– Fla. a top state when comparing taxes paid to services received If ROI (return on investment) is applied to taxes, a WalletHub study ranks Fla. third in the nation for the value residents get from the state taxes they pay. NAR: This is the worst ‘housing drought’ ever...
– Great American Realtor Days kicks off Realtors across Florida traveled to Tallahassee today for the first full day of Great American Realtor Days (GARD). When is a credit score not a credit score? CFPB, the U.S. consumer watchdog, fined Experian – one of the big three credit score...
– U.S. new home sales rise despite higher mortgage rates Commerce Dept.: New home sales rose 6.1% in Feb. to the fastest pace since July, up about 13% from a year ago. Builders also have ramped up new-home construction. Realtor.com names top cities for millennials Economic growth and relative...
– Could rising mortgage rates be good for housing? While higher rates make it more expensive for buyers, rising rates could also push fence-sitters into action and convince banks that they can approve more loans. NAR: Existing-home sales stumble in February Fla.’s housing market continues to see rising prices...
– Budget proposal could impact flood insurance Proposed $190M budget cuts for updating flood maps could lead to higher costs if insurers stop trusting older maps or homeowners must make up the difference. Tax reform could raise cost of property insurance Insurers buy reinsurance to reduce risk, but most...
– Florida property insurers avoid ratings downgrades Potential problem averted: If Fannie/Freddie-backed rating firm downgraded Fla. insurers, it could have halted closings and made current owners find new coverage. NAR: HUD programs that would be cut under Trump’s budget Congress passes budgets, but a president’s budget can influence the...
– Single-family housing starts hit highest level in 10 years Single-family production increased 6.5%, “consistent with rising builder confidence in the housing market,” says NAHB president. Multifamily dropped 3.7%. 30-year mortgage rates rise again: 4.30% Average rates hit their highest level for 2017 again. 90% of experts polled by...
– NAR: Consumers almost giddy – but renters wary of buying Job gains and hope are “igniting consumer confidence across the country,” per NAR’s latest HOME survey, but fewer renters think it’s a good time to buy. Spring real estate buyers: Early bird gets worm Listings should hit the...
– Residents of 39 U.S. states pay more taxes A WalletHub study finds Fla. 10th best for total state and local taxes paid, 25th for real estate taxes, and eighth best for the cost of sales and excise taxes. Credit scores may improve soon – but there’s a risk...
– FHA loans easier to get – but more in default More non-bank lenders are now offering FHA loans, and the past-due payment rate rose slightly. Experts disagree on whether that’s good or bad. Study: Millennials want the suburbs after all “The evidence suggests … that homeownership decisions by...
