Here are the 6 emerging luxe buyers of 2022: Engel & Völkers

Running the gamut from a group dubbed "Crypto Visionaries" to one called "The New American Rancher," they come in all ages from all backgrounds with preferences for how they want to live.

Seeing contingencies come back? Your market is shifting

During the red-hot seller's market of the past couple of years, we saw contingencies all but disappear in high-demand markets. As the market shifts, the reemergence of contingent transactions and contingency clauses can help you gauge the balance of power.

It’s baaack! Homebuyer commission suit against NAR rises from ashes

On Wednesday, eight homebuyers filed an amended complaint, once thought to be dead, against NAR, Realogy, Keller Williams and others alleging NAR rules have inflated agent commissions.

What’s Up With the Crazy Housing Market?

Rising mortgage rates. Faltering home sales. Skyrocketing rents. Here’s how to make sense of a baffling real estate market.

Cheers! Bublup offers a better way to organize business: Tech Review

Bublup is business content organization and management software that can store, label, sort and share everything, including web addresses, home tour videos and listing agreements.

Watch your step: 5 closing pitfalls and how to avoid them

There are many moving parts throughout the homebuying process, and they all need to be completed successfully before your client has their keys in hand. MDLLA stars James Harris and David Parnes outline five issues that can derail your path to the closing table.

3 trends poised to disrupt the real estate landscape

Emerging trends in real estate can sometimes be difficult to understand. Expert Sundance "Monty" Brennan explains why he thinks these 3 disruptors should be on your radar in the months to come as the market continues to shift

How activism (and real estate) are uniting AAPI communities

The changing demographics of our nation require the real estate industry to continue to learn and welcome all people in our changing American population. AREAA President Tim Hur outlines the importance of reaching out to the often-overlooked AAPI community.

Top 5 luxury home features with Crestron

A Crestron smart home intergrator helps to ensure that your luxury client's investment in smart home technology pays off. Smart home analyst and team leader Brandon Doyle offers tips for ensuring a smarter smart home setup.

Here the Skinny: A Skimpy Oklahoma City Agent Roundup

This week we continue with our efforts to bring you the superstars of U.S. real estate. Once again, we’re refining a more objective and quantifiable method. Focusing on Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is presenting us with some new problems, and insights, since this region is a particularly competitive and dynamic market given the economic outlook.  

Previously, we used lead generation services like Homelight to aggregate lists of the top agents, but we later shied away from such rating databases opting for Google and Zillow, combined with social, media, and SEO prowess. Now, Oklahoma City is proving how selecting top-notch professionals is even harder than we originally thought. Here’s what we found, with insights into why the average consumer may have trouble picking the best of the best in this locale.

Veteran real estate broker Tara Levinson is this week’s real estate local hero. With 549 total reviews (189 local) on Zillow, and a 4.8 overall Google rating on 203 reviews, her company’s digital effort beats all her competitors, which means potential clients benefit. The company website is not a Google killer or something, but a Semrush authority of 15 with 8.8 thousand monthly visits is above par. 7,000 plus likes on Facebook, tell part of the story of Oklahoma’s top-rated agency.

Is her team on Instagram in a meaningful way? Check. Youtube? Check (only more could be done). State and local news engagement? Of course, she’s covered all the bases it seems. Still, Levinson could do more, it seems to me. After researching Chicago’s Matt Laricy recently, the bar just got a lot higher. So, we should see this top-tier entrepreneur in a bit more high-profile circles. There’s a clear reason Levinson is among the top agents in the country.

Kacie Kinney gets spotlighted for the same reasons as the state’s top agent. This Keller Williams professional has perfect Zillow reviews, and the KW team’s Google votes (only 27?) are 5-star as well. SEO and site authority-wise, Kinney using the KW cookie-cutter corporate template has disadvantages. That said, she makes up for this a bit with effective Instagram and Youtube efforts. While not industry-leading by any stretch, the agent seems to be making the effort for her clients. 



Eric Beard
Keri Gray of KG Realty
Continue reading

RE/MAX to shutter tech platform booj, lay off workers by end of 2022

The company's booj platform debuted in 2019. Now, RE/MAX will offer similar tools via kvCORE, a platform from tech company Inside Real Estate.

Sprout Mortgage is 2nd non-QM lender to implode in as many weeks

Failures raise questions about the viability of a small but growing corner of the mortgage business that largely serves self-employed borrowers.

Lightning strike kills Bisnow Media CEO Will Friend at 33

Bisnow Media CEO Will Friend died over the Fourth of July weekend after being struck by lightning during a boating trip. Friend leaves behind his wife, actress and fellow entrepreneur Bevin Prince.

Single, Double & Hybrid Guest Beds For Your Pleasure

The mattress that you choose has a huge impact on the quality of comfort you experience when you sleep, which is why selecting a mattress that provides you with all the support you need is essential. The type of mattress you choose to sleep on is mostly based on personal preference, so how are you meant to choose the perfect mattress for a guest room? There are a variety of beds, single and double to fit all spaces and mattresses like memory foam and hybrid that can make sure your guests sleep soundly in your home. 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Guest Beds 

Choosing a bed for your guest bedroom can be challenging, as you must choose a model that is going to be suitable for a range of different people. Mattresses are often chosen on personal preference, so it is worth choosing something that is going to offer support and comfort for most sleepers. Another factor to consider is the space you have – for example, if you have a small room, you’re going to need a single bed or if you’re looking to accommodate a couple like friends or parents, a double mattress is going to be essential. 

