On December 20th, Bank of America downgraded shares of Re/Max (NYSE:RMAX) to a sell rating with a $56.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock. Analysts from Zacks also downgraded RMAX to a “sell” rating in a later report. Other analysts have rated the stock as a buy or hold on an earlier earnings report from RMAX.
As of this writing, RMAX shares are down to $30.92 from a six-month high of $56.25 per share. Despite the negative trend, there is good news for those vested in the stock. A recent Zacks Equity Research report the day before Christmas spotlighted RMAX in a crisp comparison with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) which revealed a lot about the short and long-term potential of both stocks. As I type this, Jones Lang LaSalle retains a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while RE/MAX is lagging with a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). But, the Zacks report goes on to reveal why JLL is rated so much higher than RMAX.
Key among the other variables Zacks is the fact JLL has a P/B ratio of 1.59, while RMAX has a P/B of 7.17. As a reminder, the P/B ratio is what Zacks and other analysts use to compare a stock’s market value against its book value. The basic equation is the result of subtracting total assets minus total liabilities. The corresponding value is the reason JLL holds a Value grade of A, against RMAX with a Value grade of C. Other variables in the report explain why so many analysts have devalued RMAX recently. JLL currently has a forward P/E ratio of 11.45, against RMAX forward P/E of 12.94. Other metrics paint a clearer picture for the struggling stock.
Another kind of predictor called the Altman Z score was developed a few decades ago by an. Published by Edward I. Altman back in 1968, the Altman Z can predict a company going bankrupt within 2 years with 90% accuracy. Currently, RMAX Altman Z score of 3.734334, which indicates the company is unlikely to default in the next couple of years. RMAX stock stands nearly -52.83% off versus a 52-week high and 3.81% off from the 52-week low, with the current shares currently owned by investors at 18.14 million. Mixed as these signals seems to be, it’s good advice for investors interested in quality ratios of RMAX to into consideration the Gross Profitability of the stock, which is currently 0.498758. Another factor of confidence for RMAX is the moderately low Montier C-Score of 2.0, which indicates the company is unlikely to be cooking the books. A million mixed signals, so what’s the bottom line on RMAX?
Even the most profitable and stable stocks face setbacks from time to time. The mixed or even negative signals in media make the trading decision a tricky job at best. It’s a certainty that making these decisions based on one piece of data is a perilous strategy, but deciphering myriad equations and functions are no less hazardous. Negative information about a company usually prompts investors to sell quickly without delving into the deeper metrics. The same is true where positive intelligence is concerned. As for RMAX value now, my recommendation in a mixed bag of appraisals is to follow the big money. Having said that, BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Re/Max by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter of 2018, and now owns 2,432,754 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $127,598,000. BlackRock, for anyone who is not aware, is not in the business of losing investments. So, the “sell” rating put on RMAX means “buy” at the right price in my book. The next quarter of trading will tell, but my money is on holding the shares.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
PulteGroup subsidiary Pulte Home Company has reportedly reached a settlement with the Florida Attorney General’s office following an investigation into complaints that some of its homes built in the state did not meet official standards.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said the settlement was reached following a two-year probe into Pulte over allegations it failed to disclose to certain Florida buyers that some of its homes were built in violation of the state’s building code.
Pulte was accused of violating Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act by “unfairly denying” some homeowners’ claims for repairs because it refused to perform an adequate inspection of those properties. The company reportedly also unfairly withheld some customer’s deposits in some instances.
The complaint stated that in some cases, homeowners were accused by Pulte of failing to maintain their properties when in fact the problems they experienced were due to construction defects.
However, it seems the allegations prompted Pulte to take notice. During the length of the investigation, Pulte reportedly spent $64 million to repair problematic homes in Florida. The settlement agreement stipulates that Pulte should repair other homes up to ten years old in the state that meet specific criteria.
Bondi’s office also said that during the investigation, Pulte spent more than $10 million to upgrade building materials, improve its construction techniques, and provide additional training to its employees and trade contractors in Florida to address the issues in question.
The settlement also calls for Pulte to pay a further $4.7 million for restitution, which includes the out of pocket expenses incurred by homeowners who repaired construction defects themselves.
The General Attorney’s office said it would soon provide more information for homeowners wishing to claim some of this compensation.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
Zurich-based startup HEGIAS has developed the world’s first browser-based, VR CMS for the construction and real estate industries. Having just passed $1 million in funding, the innovators expect to snag another $1.9 million by March of this year.
