Real Estate Industry

“All the news that's fit to print,” or to click, as the case may be, can be found right here at your favorite real estate social networking site, ActiveRain. And here you thought it was merely a great place to chat with colleagues and slap up a blog post or two.


We know you're busy – whether it's trying to fill your pipeline or following up on what's already popped out of the bottom of it. Who has time to read? And, while real estate market news geared toward consumers is easy to round up on the Internet, news for brokers and Realtors is a bit harder to come by.


Your friends at ActiveRain understand how important each of those 168 hours in every week is so we've made it easy for you by consolidating everything you need to know to keep up-to-date with the real estate industry right here, in one place.


How are housing starts looking? Has the FHFA launched any new efforts? How's that Fannie and Freddie loan limit rollercoaster doing?


You've got the questions and your colleagues here at AR have the answers. It's at your fingertips – finally.

Recent blogs on Real Estate Industry
By Jean Richer, Straight Talk on Real Estate
(Keller Williams Realty Inc.)
Has someone you know told you they are house poor? This is not a fun place to be. Purchasing a home you may barely be able to afford can contribute to being in more debt and financially unstable. When looking for a house to purchase, it is imperative that you only choose a home within your set budget. To find out how you can avoid becoming house poor yourself and how this can happen, watch today's video above! 
Comments 1
By The Jeff Rickert Team, Poconos - RSPS - The Jeff Rickert Team
(RE/MAX Property Specialists)
 Check US out on The Negotiators Check US out on The Negotiators  Broker Jeff Welcome to The Poconos!We would like to introduce ourselves. Our names are Jeff and Heather Rickert. We have personally invested in real estate since 2000 and, as A Broker and Negotiator, we specialize in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, where we help buyers and sellers of investment properties and vacation homes. We were flippers before we were Negotiators so we see the process differently. Jeff & Heather have been a residents of Monroe County since 2001. We are natives of the Souderton and North Penn School District in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Let us bring our technology, drone, 360 camera and digital camera as well as our marketing staff to buy or sell your home. We made our passion our profession! See you ...
Comments 1
By Ron Cedillo, Helping People and Enjoying Life
(Home Buyers Realty)
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to give your children the best life.And as they enter adulthood, for some parents, that includes helping them purchase their first home.But how, exactly, do you go about helping your child purchase a home?A recent article from realtor.com outlined tips and strategies to help parents that want to help their kids buy real estate, including: Give the down payment as a gift. One of the most common ways parents help their children purchase a home is by contributing to their down payment. As a parent, you have two options for helping your child with a down payment: you can loan them the money, or gift it to them. If you loan your kid the money, they’ll be on the hook for taxes. If you gift them the money (up to $16,000 per parent), the gift is co...
Comments 0
By Ron Cedillo, Helping People and Enjoying Life
(Home Buyers Realty)
Having a good credit score plays an integral role in helping buyers secure a competitive interest rate on your mortgage. And with the average rate for a 30 year fixed-rate mortgage hovering at 6.85 percent (up from 3.22 percent at the beginning of the year), getting a competitive rate on your mortgage is more important than ever.Which means, as a first-time buyer, one of your main focuses should be boosting your credit.But how, exactly, do you do that?A recent article from realtor.com outlined tips to help first-time buyers boost their credit score—and score a better mortgage rate as a result—including: Pull your credit report and dispute any errors. Errors on your credit report can cause your score to plummet. But you can’t fix what you’re not aware of—so, if you’re planning to buy a h...
Comments 0
By John Pusa, Your All Time Realtor With Exceptional Service
(Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Crest)
On November 16, 2022, National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for newly built single family homes declined five points to 33 points in November of 2022 from 38 points in October of 2022.The HMI component charting present sales conditions down six points to 39 points, the HMI buyer traffic lower five points to 20 points, and the HMI sales expectations index decreased four points to 31 points in November of 2022.The three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, South dropped seven points at 42 points, the West fell five points to 29 points, Northeast declined six points at 41 points, Midwest lost two points to 38 points in November of 2022.NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz, stated “To ease the worsening housing affordability crisis, policymakers...
Comments 14
By John Pusa, Your All Time Realtor With Exceptional Service
(Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Crest)
On November 30, 2022, National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reported that nationwide pending contract signed home sales lower 4.6% to an index of 77.1 in October of 2022 from September of 2022, and fell 37.0% from October of 2021.Pending home sales index in the Northeast declined 4.3% to an index of 68.7 in October of 2022 from September 2022, but fell 29.5% from October of 2021.Pending home sales index in the Midwest lost 3.3% to an index of 83.5 in October of 2022 from September 2022, and dropped 32.1% from October of 2021.Pending home sales index in the South down 6.4% to an index of 90.6 in October of 2022 from September 2022, and decreased 38.2% from October of 2021.Pending home sales index in the West lower 11.3% to an index of 55.6 in October of 2022 from September 2022, and de...
