As real estate professionals, you're well aware that steering clients to a particular neighborhood or home based on their race, ethnicity, or other protected class is flat-out illegal under fair housing laws.  You've been reminded in ethics training and continuing education classes of your obligation to treat all clients and consumers equally.  But … [Read more...]

Fifty-six percent of consumers say that despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they would attend an open house or take a home tour without hesitation, according to the Back To Normal Barometer from research company Engagious. Additionally, nearly half of respondents to the survey say they would return to activities such as taking a cruise, … [Read more...]

If you have a Supra Active Key, you must act now to replace that key with either the Supra e-key or the new Supra Xpress key.  The active keys are being replaced.  Remote replacement or curbside no-contact exchanges are available.  If you have the e-key on your smart phone, you DO NOT need to do anything. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO … [Read more...]

Acknowledging the many unknowns in relation to the COVID-19 virus, Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, sounded cautious optimism about where the economy is heading and highlighted positive indicators in the residential real estate market at the Residential Economic Issues and Trends Forum on May 13 at the 2020 … [Read more...]

Now more than ever American families rely on REALTORS to help them defend and protect the American Dream of Homeownership!  The "Protect Your Investment--A Guide For At Risk Homeowners" was developed to help those who are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This resource is a free benefit of your REALTOR … [Read more...]

Speaking at the NAR Virtual Legislative Meetings on May 12th, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathy Kraninger announced that  the CFPB is stepping up its education and assistance available to consumers during the pandemic.  A one-stop website has been created by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and … [Read more...]

Every home sale in 2019 added at least  $54,741 to a maximum of $184,763 to the economy of in 2019, according to  National Association of REALTORS reports.  And economists point out that home sales can have the same economic boost during the coronavirus pandemic, too.  In Missouri, each home sale added an average of $59,599 to the state's economy.  … [Read more...]

Homeowners seeking t premium when selling their home should eye the months of May and June, a new analysis from ATTOM Data Solutions shows.  The study is based on 33 million single-family home and condo sales between 2011 and 2019.  It does not take into account the effect of the current COVID-19 pandemic on home sales this year. Over the … [Read more...]

Financial Institutions have been tightening up on lending in recent weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and home equity lines of credit have become the most recent target.  JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo are the latest bank giants to announce that they will no longer be accepting applications for new HELOCs.    The change does not impact the bank's … [Read more...]

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, said Monday that it will not require homeowners who take mortgage forbearance due to financial hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic to make up the missed payments in a lump sum. The FHFA made the announcement after news stories cautioned that homeowners … [Read more...]