Housing News
Agent Genius Adds an X Factor
image courtesy of our very own TBoard
Enter the XBroker, Jeff Corbett
Jeff long ago garnered a reputation via his blog for being a lone maverick in the mortgage industry, demanding transparency in lending. Many lenders said (and continue to say) that “lending IS transparent, just look at the HUD” (but is that really enough?).
Don’t Be Scared
What we once thought was radical thinking on Jeff’s part, we’ve come to realize it’s sincere passion for people. That’s the point- he loves people. Jeff is approachable, extremely intelligent, and willing to lay everything on the line for consumers. He’s the Founder of RateSpeed.com, a service that we recently reviewed.
Jeff will be writing on AG to elevate our understanding of the mortgage lending industry and we’re sure he’ll spark debate within our community as lightning seems to follow him everywhere!
So without further ado, enter The XBroker (aka @JeffX and RateSpeed genius), welcome to Agent Genius and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Austin
Austin tops the list of best places to buy a home
When looking to buy a home, taking the long view is important before making such a huge investment – where are the best places to make that commitment?
Housing News
Average age of houses on the rise, so is it now better or worse to buy new?
With aging housing in America, are first-time buyers better off buying new or existing homes? The average age of a home is rising, as is the price of new housing, so a shift could be upon us.
The average home age is higher than ever
(REALUOSO.COM) – In a survey from the Department of Housing and Urban Development American Housing Survey (AHS), the median age of homes in the United States was 35 years old. In Texas, homes are a bit younger with the median age between 19 – 29 years. The northeast has the oldest homes, with the median age between 50 – 61 years. In 1985, the median age of a home was only 23 years.
With more houses around 40 years old, the National Association of Realtors asserts that homeowners will have to undertake remodeling and renovation projects before selling unless the home is sold as-is, in which case the buyer will be responsible to update their new residence. Even homeowners who aren’t selling will need to consider remodeling for structural and aesthetic reasons.
Prices of new homes on the rise
Newer homes cost more than they used to. The price differential between new homes and older homes has increased from 10 percent traditionally to around 37 percent in 2014. This is due to rising construction costs, scarcity of lots, and a low inventory of new homes that doesn’t meet the demand.
Click here to continue reading this story…
Housing News
Are Realtors the real loser in the fight between Zillow Group and Move, Inc.?
The last year has been one of dramatic and rapid change in the real estate tech sector, but Realtors are vulnerable, and we’re worried.
Why Realtors are vulnerable to these rapid changes
(REALUOSO.COM) – Corporate warfare demands headlines in every industry, but in the real estate tech sector, a storm has been brewing for years, which in the last year has come to a head. Zillow Group and Move, Inc. (which is owned by News Corp. and operates ListHub, Realtor.com, TopProducer, and other brands) have been competing for a decade now, and the race has appeared to be an aggressive yet polite boxing match. Last year, the gloves came off, and now, they’ve drawn swords and appear to want blood.
Note: We’ll let you decide which company plays which role in the image above.
So how then, does any of this make Realtors the victims of this sword fight? Let’s get everyone up to speed, and then we’ll discuss.
1. Zillow poaches top talent, Move/NAR sues
It all started last year when the gloves came off – Move’s Chief Strategy Officer (who was also Realtor.com’s President), Errol Samuelson jumped ship and joined Zillow on the same day he phoned in his resignation without notice. He left under questionable circumstances, which has led to a lengthy legal battle (wherein Move and NAR have sued Zillow and Samuelson over allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and misappropriation of trade secrets), with the most recent motion being for contempt, which a judge granted to Move/NAR after the mysterious “Samuelson Memo” surfaced.
Salt was added to the wound when Move awarded Samuelson’s job to Move veteran, Curt Beardsley, who days after Samuelson left, also defected to Zillow. This too led to a lawsuit, with allegations including breach of contract, violation of corporations code, illegal dumping of stocks, and Move has sought restitution. These charges are extremely serious, but demanded slightly less attention than the ongoing lawsuit against Samuelson.
2. Two major media brands emerge
Last fall, the News Corp. acquisition of Move, Inc. was given the green light by the feds, and this month, Zillow finalized their acquisition of Trulia.