Virtual reality (VR) is now all the rage in proptech as the technology moves forward to be integrated into every facet of our lives. This latest innovation from the Swiss startup HEGIAS promises to transform parts of the real estate business, as can be seen in the video below.
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Founded by Marty (Pam) Patrik, Tuan Nguyen and Andreas Schmeil in 2017, HEGIAS has now developed the world’s first browser-based, automated virtual reality content management system (CMS) for the industry. Filling a huge void where for architects, construction companies, homeowners, brokers, and interior designers, the new tech will streamline workflows and reduce overall miscommunication and mistakes in projects. Furthermore, the HEGIAS solutions are a world apart for cost-effectiveness, the company says their innovations are as much as 100 times cheaper than current high-end visualizations technologies for the industry. HEGIAS also says their solutions will be faster thanks to the automation aspects.
The developers are currently focusing tightly on the construction industry because of the high-quality 3D data is already available in this sector. This is a bright move since marketing of properties often begins long before projects are completed. So, the Swiss platform can help increase initial vacancy rates by showing unbelievable VR visualizations to clients. We spoke briefly about HEGIAS’ upcoming releases with Pam Patrik, who added this assurance:
“HEGIAS will launch the world’s first browser-based high-end virtual reality content management system by the end of March 2019. Our initial product offering will be focusing on the real estate market, planning industries, and architects.”
According to the news, the funding is being used to complete the CMS for its international launch, and to promote further developments. HEGIAS 1.0 has been tested in pilot projects with customers like PS/Wincasa, Implenia, Swisscanto, and a specialised VR/CMS project for Shopfitting with Jegen AG.
HEGIAS is a member of SwissPropTech, and is advised by digital game change expert Adrian Wildenauer, Senior Construction Management Consultant at pom+, a leading business consultancy for real estate, construction, facility, portfolio and asset management in Europe.
In the days to come, we will try and interview Wildenauer or company CEO Marty (pam) Patrik.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
According to Jeff Berman, General Partner at the venture capital firm, Camber Creek, one in three recent home buyers made an offer before even seeing a home in person. This revolutionary trend brought about by the adoption of cutting edge PropTech, is one of the subjects Realty Biz News discussed with Berman last week.
RealtyBiz: Why do you think property technologies have lagged behind the trend to adopt technology-based solutions set by other industries?
Jeff Berman: The most common reason given is that real estate is a “dinosaur” industry. And while that may be true to a certain extent – after all, many of the processes involved in property purchase/sale/lease haven’t changed in hundreds of years – that’s only half of the story. The other half requires us to examine the root of innovation…which is typically borne of necessity (as the old proverb goes, “necessity is the mother of invention”). And the fact of the matter is that players in the real estate industry have been making (a lot of) money going about their business(es) in a decidedly 1.0 manner. But I think that time is ending. Over the last few years we have noticed a sharp uptick in interest in technology from real estate industry insiders. They’ve woken up to the fact that technology is no longer a “nice to have” but a “need to have”.
RealtyBiz:We are seeing hundreds of millions in funding for proptech of every description. What do you see as “game-changing” technology in the space?
Jeff Berman: One of the fundamental ways technology is changing the real estate industry is in workflow/process. Let’s take a typical real estate (buy/sell) transaction. Even with the best stock trading apps at our disposal, you still have to follow a fairly cumbersome process to execute a transaction. There’s discovery (i.e. finding the property you want to buy or listing the property you want to sell), diligence, appraisal, title, legal, financing and settlement. And you have to pay a different set of professionals for each step along the way. The analog I like to use is the stock market 30 years ago. Back then, if you wanted to trade stock you would call a broker who would call a market maker who would call the trading floor to get the trade executed.
Now you can buy stock with a few swipes on your phone. So it will be with real estate. And while we’re still in early innings of this transformation, there are a number of companies developing software tools that are bringing that reality that much closer. For example, Camber Creek portfolio company Bowery built the world’s first end to end technology enabled appraisal firm cutting down the time to generate an appraisal – which is needed in most real estate transactions and is therefore a potential bottleneck – by up to 75% and often at less cost. It is companies like Bowery which will bring ‘game-changing’ technology to the fore.
Realty Biz: You and other experts have predicted that virtual reality (VR) will be an $80 billion dollar market by 2024. What kinds of tools do you see leading this dynamic market?
