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☆ Why Builders Are Renting Out New Houses Instead of Cutting Home Prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Builders, meanwhile, are luring buyers with some perks but are barely budging on prices. That's partly because these companies have another place to turn: the rental market. Opportunistic investors — mostly small and midsize players, who own the vast majority of single-family rentals in the country — are happy to oblige. Builders have also started developing entire communities of single-family homes to be rented out rather than sold, a strategy known as build-for-rent. Their embrace of the rental market says more about the obstacles for buyers than for builders.

Persons: homebuilders, John Burns, Keith Hughes, —, Horton, Don Mullen, they've, Adam Stern, Sean Morgan, Alex Offutt, Ray Sturm, Sturm, Selma Hepp, It's Organizations: John Burns Research, Consulting, Builders, John, Houston, Owners, SFR, Sun, Dallas, Local, Business Purpose, Offutt Locations: Tampa , Florida, Carolinas, Nashville, Horton

☆ Inside Realtors' Fight for Control of America's for-Sale Home Listings
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Agents might be emboldened to share listings among private networks of in-the-know brokers rather than market them to everyone. And if the goal is a transparent market that prioritizes consumers, the clear-cooperation policy is a flawed tool. Redfin estimated that in the second quarter of 2019, about 1.7% of listings, or some 18,000 homes, were likely pocketed. In a hot market, it's easier for brokers to market a home off the databases and still get it sold. What has changed since the rule went into effect is brokerages' eagerness to control access to home listings.

Persons: Smart, —, they'll, Brian Boero, Goliath, Davids, MLSes, doesn't, weren't, Joe Schmo, Saul Klein, Howard Hanna's, Howard Hanna IV, Robert Reffkin, Mauricio Umansky, Redfin, Glenn Kelman, Kelman, haven't, Victor Lund, There's, Buckle Organizations: MLS, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Coldwell, Network, San Diego, Compass, Service, of Justice

☆ Homebuyers Have Hope With Lower Mortgage Rates, More Houses Available
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Wild swings in mortgage rates discouraged almost everyone from venturing out into the market. As I wrote earlier this year, a gummed-up housing market — the Ice Age I was talking about — is good for nobody. When mortgage rates hit multidecade lows during the pandemic, millions of people were able to snag or refinance their way into cheaper monthly costs. That'd be within spitting distance of what the experts at John Burns Research and Consulting, a housing-research firm, call the "magic mortgage rate." In other words, trying to predict mortgage rates — and buying or selling a home accordingly — is a fool's errand.

Persons: Green, that's, Skylar Olsen, everyone's, it's, there's, Fannie Mae, John Burns, they'd, Ralph McLaughlin, Olsen, Lawrence Yun, Altos, Mike Simonsen, Chen Zhao, Zhao, We're, Mark Palim, Palim Organizations: Federal Housing Finance Agency, Federal Reserve, John, John Burns Research, Consulting, National Association of Realtors, Altos Research, Builders, Sun Locations: Sun Belt, Midwest

☆ Why the interest-rate cut isn't delivering the relief consumers were hoping for
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In today's big story, we got our first interest-rate cut, but it doesn't feel like it for many consumers . We finally got an interest-rate cut, but borrowing costs are still high. First off, last month's interest-rate cut wasn't going to provide immediate relief. Yes, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has gone up 47 basis points since the Fed cut rates , writes BI's Matthew Fox. So the Fed cut rates but borrowing costs went up?

Persons: —, Milton, Alyssa Powell, isn't materializing, Jennifer Sor, Let's, BI's Matthew Fox, I'm, It's, BI's James Rodriguez, who's, Warren Faidley, Hurricane Milton, Hindenburg, Chelsea Jia Feng, Vinod Khosla, OpenAI, Mark Zuckerbergs, Gen Zers, haven't, Rebecca Zisser, Elon Musk's, Tesla, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, Milan Sehmbi, Amanda Yen Organizations: Business, Service, Gas, Hindenburg, Tech, DOJ, Google, Walt Disney World, Hurricane Milton, Federal Reserve, Fed, Treasury, Hurricane, Energy, Futures, Bank of America, Disney Locations: Florida, Warren, Tampa, Chelsea, Robotaxi, Hurricane, New York, London

