DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Could real estate go the way of the travel industry? Not just yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( John Towfighi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Sites like Redfin and Zillow provide a way for buyers and brokers to connect online, but the role of real estate agents in closing purchases has persisted. “Ultimately, people will understand what real estate agents really do, especially on the buy side,” Piskorski said. But even with the possibility of major changes, Hale said, one thing will almost certainly remain the same for real estate agents. Currently, the framework of real estate solely emphasizes the buy and sell transaction, said John Bodrozic, co-founder of HomeZada, a real estate tech company. Yet what ultimately differentiates a travel agent from a real estate agent is the value and risk associated with the purchase.

Persons: Tomasz Piskorski, ” Piskorski, Danielle Hale, ” Hale, Hale, “, John Bodrozic, Bodrozic, ”, Bobby Juncosa, Piskorski, ” Juncosa, Juncosa Organizations: CNN — Technology, National Association of Realtors, Columbia Business School, NAR, CNN, Buyers, ” Finance

☆ February home sales spike 9.5%, the largest monthly gain in a year, as supply improves
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sales of existing homes surged 9.5% in February from January to 4.38 million units, on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales were down 3.3% year over year, but it was the largest monthly gain since February 2023. Sales surged the most in the West, up 19.4%, and the South, up 16.4%. "Additional housing supply is helping to satisfy market demand," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. Inventory rose 10.3% year over year to 1.07 million homes for sale at the end of February.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors . Housing, Mortgage News Daily Locations: West, California, Florida, Georgia

☆ What a $418 million settlement on home-sale commissions may mean for you
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

As proposed, the settlement would have the NAR completely remove commissions from its MLS system by July. watch nowIn the meantime, it's "business as usual" for buyers and sellers, Cobreiro said. What the settlement could mean for homebuyersThe settlement agreement doesn't say that the buyer's agent will not be paid nor that the buyer's agent cannot charge fees. While commission fees are negotiable between involved parties, knowing what cards you have on the table as a homebuyer will be more important now than before. As a result of the settlement, the seller will no longer be responsible for commission fees for a buyer's agent.

Persons: Cobreiro, Cobriero, Amanda Pendleton Organizations: MLS, Zillow, Federal Reserve

☆ Redfin CEO on NAR settlement: People should have a voice in how much a real estate agent gets paid
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailRedfin CEO on NAR settlement: People should have a voice in how much a real estate agent gets paidCNBC’s Diana Olick and Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the legal settlement by the National Association of Realtors, the impact of the settlement on the home buying process, and more.

Persons: Diana Olick, Glenn Kelman Organizations: National Association of Realtors

☆ Ryan Serhant on NAR ruling: Greater transparency is important to bring our industry forward
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailRyan Serhant on NAR ruling: Greater transparency is important to bring our industry forwardRyan Serhant, Serhant CEO, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the recent legal settlement by the National Association of Realtors, what the ruling means for home sellers and realtors going forward, and more.

Persons: Ryan Serhant Organizations: National Association of Realtors, realtors

☆ Premarket stocks: Why Zillow is worried about America’s housing market shakeup
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Zillow reported that it outperformed the residential real estate industry by 12 percentage points in 2023. That’s because one of the main ways Zillow makes money is through lead generation for real estate agents. “This shift in the structure of real estate transaction costs is too new to understand how it will impact housing market dynamics,” a spokesperson said. Zillow could make even more money if real estate agents offer their services piecemeal, he said. The takeawayThere’s a lot of disagreement between analysts about the future of Zillow and the real estate industry at large.

Persons: Zillow, ”, Dan Kurnos, it’s, Zillow’s, they’ll, who’s, Kurnos, ” Stephen Brobeck, “, It’s, Homes.com, William Blair Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, National Association of Realtors, Realtors, Benchmark Company, NAR, Zillow, Consumer Federation of America, CNN, Bank of America Locations: New York

☆ Realtor's settlement means buyers might save money on their new homes, but they'll be doing more work themselves
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Buyers' agents will no longer charge 6% commission fees for helping buyers purchase a house. However, the lowered commissions may mean buyers have to do more work themselves. And while the new rules around Realtors' commission fees mean buyers may save thousands of dollars on their homes, they may also end up doing more work themselves to find and purchase new houses. Other sellers, the outlet reported, won't offer any commission to pay a buyer's agent at all in a process called decoupling. If the seller doesn't shell out for the buyers' agent fees, as real estate transactions have typically been structured, this will leave the buyer's agent commission negotiations — and potentially the out-of-pocket payment for their fees — up the the buyer.

