and their families know there is very little that will top that feeling of accomplishment. Owning your own home almost always means building financial security. It also means there are very few rules for what you want to do with your property, inside…

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The week continued as I attended my usual early Tuesday meetings: the Berkshire Hathaway Energy Weekly Executive Team Meeting followed by the HomeServices of America 2025 Plan Review. The afternoon was dedicated to our HomeServices of America monthly leadership virtual meeting, which was particularly enlightening. Maria Kazakos, Senior Vice President of Sales at Berkshire Hathaway…

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ERA Prime Real Estate Group has announced the company has acquired GAP Realty Group in Southgate, Michigan. The combined operation is now doing business as ERA Prime Real Estate Group. The move creates a service area in markets serving the Greater Detroit Metro region, increasing ERA Prime Real Estate Group’s service area and market share…

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Above, Darryl Davis  Editor’s Note: The following is an open letter to the real estate industry from Real Estate Coach Darryl Davis. Dear Real Estate Professionals, In recent years, the real estate industry has been under attack. From lawsuits and government scrutiny to public misconceptions, our profession has faced challenges that have eroded the trust…

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As NextHome celebrates 10 years in franchising, the company is accelerating its commitment to leading the way forward through the latest industry changes, without losing sight of the humans who buy and sell houses. At the core of the company is the Humans Over Houses® movement. This idea emphasizes that real estate should revolve around…

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Home purchase application activity continued to increase this week in the wake of the Fed’s milestone 50-basis point rate cut last week.  The latest Weekly Applications Survey the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA)  for the week ending September 20, 2024 shows mortgage applications increasing 11.0% from one week earlier, to a 2-year high and their fifth…

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