By the NumbersInvestor home sales could boost overall inventoryA survey by Bright MLS found that investor properties accounted for more listings this spring, possibly due to fears of a looming recession.Dave GallagherApril 13, 2023
IndustryIndustry Decoded: Commissions lawsuits could give portals an edgeThe outcome of the Moehrl suit could affect countless buyer agents. Might Zillow and other portals become an Uber-style marketplace for those agents? Russ CofanoApril 13, 2023
By the NumbersMortgage rates decline for a fifth week; applications riseThe 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped slightly to 6.27%. Rates in the 6% range may no longer be phasing buyers — particularly repeat buyers.Dave GallagherApril 13, 2023
IndustryPeople On the Move at United RE, eXp, Lake Homes RealtyBrokerage leader Phillip Cantrell named SVP at United Real Estate; Carolyn Merchant promoted to CMO at eXp Realty; Lake Homes adds growth-focused leaders.Real Estate News StaffApril 13, 2023
TechTech Bytes: News from Second City Ventures, RentSpree, moreREACH members named; RentSpree partners with ABOR; Listing Media Services expands; Evocalize adds channels; SkySlope launches app; zavvie hires product leader.Real Estate News StaffApril 12, 2023
IndustryNew auction marketplace puts a twist on how agents get paidReal estate consultant Rob Hahn is introducing a marketplace auction website that allows homeowners to sell without paying commissions.Dave GallagherApril 12, 2023
TechZillow tool helps buyers find affordable mortgageThe portal's new search filter lets buyers search by total monthly payment — which takes interest rates and other costs into account — not just the list price.Cheryl Reid-SimonsApril 11, 2023
By the NumbersHot or not: Where the market is going this summer and beyondWith inventory low and interest rates elevated, economists don’t expect to see activity pick up until later in the year.Dave GallagherApril 10, 2023
IndustryOffice-to-housing conversions are on the riseTransforming underutilized office space to living space can create needed housing inventory, but it's not always easy. Some cities are trying to change that.Dave GallagherApril 9, 2023
By the NumbersSpring inventory: ‘Buyers can’t buy if sellers don’t want to sell’Even as falling interest rates have opened the door for more buyers, not enough sellers are listing, keeping inventory stubbornly low.Dave GallagherApril 8, 2023
BrokeragesBrokerage Beat: News from Compass, C21, SERHANT., Real, ERA Doty, BHHS PenFedCompass nabs AZ brokerage, Century 21 gains NY affiliate, SERHANT. adds 6 new markets, Real reaches 10k agents, ERA Doty expands, BHHS PenFed acquires Arista.Real Estate News StaffUpdated April 8, 2023
IndustryDown payment assistance 'a gold mine' for first-time buyersThere’s money out there for people who need help getting into their first home — especially if they’re part of an underserved community.Cheryl Reid-SimonsApril 7, 2023
MLS/AssnFirst multistate MLS rebrands to reflect its cultureNew England's NEREN, with coverage in seven states, is now PrimeMLS.Alec HarveyApril 7, 2023
By the NumbersInterest rates keep dropping, but low inventory puts damper on springMortgage applications have slowed even though rates fell for the fourth straight week, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hitting 6.28%.Dave GallagherApril 6, 2023
AgentsAgents Decoded: Networking is a long game — here's how to play itWhen you're building your business through networking, think beyond referrals. Make yourself indispensable by becoming a "resource directory" for clients.J. Philip FarandaApril 6, 2023
By the NumbersHome features that can fetch your sellers a better priceZillow's latest analysis of listing descriptions found that certain keywords were correlated with higher sale prices and faster sales.Dave GallagherApril 5, 2023
MLS/AssnMLS collaboration aims to be leading source of housing dataREdistribute, led by powerhouses Bright MLS and CRMLS, has launched with the goal of monetizing MLS data and sharing revenue back to participants. Dave GallagherApril 5, 2023
IndustryZillow settles co-marketing suit for $15MAfter more than 5 years of litigation, the company agreed to a settlement with shareholders over its co-marketing program, which remains active.Cheryl Reid-SimonsApril 4, 2023
AgentsOpendoor upping incentives for agentsThe iBuyer hopes to attract more agents with an expansion of their loyalty program and increased commissions.Cheryl Reid-SimonsApril 4, 2023
TechTech Bytes: News from Endpoint, Tech Helpline and Restb.aiEndpoint launches mobile notary platform, Tech Helpline expands to serve 750K members in North America, Restb.ai launches AI-powered property descriptions.Real Estate News StaffApril 4, 2023