– CoreLogic study: Do owners fare better than renters? The rent index jumped 36% in 13 years (2005-2018) while the typical mortgage payment fell 4%. Without fixed monthly costs, renters spend more on housing. Housing starts decline in March Starts fell 0.3% from a downwardly revised Feb. reading. Multifamily...
– Mortgage rates increased this week – 30-year at 4.17% The week-to-week increase was .05%, and it’s still good news for homebuyers. One year ago, the FRM averaged 4.47%. Fla. Senate and House line up on 'AOB' overhaul While not assured, the Florida Legislature appears closer to finalizing property...
– First-time buyers biggest stress? Affordability LendingTree asked people considering their first home about their top concerns, and a lack of inventory below $150K is driving many to consider fixer-uppers. NY Fed study finds that tax reform impacts RE market According to New York Federal Reserve Bank economists, capital...
– Report: 'Underinsurance' rampant in disaster-prone areas Reconstruction costs rose up to 7.6% between 2016 and 2018, and many Fla. homeowners might have less insurance than they need if a major disaster occurs. How to make a million dollars in real estate investing A 34-year-old Illinois firefighter bought his...
– HUD wants to know how it can improve Opportunity Zones Investors have flocked to the tax advantages offered by Opportunity Zones, and HUD is now taking public comments on how to maximize the benefits for communities. Most first-timers now consider homes that need renovation Thanks to rising home...
– House flipping back to pre-crisis levels CoreLogic: 1 in 10 homes sold in 4Q 2018 were flips, but they’re “very different” and often beneficial since the average age of a flipped home today is 39 years. Moody's: Tax reform isn't pushing rich homeowners to Fla. There’s no correlation...
– Housing risk index finds recession fears 'overblown' Housing values fell only once during the last five recessions, and current conditions “likely mean the next recession will have a less severe impact on housing.” FAA change could hurt (or help) neighborhoods near airports The FAA is making major changes...
– Bill to protect consumer privacy could affect marketing Momentum is gaining in Washington for a privacy law that could sharply rein in large tech companies’ ability to collect and distribute personal data. Lawsuit says agents illegally auto-dialed expired listings In 2018, a homeowner listed property and it failed...
– Responsible buyers with low credit get new options Three new credit tools will make it easier for buyers with low credit to boost their score if they have good habits, such as paying bills on time or saving money. Realtors and experts meet to discuss Fla. land sales...
– Mortgage rates change little after last week's big drop The average rate on the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage ticked up to 4.08% from last week’s 4.06% – but it’s still notably lower than the 4.28% two weeks ago. How well do you know millennial buyers? Find out why younger...
