Equity Release Surge: Homeowners Tap Wealth Amid Tax Change Fears
Homeowners are increasingly using equity release to access property wealth, driven by concerns over estate tax changes and retirement income pressures. £665M accessed in Q1 2025.
Homa: AI-Powered Home Buying Platform
Homa uses AI to empower home buyers with market analysis, data-driven offers, and closing guidance. It aims to streamline the process without replacing listing agents, addressing buyer concerns about commission fees.
New Home Sales Surge in March: Lower Prices & Mortgage Rates
New home sales surged in March, reaching a peak since September 2024, driven by lower prices and mortgage rates. Sales increased 7.4% from February and 6% year-over-year, with cheaper homes fueling the market.
Rechat Launches Digital Ads + Real Estate Tech News
Rechat introduces digital ad tools. Epique Realty adds Zillow Showcase. Florida Realtors offer Rayse data insights. Aivre streamlines property evaluation. Earnnest provides secure payments.
Housing Market: Rising Listings & Economic Uncertainty
Housing market faces rising listings and economic concerns. Customer confidence is low, influenced by mortgage rates and economic worries. Experts suggest market could slow even if mortgage rates decrease.
Mortgage Rate Volatility & Housing Market Trends
Mortgage rates fluctuate amid bond market volatility. Home loan applications drop. Sellers & buyers must be strategic in the changing market. Inventory rises, home touring slows.
Agent Migration: Brokerage Models, Tech, and Market Share
Agent migration analysis reveals tech-enabled brokerages attract top talent. Market share concentrates among major brands. Agent churn stems from dissatisfaction with support and onboarding. Tech offerings are very important.
Real Estate Expansion: eXp in Turkey, Agency in Vancouver & More!
eXp expands to Turkey, The Agency opens in Vancouver. Plus, moves by Compass, Coldwell Banker, Douglas Elliman, Engel & Völkers, Century 21 & FirstTeam mark realty market growth.
NAR Mandatory Membership Challenged by Brokers
Brokers challenge NAR's mandatory membership policies and subscription fees in multiple states, arguing they should not be forced to pay inflated fees to access MLS listings after the NAR settlement.
HomeServices’ New Strategy: Empowering Agents with Tech
HomeServices of America focuses on empowering agents by streamlining operations with technology and adapting to local markets, guided by Chris Kelly, the new CEO. Includes NAR teamwork discussion.
Real Estate Tech Updates: Reloq, Zillow, REDX, Remine
Latest real estate tech: Reloq's AI RE-Engage, Zillow's Showcase insights, REDX Caller ID, and Place acquires Remine for expanded MLS services. Innovation driving the property sector.
eXp Realty vs. Exclusive Listings: Fair Housing Concerns
eXp Realty leaders voice concerns over exclusive listings pushed by brokerages like Compass, highlighting potential fair housing issues, antitrust problems, and limited seller exposure. They've introduced a new disclosure form for sellers.
HomeServices Appoints Chris Kelly as CEO, Blefari Chairman
Chris Kelly succeeds Gino Blefari as CEO of HomeServices of America. Blefari becomes chairman emeritus. Focus on franchise growth and agent success. Real estate leadership changes.
Zillow Showcase & Real Estate Tech Innovations
Zillow Showcase enhances listings with interactive floor plans, leading to more views and faster sales. Tech companies like Collabra, Adx, and Lofty are innovating in real estate marketing with AI and digital solutions.
Home Builder Confidence Dips Amid Tariff Uncertainty
Home builder confidence declined due to tariff-induced rate volatility, labor shortages, and land scarcity. Tariffs are increasing costs, impacting consumer and company behavior. Confidence is down from last year.
Slowing Home Price Growth: Market Trends & Uncertainty
Home price growth is slowing, with potential declines in some markets, particularly Florida. New listings remain strong despite economic uncertainty. Experts question if financial turmoil will drive prices down. Keep eye on 2022 patterns.
Brokerage Beat: News from Corcoran, KW, Christie’s, more
"While we have been pleased with the results of our aggressive expansion in recent years, this latest strategic move in the critical Coral Gables market is a true game-changer, strengthening our position among the top tier of South Florida's leading real estate offices," Advance Realty owner Melanie De Armas said in a press release.
Two directions for home sales amid economic turmoil
"But it's also possible that economic turmoil pushes down mortgage rates and/or people decide to bite the bullet now instead of waiting for conditions to perhaps worsen, encouraging homebuyers and sellers to jump into the market."
Realtor.com, CoStar agree to dismiss trade secrets lawsuit
"After catching our ex-employee brazenly accessing our strategy documents while employed at CoStar, we acted decisively, launching legal action to halt and prevent any ongoing exploitation of our intellectual property.
CoStar reshapes board, sharpening focus on Homes.com success
Two new board members bring chief finance officer chops to the table: Rachel Glaser (formerly of Etsy) and Christine McCarthy (Disney), while the third, John Berisford, is a former executive with S&P Global, one of Wall Street's most trusted sources of data and insights.
Will job growth and lower rates be enough to motivate buyers?
The DOGE effect: The BLS numbers "still only partially reflect layoffs" at the federal level, said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, citing third-party data suggesting that DOGE-mandated cuts resulted in 216,000 job losses in March.
Brokerage Beat: News from Michael Saunders, Christie’s, BHGRE, KW, more
Murphy, who also serves on Sarasota County's Board of Directors' Economic Development Corporation, said he feels "energized by the opportunity to help lead a company that values professionalism, innovation, and a people-first approach" in what he described as "an exciting time" within the industry.
New data: Private listings offer ‘no benefits to sellers’
As the residential real estate industry continues to debate the merits of private listings — and seeks to understand who would be most impacted by the practice — a new report from Bright MLS offered insight into several themes often highlighted by brokerages that view office exclusives as a unique competitive opportunity.
Brokerage Beat: News from Sotheby’s, KW, ERA, more
Along with running ads during televised games, ERA plans to launch a social media series featuring Boston Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler and promote its brand at in-stadium events centered around a "Day at the Park" theme.
Slow pace of home sales points to a subdued spring season
"While inventory is expected to increase and there is still a lot of pent-up demand, consumer anxiety and rising concerns about an economic downturn could hinder market activity."