Current News

The Latest News from WFG National Title Company
ryantate
153
portal watchrealtor.comSelectTechnologytruliaZillow
January 9, 2015

Portal Watch: Murdoch’s hand on the wheel

If there’s any doubt that Rupert Murdoch, chairman of realtor.com’s new overseer, News Corp., would be personally involved in the brewing portal war with Zillow, we got our answer this week. Nice visit with our new @realtordotcom CEO Ryan O’Hara in San Jose today. Great things to come. pic.twitter.com/tpNtvTXaiE —…
Read More
ryantate
119
lou barnesmortgagemortgage ratesSelect
January 9, 2015

Why mortgage rates are defying expectations and falling as recovery strengthens

Okay, make sense of this: the U.S. economy in a strengthening recovery, the Fed is in hold-me-back mode, jobs-jobs-jobs everywhere … and long-term interest rates, including mortgages, have dropped as they would in a depression. Right. Begin by stripping away three sources of confusion. First the confetti cloud from Wall…
Read More
ryantate
136
listing syndicationMLS & AssociationsSelectZillowzillow data dashboard
January 9, 2015

Direct MLS feed puts Zillow in a ‘friendlier’ light

Zillow continues to prepare for the day when it will no longer receive listings from listing syndicator ListHub come spring. The top real estate portal said today that it had signed an agreement to get listings directly from a multiple listing service in a high-end real estate market in Massachusetts.…
Read More
ryantate
153
fhaNARnational association of realtorsSelectspot loansThe Hill
January 9, 2015

This could be the year FHA heeds calls to relax condo rules

New FHA condo regulations could bring back “spot loan” approvals this year, allowing buyers to purchase units in developments that haven’t obtained certification. But it will be so hard to get a spot loan approved that the rule change will probably have only a superficial impact, said Dawn Bauman, senior…
Read More
ryantate
119
MarketingRandall KostickSelectzephyr real estate
January 9, 2015

Artists say brokerage’s marketing materials pour salt in gentrification wounds

An innovative, independent real estate brokerage may have gotten a little too innovative about copyright law when it featured murals by San Francisco artists in marketing materials without seeking their approval, touching raw nerves over gentrification in the process. Zephyr Real Estate — which made news last year by partnering…
Read More
ryantate
102
real estate agent kidnappingSelectshowings
January 9, 2015

Real estate agent held at gunpoint during showing

A female real estate agent was held at gunpoint and temporarily kidnapped by a man while showing him a model home in Elk Grove, California, a city located just south of Sacramento, news outlets are reporting. Elk Grove police told FOX40 News that the man pulled out a gun while touring the home, handcuffed and threatened the agent…
Read More
ryantate
170
michael mcclurenetworkingRachael Hitereal estateSelect
January 9, 2015

Kingpins of Facebook real estate groups reveal their secrets

Participating in Facebook groups can not only shake up your Facebook routine — it can also be a powerful tool to improve your business. But online groups can be tricky to navigate. Proper etiquette and common sense will keep you out of the moderator’s crosshairs and generate positive connections. I reached…
Read More
ryantate
119
profilereal estate agent successreal estate coachSelect
January 9, 2015

Bernice Ross: ‘The secret is serving others and being grateful for what you have’

Bernice Ross is the CEO of RealEstateCoach.com. Social media: Twitter, LinkedIn  What’s your favorite activity outside of work and why? Two things: I love traveling to other countries, especially if it involves some sort of cruise. When it’s six dollars a minute to make a phone call from the ship, you…
Read More
ryantate
119
Agent adviceMarketingreal estateSelect
January 9, 2015

5 sure-fire tactics for stronger content marketing

Content marketing is nothing new, but content marketing that works well is something everyone still struggles with. There are two parts to a great content marketing strategy: distribution (spreading around the content) and return on investment, or ROI (producing results through the content after people read it). Today, we’re focusing on…
Read More