WVBT 2023 Newsletter Archives

December 2023

• Fed Plans 6 Interest Rate Cuts in 2024 Amid Cooling Economy
• The Eras Tour Effect: How Taylor Swift and Her Music Have Impacted Home Prices
• Gen Z, Millennials Are ‘House-Hacking’ to Become Homeowners in a Tough Market
• AUPs: Navigating Technology Guidelines for Workplace Success
• Leaders Must Prepare Now for Future Ways of Working
• RON Predictions for 2024
• Despite Higher Mortgage Rates, Many Americans Still Desire Homeownership
• Clearing the Path for Today’s Homebuyers
• Inventory Will Remain Challenging, But More Options Should Manifest in 2024
• Promoting Empathy as a Leadership Skill
• YouTube Marketing Made Easy: Simple Step-By-Step Guide For Small Businesses
• 5 Tips to Take Back Control of Your Time
• New Home Construction Projected to Surge in 2024
• US Homebuyers Weigh Climate Risk in Picking a House
• The Housing Market is Thawing as New Listings Jump, Mortgage Payments Drop
• Christmas Light Displays Across West Virginia to Spark Your Holiday Spirit

November 2023

• Meet Bob Wisman, Our New Business Development Officer!
• Affordability Crunch: Where Middle-Class Buyers Can Afford the Most (and the Least)
• Current Administration Encourages Converting Empty Offices to Affordable Housing
• 23 Ways to Automate Your Smart Home Experience
• A Survey Finds Benefits of eClose Technology Not Being Fully Realized
• The 10 Biggest Business Trends for 2024 Everyone Must Be Ready For Now
• HUD Issues New Guidance on Reverse Mortgages
• Q3 New Home Construction Reaches Highest Share on Record
• Section 1071’s Impact on Fair Lending Laws
• What one executive did about the homeownership gap and hiring
• YouTube Marketing Made Easy: Simple Step-By-Step Guide For Small Businesses
• Do you want a mentor or an advocate?
• U.S. new home sales scale 19-month high as median price drops
• Home Sales Inch Up, But Remain Historically Low
• U.S. Housing Starts Rebound in September After Sharp Drop in Prior Month
• Discover Cozy Autumn Hideaways in West Virginia

October 2023

• C.Y.B.E.R. – Can You Be Entirely Ready
• A Roadmap to Getting More Americans Into Homes
• Merry, Not Scary: Original ‘Halloween’ House Appears on the Market
• Banks Prioritize Compliance When Vetting Fintech Partners
• FedNow: Understanding the New Instant Payment Rail
• When Will ChatGPT Open Its Own Title Agency?
• Purchase Lending, Refinance and Home Equity Activity Rebounded in Q2
• 1 in 3 Sellers Are Relocating For More Spacious Homes
• Relieve Confusion for Clients Who Don’t Speak English
• What’s the Difference Between Threads and Twitter?
• 5 Ways to Be a Leader (Even If You’re Not the Boss)
• Late Summer Surprise: Housing Market Sees Unusual Rise in New Listings
• Nationwide Construction Boom Expected to Remain High Until 2025
• Why Today’s Housing Inventory Shows a Crash Isn’t on the Horizon
• Unlock the Magic of October: Your Guide to Fall Foliage in West Virginia

September 2023

• West Virginia Tops as Most Affordable State for Homeownership
• Navigating Housing Market Highs and Hopes for Fall
• Homebuyers Are Still More Active Than Normal
• Why Finance’s Expanding Role Is Good News For Growth-Focused Businesses
• Here’s What the Future of the American House Looks Like
• Opportunity Zones Rebound Nationwide in Q2
• With The Right Tools, Construction Loan Opportunities Can Blossom
• Home Purchase Mortgage Applications Remained Resilient in July
• A Simple Playbook to Improve Your Leadership
• What Vacation? The Challenge of Finding a Work-Life Balance in the Industry
• How to Build Unstoppable Collaboration in Your Team
• New Market High: Home Values Rose in 68 of Top 100 Cities
• Housing Market Forecast for the Rest of 2023
• Experience the Beauty of Fall in West Virginia: Cozy Cabin Getaways Await

