CubiCasa, a global-reaching real estate software company, announced a 455 percent increase in new user signups year-over-year. The company stated this signals continued global momentum.

In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, sex and nation of origin in the sale, rental or financing of housing. More than 50 years later, however, discrimination in the housing market not only exists, but is getting worse, according to a report by authors from Washington University-St. Louis and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

A National Association of Realtors’ survey asked its members about its current technology usage and attitudes about the future of real estate technology. Respondents to the survey identified eSignature, lockbox, and local MLS apps and technology as impactful tools used in their business during 2022.

As a follow-up to Valuation Review’s federal appraisal matters story from the Appraisal Institute (AI), we reached out to AI State & Industry Affairs Manager Scott DiBiasio for his observations as to what is happening statewide. DiBiasio also commented on what appraisers should be on the lookout for. Read on for the conclusion of this two-part AI feature.

Class Valuation Chief Appraiser John Dingeman outlined the key principles surrounding short-term rentals (STRs). Dingeman shared specifics with Valuation Review, in addition to providing some answers to questions posed around STRs. Read on to learn more.

For this month’s insight from Dustin Harris (“The Appraiser Coach”), the industry veteran examines how certain verbiage, as well as familiar terms, can make the difference when it comes to general understandings as to what one is talking about. Harris’ blogs “Language is Important” and “That Car Costs How Much per Pound” spell it out. Read on for more appraisal advice.

Cherre, a data integration and insights platform, recently announced a new partnership with Clear Capital. The partnership will allow Cherre customers to leverage Clear Capital’s platform to perform various services.

Starrex International, Ltd announced it closed the transaction involving the arm’s length sale of its real estate appraisal management business conducted by its subsidiary Property Interlink, LLC. This includes Starrex’s real estate appraisal business conducted by its subsidiary Reliable Valuation Service, LLC, and substantially all of the related assets.

The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index dropped 4.1 points in October to 56.7, its eighth consecutive monthly decline and lowest reading since the inception of the index in 2011. Only 16 percent of respondents indicated that now is a good time to buy a home – a new survey low – while the percentage who believe now is a good time to sell a home dropped sharply from 59 percent to 51 percent in October. Year-over-year, the index is down 18.8 percent.