Hey, I like a good raccoon swarm as much as the next guy, but you couldn’t pay me to walk out there in that yard. Speaking of pay, a common question is how much how are LOs and managers paid, and STRATMOR’s blog is titled, “Lenders and Vendors Must Pay to Play.” Geographical differences have diminished in comp, but they still very much exist in weather and rental markets. The best weather of the year for different regions varies. While Florida is evacuating, it is arguably the best time of the year in the Midwest. Accordingly, Chicagoland has matched Miami’s long-standing dominance as the nation’s most competitive rental market, signaling housing pressures spreading beyond coastal hotspots. Renters struggled this summer due to high lease renewal rates and potential homebuyers remaining in the rental market, limiting available options, and creating strong competition for apartments. This change was boosted by the Midwest’s rejuvenated economy, coupled with a higher lease renewal rate of 69.5 percent and a drop in new units to 0.11 percent. NYC’s Manhattan is growing more competitive: With less than 5 percent of rentals still available and almost no new units opened recently, 65.8 percent of renters decided to stay put. This led to nine renters competing for a single unit, which typically got filled in 37 days. (Today’s podcast is found here and this week’s is sponsored by LoanCare. The mortgage subservicer is known for delivering superior customer experience through personalization and convenience. LoanCare is part of Fidelity National Financial, a Fortune 500 company and leading provider of services to real estate and mortgage industries. Hear an interview with Corporate Settlement Solutions Ashley Jelinek on trends in home equity and valuation.)