Jeff Berman: The promise of augmented reality and virtual reality in real estate is borne of the number of potential applications for the technology. From improved digital home/office tours to virtual collaboration – the possibilities are endless. In time, these technologies will reshape how we interact with our homes, our experience of walking down a city street, and how we conceive of offices altogether.
Realty Biz: – How do you pick a winner in a race to fill this property tech void?
Jeff Berman: Our (i.e. Camber Creek’s) ability to identify and scale market leaders is built on our unmatched network of decision-makers and principals in all real estate asset classes. This network provides the firm with a platform to rapidly test potential companies during diligence to determine actionable facts and propriety insights. We can literally “try before we buy” allowing us to find winning companies prior to making an investment. Once an investment is made, our hands-on approach provides portfolio companies access to the network and significant new revenue opportunities. This allows us to de-risk investments, accelerate the growth of portfolio companies, and create exceptional returns for investors.
Takeaway
Berman and other industry experts predict that by 2021, the market for virtual reality and augmented reality technologies will reach $108 billion. Virtual reality tech will become an $80 billion market by 2025, an of this, more than $2.5 billion will come from real estate. The Camber Creek executive’s suggestion that PropTech is a necessity rather than a nicety now, this is the takeaway every forward-thinking real estate professional should glean. For this analyst, I try and imagine a modern movie studio still trying to market silent films. This is the nature of the paradigm AI, AR, and machine learning are causing today. An investment in these technologies is an investment of necessity, in the infrastructure that is the real estate business.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
Builders are increasingly offering buyers incentives in order to help sell their homes, with promotions including paying the closing costs, buying down mortgage rates and even straight discounts, which is a move they’re normally reluctant to make.
“We are really working a little bit harder to get people in the door and to get people excited,” Mark Mullin, a real estate professional who sells new homes in the L.A. area, told the Los Angeles Times. “These are things [builders] were not having to do a year ago.”
However, the concessions are still fairly small compared to a decade ago, though they are growing. For example, 23 percent of builders in the Los Angeles area lowered their listing prices in December, in addition to offering buyers money for upgrades, according to a recent John Burns Real Estate Consulting survey. In comparison, just 4 percent of builders did so one year ago.
But some 43 percent of builders were cutting prices in 2010, which shows they’re doing better than they were during the last throes of the Great Recession.
Normally, builders will prefer to offer incentives such as new amenities or cash for upgrades rather than cut prices. That’s because they don’t want buyers who’ve already signed a contract while the home is still being built to later back out when they see the prices slashed.
For example, development company Planet Home Living in Newport Beach, California, was selling units at $809,000 but not getting the traction it desired for its townhome-like units. In November, it slashed the price by $10,000 and added upgraded flooring, which would have cost buyers an extra $20,000. But so far, buyers are still not jumping at the discounts. Builders say they don’t expect to drop prices further.
Builders have seen sales slowing for several months. KB Homes, Toll Bros., and other homebuilders reported a drop in sales in the last quarter. Builders and real estate professionals say a jump in mortgage rates in 2018 and more than six years of price increases led to the slowdown. Some buyers “are waiting for reassurance that we are not in a crash,” Mullin told the Times.
Meanwhile, some homebuilders are readjusting their pricing expectations. “We took prices beyond the realm of reality,” says Grant Keene, chief executive of WJK Development, a luxury builder in Huntington Beach, Calif. The company tried unsuccessfully to sell single-family homes for up to $2.2 million—10 percent higher than the previous per-square-foot record for the area. “It made consumers balk,” Keene says.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
The luxury real estate horizon looks bright for a few counties in Florida despite a slowing sales forecast for the state overall. Interest from prospective home buyers from America’s Northeast is aimed at both Collier and Sarasota, two of the nation’s fastest-growing luxury housing price markets. These areas, along with interest in Jacksonville and a new projects across the state, are bright spots in a sagging Florida luxury market.
According to the May 2018 Luxury Home Index from realtor.com®,
interest from buyers in New York, Boston, and Chicago boosted Sarasota (North
Port) and Collier (East Naples) price growth of 19 and 14 percent respectively.