☆ How Austin, Texas Cut Home Prices, Built Houses, and Stopped a Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

But as other pandemic Zoomtowns continue to see increases in prices and rents, Austin stands alone in its change of fortune. Housing in Austin has been through so many extreme distortions that nobody really knows what "normal" even means anymore. All told, Austin's housing stock has ballooned by more than 76,000 units since 2020, an 8.34% increase that includes single-family homes, condos, and townhomes. Considering the size of the Austin market, moving the stock of homes by nearly 10% is a colossal feat. Related storiesNobody watching the Austin market should be having flashbacks to the Great Recession.

Persons: Austin, homebuyers, homebuilders, Zillow, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Homebuyers, Keith Hughes, I'd, That's, Jason Lewris, Lewris, Doreen Sidney, Austin wasn't, Austin's homebuilders, Freddie, Sean Kelly, Rand, Freddie Mac, Jenny Schuetz, homebuilding, Kelly, he's Organizations: Austin, Oracle, Facebook, Google, Elon, Census, Parcl Labs, Federal Reserve, San Antonio —, Austin ., Freddie Mac, Brookings Institution Locations: California, Austin, Real, Texas, Francisco, San Francisco, San Antonio, Boston

☆ I Joined New York City's Rat Czar to Fight the City's Rodent Invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

In reality, the Rat Pack offers regular citizens a crash course in rodent mitigation in hopes of inspiring them to take more active roles in what often feels like an unwinnable battle. AdvertisementThose who join the Rat Pack must complete three activities: a "rat walk" that promises to "uncover the world of urban rats," a two-hour "rat academy" on rodent-prevention methods, and a service project, like a park cleanup. If you seek to understand this rat, Corradi told our group, "you can kind of just hold up a mirror and look at yourself." Related storiesCorradi, recognizable from various press appearances and her navy Rat Pack hat, is supposed to offer New Yorkers additional peace of mind. And yet I secured my precious Rat Pack merch by doing exactly that.

Persons: Andrew Barrett, He's, Barrett, Eric Adams, Kathleen Corradi, Brooklyn's Herbert Von King, wouldn't, Corradi, haven't, Adams, Michael Parsons, we've, doesn't, there's, We've, —, I'd, shrugged, You'll Organizations: NYC, Cub Scouts, Anadolu Agency, Washington DC, Anadolu Locations: Brooklyn, Yorkers, New York, New York City, Chicago, Brooklyn's Chinatown, West Harlem

☆ Brazil and Argentina both lose World Cup qualifiers
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Brazil and Argentina both suffered defeats in their qualifying matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday. For the Seleção, the 1-0 defeat against Paraguay was particularly concerning as it marked the team’s fourth defeat in the past five qualifiers. The result leaves the five-time World Cup winner fifth in the standings with the top six sides automatically earning a spot in the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. It was otherwise a lackluster showing from Brazil, which enjoyed 71% of possession but produced only three shots on target. Argentina has six wins from its eight World Cup qualifying games and sits two points ahead of Colombia, still unbeaten with four wins and four draws, in the standings.

Persons: Diego Gómez, Gómez’s, Guilherme Arana’s, Júnior Alonso, Vinícius Jr, Gatito Fernández, Jorge Saenz, Dorival Júnior, “, Marquinhos, ” Albiceleste, James Rodríguez, Mosquera’s, Rodríguez, Ricardo Mazalan, González, Nicolás, Lionel Messi, Lionel Scaloni Organizations: CNN —, US, Copa, Ecuador, TV Globo, Reuters, Colombia, Argentina, Copa América Locations: CNN — Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Canada, Mexico, Asunción, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia Argentina, Barranquilla, Colombia

☆ New Realtor Rules Will End Casual House Hunting, Change Homebuying
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-19 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

They'll hand 5%, or $25,000, to their agent, who then gives half, or $12,500, to the buyer's agent. They also feared that buyers' agents might "steer" clients away from homes that dared to offer less than the going rate. But in order to keep using the MLS, buyers' agents will have to abide by another rule that will further upend the old way of doing things. In the old days, a seller might have unthinkingly offered a commission of 2% or even 3% to the buyer's agent. The idea that sellers pay both agents' commissions has always been a clever sleight of hand.

