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Posted On Monday, 29 May 2023 21:11 Written by

Businesses, both large and small, have mastered the art of reacting and responding, managing crises, executing strategies at a high level, and maintaining lean and agile operations. However, these skills have proven insufficient in preventing massive monetary and brand losses, even for Fortune 500 companies. Case in point, Alphabet recently experienced a $100 billion loss when its profitable search business was outpaced by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. It’s clear that agility isn’t enough in our era of exponential change!

The key to thriving amid hyper-change and growing uncertainty is developing a new competency: the ability to accurately anticipate the future. This may sound impossible, but the future is visible if you know how to look for it.

I call organizations that have mastered this skill “Anticipatory Organizations.” Three decades of my research into Hard Trends and Soft Trends has contributed to developing this concept.

Hard Trends and Soft Trends: Understanding the Distinction

Hard Trends are projections based on measurable, tangible, and fully predictable facts, events, or objects. These are future facts that are certain to happen. On the other hand, Soft Trends are projections based on assumptions or statistics that appear tangible. They represent future possibilities that might occur and can be influenced or changed. Understanding this distinction can revolutionize an organization’s approach to planning and innovation, and reduce risks associated with these endeavors.

Employees of an Anticipatory Organization comprehend the value of accurately predicting the future. They recognize that the past is unchangeable, but actions taken in the present can shape the future. By acknowledging that many future disruptions and opportunities are predictable, they proactively leverage this knowledge to their advantage. They are proactive, focusing on solving predictable problems before they occur and identifying future challenges as opportunities.

The Science of Certainty: Differentiating Hard Trends and Soft Trends

This approach is underpinned by what I term the “science of certainty.” By differentiating Hard Trends (things that will happen) from Soft Trends (things that might happen), we can define future certainties. For instance, we can predict advancements in technology, demographic changes, and government regulations, among others. This capability to create certainties based on my Hard Trend Methodology is essential for businesses.

Why is this important? A strategy and innovation based on Hard Trends (certainties) carry low risk compared to those based on Soft Trends (uncertainties). Certainty breeds confidence, stimulating progress and growth, while uncertainty often serves as a roadblock.

Actionable Steps for Anticipatory Thinking

Begin by identifying Hard Trends and attach an actionable opportunity to each. Similarly, list Soft Trends and identify ways to positively influence each. From this, develop one or two actionable Must-Dos. This anticipatory approach is critical as traditional lean and agile strategies are no longer enough to guarantee success. I believe the ability to anticipate is the most vital missing competency in business today. Learn to anticipate and stay ahead of the competition.

Embracing Anticipation: Going Beyond Lean and Agile Strategies

Are you ready to transform your organization into a powerful force for the future? The Anticipatory Organization Learning System offers the perfect roadmap. With our innovative system, you can lead the change instead of just managing it. Don’t just survive the relentless wave of disruptions – ride it and thrive! Equip your team with the most crucial competency of the 21st century: the power to anticipate.

Remember, the best way to predict the future is to create it. Your future begins now. Don’t wait for tomorrow – the time for anticipation is today!

Posted On Tuesday, 30 May 2023 00:00 Written by
Posted On Tuesday, 30 May 2023 00:00 Written by
Posted On Monday, 29 May 2023 20:31
Posted On Monday, 29 May 2023 20:11
Posted On Monday, 29 May 2023 19:58
Posted On Monday, 29 May 2023 09:46 Written by
Posted On Monday, 29 May 2023 08:48 Written by
Posted On Monday, 29 May 2023 00:00 Written by

Rates continue to feel pressure as bank failures, inflation, and continued market discomfort about the economic path we are on with the debt ceiling issues before us. Despite that, we still see new buyers entering the market and more demand for homes than there is supply in most markets. Now many will point to the lower number of loans being done, and that is certainly true, but what you are missing is that there are fewer people and companies in the mortgage arena to handle that business! For those that are working, business is BOOMING! The key is, you must be using specific strategies and have a plan to get in front of these opportunities.

The numbers of mortgage companies and originators continue to fall; but what is missing, are the numbers of banks and credit unions who have left the mortgage business completely as the overhead and the risk rises. Those that once jumped into the mortgage market to buy up market share with portfolio lending, are being quick to exit that business because their boards are concerned that rising rates and falling deposits reduces the CASH VALUE of those holdings. No bank wants to book losses at the same time depositors are pulling their money out!

For those of us that have understood the value of the bank and credit union relationships, we have seen a dramatic number of referrals on great business that these banks and credit unions are no longer interested in doing. While we once partnered with these institutions to take on their turndowns, now we are getting the opportunity to see it all!

The small bank/credit union strategy has always been a solid and reliable strategy to build great referral partner relationships, but now it has opened the door to a significant stream of great mortgage opportunities. With fewer and fewer originators out there to pick up these deals, those working the plan find it to be working VERY VERY WELL!

