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Success is how I promote change within the Hispanic community

As Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off, Edwin Acevedo, CEO of Century 21 LOTUS in Los Angeles, who will be the national president of NAHREP next year, offers his take on success as the best form of protest.

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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MLS PIN, Nosalek settlement finally gains final approval

Over two years after the agreement was first announced, the settlement between MLS Property Information Network and the Nosalek commission lawsuit plaintiffs has received final approval. Judge Patti B. Saris, who has overseen the entire approval process for the settlement, granted final approval to the settlement after a hearing on Monday. 

Judge Saris of U.S. District Court in Boston granted preliminary approval to the fourth amended settlement agreement between the MLS defendant and the home seller plaintiffs in early June. This was not the first time Judge Saris has granted preliminary approval to a settlement between the two parties. She granted preliminary approval to their original agreement, which was announced in June 2023, in September 2023 only to have the Department of Justice (DOJ) file an amicus brief just weeks later stating that it had “significant concerns” about the settlement.

Unlike other commission lawsuit settlement agreements — like the one negotiated by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in the Sitzer/Burnett suit — MLS PIN’s original settlement did not ban offers of buyer broker compensation from the platform.

In later filings in the Nosalek suit, the DOJ argued that it did not want upfront offers of buyer broker compensation displayed or shared anywhere. 

MLS PIN and the Nosalek plaintiffs have spent nearly two years going back and forth over the settlement. This all changed in May 2025 when the DOJ notified the court that it had  officially withdrawn its objections to the settlement. 

The DOJ changed its tune after MLS PIN agreed to remove upfront offers of buyer broker compensation from the site, bringing its settlement in line with NAR’s settlement. Additionally, MLS PIN has agreed to pay $3.95 million, the same amount it would have paid had it bought into NAR’s settlement. 

With the approval of MLS PIN’s settlement, all parties in the Nosalek suit have received final approval of their settlements. However, appeals are pending on the settlements reached by the brokerage defendants, including Anywhere, RE/MAX, Keller Williams and HomeServices of America. 

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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Who keeps the borrower? A deep dive into servicer retention

Recent mergers and acquisitions (M&A), regulatory changes and shifting market conditions have mortgage industry experts questioning whether servicers are better positioned than other competitors to capture the next wave of refinances.

Data from ICE Mortgage Technology shared with HousingWire offers a deep dive into servicers’ performance at keeping a borrower in their books after a refinance transaction. It shows that, on average, servicers have retained about 30% of borrowers since the second quarter of 2010. 

Servicer retention, however, varies with market cycles. And, in the current landscape, competition is expected to intensify as Rocket Companies agreed to acquire Redfin and Mr. Cooper Group, and Bayview Asset Management has proposed a deal for Guild Mortgage.

At the same time, a recent ban on abusive trigger leads — signed into law by President Trump in September — is expected to give servicers and lenders an additional edge by allowing them to contact current customers directly. The rule coincides with mortgage rates falling to their lowest levels in nearly a year, spurring fresh refinance activity.

Beyond market conditions, structural characteristics such as product type, loan vintage, servicer profile and investor backing also shape retention outcomes, according to ICE.

“This report primarily comes out of our MSP servicing system that flows over into what we call our McDash database. It’s like 35 million loans,” Andy Walden, ICE’s head of mortgage and housing market research, said in an interview. “We match that data anonymously to public records.”

Overall retention trends 

ICE data shows that servicer retention recently peaked at 33% in Q4 2021, dropped to 20% in Q2 2024, and recovered modestly to 24% in Q2 2025. But servicer retention differs by refinance product.  

“When interest rates fall and refinances boom, companies become more traditional, going toward rate-and-term refis,” Walden said. “Lenders and servicers tend to do a better job of retaining borrowers in that environment.” 

chart visualization

Rate-and-term refis currently see a 29% servicer retention rate, while cash-out refis lag at 21%. In Q2 2024, when rates were higher, that trend was reversed—cash-outs had stronger servicer retention than rate-and-term transactions.

