Real Estate News

The National Association of REALTORS® leaders have been talking to reporters and members full-time over the past month to correct the record about the association’s decision to resolve nationwide claims brought by home sellers. You can help by challenging inaccurate information that you see appearing in social media posts, news articles, or elsewhere.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued guidance regarding allowable interested-party contributions in light of the proposed Sitzer-Burnett verdict settlement agreement.

This is a popular question we have been receiving over the past few weeks. This article will help clarify this and is a good refresher on brokerage relationships.

Build your online brand with Nestfully Social, increase your visibility with buyers, and grow a dynamic social presence. Nestfully Social is designed just for busy real estate pros like you. It takes the hassle out of managing your social platforms, makes it easier to keep in touch with clients, and offers a simple way to collect and manage leads.

Utilizing buyer broker agreements for each transaction has never been more crucial when it comes to managing expectations efficiently for both Realtors® and their clients. This guideline can help highlight the Realtors® value, articulate a comprehensive action plan, solidify the partnership while protecting them during the buyer process, and specify terms and commission details.

The real estate industry has reached a new stage of evolution. Adapting to change is a process and doesn’t happen overnight. Just like those perfect homeowners with green thumbs, they always know when it's time to prune the plants, sparking positive growth for the future. The same concept applies to brokers leading their offices through adversity with intentionality and a solid framework.

Millennials have reclaimed their title as the largest homebuying demographic, while Boomers continue to dominate the seller's market. Where Baby Boomers were once the largest group of homebuyers, Millenials have surpassed them now by 38%. Alongside that, one out of three Gen Zers seeking homeownership are single females! Let us compare Millennials, Baby Boomers, and Gen Zers to better understand where the market is headed for these individuals seeking homeownership.

In today's competitive industry, earning the GRI designation is one of the key opportunities for Realtors® to stand out to prospective home buyers and sellers. Realtors® can advance their real estate careers by earning the Graduate Realtor® Institute (GRI), no matter how long they've been in the industry. With this designation, Realtors® will learn about updated technologies, laws, and marketing techniques that will positively impact their business.

Many Realtors® are asking questions about how to show their value and better serve buyers. Creating a value proposition package is step one, but if you're ready to take your business with buyers to the next level? We offer two courses that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to serve your buyer-clients better.

Many Realtors® are asking questions about how to show their value and better serve buyers. Creating a value proposition package is step one, but if you're ready to take your business with buyers to the next level? We offer two courses that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to serve your buyer-clients better.

Integrating compensation on brokerage or listing agents' websites may be a game changer in helping buyers' agents understand compensation structure. In the future, website functionality may allow amounts to be displayed quickly, giving buyers' agents a clear understanding of the property's details.

Fannie Mae has announced a new initiative to streamline the mortgage origination process for lenders and homebuyers. Single-family lenders can use a single 12-month verification report in the Desktop Underwriter validation services that will support lenders and help expand opportunities for buyers seeking homeownership. The streamlined process enables improved loan control quality, more efficient methods, and more ways to save money down the line.

Time to vote! Among the finalists for Realtor® Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2024, two Realtors® from the Broward, Palm Beaches, and St. Lucie Realtors® have emerged as standout finalists. Jorge Perez from Fort Lauderdale and Antonio Eckert from Boca Raton are among the 50 young professionals vying for recognition this year.

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about Realtors® representing buyers and how they need to level up the value they can offer and strategically present it to buyers. Many real estate practitioners across the nation think this will be crucial due to NAR's proposed settlement. Realtors® need to get granular and harness their supernatural sense of what consumers actually want!

The MLS has historically been the go-to place for Realtors® to see compensation structure on the buying side or to communicate compensation as the listing agent. If NAR's proposed settlement is approved, compensation will no longer be in the MLS. 

On Wednesday, March 27th, 2024, The National Association of Realtors® and The Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA) teamed up to send a letter regarding NAR's Proposed Settlement Agreement.

As you work to negotiate your value and services to consumers, hopefully converting leads into clientele, the MLS is an area of your discussion that you don’t want to skip over. The reality is that the MLS offers potential clients all the tools and data they need for their benefit.

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) proposed settlement is trending across the real estate market. Some of the takeaways that consumers and Realtors® can expect are price transparency, leveled playing fields, seller incentives, and more.

Whether you're a new agent or a seasoned professional, the shared goal among all real estate professionals is to offer expert guidance to your clients. As a Realtor®, you understand the importance of being a trusted source of knowledge and setting clear expectations to deliver maximum value.

This message aims to clarify the implications for our consumers and our valued Realtors® while addressing common concerns and questions.

Technology has been continuously evolving in this digital era, and along with it, so have scams. It seems like just as we get used to combating one type of scam, a new one pops up in the real estate industry. For years, a common scam likely involved a suspicious email from someone purporting to be a title company, instructing your buyers to wire funds for closing. Now, we’re facing a new set of threats, especially with recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence.

The Realtor® Party is made up of dedicated members like yourself who advocate for the best interests of real estate locally, statewide, and nationally. Municipal Elections are around the corner, and we want to let you know that some candidates in Broward and Palm Beach Counties exhibit a genuine passion and commitment to bolstering the real estate industry.

The Women Rock the Biz Summit on Friday, March 8th, was a resounding success, leaving Realtors® and business professionals feeling empowered and motivated. The event, featuring dynamic speakers and panelists who shared their inspiring personal stories and journeys, provided a significant opportunity for professionals to uncover their superpowers and enhance their ability to serve customers in today's market.

We understand that navigating the MLS can be extensive. There are MLS fields, rules, regulations, and compliance to consider. That's why we've produced a video series that highlights important MLS topics and provides solutions to common misconceptions. This series was created to offer you support, making your journey through the MLS more straightforward.

Some developers are starting to integrate annexes into new construction projects, providing an option for relatives to reside on the same property or offering additional space for various purposes. If you're looking to create separate living quarters for relatives, establish a home-based business, or add a rental option to your property, adding an annex may enhance the marketability of your property.

On Thursday, February 29th, Realtors® from all over South Florida came together for the first of the three-part Mayors Breakfast event series, where they engaged in discussions and collaborated with nine elected officials in Broward County.

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) announced that throughout 2024, they are offering an online version of the popular Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation course free to members. The course is typically around $295 but will not include continuing education credits.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of honoring Realtors® who have volunteered and made a significant impact in their communities. With 72% of Realtors® actively volunteering in their communities, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) recognizes these efforts through the 2024 Good Neighbors Awards, celebrating all acts of giving back and highlighting the impactful role Realtors® play in their communities.

In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever for leaders in the real estate industry to step up and guide their teams through the challenges ahead. As President of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors® and BeachesMLS, I have witnessed firsthand how issues facing our industry have collectively affected us. I want to share some insights on how we can continue to grow as leaders during these unprecedented times.