The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. decreased 0.6% in April to 101.8, after decreasing 0.3% in March. Over the six-month period between October 2023 and April 2024, the LEI contracted 1.9%—a smaller decrease than its 3.5% decline over the previous six months. “Another decline in the U.S. LEI confirms that softer… The post Economic Index Declines Again in April, Pointing to...

Above, from left, Elias Astuto, Riezl Baker, Keith Robinson and Maureen Sullivan In the wake of the National Association of REALTORS®’ decision to settle commission lawsuits, the real estate industry is bracing for a new reality. Rather than clinging to how things were before, we asked some of our 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers the following… The post Planning for a New Commission Future appeared first...

You don’t have to like it. But you can only hate it for so long. More than two months after the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) announced it was paying $418 million and making long-resisted changes to MLS policy and compensation, brokers and MLS leaders are still seeing that anger in the real estate community.… The post Don’t Get Angry, Get Educated: How MLS Data, Buyer Contracts Can...

Escrow holdbacks and repair escrows are common tools in real estate transactions, used to facilitate smooth property transfers under certain conditions. These financial arrangements help manage and mitigate risks associated with property conditions at closing. I will clarify the distinctions and similarities between escrow holdbacks for repairs and other types of escrow accounts. You will… The post...

In an unexpected move last week but made public May 16, Christy Budnick announced that she was stepping down June 3 as CEO of HSF Affiliates, the franchisor of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS). The company said that Gino Blefari would return as CEO of HSF Affiliates, adding to his position as CEO of HomeServices of… The post Budnick Out, Blefari Returning as CEO at HSF Affiliates appeared first on...

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 7.02% this week, down for the second week in a row from last week’s 7.09%, according to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) from Freddie Mac released Thursday. This week’s numbers:  The 30-year FRM averaged 7.02% as of May 16, 2024, down from last week when it averaged… The post Mortgage Rates Decrease Again appeared first on...

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on May 9, 2024.  As we approach Mother’s Day this Sunday, I want to express my profound respect and admiration for all mothers—those who are planning to start families, those eagerly anticipating the arrival of their children, those who are navigating the early days of motherhood, and those… The post Thoughts on Leadership: Honoring the...

With the U.S. still experiencing a housing shortage due to construction halts from the COVID-19 pandemic, housing completions, and starts, should continue to push positive, as each showed true in April—and the need for housing remains everlasting. According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, housing starts reached a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.360… The post Housing Starts Rebound in April,...

Above, Michele Harrington speaking at last year’s 2023 RISMedia Power Broker Forum in Anaheim, California. Editor’s Note: The historic events taking place in the real estate industry over the last year, including the commission lawsuits, Burnett/Sitzer case, the NAR and real estate brokerage settlements and how the industry will evolve and thrive in the new… The post Op-Ed: How We Got Here appeared...

As the adage goes, the only thing constant is change. But what if embracing change becomes the new constant?  I firmly believe change is good. To grow, it is important to not only welcome change but to use it to inspire opportunities to evolve and innovate. Yet, equally as important, as we prepare for what… The post Change, With a Backbone of Consistency appeared first on...