One caveat: cash-out candidates present challenges because they are harder to identify. But they present opportunities as well. In Q2 2025, 70% of cash-out refinances came from borrowers who accepted higher interest rates — averaging a 1.5 percentage point increase and a $590 higher monthly payment — in exchange for pulling about $94,000 in equity.

“If you’re using traditional ‘in-the-money’ analytics to try to identify borrowers looking to refinance, you’re missing that entire chunk of the market.” Walden said. 

Loan vintage matters

As expected, servicers are most effective at retaining borrowers that have recently originated loans. But the current wave of industry consolidation is also expected to funnel more business to larger players, reinforcing that trend. Walden highlighted both factors as reasons retention rates are highest among the 2024 vintage.

Servicer retention stands at 45% for 2024 loans, dropping to 37% for 2023, 28% for 2022 and just 17% for 2021.

“Part of it is simply the recency of the relationship,” Walden said. “Over the last five to seven years, you always see this downward slope: higher retention for recently originated loans, and lower retention the further away you get.”

The other factor is that many borrowers took out mortgages with the expectation of refinancing as soon as rates dropped, he added. 

chart visualization

The role of nonbanks

When comparing banks and nonbanks, the latter are far more active, deliberate and successful at retaining borrowers. In Q2 2025, nonbanks posted a 29% retention rate, more than double the 14% rate among depositories.

“Holistically, we know that they’ve been moving away from the servicing space,” Walden said. 

According to Walden, banks face much more regulatory pressure, so in many cases — especially in the lower credit score segments of their portfolios — they’re content to let those loans run off to a nonbank. Instead, they focus on retaining higher-wealth clients in areas like home equity or wealth management.”

By size, mid-tier banks retained 22% of borrowers, compared with just 13% at large banks. Among nonbanks, the rate was 29% across the board, regardless of size.

chart visualization

Investor type drives results

Retention rates for servicers vary significantly by investor type. In Q2 2025, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.) loans led with a 30% servicer retention rate, compared to 21% for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, 21% for portfolio refinances, and just 6% for private-label securitizations.

According to Walden, many of the lower-credit-score loans in private-label securities were originated more than a decade ago, and servicers are often content to let those run off rather than actively retain them.

By contrast, FHA and VA borrowers are seeing heavy outreach. “The rate offerings right now are lower on FHA and VA, and they also have streamlined products,” Walden said. “On the VA side, equity is being used to buy down rates.”

chart visualization

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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Plans a step closer for largest vacant site in Geelong West

The vacant 3538sq m parcel of land at 18-24 Andrews St, Geelong West has sold after an expressions of interest campaign.

A Melbourne buyer has seized on the largest parcel of development-ready land in Geelong West as the city prepares for a boost in townhouse construction.

The 3538sq m site at 18-24 Andrews St, Geelong West, has been snapped up in a circa-$3.5m deal following an expressions of interest campaign that unearthed significant statewide interest in the vacant inner city property.

Maxwell Collins Geelong director Nick Lord said the land was previously owned by Telstra and had been vacant for many years before the vendors purchased it.

The sale comes the same month after a $60m, four-storey apartment project comprising 56 homes was approved in the suburb.

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The campaign highlighted the significant interest in development land in one of Geelong’s favourite inner city hot spots, with five bidders submitting offers through the process, selling to a Melbourne developer.

“It’s a unique parcel of land on that sort of side in Geelong. I’m not sure about his future plans in the short term. It’s obviously a pretty unique site for someone to develop, and a great result of the vendor.”

The circa-$3.5m price reflected an around $1000 per square metre land rate for the long-vacant site.

The vacant 3538sq m parcel of land has two street frontages.

“And a lot of people throughout the process never even knew the site was there,” Mr Lord said.