In that report, even Fort Lauderdale, which ranked 19th on the national list,
showed a 9% uptick in sales prices. Javier Vivas, director of economic research
for realtor.com® offered this comment in a press release:
“Luxury prices in the Sunshine State are rising quickly as buyers from places like New York, Boston, and Chicago get wind that there is a better bang for their buck available down South. Meanwhile, we are seeing signs of a luxury market glut in many established markets, which is in some cases leading to spillover demand for their less pricey neighbors.”
Luxury properties in the news in Sarasota have helped peak interest in the area. An instance that comes to mind was the recent announcement that the one of America’s most talked about restaurants, the Beach Bistro opening at the luxurious BLVD Sarasota (feature image) beginning of 2020 put an exclamation point on one of the city’s most exciting new developments. Remaining BLVD residences range from 3,550 to 5,500 square feet and are listed starting at $1.9 million.
The boost to Collier County sales prices was helped by big home sales in Naples where one
sale came in at a record $48.8 million. Naples’ 34102 ZIP code ranked is the
15th richest in America according to a recent report by Bloomberg. The recent
sale of a Port Royal beachfront mansion of 9,394 square feet that originally
listed for $60.9 million dollars, obviously did nothing to lower the areas
ranking.
Amazing new luxury developments dot the state and draw attention from high net worth investors, even as the market trends toward oversupply. One that comes to mind is the Waterfall Condominiums going up at Jax Beach. This eight-floor complex of 42 residences will have two fantastic penthouses on the top level, and range in size from 2,721 to 3,077 square feet. Expansive terraces will offer unmatched beach views listed by the Hanley Home Team at about $1.3 million on average.
An interesting aspect for these luxury residences is the fact new height restrictions have now limited beachside properties to no more than three stories tall. But, the beach property on which the condos will be built, at 14th Avenue South and 1st Street South, was grandfathered in, allowing for a high-rise residential structure. This brings up another important variable for all Florida luxury properties. Once the growth in new development sinks (and this is inevitable), the exclusivity of these properties will rise accordingly. Short story, prices will probably skyrocket.
Finally, “one of” luxury properties all across the Sunshine State help prop up high-end property prices. An example here is the so-called “Victory House” (above) that sits on 200 fabulous bayfront acres overlooking St. Petersburg and downtown Tampa Bay. This amazing property has its own private beach and has hurricane-proof doors and windows throughout. The six-bedroom, six-bath house is on a 13-acre parcel that includes about seven acres of uplands and the canals, a place where the owner will never have neighbors. Listed at $18 million, the mansion named for Nasr “Vic” Abuoleim is but one example of hundreds of similarly “exclusive” properties in the state.
A wonderful friend
of my father’s who was a land developer, he had this saying that has never
failed me. “Always buy land, they don’t
make any more of it,” he’d say. In
the case of Florida property, the more expansive the market gets, the more
“land” becomes a luxury. My bet is on prices rising in the mid-term to long.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
Last year I was closely involved with a hotel project on Crete which proved ultimately profitable even though the Greek economy tends to stifle profits. Located at a seaside fishing village turned favored tourist spot is where an entrepreneur named Dimitris Markakis spent sleepless nights to bring a stunning hospitality venture to life. SeaScape Luxury Residences are expanding this year because of a combination of impeccable design, efficient marketing and sales, and an age-old equation that involves geographical fate.
“In Tune” Development
Not so many years ago Agia Pelagia was a tiny fishing harbor where goats and sheep were as likely to be seen on the stunning beach as sunburned tourists are today. Once a majestic port for the Bronze Age Minoan civilization, today the town offers delectable Cretan cuisine straight in front of one of Crete’s most stunning swimming, snorkeling, and watersports spots. But when Dimitris Markakis described for me how the good fortune played a role in Crete development, I was reminded how timing is everything. As it turns out, property on the seaside in places like Agia Pelagia was once deemed worthless by the patriarchs of agrarian families.
When these properties were passed down, the favored sons and daughters were given farmlands, olive groves, and orchards – the youngest or those in disfavor, they got beachfront. Talk about a “twist” of fate. As luck so often has it, those less favored siblings mostly sold their property for pennies rather than drachmas. Smart entrepreneurs and those seeking lots by the seaside were the beneficiaries. Today, however, the problem for property developers and entrepreneurs is the economy, taxes, and plummeting prices, not to mention the dire need to build sustainably. With the touristic corporations bearing down on Crete, local entrepreneurs are under increased pressure to conform. SeaScape is a truly non-conformist idea when compared to the big seaside developments.