Persons: Buyers, —, Robby Braun, Cohen Milstein Sellers, Toll, they're, Toby Schifsky, Kaplan, BI's Grace Eliza Goodwin Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Service, Realtors, Street, Washington Post

☆ The way Americans buy and sell homes is about to get turned on its head
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The way Americans buy and sell homes is about to get turned on its head. And other broker tactics that critics say are anticompetitive, such as a rule that made sellers’ agents set compensation for buyers’ agents, will be prohibited. Goodbye, 6% commissionsFor decades, Americans have paid a standard commission of around 6% when selling a home, split between the seller’s broker and the buyer’s broker. A separate new rule will require buyers’ brokers to enter into written agreements with their buyers. Second, it led buyers’ brokers to push more expensive homes on buyers, so their payout would be higher.

Persons: Cowen, Stephen Brobeck, Norm Miller, Miller Organizations: CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Industry, Consumer Federation of America, University of San Locations: America, University of San Diego

☆ How Irish business is winning in the US: It’s not all butter and cheese
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Irish companies have to think about being in an Irish domestic market which is frankly, really small, or just going global straightaway. The US is particularly strong for Irish companies; the US economy has held up well. I think Irish companies are very adept at pivoting into what other other countries need and being part of the story. It seems like Irish companies are increasingly becoming job creators in the US. Glanbia Foods, an Irish company that manufactures American-style cheese, now produces one in four slices of cheese consumed in the US.

Persons: Bell, Leo Clancy, Joe Biden, we’ve, it’s, that’s, That’s, We’re, It’s, We’ve, Tesla, Elon Musk’s Tesla, Wells, Colin Langan, ” Langan, Elisabeth Buchwald Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, European Union and International Monetary Fund, Enterprise Ireland, Patrick’s, Entrepreneurship, Federal Reserve, Companies, UBS, Tesla, NAR, National Association of Realtors Locations: New York, Ireland, United States, Jefferson , Wisconsin, America, Irish, Europe, Washington, We’re, automaking, Wells Fargo

☆ Presidential election or not, economists say, the Fed will cut interest rates in the fall if it must
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Fed officials have said they will begin to cut rates whenever they have “gained enough confidence” that inflation is under control. The Bank of Japan announces its latest interest rate decision. The Reserve Bank of Australia announces its latest interest rate decision. The Federal Reserve announces its latest interest rate decision and releases a fresh set of economic projections, followed by a news conference featuring Chair Jerome Powell. The Bank of England announces its latest interest rate decision.

Persons: Wall Street’s, “, ” Kathy Bostjancic, ”, Jerome Powell, ” Powell, Fed hasn’t, Nathaniel Beck, Elizabeth Warren of, Powell, lambasting, Donald Trump, reappoint Powell, ” Kayla Bruun, David Goldman, Anna Bahney, Cowen, Lennar, Mills Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, Fed, Nationwide, CNN, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Democratic, Republican, Morning, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Realtors, Toll Brothers, National Association of Home Builders, Bank of Japan, Reserve Bank of Australia, US Commerce Department, Micron Technology, Prudential, Accenture, Nike, FedEx, lululemon, Darden, Academy Sports, Bank of England, US Labor Department, Global Locations: Washington, Wells Fargo

☆ Realtor Lawsuit Settlement Will Change the Housing Market Forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementThese changes, spread out over millions of transactions a year, have the chance to reshape the housing market. Real-estate agent commissions have hovered between 5% and 6% of the sale price for decades. If sellers are in a desirable market, they might start offering less commission to buyers' agents, or none at all. This would force buyers' agents to get more creative. It has made it clear that it doesn't want sellers offering compensation to buyers' agents.