If you have questions or comments: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Posted On Monday, 29 May 2023 00:00 Written by
Posted On Saturday, 27 May 2023 08:18

Redfin reports that while many sellers in some parts of the country are handing out freebies to attract buyers as high rates dampen demand, other markets have so few homes for sale that concessions aren’t necessary

Home sellers gave concessions to buyers in 42.9% of U.S. home sales during the three months ending April 30, up from 25.5% a year earlier, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. That’s just shy of the 45.6% record-high hit in February.

The share of home sellers providing concessions—which include things like money toward repairs, closing costs and mortgage-rate buydowns—has inched down from February’s peak due to typical seasonality. Concessions become less common in the early spring because that’s when more buyers typically enter the market, increasing competition and giving sellers more power. But this spring, concessions posted a smaller decline than the last two years because high mortgage rates have made it so sellers in cool markets need to take extra measures to woo and secure buyers. The likelihood of a seller giving a concession dropped 6% from February to April, compared with 18% drops during the same period in 2021 and 2022. This spring’s smaller drop corresponds with less homebuyer competition, with 46% of offers written by Redfin agents facing a bidding war in April, down from 59% a year earlier.

Sellers are throwing in freebies to woo buyers at a higher frequency than last year for several reasons:

  • Buyers backing out of the market. Many house hunters have put their buying plans on hold because rising mortgage rates have made homeownership more expensive. And while home prices have fallen 4% from a year ago, that’s not enough to offset the cost of higher rates, with monthly mortgage payments at a record high. Another factor dampening demand is the lack of supply, with fewer people listing their homes for sale as they hold onto comparatively low mortgage rates.
  • Sellers who need to sell. Many people who are listing their homes are moving because they need to; maybe they got a divorce or secured a new job in a different state. Those sellers may be willing to provide concessions because they need to sell their home quickly.
  • Homebuilders offering freebies to attract buyers. There was a surge in homebuilding during the pandemic as builders tried to capitalize on the moving frenzy, especially in pandemic homebuying hotspots. Now that rising rates have pushed many buyers out of the market, builders are trying to sell off their backlog of inventory by offering perks like money toward the buyer’s closing costs, gift cards and even free cars.

While buyers have the upper hand in some markets, that’s not the case everywhere. In some areas, there are so few homes for sale that homebuyers are encountering competition. And when buyers are involved in a bidding war, they typically won’t win if they ask for concessions like mortgage-rate buydowns or help with closing costs.

“High mortgage rates and low supply have thrown the housing market out of whack, and each deal is different. Some buyers are asking sellers for the sun, the moon and the stars in addition to offering below the asking price, and some are requesting no extras because they’re so motivated to secure one of the few homes on the market,” said Boise, ID Redfin agent Shauna Pendleton. “The one consistency in the market right now is homebuilders handing out freebies. Most builders are offering concessions equal to about 3% of the sale price, which gets credited to buyers at closing, to offload properties. Buyers are using the extra cash to cover closing costs or buy down their mortgage rate.”

Sellers are also accepting less money for their homes

Just over one in seven (15.7%) home sellers dropped their asking price in addition to providing a concession to the eventual buyer during the three months ending April 30. That’s nearly four times the share of a year earlier (4.2%).

Roughly one in five (20.5%) of homes that sold during the period had a final sale price below the asking price in addition to a concession, up from about 7% a year earlier. And about one in 10 (9.4%) had all three: A concession, a price drop and a final sale price below the original list price. That’s up from just 2.2% a year earlier.

Those shares have all inched down from record highs set in February, which is typical for this time of year, and 2023’s declines are actually smaller than the declines in 2021 and 2022.

Sellers concessions up most in pandemic homebuying boomtowns

Tampa, FL saw a bigger year-over-year jump in seller concessions than any other metro Redfin analyzed. Sellers in Tampa gave concessions to buyers in 58% of home sales during the three months ending April 30, up from 12% a year earlier.

The next-biggest increases were in Nashville, TN (49%, up from 5.6%), Salt Lake City (46.8%, up from 12.3%), Seattle (45.7%, up from 11.7%) and Raleigh, NC (64.6%, up from 31.2%).

The share of sellers giving out concessions rose over the last year in all metros Redfin analyzed.

Concessions are most common in Phoenix, San Diego and Raleigh

Sellers in Phoenix gave concessions to buyers in 68.5% of home sales in the three months ending April 30, the highest share of the metros Redfin analyzed and nearly double 35.9% a year earlier.

San Diego (66.1%), Raleigh (64.6%), Las Vegas (59.1%) and Denver (58.1%) rounded out the top five. Like the metros where concessions rose most, these are all places where homebuying demand skyrocketed during the pandemic and is now waning.

To view the full report, including charts, metro-level data, and methodology, please visit:
https://www.redfin.com/news/home-seller-concessions-april-2023

 

Posted On Friday, 26 May 2023 12:52 Written by
Posted On Thursday, 25 May 2023 19:56
Posted On Thursday, 25 May 2023 19:52
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