June 2025

Culture over commission: Building a top-producing team that lasts

Some brokerages are what I sometimes think of as “Lily Pads” because they’re waystations where agents sometimes go—albeit briefly—to level up their commission splits. And then they move on. Lily Pad brokerages attract and recruit based on a higher split, but fail to retain a cohesive team because they don’t lead with a culture focused […]

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Hurricane risks can raise housing costs but drive down value

While the threat of property damage and associated monetary losses resulting from Atlantic hurricanes is well documented, a new study puts numbers on the extent of the risk to homeowners and their communities. Climate scenarios are on the minds of home buyers, influencing where and what they buy as they consider both costs and standard

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Home equity lending is flourishing as HELOC rates fall

Home equity lending hasn’t been this hot in almost two decades.  Second-lien equity withdrawals approached 2008 levels in the recent first quarter, according to Intercontinental Exchange. Homeowners grabbed nearly $25 billion in home equity lines of credit, while overall first quarter equity withdrawals, including cash-out refinances, totaled $45 billion.  Introductory rates on second-lien HELOCs fell

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Rocket’s deals for Redfin, Mr. Cooper bring new growth and challenges

Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors. Market volatility under a second Trump administration was no match for Rocket Companies’ appetite for mergers in the first quarter of the year, as the origination giant inked deals to acquire real estate brokerage Redfin and mega servicer Mr. Cooper. Now comes

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Mortgage rates unfazed by crazy economic headlines

In one of the most chaotic weeks for economic headlines of the year, mortgage rates remained relatively stable, which is a stark contrast to the madness caused by the Godzilla tariffs a few weeks ago. Can this stability last?  Despite elevated rates, having fewer wild fluctuations on a day-to-day basis creates a healthier mortgage market

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