…Click here to continue reading this story…
-
Opinion Editorials1 week agoAmerica has an addiction to being busy, here’s what we need to do about it
-
Business News1 week agoEmail remains the top communication tool for businesses – here’s why
-
Business Marketing2 weeks agoNews flash: Your coworkers are not your family
-
Business News3 days ago10 ways retailers track repeat customers that you can implement now
-
Business Marketing3 days agoUse nostalgia as a marketing niche for your business today
-
Business News5 days ago5 reasons why you need a mentor, stat!
-
Opinion Editorials1 week agoThe one easy job interview question that often trips up applicants
-
Business Entrepreneur1 week ago4 tips for success for acquiring a business, and how and why to do it
Matt Stigliano
July 29, 2008 at 11:01 am
JeffX – Looking forward to hearing more out of you. Welcome.
Ginger Wilcox
July 29, 2008 at 11:06 am
You definitely added a true genius! Can’t wait to read more from jeffx!
Heather Elias
July 29, 2008 at 11:07 am
Awesome…what a great birthday present! Can’t wait to read more from you!
Derek Overbey
July 29, 2008 at 11:08 am
After meeting JeffX for the first time, I knew the man was smart. But after listening to his pitch on his outlook on the mortgage industry, I knew he was brilliant! You all will learn so much from this guy it will make your brain hurt. Happy Birthday dooood!
Matthew Rathbun
July 29, 2008 at 11:10 am
Rock on. Look forward to reading more from ya!
Jim Cronin
July 29, 2008 at 11:24 am
What an ass(et)!
Happy birthday Jeff!
Bob
July 29, 2008 at 11:24 am
Excellent!
Rich Jacobson
July 29, 2008 at 11:35 am
Oh, great! There goes the neighborhood,…..AGAIN!…Guess now we all have to get ‘naked’…uh, I mean, more transparent!… And what is it with chicks and bald guys, anyway?…..
Seriously though,…Jeff, we’re privileged to have you in our midst!
Robert Luna
July 29, 2008 at 11:39 am
Talk about a WIN-WIN congrats to Jeff and AG
Brad Coy
July 29, 2008 at 11:50 am
Just what AG needed. Another super smart guy that knows how to be patient with innovation. Pop your collar big guy and bring the noise. Have a great 37th back home.
Drew Meyers from Zillow
July 29, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Congrats — both to Jeff for joining a great team and to the agent genius team for recruiting such a talented author!
Robert D. Ashby
July 29, 2008 at 12:30 pm
J.C., welcome aboard!! Now get that first post going, I am looking forward to it.
Nick Bastian
July 29, 2008 at 12:31 pm
congrats to Jeff and to AG.. Another great addition. Happy birthday X…
Kris Berg
July 29, 2008 at 1:14 pm
This makes me very, very happy. 🙂 Congrats, X-Man!
Marissa Louie
July 29, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Congrats to Benn, Lani, and JeffX! Hit me up for lunch sometime.
“malouie”
Jamie Geiger
July 29, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Happy Birthday and Congrats-Look forward to learning more about ratespeed too!!
Daniel Rothamel, The Real Estate Zebra
July 29, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Since it is your birthday, I will put my personal loyalties aside and say,
GO BILLS!
Erin Fogarty
July 29, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Congrats, Jeff!!! and Happy Birthday!
Matt Kelly
July 29, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Welcome Jeff! Was great to meet you at Inman, I’ll look forward to your first blog here!
Irina Netchaev
July 29, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Jeff, first and foremost Happy Birthday to a fellow cancer!!!! Or are you? maybe a Leo? Happy Birthday anyways… And, congrats on being on AG. Can’t wait to read and learn from you. 🙂
Norm Fisher
July 29, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Jeff,
Happy birthday and welcome aboard. Looking forward to reading your stuff.
Jay Thompson
July 29, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Jeff’s a great guy, and a very talented writer. And, he has the coolest business card on the planet.
Chicks dig him too.
Welcome to the machine Jeff. And Happy Birthday!!
ines
July 29, 2008 at 3:40 pm
How awesome is this?? I always knew JeffX was smart and also loved that edgy and controversial side to him….but then meeting him in person I realized he is also a nice guy!! (somehow I expected rough, tough and mean – and my subconscious was strangely disappointed) – so welcome to the gang!!
