Mortgage rates are falling and that's sparking the biggest refinancing wave since early 2022. Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, a leading luxury brokerage in New York and South Florida joined Bloomberg Open Interest to talk about the trend and how an FOMC rate cut will impact the real estate market. ...

Core Insights - Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC announced the 2025 winners of its Leadership Awards, recognizing real estate professionals who embody the organization's core values of home, ingenuity, excellence, and awesomeness [1][6] - The awards highlight individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to clients, communities, and the Coldwell Banker brand, within a network of approximately 95,000 affiliated sales professionals [1][7] Award Summaries - **CB Spirit Award**: Kara Karns-Domic received this award for her strong leadership, effective managerial style, and positive attitude, showcasing tenacity and business innovation [2] - **Hero of the Year Award**: Halley Haack was honored for her extraordinary service and commitment to community advocacy, reflecting Coldwell Banker's charitable efforts [3] - **Preserving the Trust Award**: Pat Harris was recognized for her significant impact on the real estate industry, focusing on innovation, customer service, and integrity [4] - **Women on the Move Award**: Raffaella Pace was awarded for her instrumental contributions to the real estate industry and for supporting the success of other women [5] Company Overview - Coldwell Banker operates in over 2,800 offices across 48 countries and territories, providing full-service residential and commercial real estate brokerage services [7] - The brand has a history of expertise and integrity since its establishment in 1906 and is committed to empowering its network of affiliated sales agents [7] - Coldwell Banker was recognized as a "9 out of 10 Customer Recommended Real Estate Agency" in the 2025 Women's Choice Award [7]

Core Insights - Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC has launched a new national advertising campaign titled "Live Well With Coldwell," which emphasizes the emotional aspect of real estate and aims to connect clients' dreams with their decisions [1][4]. Advertising Campaign Details - The campaign will debut at the Generation Blue Experience conference and will air on select Thursday evenings during the football season on Prime Video [2]. - The new tagline reflects Coldwell Banker's commitment to helping clients live well, regardless of their location [2]. Marketing Tools and Technology - Central to the campaign is the Move Meter, a proprietary digital tool that allows consumers to compare cities based on cost of living, amenities, and lifestyle factors [3]. - The campaign features licensed music from Cat Stevens, enhancing the emotional narrative of finding a home [3]. Brand Positioning and Strategy - The campaign aims to highlight that real estate is about more than transactions; it is about building a life well-lived [4]. - Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program will have dedicated ad placements for the first time, showcasing the brand's expertise in serving affluent clients [4]. Agent Support and Resources - Coldwell Banker is committed to providing its 95,000 agents with innovative marketing materials, advanced client service tools, and professional development programs to enhance service across all market segments [4][5]. Advertising Effectiveness - Coldwell Banker ranked 3 in ad effectiveness among 550 advertisers during the 2024 football season and has maintained the 1 position in real estate advertising for 13 consecutive years according to ACE Metrix [6].

Core Insights - Approximately 48% of newly built apartments completed in Q1 2025 were rented within three months, indicating a slight increase from 47% in Q4 2024 and 46% in Q3 2024 [1] Group 1 - The data is based on an analysis by Redfin, utilizing the U.S. Census Bureau's seasonally adjusted absorption rate for unfurnished, unsubsidized, privately financed rental apartments [1]

Core Insights - The Real Brokerage has welcomed The Collective Group from Washington State, which is a top-ranked team consisting of 15 agents [1] - The Collective Group has achieved significant sales, totaling $575 million since 2020 [1] Company Overview - The Real Brokerage is expanding its operations by integrating a high-performing team, which indicates a strategic move to enhance its market presence [1] - The Collective Group's performance reflects strong sales capabilities and market competitiveness within the real estate sector [1] Industry Context - The integration of successful teams like The Collective Group suggests a trend in the real estate industry towards consolidation and collaboration among high-performing agents [1] - The reported sales figures highlight the potential for growth and profitability in the real estate market, particularly in regions with strong demand [1]

Core Insights - eXp Realty has welcomed Amy Tapp and her 45-person team, who closed $80 million across 350 transactions in 2024, into its global network [2][3] - Tapp's transition from her independent brokerage to eXp is aimed at enhancing collaboration, leveraging advanced technology, and providing growth opportunities for her team [3][4] - eXp Realty is recognized as the largest independent real estate brokerage globally, with over 82,000 agents across 28 countries, offering industry-leading commission splits and equity ownership opportunities [6] Company Developments - Amy Tapp, a prominent real estate leader in Lubbock, founded Amy Tapp Realty in 2012 and has extensive experience in residential, luxury, land, and investment properties [3][4] - The partnership with eXp allows Tapp to focus on mentoring her agents and expanding her business reach beyond Lubbock, while benefiting from eXp's resources and collaborative culture [4][5] - eXp Realty's model emphasizes agent empowerment through a cloud-based platform, enabling agents to build successful businesses [6][7]