“Obviously people would commute down Britannia St, with Andrews St just being the one street back, a lot of people would ring and be surprised that was even sitting there without obviously driving past. It was a good test for the market and a great result for the vendor.”

The level of inquiry from Melbourne developers underlined the demand in Geelong West.

New townhouse developments are popping up across the suburb, with recent four-bedroom red brick residences on Andrews st attracting interest around $1.2m.

A render of the Hope & Autumn development of 56 apartments, which was approved for a site between Hope St and Autumn St, Geelong West.

“There was a large amount of Melbourne developers keen to get information from us. A number of those were the parties to partake in the expression of interest campaign,” Mr Lord said.

“It shows Geelong is on the radar, obviously, statewide and nationally, as far as a great opportunity for future development and capital growth.

“I think some of the blueprints we see throughout Melbourne, in some of the areas whether it be around South Yarra and Malvern, are some of the blueprints people are looking at doing with this development.

The four-bedroom townhouse at 57 Britannia St, Geelong West, sold recently for circa-$1.2m.

“It would give a lot of buyers confidence that they know that Geelong West that the resale value is quite solid. We look forward to seeing what they build on it.”

The property was even more attractive, given the framework shaping the future of Pakington St and with local schools close by, Mr Lord said.

The proximity of Geelong West to the city’s rail corridor means sites such as this will be seen as important to meeting high in-fill residential housing targets.

The site has frontages to Andrews and Mowat streets and the only substantial green space in the western part of the suburb outside of Bakers Oval and the primary school grounds.

The post Plans a step closer for largest vacant site in Geelong West appeared first on realestate.com.au.

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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Aus suburbs to benefit from First Home Guarantee revealed

FIRST HOME BUYERS

First Home Guarantee hotspot suburbs have been revealed. Picture: Andrew Henshaw.

For years, first-home buyers have been told to “save harder”, but from tomorrow, many will need to save a lot less, when the federal government’s First Home Guarantee extension gets underway.

With young buyers now able to step into the market with as little as a 5 per cent deposit Aussie Home Loans has crunched the numbers to figure out where that small deposit can stretch the furthest. And the results are surprising.

“Too many first home buyers are hunting in suburbs that simply don’t match their budget,” Aussie mortgage broker Tracey Hammond said.

“The disconnect between a dream home and financial reality can lead to missed opportunities, prolonged searches, and the risk of overpaying. Being realistic about purchasing capacity from the outset is crucial.”

MORE:Shock rate hike on the cards

Aussie Home Loans has launched a new First Home Guarantee calculator, which measures average savings in each state and territory against home prices in those areas, to come up with a realistic list of suburbs for house and unit markets where first-home buyers can dare to dream.

NSW

With average savings at $59,983, NSW buyers still face the toughest challenge.

Outer metro unit markets remain some of the few footholds, though rising infrastructure and demand from Sydney commuters continue to push them upwards.

Entry-level suburbs like Edgeworth ($745,818 median), Dapto ($787,694) and Blackheath ($821,479) made the list for houses, while for units, it was Kingswood ($741,089), Wollongong ($761,376) and Wentworth Point ($783,105).

MORE: Celeb town on list of 43 cheapest suburbs

TREASURER JIM CHALMERS

The extension of the Home Guarantee Scheme has been a major Labor initiative. Picture: Glenn Campbell

VIC

Victoria’s average savings of $38,708 go further, but only in growth corridors.

Melbourne’s western growth belt remains the launch pad for first-time buyers, though transport bottlenecks and limited local amenity are common complaints. Suburbs like Melton South ($523,748) and Wyndham Vale ($602,229) still offer detached homes within commuting distance of Melbourne. Brookfield ($604,436) was the other suburb for houses. Units in Glenroy ($568,377) and Officer ($574,513) remain accessible but competition from investors is strong, while St Leonards ($605,750) was next on the list.

QLD

Demand is buoyed by interstate migration and Brisbane’s Olympic-driven infrastructure push, meaning buyers may need to act fast and put those average savings of $44,975 to use.