Bucking the trend to build, Markakis’ and his brothers’ not only had the challenge of creating a luxury self-catered vacation abode, they were also building a brand new development into an already crowded village geography. Agia Pelagia, like other Cretan seaside villages, is struggling to preserve its Cretan traditions and identity, so the SeaScape development came with myriad difficulties above and beyond potential profit and loss. Ultimately, the property designed by the gifted architect, Lefteris Tsikandilakis got built despite a couple of hundred logistical and bureaucratic hurdles.
Last year I interviewed Lefteris Tsikandilakis, the gifted architect who designed SeaScape Phase One to find out more about the overall vision of this amazing self-catering boutique resort. I got from the designer the developmental philisophy behind this new development:
“It is obvious that every residence is unique, but that wasn’t necessarily the principal design purpose. In this particular project, we had to deal with 2 challenging plots with sharp slopes, their integration in an already developed building, and the need for these plots to be configured in the best possible way. The sea view, the orientation and the scope for the internality of the plot, were principal elements that defined the spatial design.”
The Recipe
SeaScape Luxury Residences became a success in its first year of operation, despite all the hurdles, because of the cohesive efforts for design, efficiency, sensitivity to the local environment, marketing, sales, and creating the perfect guest experience. On the latter, Dimitris Markakis offered this:
”Seascape Luxury Residences” redefines the meaning of “Cretan hospitality” with the addition of 15 new residences with differentiated comfort and innovative design. Every guest here will experience luxury and truly relaxing vacations in the heart of the cosmopolitan village of “Agia Pelagia”. The additional residences feature a unique architectural design that combines simplicity with stylish luxury. The modern decoration aesthetics accentuate out themes of ultimate tranquility and relaxation that every guest needs and expects during summer vacations.”
SeaScape is a stunning property, in the perfect location, and the development actually adds to the aesthetic of Agia Pelagia, rather than detracting from it. This brings me to location, and how complex the job was for Markakis and his team. Choosing to put a hotel in the wide open spaces is one thing, but designing with a vision smack in the middle of a thriving small village is another. The developers of SeaScape had to take into consideration the streets, thoroughfares, zoning, touristic and service traffic, neighboring houses, stores, villas, and so forth. Knowing the value of being in Agia Pelagia may have been a given, but displaying everything in the town for a spell brought looks of concern from the community. I know Dimitris spent many sleepless nights worried over civic outrage over huge cement trucks and etc. I’m sure he wondered many times whether or not he’d selected the right location – ultimately he was proven right. The beautiful people lounging (as in the Instagram share below) at SeaScape last summer must have been a rewarding experience for the owner.
Building a brand new vacation residence is hard enough. No matter how compelling any development is on paper, the team that designs, builds, organizes, and promotes must work as harmoniously as possible with the same goals in mind. And once the luxury residences were up, the twin swimming pools filled, the chic pool bar stocked and pillows fluffed, then came the branding and the rush to bookings. I was on the site two weeks before the first guests were slated to arrive, and I can tell you SeaScape looked about half complete. Miraculously, the team opened on schedule and the world of the sales and marketing team came into play. I spoke briefly about SeaScape Phase One, and the new expansion with Giorgos Ergazakis, who’s the Director of Sales at Plarino – Hotel Management Services, the company that handles SeaScape sales strategy. Here’s what he had to say about SeaScape’s initial success:
“The SeaScape Luxury Residences case is interesting for several reasons. Given the end product and the clearly demonstrated vacationer value at the end, most sales execs would consider the property and easy sell. But SeaScape sits in the middle of the amazing competition. We are very prou ofd our marketing and pricing competitiveness helped make the property profitable in such a short time.”
Vision, location, a clear strategy, creating an effective team, and presenting the destination and the accommodation value to the public effectively, all this and more led to SeaScape’s initial successes. And now SeaScape Phase Two is slated to open in the Spring at Agia Pelagia.
Expanding On Success
SeaScape Phase One was built upon vacant lots alongside an existing apartment complex at Agia Pelagia. Markakis’ vision had always been to expand the new property to integrate with these existing apartments. Design wise, the trick is to shape the facades and the surrounding environment so that Phase One and Two are combined aesthetically and functionally. My texts from Lefteris Tsikandilakis’ offices speak of key materials usage to make this integration perfect, but the architect’s job is not only about congruent materials. Tsikandilakis will have to create the same sense of casual luxury in this second phase, that guest experienced and talked about from SeaScape Phase One. As the architect told me, SeaScape exists as a perfect balance of interiors and exteriors which create an overall sense.