August 2023

• Two West Virginia Metros Named Housing ‘Hidden Gems
• F.A.S.T. – Fast Action Stops Theft
• Make Your Office More Eco-Friendly—and Save Money
• Here’s What the Future of the American House Looks Like
• Navigating the Wild, Wild West of Digital Closing Providers
• Economist: Mortgage Rates Matter Less Than You Think
• FHA and VA Purchase Apps on the Rise
• ‘Take One Risk a Day’: 3 CEOs on How to Succeed at Work
• How Streamlining Meetings Boosts Employees’ Strength and Productivity
• How to Deal With Frustrating Coworkers When Working Remotely
• Eastern and Midwestern Growth Spurs Q2 Migration Trends
• Contract Signings Slow, But Buyer Demand Is Still High
• Measuring the Resiliency of the U.S. Housing Market
• Get a True Taste of ‘Almost Heaven’ Along This Memorable Route

July 2023

• New Study Reveals West Virginia as One of the Cheapest States to Buy a House
• Why the Median Home Price is Meaningless in Today’s Market
• Home Builder Confidence Shifts Into Positive Territory
• Building in the Same Old Ways Won’t End the Housing Crisis. We Need Innovation to Boost Productivity
• Building the Office of the Future
• Innovation in Real Estate: Focusing on Real-Life Solutions
• Measuring the Success of Borrower Assistance Programs
• Federal Reserve: No Rise in Interest Rates This Month
• How Pet-Friendly Pros Are Targeting Animal Lovers
• Brush Up on Mortgage Products That Help Buyers Save
• 7 Surefire Ways to Find a Work-Life Balance This Summer
• Homebuyers Remain Motivated Despite Challenging Market Conditions
• Existing-Home Sales Edged Higher by 0.2% in May
• The Fed’s Inflation-Fighting Tactic Was Effective in Cooling the Housing Market. What Now?
• 15 Best Airbnbs in West Virginia

June 2023

• Success Stories – People Who Bought a House After Years of Renting
• ALTA, More Than 100 Groups Send Letter of Support for SECURE to Senators
• A Mountain Biking Movement: West Virginia’s Best Trails
• The Mortgage That Will Pay to Make Your Home More Climate Friendly
• How Common is Common Sense in AI, and Why Should We Care?
• Integrated Channels: The Next Frontier Beyond Omnichannel Distribution
• MLOs Will Add Value by Coaching the Borrower
• Homebuyers Feel More Confident in Their Ability to Purchase Homes
• How to Become a Trusted Advisor to Clients and Drive Faster Decision-Making
• Create an Inspiring Mission, Vision & Values Statement for Your Business
• How to Evolve Your Organization’s Culture Without Losing Its Essence
• ‘Glass Half-Full, Half-Empty’: Examining April Existing-Home Sales
• Millennial Homeowners Tapping Into Home Equity
• Younger House-Hunters Remain Confident in a Predominantly Seller’s Market
• Getting the Most Out of Your Email Marketing

May 2023

• Spring Adventure in Almost Heaven
• Strategies Available For First-Time Homebuyers
• Seller Imposter Fraud is S.I.M.P.L.E. (Seller’s Identity Must Precede Literally Everything)
• 7 Innovative Ways to Invest in Real Estate in 2023
• Green Buildings: 18 Examples of Sustainable Architecture Around the World
• Top 5 Tech Trends Transforming Real Estate In 2023
• Millennials: Getting Into Houses Earlier Than Their Parents
• Industry Response to CFPB/DOJ Statement on Appraisal Bias
• 22 Must-Read Real Estate Blogs That Will Make You a Better Agent
• How Leaders and Their Teams Flourish Through Continuing Education
• How to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent (6 Simple Strategies)
• 2 West Virginia Metros Named Housing ‘Hidden Gems’
• Bidding Wars Heating Up For Starter Homes
• Nearly Half of Home Sellers Are Making Concessions to Woo Buyers
• Where to Post Your Videos on Social For Maximum Exposure

