– What does a 'normal' housing market look like? This one While a buyer’s market may be looming, today’s relatively balanced real estate market, depending on metro area, could lead to a spring-buying boom. Senator to FEMA: Explain your flood insurance proposal Congress is working on a long-term flood...
– Court strikes down NAR's health insurance plan The Dept. of Labor empowered associations to offer limited, lower-cost coverage, but the court ruled it also allows them to avoid Affordable Care Act mandates. NAR release Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study One in six Gen Xers purchased a...
– Mortgage rates post biggest drop in decade The average rate for a fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 4.06% this week, making a spring home purchase notably cheaper for today’s buyers. HUD charges Facebook with housing discrimination HUD said Thursday that Facebook allows advertisers to exclude people based on their...
– Freddie Mac: Economy dicey but we're bullish on housing “RE market is thawing in response to a sustained decline in mortgage rates and rebound in consumer confidence – two of the most important drivers of home sales.” Study: More housing markets 'sustainable' – first time in a year...
– FHA clamps down on risky government-backed mortgages Buyers with lower credit scores and/or higher loan payments may find it harder to get approved for an FHA loan. The agency is trying to avoid a jump in defaults. Florida Legislature focuses on emotional support animals Bills in the House...
– Those end-of-2018 mortgage forecasts are probably wrong Six months ago, mortgage rates topped 5% for the first time in seven years and seemed permanent – but many experts now think 4.5% rates might last through 2019. Foreclosures: 4.3M homeowners helped by conservatorships The FHFA says that Fannie and...
– NAR: U.S. existing-home sales surge 11.8% in Feb. In the South, which includes Fla., existing-home sales grew 14.9%. It’s the strongest monthly gain since Dec. 2015 as market trends make it a good time to buy. Fla.'s housing market: Median prices, inventory rise in Feb. Fla. Realtors data:...
– Fed doesn't hike interest rates – and may not this year ARMs won’t go up and FRMs, which are indirectly impacted, probably won’t either. But the reason for no hikes isn’t ideal: The Fed thinks the economy is slowing. Top spring homebuyer concern? Their budget Almost 50% of...
– Great American Realtor Days: Realtors take over Capitol Florida Realtors members in Tallahassee this week for GARD enjoyed a surprise visit from Gov. DeSantis, who talked about the strength of the Realtor voice in Fla. A health impact from where you live and how much it costs? Health...
– $290,900 vs. $300,000: Which is better for pricing a listing? Many agents automatically round down to create the illusion that a recommended asking price is a bit less in buyers’ minds, but that’s not always the best strategy. 4 out of 5 buyers' agents say home staging helps...