Persons: they'll, didn't, Laura Ellis, they'd, Sellers, Tanya Monestier, Monestier, Ellis Organizations: Realtors, Baird & Warner, MLS, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Consumer Federation of America, California Association of Realtors, CFA, University at Buffalo Locations: Chicago, America, California

☆ Real Estate Status Symbol: New Home From Your Favorite Luxury Brand
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

This spring, the company unveiled plans for Pagani Residences, a 70-unit condo development in Miami's North Bay Village. Beyond automakers, there's a growing list of luxury brands hoping to use real estate to turn their cultural cachet into cold, hard cash. New York's five-star Sherry-Netherland Hotel began welcoming long-term residents almost a century ago, and since then roughly 700 branded residences have graced skylines around the world. But when it comes to branded residences, there are real selling points for buyers. The Elle project may seem out of left field, but Itani told me he's talking with another publication interested in making similar inroads.

Persons: carmaker Pagani, Pagani, Carlo Dipasquale, Aston Martin, Carbone, Gabbana, Elle, Sherry, we've, that's, Itani, Drake, Giorgio Armani, aren't, Brand, They're, they're, Laura Steinbruckner, Ferrari, Rob Sykes, WATG, hadn't, Cipriani, they've Organizations: Pagani Residences, Mercedes, Benz, Porsche, Bentley, Global, Condo, Brands, Carlton, Nobu, Peruvian, Armani Casa, South Florida —, Villa Miami, Major Food Group, Gabbana, Hilton, Fiat, Apple Locations: Bay, South Florida, Miami, Miami Beach, Dubai, London, New York, Netherland, Spain, Toronto, homebuilding, Plenty, Villa

☆ The Solution for High Rents and Home Prices: Fewer Stairs
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

More specifically, they're taking aim at a widespread rule that requires almost every new apartment building in the US to include at least two separate stairwells. This part of local codes, they say, is an outdated safety measure that really just makes apartment units smaller, more expensive, and darker (yes, darker). City planners there sometimes call these single-stair buildings "Seattle Specials" — they simply wouldn't be possible in pretty much any other city. Almost all of Europe, as well as Asia, Mexico and South America, allows single-stair buildings of six stories or higher. Germany allows single-stair buildings to stretch to about 20 stories, while Switzerland has no such limit.

Persons: Chris Gannon, Gannon, Stephen Smith, Michael Eliason, Eliason, James F, Brian Court, We're, Sean Jursnick, Jursnick Organizations: City Council, Center for, Housel, Miller Hull Partnership, Eliason, City, Fire Protection Association Locations: Texas, Austin, Seattle, New York City, America, California, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon, North America, It's, Union, Seattle's, Hill, Denver, Europe, Asia, Mexico, South America, Germany, Switzerland, Honolulu, California , Oregon, Washington

☆ Small Landlords Are Using New Tech Tools to Raise Tenants Rents
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The past few years have solidified single-family rental homes as genuine moneymaking enterprises, not just ho-hum nest eggs. Related storiesWhen everyone was scrambling for their piece of the suburbs during the pandemic, mom-and-pop landlords pounced, using these newfound tools to collect more cash. The company, which estimates only one-fourth of single-family-rental landlords use professional management services, now manages more than 28,000 rentals on behalf of small landlords. As the Wall Street ethos trickles down to small rental owners, it'll be harder and harder to tell them apart. But the gap is narrowing as small rental owners capitalize on the innovations that the institutional class has already embraced.

