– 2017 ends with more Fla. home sales, price gains Florida Realtors: Single-family home sales up 1.2% over 2016, median price up 8%; condo sales up 2.9%, median price up 7.8%. Strong positive trends continued in 4Q. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau releases strategic plan The CFPB says it will...
– Court ruling overturned in 'Assignment of Benefits' case An owner with home damage has the right to assign insurance benefits to a contractor without getting his mortgage holder to agree to the arrangement. Thinking about a PACE loan? What you need to know Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)...
– Long-term mortgage rates climb for fifth straight week The average rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages shot up to 4.32% this week from 4.22% last week – its highest level since Dec. 2016. Florida Realtors wins NAR's Triple Crown award RPAC sets a high bar for Realtor participation that...
– NAR: Most renters want to own a home New consumer survey says lifestyle changes are the top motivation to buy a home, followed by an improvement in finances and the desire to settle in one location. When parents lend you the downpayment If accepting a loan from the...
– Federal Reserve imposes new penalties on Wells Fargo The lender can’t expand unless it fixes mistakes, like charging unfair fees to lock in mortgage rates, opening fake accounts and force-placing unneeded insurance. Must emotional support animals obey condo rules? Real estate QandA: Can a condo association make rules...
– Mortgage rates rise for fourth straight week – hit 4.22% Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate and five-year adjustable-rate mortgages hit their highest level since 2011 as lending standards continue to tighten. Court OK's some marketing service agreements CFPB, the government consumer bureau behind tighter mortgage lending rules, was wrong...
– NAR: Dec. pending home sales manage to rise 0.5% Despite a lack of inventory, U.S. pending home sales still managed to move a bit higher, though NAR expects tax law changes to impact higher-cost areas in 2018. Remind buyers to unfreeze their credit Following the Experian data breach,...
– Florida consumer sentiment soars entering 2018 UF: Consumer sentiment among Floridians started the year at its highest level in 16 years, up 2.3 points in Jan. to 99.8 from a revised Dec. figure of 97.5. Fla.'s Hardest-Hit Fund program expires Wednesday The state’s program to help owners facing...
– Protecting clients' privacy is good for business For legal and ethical reasons, it’s important to protect clients’ privacy – but it’s also good marketing since 81% feel they’ve lost control over personal data. The 'State of the (Housing) Union' address To coincide with the president’s “State of the...
– Mortgage rates rise for third straight week The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage broke the 4% level last week and hit 4.15% this week, lifted by expectations of faster economic growth. New home sales tumble 9.3% in December Harsh winter weather took its toll on Dec. new-home sales. Economists predicted...