Beaudesert ($694,351), Bethania ($697,157) and Caboolture South ($702,577) are fast-growing commuter towns, while bayside lifestyle locations like Bongaree ($619,197) still fall within reach. Rochedale South ($616,183) and Logan Reserve ($664,682) were the other unit markets to make the list.

KOCHIE: How to give yourself a rate cut

WA

With $49,609 average savings and affordability, particularly in coastal and satellite city markets, WA first-home buyers are finding more balance.

Detached houses in Gosnells ($616,130), Midland ($619,037) and Balga ($621,032) sit comfortably under $650,000. Midland also makes the list for units ($464,045), where it’s joined by Rockingham ($490,782) and Mandurah ($506,078) on the coast.

PREMIER FIRST HOME BUYERS

The Aussie home dream has been out of reach for many. Picture: David Swift.

TAS

Average savings of $37,554 don’t stretch far in Hobart’s undersupplied market, where prices are being kept high. However, for houses, Moonah ($632,566), West Moonah ($624,768) and Carlton ($613,877) make the list. For units, only Claremont ($431,766) and Glenorchy ($434,083) remain genuine options for budget-conscious buyers.

MORE:Millions of Aussies worse off after rate cuts

ACT

With the lowest average savings in the country ($28,618), Canberra’s first-home buyers are squeezed hardest. Especially as government-backed jobs and strong demand from students and public servants continue to underpin prices. Units in Gungahlin ($465,112), Belconnen (($504,849) and Phillip ($509,071) remain some of the only accessible options, while affordable house markets include Belconnen ($488,859), Greenway ($552,470) and Phillip ($632,819).

NT

With average savings of $68,148, the NT technically offers the most headroom. Darwin units remain highly affordable, with Darwin City units ($413,263) priced among the lowest capital-city entries nationwide. Darwin City houses ($497,717) were also on the list.

Despite the affordability, limited housing stock and a transient workforce keep Darwin’s market volatile and limit the eligible suburbs to just two all up.

The post Aus suburbs to benefit from First Home Guarantee revealed appeared first on realestate.com.au.

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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Cummins Advisors makes the move to Baird & Warner

After 16 years with @properties, Peter Cummins has decided to move himself and his team Cummins Advisors to Baird & Warner. Cummins, who was affiliated with @properties in Winnetka, Illinois on Chicago’s North Shore, announced the move on Monday. 

In addition to leading his team at @properties, Cummins also previously served as Village Manager of Glencoe and Lake Bluff and as the Assistant City Manager of Lake Forest.

According to the release, a contributing factor to Cummins’ move was a growing difference in ideology between himself and corporate leadership. 

“In today’s marketplace, corporate-owned brokerages control much of the market, which invites unfair practices and leaves consumers at a disadvantage,” Cummins said in a statement. “I’ve always believed in fair housing and an open market, and I’ve been outspoken in my opposition to practices like private office-exclusive listings, which I find fundamentally at odds with transparency. The real estate market today is more challenging than ever on the buyer’s side, and equal opportunity for consumers to consider and pursue all available opportunities is the essence of fair housing practices.”

In contrast to Compass, which acquired @properties in December 2024, and its push for private exclusives, Baird & Warner has been a staunch advocate for the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy and the open marketplace it creates. 

“Joining Baird & Warner allows me to align with a firm that is growing, innovating and standing up to protect the integrity of the marketplace,” added Cummins. “I’m drawn to a company where local leadership is reinvesting in the business they’ve built to serve our communities, clients and consumers with excellence.”

Cummins’ decision to join Baird & Warner was also bolstered by the company’s acquisition of Dream Town Real Estate in June, as he said it signaled to him that the firm was working to cement itself as a leading brokerage in the Chicagoland area. 