Persons: Daniel doesn't, Daniel, hasn't, he's, Bryan Smith, —, Zers, John Burns, Rick Palacios Jr, Palacios, Jordan Kavana, Rich Ford, you've, Ford, Devin Redmond, doesn't, Philip Garboden, It's, Garboden, Roofstock Organizations: Atlanta, Corporate, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, John Burns Research, Consulting, Ark Homes, Rent, Vesta Ventures, University of Chicago Locations: Zillow, Atlanta, Raleigh, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Grand Rapids , Michigan

☆ Copa América final 2024: Can Colombia continue historic unbeaten run and upset Argentina?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Sunday’s Copa América final will likely be the last time Lionel Messi plays for Argentina at a major international tournament. As was the case in the 2021 Copa América win, which ended an 18-year trophy drought for the national team, this run has felt like a real team effort. “It’s a national team with really good players, is very intense and has fast and dynamic players up front. Buda Mendes/Getty ImagesFor Colombia, the resurgence of James Rodríguez has proven to be crucial not only throughout the unbeaten run, but in particular during this Copa América. Colombia, remarkably, last reached the final in 2001 and the trophy from that year remains the only Copa América title in the country’s history.

Persons: CNN —, Lionel Messi, Messi, ”, hasn’t, – Messi, Ángel Di María, “, Colombia hasn’t, ” Messi, Fox Argentina, It’s, it’s, we’ve, James, Colombia James Rodriguez, Buda Mendes, James Rodríguez, Néstor Lorenzo, Rodríguez, América –, –, “ I’ve, ” Rodríguez, TyC, Rodríguez – Organizations: CNN, Copa América, Argentina, La, Canada, Uruguay, Fox, Optus Sports, América, Argentine, Real Madrid, TyC Sports, Panama, Los Locations: Colombia, Buda, Real, Blancos, Brazil, Americas

☆ Uruguay 0-1 Colombia takeaways: Argentina await Colombia in the final, Munoz sent off
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Jack Lang | Stuart James | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

After an absorbing encounter in Charlotte, North Carolina, it was Colombia who emerged to earn a meeting against defending champions Argentina in the Copa America final in Miami on Sunday. The spotlight was on Lionel Messi before this Copa America but Rodriguez, who turns 33 on Friday, has stolen the show. Stuart JamesA quintessential Copa America game? This was Copa America football — South American football — at its bewitching best, witnessed and enhanced by a crowd so fervently Colombian that we may as well have been in Medellin. Ugarte had ‘played’ Munoz, and Colombia knew that the balance of the game had totally shifted.

Persons: Jefferson Lerma, Daniel Munoz, elbowing Manuel Ugarte, Nestor Lorenzo’s, Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez, Jack Lang, Stuart James, Colombia’s, Nestor Lorenzo, James Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Lionel Messi, Timothy A, Clary, Messi, Stuart James A, Luis Diaz, dervish, Rodrigo Bentancur, Munoz, Luis Suarez, Tim Nwachukwu, Richard Rios, Rios, Mateus Uribe, Jack Lang Daniel Munoz’s, Manuel Ugarte, Darwin Nunez, Ugarte, gesturing, ‘, ’ Munoz, Stuart James Oh, Marcelo Bielsa’s, Edinson Cavani, you’ve, Nunez, Nicolas de la Cruz, Fede Valverde, Nunez’s, Chandan Khanna, shanking —, Davinson Sanchez, clobbered, La Celeste, Omar Vega, Jack Lang What’s Organizations: Argentina, Copa America, Colombia …, …, America, Getty Images, Copa America football — South, Football, Getty, La, Liverpool, Canada, Bank of America Locations: Charlotte , North Carolina, Colombia, Miami, Uruguay, Colombia … Argentina, … Argentina, Argentina, Copa America, Colombian, Medellin, Miami Gardens , Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina

☆ America has a serious ugly home problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Recently she posted a video on her YouTube channel in which she phrased the question more bluntly: "Why are homes so 'ugly' now?" Most people agree that America needs more houses, but nobody seems all that thrilled with the ones being built. Related storiesThe blame for America's architectural nightmare, however, doesn't stop at production builders, rising costs, or local codes. Homes look this way because they're not just places where we live — they're also supposed to help us get rich. As they stare down these rising costs, builders and architects have almost no choice but to streamline or opt for cheaper design elements.