Maureen Francis
July 29, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Super!
Henry Davidson
July 29, 2008 at 3:47 pm
JeffX is currently unteathered, in Buffalo NY, enjoying his birthday with his mommy. He would like to thank everyone for their great wishes and is anxious to jump back in. He will be here as soon as possible. Thanks again.
Todd Carpenter
July 29, 2008 at 3:52 pm
What can I say, I love The X-Broker.
Vicki Moore
July 29, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Birthday? Why didn’t we celebrate your birthday month at Inman? Maybe you did. There was an awful lot of celebrating going on. Welcom aboard.
Bald guys are hot. This one’s no exception – inside and out.
Benn Rosales
July 29, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Vicki, I’m pretty sure we did a lot of celebrating- I don’t actually remember, but I did see pictures, and I’m sure there must have been a happy birthday mixed in there somewhere… yeah… that’s it.
Bill Lublin
July 29, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Jeff – Sorry for coming to the party late but I spent the day flying home from LA Happy Birthday in the real world, and for your birth as a new Genius –
I am a little bummed out that you have to be bald to be sexy, but then I guess if guys wait long enough we all get sexy?
Since my niece is from North Tonowanda I will join Daniel in the “Go Bills” – but onyl because its your birthday –
Paula Henry
July 29, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Happy Birthday Jeff – looking forward to learning from you!
Jennifer in Louisville
July 29, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Excellent and welcome to AG! Now, to get out my cane and spank you with it for your birthday. 😛
Mariana Wagner
July 29, 2008 at 7:58 pm
… wonder twin powers … activate!
Rudy from Trulia.com
July 29, 2008 at 11:29 pm
nice! happy b-day x…..
Sean Rafferty, CMPS
July 30, 2008 at 12:20 am
I’m happy to have learned @JeffX via his post on AR two months ago.
I’m a beta tester for Ratespeed in San Jose and can’t wait until launch!
Jeff’s the real deal. After many conversations with him I can assure you, the AG comm will be much better off w/him.
The Mtg Prof may have begun the Flat Fee revolution… but the X Broker will be the one who shows mtg brokers how to truly profit from it thereby making it more mainstream!
Mack in Atlanta
July 30, 2008 at 6:35 am
Welcome Jeff. I look forward to your insight.
Gia & Grant Freer
July 30, 2008 at 8:33 am
Fantastic news! Super addition to the AG crew! So sorry we missed your birthday…Happy Belated Birthday, Jeff!
Eric Blackwell
July 30, 2008 at 9:48 am
Welcome to AG, Jeff….Looking forward to your insights…
Best;
Eric
Glenn fm Naples
July 30, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Welcome Jeff. Happy, happy birthday to ya also. Looking forward to your articles here on AG.
Nickie Rothwell
July 30, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Cool! What a great addition!
Happy Birthday Jeff.
So much fun!
daniel martin
July 30, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Loving the X perspective on things – you’ll fit right in with the rest of the Genius crew – viva la Resistance…
Andy Kaufman
July 30, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Word.
Jeff has long been one of my favorite RE bloggers and after getting to spend some time with him this past week, I can say that he’s one of my favorite people as well.
Dare I say… “Shots of fernet, on me!”
Benn Rosales
July 30, 2008 at 11:04 pm
There will be no ‘fernet’ at the Ag bar. lord lol
Brad Nix
July 31, 2008 at 6:32 am
I’ve been a fan of the X broker ever since he had his skeleton infused with adamantium. Welcome to the Super Friends version of a real estate blog. Now, show us how you use those claws to slay the mortgage industry.
Jeff Corbett
July 31, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Late to the game here, I’ve been untethered for a few days….and gawd that’s a big picture :-\
Thank you Lani and Benn for the opportunity to express my opinions on such a diverse and respected platform…I can’t think of another venue that has the quantity of quality AG possesses. It’s a privilege to roll with this crew 🙂
Thx for all the kind comments! And no thx on the fernet Andy (at least not for a few weeks)…
teresa boardman
July 31, 2008 at 2:26 pm
wow! I am thrilled to see Jeff on AG.
Jeremy Hart
August 4, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Awesome additions!