– Kiplinger ranks Fla. No. 8 for job-growth rate Fla. GDP is predicted to grow about 3.8% in 2018 and 2019 – well above the national average –and tax law changes may increase relocations from out of state. Rising sea levels? Most Fla. coastal buyers aren't worried yet Agents...
– Florida Realtors honors 2018 award winners Mike Dooley, 2006 president, is 2018 Realtor of the Year; Tom Scaglione is Associate Realtor of the Year – awards were given out yesterday at the convention. New IRS tax rules suggest big deduction for Realtors It’s complicated, but an IRS interpretation...
– Fla.'s housing market continues positive track in 2Q State’s single-family sales up 1% year-to-year, median prices up 6.7% to $256K. Condo sales up 4.7%, median prices up 8.5% to nearly $190K. Tight supply continues. Fla.'s 'Realtor license plate' generates $1M for affordable housing Fla. first issued a new...
– Zillow enters mortgage biz to help its instant-offer buyers The company says its acquisition of Mortgage Lenders of America will allow it to streamline home buying for consumers who purchase through Zillow Offers. Is a buyers' market right around the corner? If boomers see the pool of buyers...
– Wells Fargo: Mistake contributed to hundreds of foreclosures The company says it foreclosed on about 625 owners during the post-recession meltdown even though they were eligible for a mortgage modification. Should the U.S. adopt Fla.'s private flood-insurance model? A former state insurance commissioner says private-flood insurance more than...
– Average mortgage rates rise again: 30-year at 4.6% The FRM rose for the second week in a row and is closing in on its high for the year: For the week ending May 24, it averaged 4.66%. Owners tend to have flood insurance when it's not needed There’s...
– Fed keeps key interest rate unchanged, signals future hikes The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged while signaling further gradual rate hikes. Private economists predict another increase in Sept. Florida Realtors announces CEO succession On Jan. 1, 2019, Florida Realtors will have a new CEO when...
– Congress passes flood insurance, president expected to sign The U.S. Senate approved a four-month extension for the NFIP yesterday that the House approved earlier. Once signed, the program will be extended to Nov. 30. Zillow's new tool does some property-manager tasks The tool screens prospective tenants, performs background...
– June pending home sales reverse course, rise 0.9% While pending sales are still down 2.5% in a year-to-year comparison, NAR Chief Economist Yun says, “It’s possible the worst of the supply crunch … has passed.” HUD continues enforcement of disability discrimination The department announced agreements in four states...
– Senate to consider flood extension after House bill passes The good news: There’s a fair chance NFIP coverage won’t expire July 31. Bad news: It’s another short-term (4-month) extension that kicks the can down the road. NAR releases 2018 Profile of International Transactions Rising home prices and a...