Comments 6
By Greg Tresler, We Buy Houses For Cash As Is! House Buyers Florida
(House Buyers Florida)
What To Do When You Inherit a HouseWhen a loved one passes away, it is an incredibly difficult and emotional time. One of the many things you may have to take care of is what to do with any property that was left behind. If you have a inherited house, you have a few different options for what to do with it. In this blog post, we will outline a few different courses of action you can take.  Option 1: Sell the House One thing you can do with an inherited house is selling it. This may be the best option if the house needs repairs that are too expensive for you to take on or if you simply do not have an emotional attachment to the property. Selling a house for cash buyers can also allow you to downsize or move closer to family or friends. Option 2: Rent Out the House Another option availabl...
Comments 0
By Cathy Criado, Making Real Estate Profitable
(Criado Realty )
I am not a huge fan of statistics because having taken several courses in my business studies, I know that they can be manipulated in many ways, suiting someone's needs. I also don't like that so many terms are thrown out without knowing what they mean.  But it is important to understand market trends as investors and as real estate agents to help advise our clients.  From a consumer standpoint, we should try to understand, to avoid buying blindly.This report is from the San Antonio Board of Realtors. What you are looking at is a three year analysis of new and existing home sales by year and month, and includes data. I boxed the October data. But what does this all mean, really?Over the 3 years shown, the number of homes that sold (closed listings) dropped from 3,444 to 2,656 for a diff...
Comments 3
By Karen Schimpf, When Your Bank Says No, I CAN Get Your Deal CLOSE
(Commercial Capital Ltd.)
What's Closing Now - Bridge Loans! Borrower owned a daycare in Las Vegas, NV. She was an excellent operator with 700 a credit score. She wanted to buy another daycare that she knew was being poorly run. She was able to get the daycare for essentially free, just paying for the property of $750,000. We could not move the SBA loan forward because she did not have two (2) years of tax returns. The borrower started her daycare in 2020 just before Covid hit. The business not only survived, but her 2021 and 2022 numbers were great. SHE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO FILE THE 2021 RETURNS AND CLOSE QUICKLY ENOUGH FOR THE SELLER. Hence, she needed bridge money. Enter…our fund. The deal came in at the beginning of month and had to close by the 25th for the borrower to file for a necessary grant by the dead...
Comments 0
By Ron Cedillo, Helping People and Enjoying Life
(Home Buyers Realty)
The real estate agent you choose to buy or sell a home can make a huge difference in the experience. Working with a good real estate agent can make the process fast, easy, and painless—while working with a not-so-good real estate agent can make it extremely stressful.So, the question is, how, exactly, do you go about finding a good real estate agent?A recent video from realtor.com outlined tips on how to find a good real estate agent, including: Ask for referrals from friends and family… Referrals are a great way to find a real estate agent. If any of your friends or family members have recently bought or sold a home, ask them about their experience with their agent—and if it was a positive experience, ask if they can put you in touch. …or from your previous agent. If you’re moving to a...
Comments 1
By John Meussner, #MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852
(Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI)
"Marry the house, date the rate!" Has anyone heard this one before?  And by before, I mean, throughout 2022 as rates have risen and pushed most home buyers to the sidelines, bringing the real estate industry nearly to a halt? It's perhaps the most widely used marketing pitch in real estate this year, and it also happens to be one that makes me cringe - every.time.   How do I hate it?  Let me count the ways.  'Marry the house, date the rate' puts out an underlying promise - that is, that the rate someone is getting today is temporary.  Which, with some degree of likelihood, is true - but there are also degrees of uncertainty which are equally important, but not discussed - at all.  And that's my issue.  I've been pretty vocal about my disgust with this marketing gimmick, to the point tha...
Comments 9
By Greg Tresler, We Buy Houses For Cash As Is! House Buyers Florida
(House Buyers Florida)
 A foreclosure house cash offer is a unique way to purchase a property that is in the process of foreclosure. When a homeowner falls behind on their mortgage payments, the lender may begin the foreclosure process. This process can take months, during which time the homeowners are allowed to bring their payments current and avoid foreclosure.  If the homeowners are unable to do this, the lender will ultimately foreclose on the home and sell it at a public auction. In some cases, however, the homeowners may be willing to sell the property for less than what is owed on the mortgage to avoid going through the foreclosure process. This is where a foreclosure house cash offer comes in.  A foreclosure house cash offer is simply an offer from a potential buyer to purchase a property that is in ...
Comments 0
By Greg Tresler, We Buy Houses For Cash As Is! House Buyers Florida
(House Buyers Florida)
  The Christmas and New Year period is typically a time when many people are considering moving house. Some may be looking to take advantage of the break from work and school, while others may be trying to avoid the high demand and inflated prices that come with summer moves. Whatever your reasons for wanting to move during this period, there are some benefits to doing so! Here are just a few reasons why moving during the Christmas and New Year period can be a great opportunity: - There is typically less competition from other house buyers or renters. This means that you may have more negotiating power when it comes to price. -Many people are away on holiday during this time, which means that there will be less traffic and fewer lookers. This can make the whole process less stressful. -...