Persons: there's, Rich Pedroncelli, doesn't, they're, Bret Weinstein, they'll, I'm Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Department of Justice, NAR, DOJ, AP, MLS, Department, Justice Locations: Denver

☆ The NAR settlement could slash home prices for many Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The settlement, which is still subject to a judge’s approval, will eliminate the long-standing standard 6% commission paid by the seller. The NAR, which represents more than 1 million agents, declined to comment on whether home prices will fall as a result of the settlement. For instance, listing agents will likely continue to tell sellers that their homes will be sold faster if they pay for the buyer’s agent’s fee. That would increase how much they’re compensated since the total fee ends up getting split between listing agents and the buyer’s agents. NAR settlement or not, factors such as housing inventory, mortgage rates and consumer savings rates will “play much larger roles,” said Brobeck.

Persons: won’t, Kevin Sears, ”, Stephen Brobeck, ” Brobeck, “, ” Tomasz Piskorski, Piskorski Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Consumer Federation of America, CNN, Columbia University Locations: New York, Missouri

☆ Home prices could go down now that the biggest group of real-estate agents agreed to lower commissions
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The National Association of Realtors said it'd reduce commissions as part of a $418 million settlement. Cut commissions could lead to lower home prices but may force some agents out of the industry. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementThe entire real-estate industry could shift in homeowners' favor, thanks to a settlement by one of the most powerful groups of real-estate agents in the country. In a major win for consumers, it also agreed to amend its rules on commissions, The New York Times, which obtained a copy of the signed agreement, reported.

Persons: — Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Service, New York Times, Business

☆ The 6% commission on buying or selling a home is gone after Realtors association agrees to seismic settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The NAR, which represents more than 1 million Realtors, also agreed to put in place a set of new rules. One prevents sellers’ brokers from setting buyers’ agents’ compensation, which critics say led brokers to push more expensive properties on customers. Another new rule will require buyers’ brokers to enter into written agreements with their buyers. Realtors could now compete on commissions, allowing for prospective buyers to shop around on rates before they commit to buying a home. The association also faces scrutiny from the US Department of Justice, and it’s unclear whether this settlement with sellers will impact the government’s scrutiny of the brokerage industry.

Persons: ”, Kevin Sears, Nykia Wright, Homesellers, HomeServices, Wright Organizations: CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Realtors, realtors, US Department of Justice Locations: Missouri, America, litigate

☆ Home buyers and sellers to be spared automatic broker commissions under $418 million settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Rob Wile | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The National Association of Realtors has agreed to a landmark settlement that would eliminate real estate brokers' long-standing automatic commissions, commonly of up to 6% of the purchase price. Instead, home buyers and sellers would be able to negotiate fees with their agents upfront. If the $418 million legal agreement is approved by a federal court, consumer advocates predict the ranks of real estate agents will thin, further driving down commission prices. "For years, anti-competitive rules in the real estate industry have financially harmed millions," said Benjamin Brown, managing partner at the Cohen Milstein law firm and one of the settlement's negotiators. "It's a bribe," Doug Miller, an attorney and longtime consumer advocate in the real estate industry, said of the commission-splitting arrangements.

Persons: Benjamin Brown, Cohen Milstein, Nykia Wright, Wright, —, Doug Miller Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, MLS

☆ How the recent settlement on paying a commission could change the way Americans buy and sell homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Commissions aren’t disappearing — you’ll still need to pay a real estate agent for their work, just as you would any service provider. And the commission, which is set between an agent and the seller, will continue to be negotiable. The seller’s agent will also still be able to split the commission with the agent bringing the buyer. One new rule prohibits agents’ compensation from being included on listings placed on local centralized portals known as multiple listing services, which critics say led brokers to push more expensive properties on customers. This agreement will specify the work the buyer’s agent will do and how they will get paid.

