– Pending sales down for month, up for year NAR: The index fell 4.6% to 84.5 in Sept. from 88.6 in Aug. 2011, but it’s 6.4% higher than Sept. 2010’s 79.4. Baby Boomers: Home is where grandkids are AP poll: 73% of retiring boomers prefer to stay close to...
– Fla.’s consumer confidence steady in October UF: While the nation’s confidence took a dip in Oct., Floridians’ attitudes fell only one point since Sept. Commercial recovering but facing long grind PwC US and ULI: While a few cities with 24-hour transportation hubs will grow, overall recovery will happen...
– Fla. to study commercial lease taxes Dept. of Revenue is taking a closer look at tax calculation; some brokers worry it will raise taxes and slow rebound.
– Fed HARP program expanded, help more owners The administration again tinkered with its foreclosure aid program, nixing some appraisals and removing LTV ceilings. Realtors to lead Fla. Real Estate Commission Darla Furst from Sarasota will serve as FREC chair starting next month; Chip Boring of Sebring will serve...
– NAR: Existing home sales off in Sept. but higher than year ago Florida’s existing home and condo sales up in September Existing home and condo sales both up 10% over year ago; statewide condo median price up 7%. National sales slip 3%.
– Small businesses lift real estate values AMX study: Neighborhoods with small businesses saw real estate prices rise 50% more in 14 years than those without.
– HUD to Fla.: $160.6M in housing assistance Money is earmarked for community development and workforce housing through four HUD programs. Fla. asks homeowners to kill giant snails About 23,000 non-native snails have been found so far. Officials hope homeowners will help stop the spread.
– Top 10 reasons to own rather than rent In an era of foreclosures, buyers focus on financial reasons for purchasing, but ownership has emotional rewards too. HUD: Fla. property violated ‘fair housing’ Tenant says accommodations were not made for her chronic respiratory problem caused by smoke from nearby...
– Women agents outnumber men in all 50 states Trulia study: Women also had higher asking prices but fewer listings; in Fla., however, gender differences are minor.
Wells Fargo: Fla. economy to grow slowly, but still outperform national average Wells Fargo economists: State rebounding faster than nation, but it also fell further. Second recession unlikely.