“Peter is a highly respected figure in the industry whose experience and perspective will be invaluable as we expand our presence on the North Shore,” David Bailey, the senior vice president and general sales manager at Baird & Warner, said in a statement. “His decision to join Baird & Warner is a testament to our culture of independence, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the team, along with other talent he brings as part of Cummins Advisors.”

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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MLS PIN wins final settlement approval in Nosalek case

A judge had previously granted preliminary approval of the $3.95M settlement, which removed the option to display offers of compensation to buyer brokers on the MLS.

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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Revealed: Surprising number of Aussies expect RBA rate cut today

A surprising number of Australians are still holding out hope for a Reserve Bank interest rate cut, even as economists warn the cash rate is set to stay on hold.

A new money.com.au consumer survey found that 37 per cent of Aussie homeowners believe the RBA will deliver a cut at today’s meeting, defying the widespread commentary that the cash rate will remain steady at 3.60 per cent.

Millennials were revealed as the most optimistic group, with almost half (47 per cent) expecting a cut, followed by Gen X (40 per cent) and Gen Z (40 per cent).

Baby Boomers were the least likely to share the same optimism, with just 27 per cent predicting relief.

The findings suggest a gap between consumer sentiment and the broader economic consensus. Most major banks and market analysts have forecast the central bank will keep rates steady, with the next cut not likely until November.

Money.com.au finance expert Fi Ahlstrom said the results highlight the level of financial pressure Australians are under.

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RATES ANNOUNCEMENT

Michele Bullock is expected to announce a cash rate hold on Tuesday but some borrowers are still hopeful.

“It shows just how stretched people are. Many are still pinning their hopes on a rate cut even though the Big Four Banks and financial markets have all but ruled one out for September and there may be none for the rest of 2025,” she said.

“In many ways, it’s a sign of quiet desperation. A lot of homeowners were counting on extra repayment relief before Christmas, and many households are now having tough conversations about how to manage their finances for the rest of the year.

“The RBA has repeatedly stressed its cautious approach and its focus on keeping a lid on inflation.

“It isn’t going to cut rates just because of public pressure, so households may need to plan for higher repayments to stick around longer than they’d hoped.”

Rate relief saving households hundreds – but much of it is going back into mortgages

While the cash rate has remained steady since August, the three cuts earlier this year in February, May, and August have started to tally up in borrowers’ bank accounts.

Canstar.com.au analysis shows that an owner-occupier with a $600,000 mortgage at the start of the cuts has seen their minimum monthly repayments drop by an estimated $272 this year. For someone with a $1 million mortgage, the relief is around $453 per month.

However, data from CBA released on Monday shows just 11 per cent of its eligible customers chose to drop their repayments to the minimum following the August cut.

Supplied Real Estate Source: Canstar.com.au.

Source: Canstar.com.au.

Canstar.com.au modelling highlights the flip side of keeping repayments the same: an owner-occupier with a $600,000 mortgage and 25 years remaining at the start of the cuts, who kept their monthly repayments unchanged, would now be contributing an extra $272 per month above the minimum amount required. Over the long term, maintaining this higher repayment could potentially save them $76,536 in interest charges and see them repay their mortgage 3 years and 3 months early.

What’s a good rate now?

With the cash rate likely on hold, borrowers seeking rate relief or wanting to get ahead on their debt reduction should be on the lookout for a competitive rate.

Canstar.com.au lists the lowest variable rate for owner-occupiers at 4.99 per cent, which is reserved for first home buyers.

Those refinancing may be eligible for rates as low as 5.08 per cent.

Investors could be in a position to secure a variable rate as low as 5.24 per cent for principal and interest repayments or 5.39 per cent for interest-only.

CPI results put question mark over a November cut

Last week’s ABS monthly CPI indicator results, which saw annual headline inflation clock in at 3.0 per cent and trimmed mean inflation at 2.6 per cent, was a big enough jolt for NAB to adjust its cash rate forecast, shifting the next cut out by six months to May 2026.