Core Insights - Coldwell Banker Warburg (CBW) has strengthened its position in the New York luxury real estate market by welcoming agents Abigail Godfrey and The Holmes Team, which includes Charles Holmes and Evita Lasasso, following the recent addition of over two dozen agents from Elegran Real Estate [1][2] Group 1: New Additions to CBW - Abigail Godfrey joins CBW from Douglas Elliman, bringing a lifetime sales total of nearly $17 million, including the notable sale of Gramercy Park's historic "Little House" property [2][3] - The Holmes Team, led by Charles Holmes, has over three decades of experience in global equities management and a lifetime sales volume exceeding $100 million [3][4] - The Asset Advisory Team, which Godfrey joins, has agents with combined lifetime sales of more than a quarter billion dollars [2] Group 2: Company Background and Market Position - Coldwell Banker Warburg is recognized as a top-ten residential brokerage in New York City, combining a storied legacy with the marketing power of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury® [4] - The firm emphasizes a commitment to ethical business practices and offers agents a global network of resources and marketing capabilities [4]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing contrasts with the traditional "buy low and sell high" strategy, focusing instead on "buying high and selling higher" to capitalize on fast-moving stocks [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investing can be risky as stocks may lose momentum if their growth potential does not justify high valuations [1] - A safer approach involves investing in bargain stocks that exhibit recent price momentum, identified through tools like the Zacks Momentum Style Score [2] Group 2: Company Spotlight - Anywhere Real Estate (HOUS) - HOUS has shown a price increase of 17.2% over the past four weeks, indicating growing investor interest [3] - The stock has gained 51.4% over the past 12 weeks, demonstrating its ability to deliver positive returns over a longer timeframe [4] - HOUS has a Momentum Score of B, suggesting it is an opportune time to invest in the stock [5] Group 3: Earnings and Valuation - HOUS has received a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates, which typically attract more investors [6] - The stock is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.11, indicating it is undervalued, as investors pay only 11 cents for each dollar of sales [6] Group 4: Additional Opportunities - Besides HOUS, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, presenting further investment opportunities [7] - The Zacks Premium Screens offer over 45 different strategies to help identify potential winning stocks based on various investing styles [8]

Core Insights - eXp Realty has welcomed the K2 Omni Group, the 1 Zillow Seller Team in the Nation as of June 2024, into its network, indicating a strategic expansion move for eXp Realty [2][4] Company Overview - eXp Realty is a cloud-based, agent-centric brokerage and a subsidiary of eXp World Holdings, Inc., which operates globally with over 82,000 agents across 28 countries [9] - The company offers industry-leading commission splits, revenue share, equity ownership opportunities, and a global network to empower agents [9] K2 Omni Group Profile - Founded by Kiki and Kristina Salcido, Nathan Armstrong, and Berenice Holden, K2 Omni Group achieved $105 million in sales volume and completed 313 transactions in 2024 with only 22 agents [3] - The team has expanded to 56 agents and 12 support staff, with a presence in multiple markets including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, and Tampa/Orlando [3][4] Growth and Innovation - K2 Omni Group has demonstrated significant growth and innovation since its inception, transitioning from Simply Real Estate, which was recognized for its people-first culture [4] - The rebranding to K2 Omni Group in 2024 aimed to create a national platform with larger ambitions [4] Strategic Advantages - The partnership with eXp Realty is seen as a multiplier for K2 Omni Group, providing scalable systems, compensation structures, and national reach [7] - K2 Omni Group plans to leverage eXp Realty's global platform to accelerate their expansion while maintaining their culture and service [6][8] Community Engagement - The partners of K2 Omni Group are actively involved in community initiatives, including co-founding a nonprofit dog rescue and launching a local grocery store [5]

Core Insights - eXp Realty celebrates the formation of Whissel Beer Group, a significant merger of two successful production teams led by industry leaders Kyle Whissel and Daniel Beer [1][2] - The merger is described as one of the largest in real estate history, aligning with eXp Realty's mission to be the most agent-centric brokerage [2] - Whissel Beer Group launches with 160 agents, over 60 staff, and five offices, aiming to create an innovative and scalable company [2][6] Company Overview - Whissel Beer Group is a super team formed by merging Whissel Realty Group and Daniel Beer's team, focusing on empowering agents to enhance client service and business growth [3][4] - The leadership team includes Kyle Whissel (CEO), Daniel Beer (President), and Chris VanderValk (COO), who is instrumental in the merger process [4][5] - The new operational structure is designed to eliminate roadblocks, allowing agents to concentrate on sales and client success [5] Performance Metrics - In 2024, the combined teams achieved nearly $1 billion in sales volume, ranking among the top-producing teams in the nation [3] - Over their careers, the teams have sold more than 9,000 homes, totaling over $7 billion in sales volume [3] - Whissel Beer Group is projecting significant growth in 2025, with plans to expand across California and eventually regionally and nationally [3] Industry Context - eXp Realty is the largest independent real estate brokerage globally, with over 82,000 agents across 28 countries, emphasizing a cloud-based, agent-centric model [7] - The company offers industry-leading commission splits, revenue share, and equity ownership opportunities, fostering a supportive environment for agents [7] - SUCCESS® Enterprises, part of the eXp ecosystem, provides resources for personal and professional development, enhancing agents' skills and business growth [8]