The second part of the SeaScape story will be completed when more visitors to Agia Pelagia go home to express the special experience of place that many believe can only be achieved here on Crete. Marketing and sales for SeaScape Luxury Residences will be challenged to meet or exceed last year’s successes. The staff will certainly be expanded, guests will expect their luxury holiday, and if my guess is right, many more holiday seekers will become purist fans of one of the world’s most fabulous island getaways, in no small part due to the efforts of Dimitris Markakis, a smart Crete businessman bold enough to be different.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
Last week, construction finance platform Rabbet announced raising a Series A funding round of $8 million led by Goldman Sachs, QED Investors, and Camber Creek. The Fintech company which was formerly known as Contract Simply – helps companies involved in construction finance to digitize and view documents relevant to a deal.
“Rabbet brings efficiency, accuracy and visibility to the complex construction finance industry.”
Rabbet’s groundbreaking software solves a huge point of pain for construction loan processing by helping to expedite construction draw processing, which saves time and money while minimizing human error in data processing. Currently, these processes are manual and paper-based, making it time-consuming and prone to errors.
This funding round comes as the construction markets are in a big slowdown, a trend which has caused a shift from new developments toward the operations and technology end of the business. Given this “throttling back” environment, many in the business of construction finance are searching for new ways to streamlining and making more efficient all their processes.
Rabbet provides just such a streamlining solution, at a time when Fintech investing is empowering entreprenuers to blaze new trails with AI, machine learning, and VR. RealtyBizNews asked Jake Fingert, General Partner at Camber Creek about the VC firms investment in Rabbet. Here’s what Fingert had to say:
“Given the recent deceleration of the construction market, many in the industry are shifting more of their focus from new development to operations and technology. Rabbet is the leading construction loan software solution, an area ripe for innovation and where many in the space, such as Goldman Sachs, are looking for more efficient ways of doing business. Rabbet’s technology significantly reduces the time it takes to process a loan, which means faster payments for subcontractors and more interest for banks, all while digitizing the workflow to improve compliance and record keeping. Instead of ten days, banks are pushing out draws in as little as two days.”
Rabbet’s platform helps banks, developers, and contractors to perform streamlining functions which are currently manual paper-based functions. The Austin based startup makes use of machine learning to located and extract key information from documents so that data and information can be migrated to PDF or spreadsheet form. At the end of the day, Rabbet technology creates a cross-sharing capability that is not currently available. Will Mitchell, Rabbet’s , CEO and co-founder, told interviewers last week:
“All this information is trapped in disconnected PDFs, spreadsheets, emails. We want to focus on the efficiency, accuracy and transparency that software can bring to this complex industry.”
Goldman Sachs’ construction finance division uses Rabbet’s software for streamlining and modernizing their construction investing operations, according to this Reuters release.
Babbet announced the company will use the new funding to continue to invest in the development of its automation platform, to expand service offerings, and to cultivate partnerships. The company also announced an expansion of its software engineering and sales teams in Austin.
Founded back in 2017, Babbet (Contract Simply) was accelerated with Y Combinator. Since that time the company has seen rapid growth, having improved efficiency for projects sized up to $150 million nationwide.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
After falling for nearly four consecutive years, housing inventory has turned a corner, growing on an annual basis in four of the past five months, according to the January Zillow Real Estate Market Report. U.S. for-sale home inventory grew 1.2 percent year-over-year. There were 19,455 more homes for sale nationwide in January compared to a year earlier.
This was the first inventory gain in January since at least 2014. However, the slow pace of growth has thus far done little to reverse the long contraction in inventory that took place from January 2015 to August 2018. In July 2017, inventory was falling at its fastest pace since 2014 of 12.8 percent year-over-year.
Inventory has increased the most in five West Coast markets that were recently among the nation’s hottest, giving home shoppers more options and ever-so-slowly tilting the market toward buyers. On an annual basis, inventory grew 42.9 percent in San Jose, Calif., 36.9 percent in Seattle, 31.9 percent in San Diego, 29.1 percent in Los Angeles and 25 percent in San Francisco.