Persons: Bailey McInnes, McInnes, they're, James Wentling, John Burns, Peter Dennehy, They're, Dan Reynolds, Horton, Lennar, Kate Wagner, she's, —, Wagner, Marcia Straub, William Morgan, it's, Queen Anne Organizations: HGTV, YouTube, Facebook, Builders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Association of Home Builders, John Burns Research, Consulting, Harvard's, for Housing Studies, Harvard, The Locations: Northern Virginia, America, homebuilding, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ Copa America 2024 predictions: Who will win it all, how far will the U.S. go? Our writers’ picks
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( The Athletic Soccer Staff | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

Click here to follow Copa America on The Athletic and get relevant stories in your personalized feed. AdvertisementMelanie Anzidei: Winning a second Copa America in a row would solidify Argentina’s place as one of football’s greatest teams. With both nations tied on a record 15 Copa America titles each, I’ve got my fingers crossed for a meeting in the final. Cardenas: Luis Diaz scored four goals at the 2021 Copa America, leading Colombia to the semifinals. GO DEEPER The Radar – The Athletic’s Copa America 2024 scouting guideTell us one thing you really want to see happen…Cardenas: The Copa America is such an important tournament for South American countries.

Persons: Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Will Vinicius Junior, Paul Tenorio, I’m, Felipe Cardenas, Messi, Carl De Souza, Jeff Rueter, Melanie Anzidei, Joshua Kloke, Brazil —, Thom Harris, Marcelo Bielsa, I’ve, Tenorio, Lionel Messi Cardenas, Lionel Messi Rueter, Lautaro Martinez Anzidei, Julian Alvarez Kloke, Luis Diaz Harris, Darwin Nunez, Cardenas, Luis Diaz, Diaz, It’s Messi, Vinicius, Gustavo Pagano, Vinicius Jr’s, Harris, … James Rodriguez, Nestor Lorenzo, James Rodriguez, Josh, Jeremy Reper, Enzo Fernandez ’, Yaser, Colombian Phil Foden, Paul, I, Piero Hincapie, Bayer, That’s, Hincapie, Dario Osorio, Alexis Sanchez’s, He’s, Osorio, Santiago Gimenez, Jonathan David, Europe’s, Snagging, … Cardenas, Leon Bailey, Michael Miller, Osorio dazzles, holdovers, Eduardo Vargas, Peru’s Paulo Guerrero, Vargas, Ricardo Gareca’s Organizations: Copa America, The Athletic, Reigning, Argentina, Messi, Saudi, AFP, Getty, Brazil, Guatemala, Inter Milan, C, Uruguay, Group, Colombia, Tenorio, Watford, Bayer Leverkusen, Bundesliga, Premier League, The, Midtjylland, Feyenoord, Canada, Copa, South, U.S, Reggae, MetLife, United, London, Paraguay, Red Bull Arena Locations: United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Miami, —, Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia, The U.S, Chile, Colombian, England, Asprilla, Ecuador, Chilean, Denmark, Lille, Rueter, Jamaica, Barcelona, Copa America, Spain, Cardenas, Italy, Venezuela, Senegal, France

☆ Copa América 2024: Lionel Messi’s final ‘Last Dance’ with Argentina?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —For just the second time in the tournament’s 108-year history, the Copa América will be played outside of South America. “Today, all I think about is to get well to the Copa América and play it. The squad for the 2024 Copa América is largely inexperienced, with 15 players on less than 10 caps for their country. UruguayPerennial overachiever Uruguay once again goes into a Copa América among the favorites to win the title. The nation of just 3.5 million people holds the joint record alongside Argentina for most Copa América titles won with 15.

Persons: Lionel Messi’s, Messi, ”, ” Messi, Ángel Di María, Catherine Ivill, Lionel Scaloni, “, he’s, ” Scaloni, Leo, Di María, West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá, Neymar, Brazil’s, Vinícius, –, Fernando Diniz, Dorival Júnior, Vinícius Jr, Marcelo Bielsa, Argentina –, Ander Gillenea, Luis Suárez, Giménez, Ronald Araújo, Federico Valverde, Matt Turner, Tim Weah, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun, Ron Jenkins, Gregg Berhalter’s, ’, Juan Antonio Pizzi, Ricardo Gareca, Marcelo Hernandez, Alexis Sánchez, Claudio Bravo, Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel, Cafeteros, Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno, Luis Díaz, James Rodriguez, David Ospina, Yerry Mina Organizations: CNN, Copa, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF Nations League, Nations League, América, Brazil, Messi, Argentine, Star, “, Copa América, ”, Beijing, Getty, England, USA, Real, La Liga, League, overachiever, Argentina, CONCACAF, US, Panama, Uruguay, Copa Américas, Roja, La Roja, Qatar Locations: South America, United States, US, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Qatar, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Spain, Real Madrid, Uruguay, overachiever Uruguay, AFP, Colombia, Washington, Bolivia, Russia, Peru, Paraguay, Albania, France, Marseille, Colombia Colombia