Persons: who’ve, TD Cowan, Will, that’s, it’s Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, MLS Locations: Washington

☆ Real estate stocks plunge as NAR agrees to landmark settlement that rewrites rules on commissions
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The National Association of Realtors announced a $418 million settlement to end antitrust lawsuits. Real estate stocks including Zillow and Redfin fell Friday after the announcement. AdvertisementShares of real estate companies plunged on Friday following an announcement from the National Association of Realtors that resolves a lawsuit with home-selling groups and effectively nixes the standard 6% commission for home purchases. As part of the settlement, the NAR has agreed to prevent sellers' brokers from determining the compensation for buyers' agents. AdvertisementTaken together the changes will rewrite the longstanding real estate business model which had sellers pay their broker and the buyer's broker.

Persons: Redfin, —, Nykia Wright, Kevin Sears Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Service, NAR

☆ Redfin CEO reacts to NAR's $418 million commission lawsuits settlement
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailRedfin CEO reacts to NAR's $418 million commission lawsuits settlementRedfin CEO Glenn Kelman joins 'The Exchange' with CNBC's Diana Olick to discuss the implications of the National Association of Realtors' settlement on the real estate industry, how the settlement could affect Redfin's business, and more.

Persons: Glenn Kelman, Diana Olick Organizations: National Association of Realtors

☆ Real-Estate Agents Use 'Steering' to Hide Cheap Houses From Homebuyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Technically, the seller can promise as little as $0 to the buyer's agent; after all, why pay for someone you didn't hire? But multiple agents told me there are all kinds of ways shady practitioners try to skirt the rules. Critics say the stickiness of the going commission rate is evidence of steering's ubiquity. He said buyers' agents might call and say, "'Why is there no buyer's commission?" There are lots of willing brokers out there; if you suspect steering, agents told me, you've got plenty of options for a second opinion.

Persons: should've, Redfin, Julie —, Julie, Wendy Gilch, Gilch, they're, Doug Miller, Real, Rex, Keller Williams, I'm, Brendon Bowers, we're, Stephen Brobeck, Brobeck, they'll, you've, Rich, they've Organizations: Department of Justice, National Association of Realtors, Business, Facebook, Realtors, NAR, Consumer Federation of America, DOJ Locations: America, Minnesota, Austin, Houston, Kansas City , Missouri, Phoenix

☆ The Austin housing market just won't quit. It's an example of what's happening nationwide despite high prices and interest rates.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Austin's housing market is heating up again, despite recent forecasts that it would tank. Nationwide forecasts now predict a rise in home prices, despite still-high interest rates. AdvertisementJust when some people thought the Austin, Texas, housing market was going to crash, it's starting to heat up again. This sudden surge in Austin housing sales is a bit surprising. Despite high prices and interest rates, homebuyers are determinedIn 2022, Nicholas Gerli, the CEO of real estate data analytics firm Reventure Consulting, named Austin the No.

Persons: —, Austin isn't, Nicholas Gerli, Austin, Realtor.com, George Rose, Fannie Mae Organizations: Nationwide, Service, Business, Realty Austin, Reventure Consulting, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Federal Reserve Bank Locations: Austin , Texas, Austin

☆ The American Dream is under siege
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Parents of young children are making difficult choices to afford child care — or they’re opting to evade it by dropping out of the workforce altogether. Even as the inflation rate has cooled across the US economy, child care remains a sore spot for many families. The weekly price of day care for a toddler surged 9% in 2023, according to Care.com, a marketplace for child care. Of course, Allison is hardly alone in feeling like the American Dream has been more difficult — and expensive — to attain than imagined. “The American dream is being taken away from the younger generation by the housing affordability challenges,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors.

