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Meet Tim Holmes, creator of Nurkl Toys, who is on a mission to help kids stay creative! In his recent video, Tim showcases how sticks can be transformed into endless possibilities for kids to enjoy. Check out the video!

 

 

Posted On Friday, 01 March 2024 13:09 Written by
Posted On Friday, 01 March 2024 10:50
Posted On Friday, 01 March 2024 10:20
Posted On Friday, 01 March 2024 09:54

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.94 percent.

"Mortgage rates continued their ascent this week, reaching a two-month high and flirting with seven percent yet again,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “The recent boomerang in rates has dampened already tentative homebuyer momentum as we approach the spring, a historically busy season for homebuying. While sales of newly built homes are trending in a positive direction, higher rates and elevated prices continue to pose affordability challenges that may leave potential homebuyers on the sidelines.”

News Facts

  • The 30-year FRM averaged 6.94 percent as of February 29, 2024, up from last week when it averaged 6.90 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.65 percent.
  • The 15-year FRM averaged 6.26 percent, down from last week when it averaged 6.29 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.89 percent.

The PMMS® is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20 percent down and have excellent credit. For more information, view our Frequently Asked Questions.

Freddie Mac’s mission is to make home possible for families across the nation. We promote liquidity, stability, affordability and equity in the housing market throughout all economic cycles. Since 1970, we have helped tens of millions of families buy, rent or keep their home. Learn More: Website

Posted On Friday, 01 March 2024 09:47 Written by

You only have two options when it comes to the future of technology in marketing:

First, which is unfortunately appealing to many, you can hunker down, sticking to the old marketing tactics to drive sales. In doing so, you decide to let others deal with advancements in digital technology while you sit on the sidelines and see what happens. This strategy seems safe because others are taking the risks, not you.

But the issue here is that simultaneously, your competition and their marketing team is taking calculated risks based on Hard Trend future certainties, and while doing so, they are also reaping the benefits and advancing into the future. Not only will your brand sit idly by, but your sales will stagnate. 

But of course, there is a second option. This option is much more beneficial to your bottom line and is the key to being the disruptor instead of the disrupted.

Instead of letting others take a risk that seems dangerous, look at the future of marketing with an Anticipatory mindset and think critically about how new technologies can advance marketing strategy and, thus, drive sales in exponential ways with exponential thinking about those future certainties! 

The Future Is Predictable — Something Marketers Must See

Our world is full of uncertainty regardless of how you view the future. Shifting to an Anticipatory mindset is not about stopping the unknown from heading our way — it is about leveraging the countless things that we can be certain about.

And for those in marketing, today’s world of digital transformation means staying ahead of technological advancements and learning to leverage them now. This is far more crucial than most realize, allowing those who work in marketing to help their organization avoid disruption to their business model and, most importantly, sales.

Technology is changing at an exponential rate, especially with the influx of Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT and AdCreative.ai. But when you have the certainty that you know where customer expectations and preferences are headed as well as what the next technological advancement will be, you can leverage that information to pre-solve problems before they occur. 

In this case, marketers already know that AI and the applications involved will continue to grow. With that Hard Trend future certainty, you can have the confidence to make better decisions with your marketing efforts and how to leverage it to your advantage.

Speeding Up the Process

If we were to focus on the advancement of AI applications and their role in the marketing industry, one in the industry may still balk at a thought.

It all goes back to the fear of being displaced, right? Because a “computer can do it,” somehow a marketing professional becomes unnecessary or, worse, we start losing pay because our duties are getting simpler.

I want all those who work in marketing to understand that AI applications like ChatGPT, AdCreative.ai, and the like are not here to replace your job. Will AI get more efficient and digitally more intelligent and progress beyond the stage that it is currently sitting at now? Absolutely! But you have the power to grow with it, leverage it now, and be ahead of the curve in how it improves your marketing efforts, whether you work for an organization or work for a marketing company.

ChatGPT is like a wrench to a plumber. The plumber does not need to loosen bolts with their bare hands — they use a wrench to get the job done faster and more efficiently. Some bolts would be impossible to loosen without a wrench!

The same principle applies here. ChatGPT and other content creation software is a tool for the marketing industry. 

Be an Exponential Thinker as an Anticipatory Marketer

What this all goes back to is the concept of exponential thinking, just as I teach in my Anticipatory Leader System.

Exponential thinking very much involves recognizing a Hard Trend future certainty and adapting it to your advantage, seeing the different ways it can help develop your business or organization.

Aside from evolving with the times as a marketing professional working alongside AI as it grows, you should also think exponentially about it. How can the different AI applications applied to the marketing and advertising process be used to tell the story of your brand in ways you never thought of before? Can AI applications speed up the content creation process? Will it help you reignite that creative spark that some struggle with on a Monday morning?

Marketers and advertising professionals are artists at heart. And much like a musician with a piano, the tool of AI provides boundless creative opportunities to be innovative in exponential ways. The piano only has 88 keys, the guitar only has so many strings, and a singer has one voice. But the way in which human beings use those instruments exponentially makes for thousands of new songs every day around the world.

You have the Hard Trend in your hands. Now it needs to be adapted to you and your team, rather than you adapting to the technology. You are the artist, so take control with certainty!

Posted On Tuesday, 05 March 2024 00:00 Written by
Posted On Thursday, 29 February 2024 13:37
Posted On Thursday, 29 February 2024 13:29
Posted On Thursday, 29 February 2024 13:13
Posted On Thursday, 29 February 2024 12:59

Lending Tree's latest survey found that nearly two-thirds of homebuyers or sellers who asked their real estate agent for a lower commission fee were successful. Here's what else they found.

  • While just 31% of homebuyers or sellers have attempted to negotiate real estate agent commission fees when buying or selling, 64% of those who asked successfully reduced theirs. Additionally, 36% say they weren’t aware negotiating was an option but would have tried if they were. Overall, 84% of Americans believe real estate agents should be flexible with their commission.
  • Among homebuyers or sellers, 48% admit they don’t know what percent commission their agent received in their last transaction. 44% of those who do know say their agent received between 3.00% to 4.99% in their last transaction, while 30% say it was 5.00% or higher. 
  • 64% of Americans believe a real estate agent is at least somewhat necessary when buying or selling. However, 44% say they would attempt a real estate transaction without an agent. When asked if they think online tools and services have made agents less necessary in transactions, 64% agreed.
  • 11% of Americans said the buyer should be responsible for the entire commission, and 20% said the seller. Over a third (35%) of homebuyers or sellers say they’ve been asked to pay the other party’s real estate agent fees in a transaction — more commonly the buyer than the seller.

You can check out our full report here: https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/real-estate-survey/

LendingTree's Senior Economist and report author, Jacob Channel, had this to say. 

"Remember, real estate agent fees aren’t necessarily set in stone. While most home buyers and sellers don’t attempt to negotiate fees, a majority of those who do have gotten their fees lowered. This goes to show how important it is to advocate for yourself during all stages of the homebuying/selling process. If you don’t ask for a better deal, you’re unlikely to get one."

Posted On Thursday, 29 February 2024 08:32 Written by
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