Lori McCarthy, managing broker of the recently Compass-acquired Latter & Blum in Lafayette, Louisiana, has made recruitment and community involvement priorities in her business. She serves on her local REALTOR® association board and is a member of the Young Professional Network, which provides guidance to rookie REALTORS®. RISMedia touched base with McCarthy for the latest…

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The 4,000-member strong LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance has published its fourth annual LGBTQ+ Real Estate Report. The report details how, as the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age, 70% of aging Alliance members believe LGBTQ+ face harder challenges in finding post-retirement homes. Highlights: A plurality (35.3%) of aging Alliance members (aged 65+) expect to retire…

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Buying a property together is a significant step for unmarried couples. This decision involves unique legal considerations and requires careful planning. I will provide critical property laws for unmarried couples, including title considerations, mortgage qualifications and protective measures for individual investments. As someone who has been selling real estate for a very long time, it…

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Judge Stephen R. Bough gave his final approval today to settlement agreements struck by big brokerages in class-action commission lawsuits, granting broad immunity from claims by sellers that these companies conspired on rules that inflated real estate compensation at the expense of consumers. The ruling does not include a settlement struck by the National Association…

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The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) decreased to 7.09% from 7.22% last week, the first decrease seen since they began rising five weeks ago in March, according to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® from Freddie Mac. This week’s numbers:  The 30-year FRM averaged 7.09% as of May 9, 2024, down from last week when it…

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This week, my travels find me at home on Monday morning conducting WIG calls with our CEO’s. On Monday afternoon I traveled to Orange County, CA for business meetings and to participate at the Mike Ferry West Coast Management Retreat. As I reflect on the vibrant discussions at the Mike Ferry West Coast Management Retreat,…

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Clockwise from top left: Howard Hanna agents Kim Crane, Jason Sekody, Kelly Huff and Ryan Shedlock Editor’s Note: The Buyer-Agent Playbook is a new iteration of RISMedia’s biweekly Playbook segment, specifically centering on buyer agency and how agents are navigating the changes and trends in a post-NAR-settlement environment. The series will provide brokers and agents…

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In a generally upbeat Q1 earnings report May 8, residential real estate company Compass showcased $1.05 billion revenue, a 10% increase from Q1 2023. The company attributed the revenue gain to a 7.1% increase in transactions. On the negative side, Compass lost $132.9 million in Q1, still an improvement over the $150.2 million it lost…

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