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."
Condo ‘blacklist’ killing sales in disaster-prone areas
Why Fannie Mae is keeping tabs on condos: While the finance giant isn't a direct lender, it buys and resells large numbers of mortgages — but only if those loans are adequately protected.
MLS-owned data platform Remine to be sold
Now, in a move first reported by Inman, Remine's assets are being offered for sale via an "Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors" (ABC) — an alternative to bankruptcy that is meant to provide a quick, discreet means of selling a distressed business.
Tech Bytes: Markt, Voiceflip partner on AI-powered MLS tool
But Markt General Manager Betsy Hanson said in a news release that the tool will also "give MLS subscribers quick and accurate answers, freeing our staff for bigger challenges" by helping to lighten the load of administrative duties, improve service speed, lower operational costs and enhance member interactions.
‘Unfiltered’: NAR has ‘a lot of cleaning up to do’
While Witt acknowledged the varied opinions on the CCP, he thinks the introduction of the policy in 2020 was "long overdue" and in the best interests of buyers and sellers.