CBA, Westpac, and ANZ all still expect a cash rate cut in November, though each acknowledges it might not materialise at this meeting.

If the RBA does cut the cash rate in November, an owner-occupier with a $600,000 mortgage and 25 years remaining would see their minimum monthly repayments drop by a further $87. With three cuts already in effect, the total drop across February, May, August, and a potential November cut would be $359, assuming banks pass this next cut on in full to their variable customers.

Canstar.com.au data insights director, Sally Tindall warned mortgage holders should not bank on a cut.

“Thankfully, the three rate cuts are already translating into real savings for borrowers, tallying up to an estimated $272 a month in relief for a typical $600,000 mortgage. That’s a decent chunk of money that is already making a difference to household budgets,” she said.

“It’s astounding to see that so many eligible borrowers aren’t pocketing this relief into their bank account but rather, reinvesting it into their mortgage instead.

“By keeping their repayments unchanged, they’re effectively turning each RBA cut into an extra mortgage repayment, which, if kept up for the remainder of their loan, could see them save thousands.”

The post Revealed: Surprising number of Aussies expect RBA rate cut today appeared first on realestate.com.au.

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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‘Don’t need’: Home reno jobs you should be doing yourself

A new purpose-built form of housing has been touted as a game-changer in regards to helping solve Australia’s accommodation crisis.

Want to spruce up your home? You don’t always need to fork out thousands of dollars. In fact, there are plenty of home improvement hacks you can do to give your property that little bit of extra for $500 or less.

ADD A SPLASH OF COLOUR

Renovation Queen Cherie Barber says paint is a simple way to transform a space – and it’s something you can do yourself. Depending on how much you need, the starting cost could be as little as $40 per can.

“Painting your ceilings, painting your walls, all your doors and trims – just freshening those up can really make a huge difference to your home,” she says.

Alternatively, you could consider repainting laminate cabinetry and the splashback tiles in your kitchen. Just make sure you get the correct paint for both types of surfaces and follow the instructions carefully.

MORE: Locked in – these borrowers miss out on rate cut relief

Young woman painting her bathroom tiles white

Painting tiles can be a cost-effective way to change the look of a room. Picture: iStock

“You can literally transform your kitchen for a couple of hundred dollars,” she says.

On the subject of paint, you can also transform pieces of furniture in a similar way, says Justine Wilson of Vault Interiors.

“Bunnings has spray paint for a couple of dollars,” she says.

“You might paint a coffee table, you might spray paint the surrounds of a mirror, you might spray paint your lamp bases.”

MORE: Don’t do it: Experts warn on common upgrade

Aussies eye caravans amid housing pain

She suggests looking at YouTube tutorials for ideas and best practice when it comes to technique and which surfaces you can spray.

She recently painted her coffee table matte gold to better suit the style of her home.

Home stylist Justine Wilson transformed her coffee table by painting it gold. Picture: Justine Wilson

She also revamped her kitchen floor with stick on tiles. Picture: Justine Wilson

PEEL AND STICK

Another thing Wilson did was apply “peel and stick” black and white checkerboard tiles to the old 70s vinyl floor of her rental, after gaining landlord approval.

“I think they were about $80 for a pack of 100. I laid them down all over the kitchen and now it looks really cute and charming,” she says. “They are easy to mop and pet friendly.”

You can also get peel and stick wall paper which is removable if need be. This is an easy way of adding interest to a room, she says.

Wall panels are another way to add charm inside your home, says Barber.

“We’ve got lots of different wall panelling options these days,” she says. “You can create lots of beautiful feature walls.”

MORE: ‘Absolute chaos’: Rate cuts’ instant impact

Supplied Real Estate AtHome Shop page: bathroom theme, Cross Assembly Taps Brushed Brass,
 $274.90, abiinteriors.com.au

Consider new tapware for the bathroom.

BATHROOM BLING

Glenn Davidson from Iconic Renovations & co says you could make your bathroom pop by replacing all the tapware, towel racks and toilet roll holders for less than $500.