Persons: Hana Husković, Price, Hana, Michelle, they'll, ” Hana, “, It’s, they’ll, ’ Allison Powell, Liam Kelly, ” Allison, Allison Powell, Corinne ., ”, Allison, I’ll, homebuyers, Lotfi Karoui, Goldman Sachs, Lawrence Yun, Yun, Priscilla Almodovar, Fannie Mae, ” Almodovar, that’s, Almodovar, they’d, Homebuilding, Mark Zandi, Biden, ” Lael Brainard, Brainard, ” Brainard, ‘, Rachael Gambino, Garrett Mazzeo, Rachael, Deborah Brunswick, John General, ” Rachael, won’t, they’ve, – Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wall, CNN, Federal, Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, Bloomberg, Getty, Rust Belt, National Association of Realtors, North, NAR, That’s, Baby Boomers, Homeowners, Federal Reserve, Moody’s Analytics, White, National Economic Council, American, Target, Starbucks, Facebook Locations: New York, United States, Atlanta, Peachtree Corners , Georgia, Decatur, Decatur , Georgia, Carolina, Yugoslavia, Italy, Mexico, Oakland , California, Livermore, San Francisco, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, Francisco, Miami, Honolulu, Rust, Des Moines , Iowa, Dayton , Ohio, Cleveland , Ohio, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Los Angeles , California, North America, America, States, Lansdale , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

☆ Mortgage rates edge closer to 7%, dampening start of spring homebuying season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington, DC CNN —Mortgage rates climbed for the fourth week in a row, inching closer to 7% just as peak homebuying season gets underway. Since reaching a 20-year high of 7.79% in October, mortgage rates have been slowly falling. The average mortgage rate is based on mortgage applications that Freddie Mac receives from thousands of lenders across the country. Last week, mortgage applications dropped 5.6% from the week before, according to the MBA. Higher home prices pushed loan amounts higher in January, offsetting what was a monthly decline in mortgage rates, said Edward Seiler, MBA’s associate vice president for housing economics.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, Khater, Bob Broeksmit, Mike Fratantoni, Edward Seiler, MBA’s, Lawrence Yun Organizations: DC CNN —, “, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association, National Association of Realtors Locations: Washington

☆ Everyday investors are feeling good about the market again
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Retail investors are optimistic about the stock market again despite a backdrop of geopolitical and economic uncertainty. CNN’s Fear & Greed Index, which measures seven barometers of market sentiment, closed at an “extreme greed” reading on Thursday. Unsurprisingly, investors are largely bullish on artificial intelligence-related stocks over the next three months, according to the Schwab survey. The job market has also stayed remarkably strong even as interest rates hover around a 23-year high, helping keep recession worries at bay. About 48% of traders believe the US will likely avoid a recession this year, up from 23% last quarter, according to the Schwab survey.

Persons: Charles Schwab, Schwab, ”, James Kostulias, stoking, Anna Bahney, —, Lawrence Yun, Read, Henri Nestlé, Wegovy, Hanna Ziady, Mark Schneider, ” Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Retail, “, Dow Jones, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal, National Association of Realtors, NAR Locations: New York, United Kingdom, Japan, Washington, Swiss

☆ Home sales and prices rose in January as eager homebuyers returned to the market
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

January is usually a sleepier month for home sales, but prices reached a record high for the month. First time homebuyers face steep challengesIn January the share of first-time home buyers dropped to 28%, falling under a healthy market share of 30%. In addition to rising mortgage rates, elevated prices and still stubbornly low inventory levels, first-time homebuyers are facing steep competition from other buyers. Homeowners with ultra low rates are unwilling to sell and buy a home during a time of higher prevailing market rates. And while a drop of rates in December and January boosted sales, rising rates may cool buyer’s interest even as the spring selling season is underway.

Persons: —, ”, Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: DC CNN —, National Association of Realtors, NAR, “ Locations: Washington, Boston, Carolinas

☆ Existing home sales rose 3% to start the year, but higher mortgage rates are already hurting
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sales of previously owned homes rose 3.1% in January to 4 million units on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, according to the National Association of Realtors. The count is based on closings, so the contracts were likely signed in November and December, when mortgage interest rates backed off their October high of 8%. "Listings were modestly higher, and home buyers are taking advantage of lower mortgage rates compared to late last year." While lower mortgage rates helped boost January sales, today's higher rates are already once again weighing on the market. Correction: The 32% all-cash share of January 2024 home sales was up from 29% in January 2023.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Yun, It's Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Mortgage News, NAR, Redfin

Search resuls for: "NAR"

25 mentions found