April 2023

• Governor Signs Largest Tax Cut in West Virginia History Into Law
• Celebrate Earth Day in West Virginia
• White House to Make Significant Investment in Nation’s Housing
• Digital Marketing Opportunities for Real Estate Professionals Continue to Evolve
• They Never Used to Cook. Now Wealthy Homeowners Want Two Kitchens
• In WV, a Push to Rebuild Economy from the ‘Ground Up’
• Is This Spring the Make-or-Break Moment for 2023’s Housing Market?
• Tips for Success With Self-Employed Borrowers
• Single-Family Permits Up Over 7% From January
• 13 Key Components of Fantastic Team Communication
• 10 Easy Ways to Be a Better Networker
• Essential Work-Life Balance Tips For Overworked Real Estate Agents
• US Housing Market Gains Momentum as Loan Applications Jump Amid First Drop in Mortgage Rates in 5 Weeks
• The Best Time to Sell in 2023
• Housing Market Predictions and Strategies
• The Return to Handwritten Notes in Real Estate

March 2023

• Trailblazing West Virginia Women
• First-Time Homebuyer Programs in West Virginia
• 2023 Real Estate Trends: What You Need to Know
• Federal Panel Says Agencies Need to Focus on Harmonizing Cyber Regulations
• Equifax Endorses Expanded Mortgage Credit Reports
• Federal Measures to End the Homeless Crisis
• Lock-In Effect Keeping Homeowners in Place
• Average Monthly Mortgage Payments Near $2,000
• Mortgage Lending Slumps Again in Q4
• The Importance of Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
• 17 Best Time Management Tools you Need to Check Out
• Artificial Intelligence – What Every Real Estate Broker and Agent Should Know
• What the Housing Market Will Look Like by the End of Summer, According to Experts
• Zillow: Experts Say Home Prices Will Grow Steadily Starting in ‘24
• Study: Some Home Sellers Regret Pricing Homes Too Low
• Adding Facebook Ads to Your Social Media Advertising

February 2023

• Celebrating Influential Black West Virginians
• Home Sellers are Making Big Profits
• Additional Resources for Abuse Victims
• New Generations of Home Tech Combine Style and Substance
• Wire Fraud Advisory: Vacant Property Fraud
• HUD Announces Communities Will Receive Grants to Address Homelessness
• Average Mortgage Rate Moves Closer to 6%
• Mortgage Applications Make Big Move
• Americans are Moving Less, and it’s a Long-Term Trend
• ALTA Best Practices: Review of Changes and Impact on Your Operation
• 5 Mortgage Bank Marketing Strategies
• This is How Managers Can Create High-Performing Teams
• US Housing Market Shows Early Signs of Recovery as Demand Rises
• Home Sellers Coming Off the Sidelines
• 21 Real Estate Wins in Government Spending Package
• February Social Media Trends and Tips

January 2023

• All Cash Buyers Reappear After Pandemic
• 2023 First-Time Homebuyer Programs and Grants
• Returning to a More Balanced Market?
• How the Cloud Accelerates Mortgage Innovation
• Home Title Theft: How Homeowners Can Protect Themselves
• How Cryptocurrency Will Impact Real Estate Financing
• Rate Drops Fuel Uptick in House Hunting
• Mortgage Rates End Slightly Lower After Starting Out Slightly Higher
• Straight Talk on Sales Success
• 39 Winning Quotes to Shift Your Mindset & Grow Your Business in 2023
• 2022 Recap: Buzzwords That Sell Homes Faster
• Redfin: Homes Linger on Market as Buyers Take Their Time
• Backyards the Most Sought-After Home Feature
• Price Drops Bringing Buyers Back to the Market