– Average 30-year mortgage rate falls to 4.1% FRM rates fell again this week, but with the Fed threatening an interest rate hike soon, 70% of experts predict they’ll go higher and none anticipate a decline. New-home buyers: Act now before prices go up U.S construction has a labor...
– Fla.’s lack of industry compared to some other states and nearby oceans Naples has the cleanest air in U.S.; Ocala ranks No. 3. Realtor.com study credits Fla.’s ocean breeze and limited industry for an overall lack of air pollution. Federal wetland rules might be rescinded or changed What...
– Dec. home prices rise at fastest pace in a year SandP/Case-Shiller: Year-to-year, U.S. home prices rose 5.6%, the fastest pace in 11 months, as homebuyers bid against each other for a limited supply of listings. Fla. consumer confidence down from Jan.’s record high Floridians remain optimistic about current...
– NAR: Pending home sales weaken in Jan. A tight listing inventory translated into 2.8% fewer homes under contract, due largely to drops in the West and Mid-West. In the South, pending sales rose 0.4%. Top impact on 2017 housing market? Rising mortgage rates A Pulsenomics survey of mortgage...
– Mortgage rates edge up – but not much Rates rose negligibly from last week’s 4.15% to 4.16% this week, and half the experts polled this week predict relative stability over the short term. Real estate investing: Who they are, where they buy How many investor-owned homes in your...
– Fla.’s housing market: More sales, rising prices in Jan. Positive trends: Single-family home sales rose 5.2% year-to-year, median price up 10.1% to $220,000. Condo sales rose 6.2% and median price up 6.6% to $161,000. NAR: Existing-home sales jump in January National existing home sales increased in Jan. to...
– NAHB: Home affordability favorable but at eight-year low When comparing home prices and local incomes, Fla. has the U.S.’s 46th most affordable city (Homosassa Springs) and the 15th least affordable city (Miami metro). Can U.S. approve more mortgages without more risk? CFPB, the nation’s consumer bureau, hopes to...
– With FHA rate cut suspended, what comes next? No one knows, but lower fees often draw people in while higher fees drive them away. One suggested change so far: A 5% minimum downpayment for second-time buyers. Realtors: Did you receive a referral or a computer virus? A click...
– Fannie, Freddie a taxpayer cash cow for now: $10B sent to Treasury The government-owned enterprises that back mortgages are a hot topic and risky venture for taxpayers, but they’re also a big U.S. Treasury money-maker right now. U.S. Consumer watchdog gets a reprieve An Oct. court order restricting...
– More people want to be Fla. real estate agents In 2005, 45,000 people passed Fla.’s real estate licensing exam; by 2008, the number plunged to 8,598 before bouncing back. By 2016, 27,926 people passed the exam, and Fla. now has 250,000 real estate licensees. Did TRID work? 50%...
