By KIMBERLEY HAAS
Home affordability is expected to be a pressing issue for American families again this year and although it is not a top priority for Republican presidential candidates yet, they are talking about it.
At a rally last month in Durham, New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump said mortgages have become unattainable to the average person and promised to go after banks if he wins back the White House.
“After three years of Bidenomics, they call it Bidenomics, from hell, the average monthly mortgage payment has gone from $1,746 under my administration to $3,322 today, but you can’t get the money, so it doesn’t matter,” Trump told the crowd.
Trump claimed that “Biden’s handlers are making the banks…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
The president of the National Association of Realtors has stepped down after allegedly receiving a threat to disclose a past personal matter.
Tracy Kasper reported the threat to law enforcement and informed NAR’s Leadership Team. The threat involved a non-financial matter, according to a press release.
“As president and a long-time member of NAR, I always have put the interests of NAR first. As a result of the recent threat and given the significance of this moment for myself, my family, and the organization, it is again time for me to put the interests of NAR first. So, it is with a mix of gratitude and a heavy heart that I submit my resignation as your president…
It’s time to shake off 2023 and move into 2024 with a fresh perspective. Editor Kimberley Haas spoke with industry leaders who have tips for finding success in the new year and insights into the latest technology.
If you would like to participate in future episodes, please email us at [email protected].
Read articles featuring the guests:
Overcoming Objections And Winning Business With Ron Vaimberg
Embracing Technology: One-On-One With Rocket Homes President Sam Vida
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Artificial intelligence is changing how people buy homes and leaders at Rocket Companies are leaning in and embracing the latest technology.
In December, it was announced that the Rocket Homes app is now available to potential buyers while they are driving through Apple CarPlay. Homes listed for sale can be seen in the “Nearby” tab. By tapping the vehicle’s screen, drivers can get directions to a home, call an agent, or save listings to their “Favorites.”
Doug Seabolt, CEO of Rocket Homes, said at the time that the app is making house hunting more convenient for busy homebuyers on the go.
“When looking for a new home, the search never stops – even when you are driving around town. That…
By CHUCK GREEN and KIMBERLEY HAAS
The full impacts of legal actions being taken against the National Association of Realtors are still not clear, but industry leaders are advocating for agents, saying they offer valuable expertise.
In October, a Missouri jury ordered the association and two of the nation’s biggest real estate brokerages to pay almost $1.8 billion in damages after they found that commissions were artificially inflated to pay agents. Fresh off winning the verdict, attorneys for the plaintiffs filed a new lawsuit seeking class-action status covering anyone in the country who sold a home in the last five years.
NAR’s President Tracy Kasper said in a statement at the time that they will appeal the liability finding, and…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
As consumers turn to mortgage professionals they can trust in their communities, it is predicted that more industry leaders will depend on a retail model to make the most out of the market.
Joe Ludlow, vice president of sales at Advantage Systems, Accounting for Mortgage Bankers, and ApprovalSoft in California, made note of the potential trend during a recent interview with The Mortgage Note.
Ludlow said since it is getting harder for potential homebuyers to get approved for a loan, they are seeking out a local professional to help with the process. As a result, bank branches and loan officers with a desk there are popular again.
“Branches now are becoming more important. Loan officers are becoming…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
With just weeks left before the Iowa caucus and the presidential primary in New Hampshire, home affordability is weighing on the minds of voters and at least one leading economist says the issue could take center stage as the race for the White House heats up.
Daryl Fairweather, chief economist for Redfin, has said that President Joe Biden will be forced to make home affordability a cornerstone of his reelection bid.
“Even though the overall economy is strong, high housing costs are making many Americans feel poor,” Fairweather said in her recent release on housing predictions for 2024.
“Home prices are up more than 20% since President Biden took office. That’s a problem for his re-election bid:…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
A grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation will help establish a training program to address the need for credentialed contractors in communities nationwide.
The foundation has a working relationship with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization that provides relief before, during, and after natural disasters. Leaders there say they continue to see a critical shortage of people with the skills necessary to assist homeowners in the rebuilding process.
Team Rubicon’s new TRades Academy will provide veterans with contracting, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC skills. Trainees will gain the field experience needed to eventually become certified contractors in their own communities, according to a press release.
Wells Fargo has provided a $750,000 grant to support the academy. That money…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
A bicameral bill that would force hedge funds out of the single-family home market has been introduced.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced the End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act of 2023 this week, with Merkley stating, “The housing in our neighborhoods should be homes for people, not profit centers for Wall Street.”
“Yet, in every corner of the country, giant financial corporations are buying up housing and driving up both rents and home prices,” Merkley said in a statement. “It’s time for Congress to put in place commonsense guardrails that ensure all families have a fair chance to buy or rent a decent home in their community at…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
As the end of the year nears, mortgage professionals are hustling, and although it may seem like it takes a lot more to get consumers to say “yes” in 2023, a leading real estate trainer and coach says it’s all about preparing for positive interactions with borrowers.
Ron Vaimberg started in the real estate business in 1983 and founded The New York Mortgage Institute in 1997. Today, he is the president of Ron Vaimberg International in Jefferson Valley, NY, working with professionals in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Vaimberg said market frustrations – whether they be over a lack of inventory or the fact that borrowers are qualifying for less due to high interest rates –…
