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By Susanne Dwyer

Homeownership is still a vital—though vulnerable—component of the American Dream. Protecting it, as well as promoting it, is at the top of the docket for National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2017 President Bill Brown, who recently discussed his agenda at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla.

“Homeownership offers tremendous value, helping communities stabilize and families build wealth,” said Brown, a second-generation Realtor® and founder of Investment Properties in Oakland, Calif. “High prices, low inventories, rising rents and student debt burdens are all part of a deck that’s heavily stacked against buyers in competitive markets, but there’s reason for optimism ahead. Realtors® are working hard to ensure clients meet their personal and financial real estate goals, and NAR is helping give Realtors® the tools to get the job done.”

Brown pointed to historically low borrowing costs as an opportunity for buyers, as well as real estate investors, while noting that challenges still remain. Recent NAR survey data show a lingering misconception about how much of a down payment is required to purchase a home, a factor that may unnecessarily delay some qualified young adults from entering the market.

Access to mortgage credit remains a challenge, as well, particularly for those borrowers with “thin” credit histories. Brown noted that low- and moderate-income buyers who have avoided debt may have trouble accessing mortgage credit despite years of on-time rent payments, consistent water and electric bill payments, or other indicators of a strong borrowing profile.

Brown also highlighted the need to protect the mortgage interest deduction and preserve a secondary mortgage market that ensures liquidity sufficient to provide safe, affordable mortgage credit to all qualified borrowers.

Part of making credit available, Brown said, is keeping fees low. He noted that guarantee fees, loan-level price adjustments and other costs shouldered by conventional mortgage borrowers are locking out individuals who have strong credit. Brown said steps need to be taken to reduce fees for borrowers while still taking reasonable, responsible steps to protect taxpayer dollars.

“Our goal is to make sure every qualified buyer who wants to purchase a home has that chance,” Brown said. “In the year ahead, we’ll be working to bring down the needless hurdles that stand in the way of prospective homeowners. That’s good for buyers, good for communities, and good for the economy overall, and I’m excited for what we have ahead of us.”

Brown was installed as NAR 2017 President on November 7. He recently participated in RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine NAR Power Broker Roundtable.

For more information, please visit www.realtor.org.

The post NAR 2017 President Outlines Homeownership Challenges, Opportunities appeared first on RISMedia.

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From:: Finance and Economy

By Susanne Dwyer

Homeownership is still a vital—though vulnerable—component of the American Dream. Protecting it, as well as promoting it, is at the top of the docket for National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2017 President Bill Brown, who recently discussed his agenda at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla.

“Homeownership offers tremendous value, helping communities stabilize and families build wealth,” said Brown, a second-generation Realtor® and founder of Investment Properties in Oakland, Calif. “High prices, low inventories, rising rents and student debt burdens are all part of a deck that’s heavily stacked against buyers in competitive markets, but there’s reason for optimism ahead. Realtors® are working hard to ensure clients meet their personal and financial real estate goals, and NAR is helping give Realtors® the tools to get the job done.”

Brown pointed to historically low borrowing costs as an opportunity for buyers, as well as real estate investors, while noting that challenges still remain. Recent NAR survey data show a lingering misconception about how much of a down payment is required to purchase a home, a factor that may unnecessarily delay some qualified young adults from entering the market.

Access to mortgage credit remains a challenge, as well, particularly for those borrowers with “thin” credit histories. Brown noted that low- and moderate-income buyers who have avoided debt may have trouble accessing mortgage credit despite years of on-time rent payments, consistent water and electric bill payments, or other indicators of a strong borrowing profile.

Brown also highlighted the need to protect the mortgage interest deduction and preserve a secondary mortgage market that ensures liquidity sufficient to provide safe, affordable mortgage credit to all qualified borrowers.

Part of making credit available, Brown said, is keeping fees low. He noted that guarantee fees, loan-level price adjustments and other costs shouldered by conventional mortgage borrowers are locking out individuals who have strong credit. Brown said steps need to be taken to reduce fees for borrowers while still taking reasonable, responsible steps to protect taxpayer dollars.

