– Big single-family rental firms change tactics Post-recession, large companies started to buy homes, fix them up and rent them out. Today, though, they buy fewer homes and are even starting to sell a few. Seller optimism drops on economic nerves Fannie Mae survey: It may be a great...
– First-time buyers want to bypass starter home BofA report: 75% of first-time buyers would prefer to move into homes that meet their long-term needs; another 35% plan to retire wherever they buy. Builders marketing hook: ‘Cheaper to own’ Buyers pay more for new construction, but builders are telling...
– Mortgage rates hit lowest level since 2015 The average rate on 30-year FRM fell to 3.59% this week from 3.71% last week after the Fed chair reaffirmed her plan to raise interest rates slowly. Mitigation key for flood program reauthorizations We should prepare for floods rather than make...
– How much do local disasters disrupt the market? Gas leaks and localized disasters can send real estate markets into a tailspin. A RealtyTrac study found that a Calif. gas leak caused nearby sales to drop 44%. Study: College debt delays homeownership A Fed study found that for every...
– HUD: ‘No ex-convict’ rental rules might break law Under fair housing “disparate impact” guidelines, a no-convict rental rule may discriminate unintentionally because many ex-criminals are black or Hispanic. Florida Realtors ENVY Award: It’s only ‘natural’ Know a planned community that preserves Fla.’s natural beauty? Encourage developers with unique,...
– Freddie Mac: 2016 will be housing’s golden year Officials at Freddie predict that housing starts and home prices will be at their highest levels in a decade, thanks to jobs, mortgage rates and a growing housing supply. The 10 best and worst states to pay taxes WalletHub: The...
– Trends: More Americans heading south Census Bureau: For almost 100 years, relocating Americans tended to move toward the Pacific, but a shift finds them moving to Fla., Texas and the Carolinas. Which Fla. metros are best for rental investing? RealtyTrac report compares counties based on 2015-16 rental changes,...
– Economist: Millennials will soon start buying homes Rollins prof says demand will go up: Millennials make up 1/3 of buyers, incomes will rise and 44% of renters (many millennials) plan to buy within three years. Fla. real estate investment part of int’l event Florida Realtors recently joined international...
– Neighborhoods can’t do much about sober-living homes In most cases, a city cannot treat licensed or unlicensed group homes, including sober-living facilities, any differently than it treats single-family homes. Xplode conference aims to bridge technology gap Many buyers and sellers love new technology; many Realtors do not. But...
– NAR: Feb. pending home sales up 3.5% The index that gauges U.S. homes under contract rose to its highest level in seven months, and it would probably be higher if the market had more listings. Builders: 25% of new-home costs stem from regulations “The regulatory burden includes costs...
