– ATTOM: The foreclosure crisis is over For the first time in a decade, the time it takes to foreclose on a home is down. Fla. remains a top foreclosure state, but it’s now No. 5 for foreclosure rates. Which groups will influence future housing trends? A ULI study...
– Mortgage help for victims of Hurricane Matthew Fla. families with mortgages backed by FHA, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac may be eligible for mortgage protection, and their penalty fees could be waived. Faster approval for rural housing loans? Not yet The new law that boosts condo financing also...
– Court: Consumer watchdog structure unconstitutional A federal appeals court ruled that CFPB’s structure – the U.S. consumer bureau with oversight over RESPA rules and most financial companies – is unconstitutional. Matthew insurance claims trickle in It’s not much so far: The Fla. Office of Insurance Regulation reported late...
– When listing a home, words matter If all you say is “3BR, 1BA, eat-in-kitchen,” why would it grab buyers’ attention? Some agents say a listing description should make buyers feel something. Florida mops up after Hurricane Matthew Eight Fla. counties qualify for federal disaster aid, and Gov. Scott...
– About 2.5M people miss out on Obamacare tax credits Have private health insurance rather than coverage through the national program? If so, you don’t qualify for tax credits and may be spending too much money. Prepare for a storm’s aftermath Most people prepare their home for high winds...
– Hurricane prep includes offices as well as homes Brokers: Is MLS data secure if a storm hits? Do team members have a post-storm contact plan? If you rent, who is responsible for pre-hurricane preparations? Study: Millennial student debt impacts many people LendingTree: In Fla. (No, 9 nationwide), the...
– Caution urged as Hurricane Matthew nears It’s too soon to rule out a Fla. impact, but real estate closings could be delayed since many property insurers stop issuing new policies during storm threats. $2M grant will test for Fla. housing discrimination HUD awarded $234K to Fla. agencies for...
– 4 Fla. metros at top of ‘best cities to invest’ list Orlando ranked No. 1 as the best city in the U.S. to own investment property in a GOBankingRates survey, and Tampa came in second. Miami came in 10th and Jacksonville No. 13 in the top 15 list....
– Challenge remains for FHA condo financing HUD released rules on condo financing that could open up more Fla. units to first-time buyers, but NAR says a still-high owner-occupancy threshold needs work. Likelihood of home price declines? 4% and dropping A quarterly mortgage risk report finds only a 2%...
– U.S. consumer confidence hits post-Recession high The monthly survey found consumers generally more upbeat about current conditions and more optimistic about changes in the short-term future. HUD calls for protection of non-English buyers The new guidance specifically targets mortgage lenders and brokers for compliance. HUD says it became...
