– Have a lower credit score? Apply for a mortgage It seems illogical: Lenders say they’ll now approve loans to buyers with lower credit scores, but the average score of people actually approved continues to rise. CFPB: Mortgage servicer tech failures violate rules The nation’s consumer bureau says some...
– Commercial drone use set to take flight with release of FAA rule Just-released FAA rules create a clearer way for real estate pros to use drones for commercial purposes – “a win for the industry,” says NAR Pres. Tom Salomone. NAR: Existing-home sales up – highest pace in...
– Decade after housing peaked: Owners richer, renters hurting In the 10 years since the mortgage crisis, a growing number of U.S. renters are struggling to become owners, due to surging costs, rising home values and more. Study: Student loans don’t harm homeownership Study: It’s education that counts, not...
– Can anything be done about higher insurance costs? Homeowners’ attorneys, water restoration companies, insurance agents and public adjusters met yesterday to discuss the rising cost of Fla. property insurance. Leaders hope the discussion’s reasonable tone leads to some kind of consensus. HOA can’t just start enforcing waived rules...
– Technology: Realtors’ top five complaints What tech issues stress agents the most? Florida Realtors Tech Helpline put together the top five. Leading the list? A computer that’s too slow followed by viruses, malware and adware. Florida foreclosures decline by 41,435 in one year RealtyTrac: The state is still...
– 71% of student loan debtors say it delays ownership According to an NAR survey designed to gauge severity of the problem, half of those debtors think the delay will be at least five years, says VP Sherri Meadows. 40% of baby boomers are potential homebuyers Freddie Mac: About...
– Housing economists: Mixed picture over coming year It’s murky: Some signs point to a strong real estate boom, said experts at a recent convention of real estate editors. But other signs suggest potential problems. What happens to a home when couples divorce? A divorcing couple’s home sale can...
– Downpayment assistance programs keep on giving With downpayment assistance, it’s not just about dollar value. By lowering the total mortgage amount, some Fla. owners can save $50K over the life of the loan. State flags assignment of benefits restrictions Fla.-owned Citizens was granted permission to limit Assignment of...
– Truth-in-lending disclosure to be tweaked in July New lending disclosures went into effect last year, and CFPB has informally solved issues as they crop up, but CFPB says it plans to make some changes official. Is tight credit another reason for fewer listings? Before the recession, many owners...
– Building laws go into effect July 1 Fla. bills effective July 1 revise some rules in Fla.’s building code, regulate private-residence elevators and authorize officials to create fumigation rules. Will interest rates go up this month? Friday’s weak job report was “concerning” to the Fed, but interest rates...
