– Realtor.com forecast: 2017 real estate trends Mortgage rates will hit 4.5%, home sales will rise 1.9% and prices will go up 3.9% as millennials, boomers and Western cities dominate the real estate market. NAR: Pending home sales a tiny bit higher in Oct. Oct. saw a meager gain...
– Work begins to extend Fla. property tax increase cap A constitutional amendment passed in 2008 – one that caps non-homestead property owners’ tax increase at 10% per year – expires in 2019. However, Florida Realtors strongly backs an extension, and voters might reauthorize it in 2018. U.S. home...
– Conforming mortgage limits go up in 2017 For the first time since 2006, the federal government has increased the maximum amount of a conforming loan by $7,100, boosting it to $424,100 in most regions. Congress could be homeowners’ Grinch this Christmas Some tax benefits – mortgage debt forgiveness,...
– Sales of new homes slipped in October Commerce Dept.: This month’s sales fell 1.9% compared to Sept., but the rate over the past 10 months is much stronger than the same period in 2015 (12.7% higher). Fla. consumer confidence rises slightly in November UF survey: Consumer sentiment among...
– Modest economic growth expected Despite legislative and regulatory uncertainty over the upcoming change in the U.S. administration, Fannie Mae’s latest Economic and Housing Outlook predicts modest growth for 2016 and 2016 at a pace of about 1.8%. What’s the luckiest list price? Maybe one with the No. 8...
– Don’t believe myths about reverse mortgages A reverse mortgage might be a wise financial option for older adults – or not. However, a lot of misinformation can be ignored. FHA found financial footing – ready for more buyers New 2016 report finds that FHA lending is good to...
– Feds update their guidance on ‘sober homes’ Sober homes – group homes that serve recovering addicts – are protected under fair housing laws, but new guidance could give cities a bit more oversight. Study: Homeownership key in retirement Americans who buy a home rather than rent tend to...
– Fla. has new rules for reporting pollution Under emergency rules, the owner of a Fla. business must report pollution “contamination” within 24 hours – but specific regulations could change Dec. 25 and again after the 2017 Florida Legislature considers the issue. Fla. has 238 downpayment assistance programs Only...
– Realtor.com: Expect busier months ahead Low inventory will create problems, but the housing market outperformed the economy in the first half of the year, and it will probably continue to do the same. Affordability has become an issue in rural areas The National Rural Housing Coalition says that...
– Short-term rentals come with risks and rewards First thing: It’s critical to understand the legal, zoning and tax rules about owning a short-term rental, considered any property rented for less than 30 days. What if a possible listing has a reverse mortgage? A reverse mortgage, part of HUD’s...