While the number of homes for sale grew in about three-quarters of the country’s largest housing markets, a few East Coast markets saw big drops. Inventory in Washington D.C., Baltimore and Pittsburgh all fell at least 10 percent. Inventory fell 19.9 percent in Washington D.C. This is the third straight month of annual declines of at least 14 percent following Amazon’s announcement in November that it would site a new headquarters there.
“For four years, it felt like home buyers couldn’t catch a break as for-sale inventory became tighter and tighter with each passing month,” said Zillow senior economist Aaron Terrazas. “But during the second half of 2018, something shifted. Home buyers aren’t out of the woods yet, but there is a glimmer of light on the horizon. The number of homes on the market is hesitantly inching higher – now approaching the highest level in a year and a half.”
The median U.S. home value is $225,300, a 7.5 percent year-over-year increase. Home value growth has remained at a steady pace in the seven percent range over the past two years though the national numbers obscure substantial differences across the country. Indianapolis and Atlanta experienced the biggest jumps over the past year, with home values increasing by more than 12 percent in both metros.
Rents grew on an annual basis for the third straight month following two months of annual declines, up 2.1 percent over a year ago to a median of $1,468. This was the largest increase in annual rents since May 2018. Rent increased or remained flat in all major metros, with Orlando (up 7.4 percent) experiencing the biggest increase. On the other end of the spectrum, rents were flat in Portland over the past year.
Mortgage rates listed on Zillow ended January at 4.14 percent, the lowest rate of the month. Rates started the month on January 1 at their highest point, 4.3 percent. By the end of January, mortgage rates had retreated 61 basis points from their November 2018 peak. Zillow’s real-time mortgage rates are based on thousands of custom mortgage quotes submitted daily to anonymous borrowers on the Zillow Mortgages site and reflect the most recent changes in the market.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
After falling for nearly four consecutive years, housing inventory has turned a corner, growing on an annual basis in four of the past five months, according to the January Zillow Real Estate Market Report. U.S. for-sale home inventory grew 1.2 percent year-over-year. There were 19,455 more homes for sale nationwide in January compared to a year earlier.
This was the first inventory gain in January since at least 2014. However, the slow pace of growth has thus far done little to reverse the long contraction in inventory that took place from January 2015 to August 2018. In July 2017, inventory was falling at its fastest pace since 2014 of 12.8 percent year-over-year.
Inventory has increased the most in five West Coast markets that were recently among the nation’s hottest, giving home shoppers more options and ever-so-slowly tilting the market toward buyers. On an annual basis, inventory grew 42.9 percent in San Jose, Calif., 36.9 percent in Seattle, 31.9 percent in San Diego, 29.1 percent in Los Angeles and 25 percent in San Francisco.
While the number of homes for sale grew in about three-quarters of the country’s largest housing markets, a few East Coast markets saw big drops. Inventory in Washington D.C., Baltimore and Pittsburgh all fell at least 10 percent. Inventory fell 19.9 percent in Washington D.C. This is the third straight month of annual declines of at least 14 percent following Amazon’s announcement in November that it would site a new headquarters there.
“For four years, it felt like home buyers couldn’t catch a break as for-sale inventory became tighter and tighter with each passing month,” said Zillow senior economist Aaron Terrazas. “But during the second half of 2018, something shifted. Home buyers aren’t out of the woods yet, but there is a glimmer of light on the horizon. The number of homes on the market is hesitantly inching higher – now approaching the highest level in a year and a half.”
The median U.S. home value is $225,300, a 7.5 percent year-over-year increase. Home value growth has remained at a steady pace in the seven percent range over the past two years though the national numbers obscure substantial differences across the country. Indianapolis and Atlanta experienced the biggest jumps over the past year, with home values increasing by more than 12 percent in both metros.
Rents grew on an annual basis for the third straight month following two months of annual declines, up 2.1 percent over a year ago to a median of $1,468. This was the largest increase in annual rents since May 2018. Rent increased or remained flat in all major metros, with Orlando (up 7.4 percent) experiencing the biggest increase. On the other end of the spectrum, rents were flat in Portland over the past year.
Mortgage rates listed on Zillow ended January at 4.14 percent, the lowest rate of the month. Rates started the month on January 1 at their highest point, 4.3 percent. By the end of January, mortgage rates had retreated 61 basis points from their November 2018 peak. Zillow’s real-time mortgage rates are based on thousands of custom mortgage quotes submitted daily to anonymous borrowers on the Zillow Mortgages site and reflect the most recent changes in the market.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].