“Our goal is to make sure every qualified buyer who wants to purchase a home has that chance,” Brown said. “In the year ahead, we’ll be working to bring down the needless hurdles that stand in the way of prospective homeowners. That’s good for buyers, good for communities, and good for the economy overall, and I’m excited for what we have ahead of us.”

Brown was installed as NAR 2017 President on November 7. He recently participated in RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine NAR Power Broker Roundtable.

For more information, please visit www.realtor.org.

The post NAR 2017 President Outlines Homeownership Challenges, Opportunities appeared first on RISMedia.

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From:: Real Estate News

By Susanne Dwyer

In the following interview, Ed and Agnes Chatelain, broker associates, Realty Executives Cape Cod Hyannis in Cape Cod, Mass., discuss education, giving back, and marketing.

Region Served: Cape Cod, Mass.
Years in Real Estate: Since 1992
Number of Offices: 1
Number of Agents: 4

You have a steadfast commitment to community service. Please describe your philosophy of giving back.
Not only have we been involved in the community for years, but we also believe that our community provides excellent services. And to be great real estate professionals in the area, we also need to give back to this community that supports us. We also believe that being involved in the community provides us a first-hand glimpse into the benefits provided, which allows us to educate our buyers. Educated consumers make good decisions, and there’s no limit to what we can achieve if we can make good decisions.

You use an integrated marketing strategy, including print and specifically, Homes & Land. How does it benefit you?
Homes & Land is one of the better avenues we have for marketing. Not only are our listings printed in the magazine—something our sellers value—they’re also displayed on the internet. This marketing strategy integrates us into other areas such as The Wall Street Journal because of its broad reach.

How do you stay ahead of the competition?
By doing a great job for our clients. The three words that best describe us would have to be service, service, service. We do everything we can to make the whole process as smooth and simple as possible. In the end, our goal is to make sure our clients have no headaches as they make their way through a purchase or sale.

What is one thing you do that your clients love you for?
Communication. If our buyers or sellers have a question, we get back to them almost immediately. Buying a home is one of the biggest investments our clients will make, and they want to know how things are progressing. Even if we don’t have the answer at that specific moment, we get back to them and let them know where we stand. This goes a long way toward showing that we’re truly there to help them.

What is the key to real estate success?
Honesty. And, in keeping with the communication theme, we listen to what people say and to what they actually want. If you take the time to listen and then guide people in the right direction, they’re able to make good decisions. And that, after all, is what finding success in real estate is all about.

For more information, visit www.newpointmediagroup.com.

The post Educating Consumers Key to Making Good Decisions appeared first on RISMedia.

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From:: Real Estate News

By Susanne Dwyer

Technology can transform your brokerage—but only if it sticks.

Join RISMedia for this month’s FREE Automated Content Engagement (ACE) Broker Best Practices webinar, “Change Management: Broker Technology Initiatives That Stick,” which will dive into change management strategies that reap maximum ROI from the technology you introduce to your agents.

What: RISMedia’s ACE Broker Best Practices Webinar Series: “Change Management: Broker Technology Initiatives That Stick.”

Sponsored by

When: November 16, 2016 at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. MT / 12 p.m. PT

Featuring: Angela Raab; director of Agent Development and Technology Advancement, F.C. Tucker Company; Leane Forsee, administrator, Dilbeck Real Estate; Kee Wah Chung, director of Real Estate Customer Success, DocuSign; moderated by Verl Workman, founder and CEO, Workman Success Systems

Register now!

For live coverage of the webinar, follow @RISMediaUpdates and use #RISWebinar.

Each month, RISMedia’s webinars draw over 1,000 agents and brokers from across the country eager for exclusive insight from the industry’s most profitable professionals. To view our last webinar, “What to Say and When to Say It: Scripts and Dialogues of Successful Agents,” visit RISMedia’s Housecall.

The post Change Management: Broker Technology Initiatives That Stick appeared first on RISMedia.

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From:: Real Estate News