US mortgage rates dropped last week by the most since February, enticing homeowners to step up refinancing. The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage declined 10 basis points to 6.67% in the week ended Aug. 8, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. The rate on a 15-year mortgage retreated below 6% for the […]
US 30-year mortgage rate declines by most since February Read More »
If you’ve been skipping over newly built homes in your search, you might be doing so based on outdated assumptions. Let’s clear up a few of the most common myths, so you don’t miss out on a solid opportunity. Myth 1: New Homes Are More Expensive It’s easy to assume a new build will cost
Are These Myths About Buying a Newly Built Home Holding You Back? Read More »
Mortgage lending has shifted into an experience economy. Interest rates dominate conversations, yet only 29% of borrowers who complete a rate-and-term refinance stay with their current servicer, according to ICE Mortgage Technology’s July 2024 Mortgage Monitor report. Borrowers remember how they were treated long after they close their loan and that statistic signals a gap
How lenders can win loyalty by owning the whole home journey Read More »
While more economists surveyed in August by Wolters Kluwer expect the Federal Open Market Committee to cut short-term rates at its September meeting than the previous month, a significant share still thinks action won’t come until December or later. The percentage of the participants in the Blue Chip Economic Indicators panel believing the next Fed
Economists now leaning towards September Fed cut Read More »
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is making its formal debut in North Carolina and South Carolina. According to an announcement on Tuesday, Allen Tate Realtors is rebranding as Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate, effective Sept. 12. While this is the first time the Howard Hanna brand has entered the Carolinas, Allen Tate has been
Howard Hanna enters Carolinas with Allen Tate rebrand Read More »
Longtime U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) executive and mortgage professional John Bell III announced on LinkedIn that he’s leaving his role as executive director of the VA’s Loan Guaranty Service (LGY). Bell’s post on Monday touted his key accomplishments at the VA, such as increasing its mortgage market share from less than 1% to
VA’s John Bell III stepping into new role at Office of Mission Support Read More »
With its focus on photos and videos, Instagram is a great place for real estate agents to showcase their listings and personalities. It allows agents to be visible to their existing network while expanding their networks and gaining new followers (prospective clients). You can build trust over time with your audience by posting consistently, and
20 of the best real estate Instagram accounts to follow Read More »
As the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the business practice changes stemming from the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) nationwide commission lawsuit settlement agreement approaches, Redfin is reporting that buyer agent commissions are higher than they were a year ago. According to Redfin’s analysis published Tuesday, during the second quarter of 2025, the average
Redfin: A year after the NAR settlement, agent commissions are up Read More »
Matthew Miale’s journey from solo real estate agent to leader of The Miale Team at Keller Williams Legacy Partners was born out of what he calls “a whole lot of pain and suffering.” “No pain, no gain” might be a cliché, but for Miale, it was reality. “It really was a matter of trying to
Matthew Miale’s leap from solo agent to market leader Read More »
Real estate might look like an easy, glamorous, high-paying career on TV, but it’s a very challenging industry. Learning the business takes time, and finding clients isn’t as easy as it seems, but for those who are determined to put in the work and make real estate their career, it’s a fantastic industry. The agents
How to be a successful real estate agent in 9 steps Read More »