Single mattresses 

If you’re looking for a smaller mattress to fit in a more modest guest room, there are single mattresses that would be ideal when it comes to creating a luxurious and comfortable feel. You can choose from single hybrid mattresses, which would be great for a guest room as the comfort from the foam and the support from the coils can support the sleeping position of many of us. They are also durable, which means you can save money in the long run. 

Continue reading

Los Angeles, Manhattan sweep biggest city deals of 2022 (so far)

From Beverly Hills to Billionaire's Row, home sales in L.A. and NYC towered above normally hot Miami and San Francisco, according to an analysis of the top 10 city deals since October 2021.

The secret to generating 33,000 listing video views for only $200

Of course, you'll feature that listing on the MLS, but how do you take your marketing to the next level with YouTube? Jimmy Burgess and Andrew Undem walk you through the process of creating targeted ads to get your latest listing more exposure.

Is the Housing Market Sustainable?

With interest rates and inflation both on the rise, the US housing market has recently taken a hit. In fact, the cost of buying a home jumped more than 20% this April compared to the same month in 2021.

It’s no secret that in recent yes, the real estate market has become increasingly more unstable than it usually is. Home prices have fluctuated wildly, and there have been a number of high-profile housing bubbles that have eventually burst, causing economic damage. 

As a result, many experts have begun to question whether the housing market is sustainable in its current form. Statistics show that housing prices have become increasingly unaffordable for many Americans, and it is unclear whether this trend can be reversed. 

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a real estate agent looking to help your clients understand these trends, here’s what to know about the sustainability of the current market.

The Current State of the Housing Market in 2022

First and foremost, let’s talk about interest rates. Unfortunately, the Fed has announced that there will be another interest rate boost to come. Higher mortgage rates are obviously unsustainable for most Americans as inflation continues to rise. But how high is high?

Continue reading

8 Simple Ways to Care for Your New Home—and Your Peace of Mind!

You signed what seems like hundreds of papers. You’re holding the keys to your new home. The door is open—and now it gets real. Being a homeowner isn’t just a title—it’s also a responsibility, and there are a few new habits you’ll need to develop to keep your home in tip-top shape.

Don’t be intimidated, though. The benefit of creating and staying on top of a few key habits means that the work will never feel overwhelming. The effort is well worth it, too: The benefits of caring for your property go beyond the physical improvements. As your personal retreat, you can feel more peace of mind in your home when you know you’ve given it some TLC. Not to mention that taking the time to improve your home can truly pay off in the long run and can help you avoid claims or costly repairs. Plus, staying claim-free helps you qualify for ongoing homeowners’ insurance savings.

Now that you’re inspired, here are eight simple steps to take next:

1.    Focus on home decor that pulls double-duty

As you add furniture, art, and more personal touches to your house, the space will truly start to feel like your home. Prioritizing multi-functional products like a pull-out couch or ottoman with storage space can help you limit the clutter—and there’s a link between minimizing excess items and boosting your mental health.

Some decor choices can even improve your physical health: Many popular house plants also serve as air purifiers. For example, the incredibly low-maintenance Snake Plant filters indoor air by removing up to four toxins and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. That makes this the perfect accent to add to your living room or bedroom. It doesn’t need much direct sunlight or water to thrive, either!

Continue reading

What’s Your ‘Mover Persona’? Find Out—and Get Personalized Strategies for Peace of Mind

If you’re preparing for a move, you deserve advice and support that’s customized to your situation. Why? Because taking care of the “little” details can make a big difference when it comes to boosting your pre-move peace of mind.

The average American moves nearly one dozen times in their life—and it’s all-but-guaranteed that each of those times will feel like a unique experience. Whether you’re moving into a condo all on your own, settling into a family home with kids, upsizing, downsizing, or just-right-sizing, every move is a learning opportunity.

Start by scrolling through these six “mover personas” to find the one (or two or three!) that fits you. Next up: With your new strategy in place, feel calm, cool, and collected when you open the door to your home.

As a first-time homebuyer, you get a place to call your own, the freedom to design it as you wish, a nice investment that can pay off over time—and the responsibility of taking care of your new house. Talk about a milestone! It can feel like a steep learning curve, especially when you start talking about homeowners’ insurance, which is a must-have if you are financing the home. The good news is that this “to-do” is much easier to manage than you might think, especially when you get guidance you can trust. Allstate can help you design custom coverage at an affordable price, and there are even special discounts available for recent homebuyers and first-time buyers who choose newer construction.

Once the keys are in your hands and the moving truck arrives, focus on keeping the celebratory spirit alive. Prioritize settling into the spaces that mean the most to you, whether that’s the chef-approved kitchen, your bedroom retreat, or even just the extra closet space your city apartment was lacking. As you do this, you might want to put your own touch on the spaces with furniture or artwork. With Personal Property Coverage from Allstate, you can also protect your new heirlooms. Your Allstate agent can help you understand your Personal Property Coverage limits to make sure you have enough coverage for the things that are most important to you—think collectibles, antiques, musical instruments, sports equipment, or jewelry.

Continue reading

Homebuyers can start loan apps with Google or Facebook credentials

Floify claims it's the first first major mortgage point-of-sale software provider to offer Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities.

LikeRE Logo