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to place their appraisal orders to ARC within their familiar Appraisal Firewall system. Instead of using the lender's internally created and managed appraiser panel, the order will route to ARC, which will then utilize its AMC-approved list of appraisers to complete the order. Lenders receive live updates so that they are kept aware during the process. In addition, lenders using Appraisal Firewall now have extended options for outof-area coverage. In case appraisers on their current panel do not cover a certain area, the order can be placed to ARC, who has reason coverage as an appraisal management company (AMC). "Lenders get more than just the increased efficiencies that come with supplementing their approved appraiser panels with new out-of-area coverage options," said Dave Black, president and CEO of the Washington-based SharperLending. "Through this exciting partnership with one of the best AMCs available, Appraisal Firewall lenders can comply with additional wholesale and investor requirements for appraisal ordering, which helps broaden the scope and increase the value of their loan portfolio." Redfin Announces Savings for Customers and Growth Redfin announced that as of midNovember 2012, it has saved customers more than $100 million in real estate fees and reached more than $8 billion in home sales. According to Redfin, customers saved more than $25 million on fees in 2012 alone. The company also boasts a satisfaction rate of 97 percent. "The changes that Redfin is bringing to the whole process of buying and selling a home are now happening at a meaningful scale," said Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman. "And saving customers more than a hundred million in fees is only part of the story." According to a company release, Redfin has grown faster than any other large-scale brokerage, even during a time when home sales fell to a third of their peak. Across the 19 markets Redfin serves, Redfin.com is among the most-visited brokerage websites, and the company's mobile applications have been the highest-rated among all real estate tools. Growth has even extended to Redfin's Seattle headquarters, where the company is gearing up to double its current workspace. By the end of 2012, Redfin added more than 158 400 agents, software engineers, and other positions. The secret, the company says, is in its approach to customer service. Every client who attempts to buy or sell a home with a Redfin agent receives a satisfaction survey, regardless of whether or not the deal closes. Every review is published to an online map, showing customers where the agent has succeeded and failed at representing buyers and sellers. It's those ratings, not commissions, that determine agents' bonus pay. In addition, the company promotes listings on its website, mobile tools, and via email, doubling traffic and exposure. The additional exposure and the review system are the main reasons why Redfin managed to, on average in 2011, sell homes 15 days faster than other brokerages at $8,700 higher than the asking price, the company said. "We have prospered by being the best, not the least expensive," Kelman said. "And the scale we have achieved isn't simply a reflection of our success; it's instrumental to our success. We can now meet every client and know every block because we're reaching the point where we can employ local agents in each of the neighborhoods we serve." Wisconsin rank: 21 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate october 2012 2.73% Unemployment Rate 2.96% 6.9% year ago 2.59% 3.81% 7.3% percent point change 5.1% -22.4% -5.5% Top County Taylor CounTy 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate october 2012 3.17% 7.44% year ago 2.50% 5.75% percent point change 26.9% 29.3% Top Core-Based Statistical area MenoMonie, Wi 90+ Day Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate october 2012 2.66% 4.29% year ago 2.15% 6.26% percent point change 23.8% -31.4% note: The 90+ Day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are 90plus days delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the October 2012 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary October 2012 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of Lender Processing Services. West Virginia Wyoming 90+ Day Delinquency Rate 90+ Day Delinquency Rate rank: 36 Foreclosure Rate october 2012 2.37% rank: 51 Unemployment Rate 1.73% 7.5% Foreclosure Rate october 2012 1.30% 0.60% year ago 2.37% 2.51% 7.9% 1.25% 1.16% -5.1% 4.6% Top County -48.6% LinCoLn CounTy 90+ Day Delinquency Rate october 2012 Foreclosure Rate october 2012 3.57% 1.46% year ago 4.04% 1.22% percent point change -13.7% 2.00% percent point change -11.5% Top Core-Based Statistical Area 19.5% -53.5% Top Core-Based Statistical Area HunTingTon-ASHlAnd, WV-ky-oH 90+ Day Foreclosure Delinquency Rate Rate october 2012 90+ Day Delinquency Rate 2.30% JACkSon, Wy-iD 1.55% 2.89% 6.8% 1.56% year ago 2.16% 1.06% percent point change note: Foreclosure Rate october 2012 year ago 2.15% Foreclosure Rate 0.93% year ago 2.54% -10.3% Top County Brooke CounTy 2.19% 5.8% percent point change -31.1% 90+ Day Delinquency Rate 5.2% year ago percent point change -0.0% Unemployment Rate 1.15% percent point change 34.0% The 90+ Day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are 90plus days delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the October 2012 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary October 2012 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of Lender Processing Services. 46.3% note: 35.3% The 90+ Day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are 90plus days delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the October 2012 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary October 2012 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of Lender Processing Services.