Barber says you could also try stick-on tiles in the bathroom rather than ripping out old ones (just not in the shower).

OUTSIDE JOBS

Davidson says some cost-effective outdoor jobs include re-oiling a deck or putting in a firepit.

Barber says high pressure water cleaning and garden maintenance can be done relatively cheaply. Other things you can do outside include installing a new letter box, updating your street numbers or repainting your front door.

Renovation queen Cherie Barber.

Designer Justine Wilson.

MONEY SAVING HACKS

Try these cost-effective strategies suggested by our experts to make your home shine without breaking the bank.

1. Focus your attention – use paint, wallpaper or panelling to create feature walls as points of interest in key rooms

2. Change cabinet handles – replace door knobs and handles with nice, new ones that stand out and make a statement

3. Repaint cabinetry and tiles – don’t rip out your kitchen and bathroom if they are still functioning well, consider repainting them instead

Installing a firepit and tidying the garden is another cost-effective option.

4. Upgrade lighting – well thought out lighting can really transform a space. Just remember to factor in the cost of an electrician

5. Swap furnishings – change window coverings, cushions, bedspreads and throws as the seasons shift. Think light and airy, aqua and teal for summer

6. Upcycle furniture – transform old coffee tables, cabinets or lamp stands using paint and your creativity (plus a little help from YouTube)

7. Shop around – buy when items are on special and shop competitively

8. Improve your garden – a nice garden really frames a property. Weeding, pruning and mowing always helps but you could also consider adding stepping stones, new plants and other features

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The post ‘Don’t need’: Home reno jobs you should be doing yourself appeared first on realestate.com.au.

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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How homeowners benefit from massive equity and lower fixed rates

The recent numbers from FHFA‘s National Mortgage Database tell a story about the massive amount of home equity American households have — in addition to the fact that most Americans have mortgage rates at 5% or below. These are two of the most significant differences between the current housing market and the run up to the housing bubble crash.

The difference in home equity and credit quality then and now helps explain why housing inventory levels skyrocketed from 2005 to 2008 and why we haven’t been able to return to normal inventory levels from 2022 to 2025, which according to NAR data would be between 2 and 2.5 million active listings. The number of NAR total active listing is currently at 1.53 million.

chart visualization

Let’s take a look at how homeowners are positioned today.

Fixed rate loans

One significant aspect of the housing market leading up to 2008 was the dramatic increase in exotic loan structures, primarily adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) products, which accounted for over 30% of loans originated at that time. In contrast, more than 90% of the loans issued in the United States after 2010 have been long-term fixed-rate products. Currently, 40% of homeowners don’t have a mortgage loan at all and of those who do, 70.4% have fixed rate loans of 5% or less.

chart visualization

This is why many homeowners in America have excellent FICO scores; their long-term debt costs remain fixed as their wages rise.

chart visualization

Americans have massive home equity

One of the hallmarks of the housing bubble crash period was the significant number of foreclosures happening in America. With so many distressed homeowners and underwater mortgages, it was the biggest bust in American economic history. Compare that to the massive amount of home equity Americans are sitting on today.

chart visualization

During the run-up to the housing crisis in 2008, the loan-to-value ratio reached as high as 85%. Currently the loan-to-value ratio stands at 44.2%.

chart visualization

Another topic that doesn’t get a lot of play is that the down payment percentage data was falling from 2001 to 2008, and in the last few years, it has been rising to 21st-century highs. Homeowners have a healthy median down payment level to start with, unlike the 21st-century lows in 2008.

Conclusion

You don’t need to be an economist to understand the data above. It’s not a repeat of the housing crisis in 2008; in fact, it’s the exact opposite. Between 2005 and 2008, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates increased, culminating in the Great Financial Recession, as illustrated in the chart below.

chart visualization

September 30, 2025/0 Comments/by JKents
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