Category: News

Average Time to Close: 44 Days

Average Time to Close: 44 Days

Average Time to Close: 44 Days     For the second consecutive month, the average time to close all loans stayed at 44 days, suggesting that new mortgage rules that took effect this fall are having less of an impact on delaying loans, according to Ellie Mae’s latest Origination Insight Report. Here’s a breakdown of …

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Real Estate is Trending Younger

Real Estate is Trending Younger

Real Estate is Trending Younger     The median age of a REALTOR® is decreasing, as more young professionals enter the industry, according to the 2016 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile. The median age of a REALTOR® decreased from 57 in 2014 to 53 in 2015. That’s the lowest median age since 2008, when …

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Top Motivations for Selling

Top Motivations for Selling

Top Motivations for Selling   Inventories of homes are tight nationwide. So what’s going to get home owners to finally sell? In a recent survey, realtor.com® researchers found some of the top motivations to sell: 1. Want to be in a different neighborhood (40%) 2. Need a home with different features (28%) 3. Need a …

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Twitter to Stop Counting Links, Photos in 140-Limit

Twitter to Stop Counting Links, Photos in 140-Limit

Twitter to Stop Counting Links, Photos in 140-Limit   Tweets are about to get longer. The social network will soon stop counting users’ photos and links as part of its 140-character limit for messages. The change, which Twitter has yet to formally announced publicly, will likely be implemented by the end of this month, Bloomberg …

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Why You Don’t Need to Worry About Snapchat…Yet

Why You Don’t Need to Worry About Snapchat…Yet

Why You Don’t Need to Worry About Snapchat…Yet   Confused about Snapchat? You’re not alone. At the Emerging Business Issues & Technology Forum during the 2016 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., three social media superstars in the real estate space explained what the messaging app is for, and what it’s not. First, …

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Boost Your Business With Diverse Markets

Boost Your Business With Diverse Markets

Boost Your Business With Diverse Markets     “Consumers do discriminate. They want to work with people they feel comfortable with,” Dan Forsman, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties told attendees at RISMedia’s Power Broker Forum Thursday at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Brokers learned about emerging market opportunities and …

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Start Tough and Negotiate

Start Tough and Negotiate

Start Tough and Negotiate   At the outset if his presidency, Ronald Reagan took a hard line against the Soviet Union, calling it the evil empire and daring its leader at the time, Mikhail Gorbachev, to tear down the Berlin Wall. A few years later, the wall was down and the Cold War was effectively …

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Outdoor Trends Buyers Love

Outdoor Trends Buyers Love   Home owners crave outdoor spaces for gathering and entertaining, which is why it’s important to highlight your listings’ outdoor spaces. RISMedia recently highlighted some of the following outdoor trends: 1. Natural wood and stone: Natural wood and stone features are popular today, even those made of faux materials like vinyl. …

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Top Sales Pros Say Tech Tools Are Critical

Top Sales Pros Say Tech Tools Are Critical

Top Sales Pros Say Tech Tools Are Critical     Sales professionals say relationship-building technology tools can have the highest impact on their revenue, according to the results of a new survey conducted by Market Cube on behalf of LinkedIn. Seventy-seven percent of the top salespeople surveyed say they rely on sales intelligence tools. What’s …

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Make a Cramped Space Feel More Open

Make a Cramped Space Feel More Open

Make a Cramped Space Feel More Open   Even small rooms can be made to feel larger and more open with the right design. RISMedia recently featured some ways to open up a small space: Declutter: Make sure every bookshelf isn’t crammed. Scale back on everything in the room. Clear out every corner of the …

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Rates Drop, Near 2016 Lows

Rates Drop, Near 2016 Lows

Rates Drop, Near 2016 Lows Mortgage rates are hovering just above their lowest point of the year, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. “The Fed’s decision to stand pat followed by a week of assorted unsettling news drove Treasury yields lower,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “As a consequence, the …

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Your Ultimate Smart Home Primer

Your Ultimate Smart Home Primer

Your Ultimate Smart Home Primer   More consumers than ever before are seeing the benefits of having a home with smart technology. In fact, a 2016 Coldwell Banker survey revealed that owners believe smart home technology makes their home safer, saves them money, and saves them time. The same survey also found that 54 percent …

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