☆ Golden Age for Rich Renters: Deals Make It Better Than Buying a Home
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The result is that class A units account for more than half the apartment market, compared with one-third in the early 2000s, according to Moody's Analytics. High-end apartments that offer amenities up the wazoo — and rent breaks, to boot — represent a tantalizing alternative to the for-sale market right now. But as with all good things, the golden age for America's wealthy renters must also come to an end. Nations told me she still hoped to buy a home one day. "I know how challenging it is to rent in Nashville, especially on your own," Nations told me.

Persons: Emily Nations, she's, Nicole Bachaud, Rich, Joel Sanders, Sanders, Doug Ressler, David Brasington, Ressler, they're, — Organizations: Trinity, cabana, Nations, Analytics, University of Cincinnati, Census Locations: Nashville, downtown, Nations, New York, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, America, Houston, Austin, Phoenix, Charlotte, North Carolina, Raleigh , North Carolina, Tampa , Florida

☆ Denmark Made Home Buying Easier. America Should Follow Its Lead.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

When mortgage rates shoot up, as they did over the past two years, many would-be sellers decide they don't want to move after all. AdvertisementAs the Federal Reserve began pushing up borrowing rates in the spring of 2022, hoping to reel in rising inflation, mortgage rates went vertical. So far, this system of pooling together mortgage bonds and selling them to investors is pretty close to the American way of doing things. When US homeowners pay off their mortgages, they have only one option: pony up the amount left on the loan. That's not just good for buyers or sellers or mortgage loan officers — it's good for everyone.

Persons: It's, John Campbell, Danes, Freddie Mac, that's, Will Doerner, —, aren't, pesky, Campbell, Fannie Mae, Banks, Jesper Berg, there's, That's Organizations: Harvard, Federal Reserve, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Homeowners, Danish Financial Supervisory Authority Locations: America, …, Denmark, Zillow, Canada, Australia, Danish

☆ America's Surge of Dumb Neighborhood Names, Real-Estate Rebrands
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Neighborhood names are also shorthand for your rent or mortgage payments. In 2017, real-estate brokers in the historically Black New York neighborhood of Harlem sparked backlash when they tried to rebrand its south end as SoHa. At their best, new neighborhood names bring people together over a shared sense of pride in their little corner of the world. Along the way, these neighborhood names have veered into parody territory. I'm not saying that neighborhood names should be set in stone — in fact, I think it's natural for them to evolve alongside their populations.

Persons: you've, MoRA, Nashville's, they're, Let's, Gill Holland, Holland, Nestor Davidson, David Fagundes, Grant McKenzie, McKenzie, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Davidson, They're, Bob Dylan's, Marshall, Lily, I'm, Willy, Dirtbag, Little Italy — Organizations: Market, McGill University, University of Maryland, Houston, Financial, Tribeca, McGill, Google, Democratic, New York State Assembly, New York Times, Apple, North Arts District, Congress, Little Locations: Denver, Charlotte , North Carolina, LoSo, Boston, Louisville , Kentucky, NuLu, Austin, America, New York City, Louisville, Holland, North Carolina, Greenwich, Louisville's, Phoenix, Holland's, York, New York, Manhattan, Side, Chelsea, Maryland, Harlem, SoCo, Soho, Dowisetrepla, Charlotte, East Williamsburg

☆ Home Sellers' Tough Summer: Get Ready for Lower Prices, Fewer Offers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Rich baby boomers jumped in with all-cash offers, and sellers scored huge windfalls as weary buyers pushed prices to new heights. After all, people have to move for a wide variety of life reasons; mortgage rates be damned. "The further and further we get from the peak of the market," Peterson told me, "the harder it is to deny what's happened." Mortgage rates haven't fallen — in fact, they've gone up about 0.6 percentage points since the start of the year. "It can always be tricky telling somebody that they were just lucky because it makes you sound envious," Peterson told me.

