– Supreme Court limits benefits when insurers go broke A property-insurer-paid Fla. fund helps owners if their property insurer goes bankrupt, but a payout doesn’t have to be as good as the benefits stated in a now-defunct policy; and the court ruled that a 2011 law can be applied...
– Election campaigns not focused on housing issues NAR created a list of top concerns today’s political candidates will deal with once in office, although housing hasn’t been a high-profile campaign topic. Fla.’s housing market: Median prices rise in Sept. Year-to-year, median Fla. sales prices rose 11.3% for single-family...
– Forecast: 17M first-time buyers within 5 years A TransUnion study predicts a strong uptick in first-time buyers as aging millennials start families and wounds from the Great Recession continue to heal. Liz Weston: The best ways to build credit now Younger buyers now have a way to build...
– Authority to investigate homeowners’ associations? Legal QandA: Can HOA owners report their association to the state? Can condo directors accept restaurant gift cards? Can I sell my condo but keep the boat slip? Website accessibility a good idea but tech challenge Disabled individuals should be able to use...
– ATTOM: The foreclosure crisis is over For the first time in a decade, the time it takes to foreclose on a home is down. Fla. remains a top foreclosure state, but it’s now No. 5 for foreclosure rates. Which groups will influence future housing trends? A ULI study...
– Mortgage help for victims of Hurricane Matthew Fla. families with mortgages backed by FHA, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac may be eligible for mortgage protection, and their penalty fees could be waived. Faster approval for rural housing loans? Not yet The new law that boosts condo financing also...
– Court: Consumer watchdog structure unconstitutional A federal appeals court ruled that CFPB’s structure – the U.S. consumer bureau with oversight over RESPA rules and most financial companies – is unconstitutional. Matthew insurance claims trickle in It’s not much so far: The Fla. Office of Insurance Regulation reported late...
– When listing a home, words matter If all you say is “3BR, 1BA, eat-in-kitchen,” why would it grab buyers’ attention? Some agents say a listing description should make buyers feel something. Florida mops up after Hurricane Matthew Eight Fla. counties qualify for federal disaster aid, and Gov. Scott...
– About 2.5M people miss out on Obamacare tax credits Have private health insurance rather than coverage through the national program? If so, you don’t qualify for tax credits and may be spending too much money. Prepare for a storm’s aftermath Most people prepare their home for high winds...
– Hurricane prep includes offices as well as homes Brokers: Is MLS data secure if a storm hits? Do team members have a post-storm contact plan? If you rent, who is responsible for pre-hurricane preparations? Study: Millennial student debt impacts many people LendingTree: In Fla. (No, 9 nationwide), the...