Comments 0
By Ron Cedillo, Helping People and Enjoying Life
(Home Buyers Realty)
If you’re a homeowner, odds are your equity has grown significantly over the last few years as home prices skyrocketed and you made your monthly mortgage payments. Home equity builds over time and can help you achieve certain goals. According to the latest Equity Insights Report from CoreLogic, the average borrower with a home loan has almost $300,000 in equity right now. As you weigh your options, especially in the face of inflation and talk of a recession, it’s important to understand your assets and how you can leverage them. A real estate professional is the best resource to help you understand how much home equity you have and advise you on some of the ways you can use it.  Here are a few examples. 1. Buy a Home That Fits Your Needs If you no longer have the space you need, it mig...
Comments 1
By Greg Tresler, We Buy Houses For Cash As Is! House Buyers Florida
(House Buyers Florida)
 If you've recently inherited a property, you may be considered to sell your house to settle the estate. However, before you put your home on the market, it's important to be aware of probate scams. These scams are becoming more and more common, and they can end up costing you a lot of money if you're not careful. Here's what you need to know about probate scams and how to avoid them. A probate scam is a type of fraud that targets people who have inherited property. The scammer will contact the heir and offer to buy the property for an amount that is significantly below market value. The scammer may say that they need to close quickly or that there are repairs that need to be made that make the property less valuable. In some cases, the scammer may even pose as a real estate agent or la...
Comments 1
By Greg Tresler, We Buy Houses For Cash As Is! House Buyers Florida
(House Buyers Florida)
When you list your house on the market, you expect it to sell your house fast in Florida. But what happens when your house languishes on the market without any offers? Not only is it frustrating, but it can also end up costing you money. Let's take a closer look at some of the ways a stagnant listing can cost you. If your house has been sitting on the market without any offers, it's time to take a step back and figure out what's going wrong. Whether it's an issue with pricing, timing, or something else entirely, identifying the problem is the first step toward fixing it. And once you've fixed the issue and relisted your home, make sure to avoid making any of these common mistakes that can sabotage your chances of a quick sale! Reasons It's Not Selling It's every home seller's nightmare....
Comments 0
By Ron Cedillo, Helping People and Enjoying Life
(Home Buyers Realty)
Home buyers and sellers are sometimes concerned about whether they’ll have the right to fire their real estate agent if they aren’t getting the job done.Considering it’s typically the biggest purchase many people make, or the sale of their largest asset, it’s fair and reasonable for consumers to want the ability to part ways.But what many people don’t think about is whether they can be fired by their agent.Being an agent requires that they treat everyone fairly and not discriminate, but they are not a public service that can be expected to serve a client who isn’t holding up their end of the relationship.This recent article from The Real Deal covers a few extreme scenarios where agents fired their clients for reasons that ranged from a buyer who summoned ghosts when looking at houses, t...
Comments 3
By Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers, Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!
(RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage)
Just wait til you see this brand new Brampton Rental Apartment with unbelievable amenities and convenient location!We don't know where to start, the views of the City are magnificent, the layouts are perfect with ensuite washrooms in the primary bedroom and ensuite laundry rooms! 9 ft. ceilings give such an airy feeling, balconies (some are 41 ft!), stainless steel appliances, custom roller blinds (with room darkening in all bedrooms), the finishings are all so modern. This is really not just a building its a community with two outstanding party rooms with fireplace & kitchens, children's playground, dog wash & dog run, spacious exercise room & yoga area, visitor underground parking (where to you find that!), there are even work stations for your mini meeting & work from home convenienc...
Comments 2
By Joe Jackson, Clintonville and Central Ohio Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty)
    NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE   New Home Sales surprised to the upside in October, increasing 7.5%, to a 0.632-million-unit annual rate. Sales are still down a bit from a year ago, but it looks like market activity might be beginning to stabilize. The inventory of completed homes has started to rise, and this additional inventory is helping a decelerating trend in home prices. Also helping affordability, mortgage rates recently dropped about 50 basis points (0.50%). That drop in mortgage rates is driving up demand, as mortgage applications were up 2.2% for the week ending November 18 after booking a 2.7% gain the prior week. Even refinance demand increased 1.5% for the week.
Comments 3
By Ralph Williams, "The very best in sales & leadership training."
(Bottom Line University)
Our 2023 New Year campaign begins on Thursday, January 5th and is titled: Prospecting, Presentations & Percolating!  We'll show you how to master these three valuable skill sets. When you get these down, you'll be set for the rest of your life. Enroll today! Ralph Williams817-907-9693 Ralph@BottomLineUniversity.com Doug Thompson780-608-3500 Doug@BottomLineUniversity.com
Comments 0
Back to Top