Persons: Rich, Sellers, Eric Peterson, Peterson, Austin, Freddie, they've, Selma Hepp, Freddie Mac, Mike Simonsen, Redfin, towners, Libby Levinson, Katz, Price, Levinson, John Burns, they'll, Realtor.com, you'd Organizations: Freddie Mac, Reserve, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Altos Research, Sun, John, John Burns Research, Consulting Locations: Austin, Boise , Idaho, Denver

☆ A homebuyer's guide to the real-estate revolution
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Real-estate agents' commissions have fluctuated between 5% and 6% of the sale price for decades, despite advances in technology and an influx of agents. The recent lawsuits, which accused the NAR and some of the country's largest brokerages of conspiring to keep agents' commissions unfairly high, could signal the start of a new era. If sellers aren't paying out commissions to buyers' agents, buyers themselves could end up on the hook. For example, what happens if the seller isn't willing to pay the buyer's agent's commission? In most states, the buyer's agent can technically just rebate that extra money to their client.

Persons: Austin Whitt, Whitt, —, I've, Steve Brobeck, Sabrina Brown, they've, Michael Warren, Sellers, Prentiss Cox, it'll, you've, doesn't, Jack Ryan, Ryan, homebuying, Rob Hahn, Wendy Gilch, Gilch, I'm, it's, David Dworkin, Dworkin, Cox, It's Organizations: Realtors, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Consumer Federation of America, Getty, University of Minnesota, MLS, Consumer Federation of, National Housing Conference, Justice Department Locations: Tennessee, Nashville, America, North Carolina, United Kingdom, Australia

☆ Landlords Use a Popular Software Tool to Jack up Apartment, Home Rents
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Rents soared thanks to a shortage of apartment units, remote workers' desire for more space, and a daunting for-sale market that kept many renters stuck in place. Without RealPage, the plaintiffs argue, landlords would be hesitant to jack up rents; instead, they'd focus on keeping their buildings full. In short, the lawsuits that started with apartment rents could one day change how we pay for everything. By turning over pricing to the algorithm, plaintiffs say, RealPage's clients are encouraged to push rents higher than if they'd left the decisions up to humans. The RealPage cases are about far more than apartment rents.

Persons: RealPage, Kris Mayes, they'll, they'd, —, Zillow, there's, Marie Claire Tran, Leung, Tran, Matt Damon, Maureen Ohlhausen, Bob, Ohlhausen, Ed Rogers, Ballard Spahr, Jeffery Cross, Smith Gambrell Russell, didn't, it'll Organizations: Revenue Management, ProPublica, National Housing Law, FBI, RealPage, Department, Federal Trade Commission, Politico, Washington, Justice Department, FTC Locations: Texas, you've, Phoenix, Tucson, Washington, DC, RealPage, Arizona, Tennessee

☆ Inside the Fight Over Software That Tells Landlords to Hike Your Rent
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

☆ Homebuyers' Biggest Mistake: Waiting for Mortgage Rates to Fall
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Then, as the Federal Reserve began its battle against inflation in 2022, mortgage rates shot up, eventually hitting a 20-year high in October. Over the past decade, there's been a clear correlation between mortgage rates and inventory: When mortgage rates fall, the number of available homes for sale at a given moment shrinks. So, yes, waiting it out until mortgage rates decline sure seems appealing. The Federal Reserve has signaled that it plans to drop borrowing rates this year, which would likely push down mortgage rates. Advertisement"People are focusing on mortgage rates because every week they hear about mortgage rates changing," Doerner of the FHFA told me.

Persons: swiping, there's, Mike Simonsen, Freddie Mac, CoreLogic, —, homebuyers, Redfin, John Burns, Alex Thomas, There's, Will Doerner, Doerner, They're, Simonsen, it's, Jerome Powell Organizations: Federal Reserve, Buyers, Altos Research, Bank of America, John, John Burns Research, Consulting, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Federal, Fed

☆ 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

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